Andrew Mller traded to Orioles

[Jasonbay44]

The Orioles have agreed to acquire Red Sox lefty Andrew Miller, per Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com (via Twitter). A minor league pitcher is coming in return, per Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com (via Twitter).

 

Baltimore will send left-handed pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez in return, per a tweet from Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/07/orioles-to-acquire-andrew-miller.html

[BigPapi]

What the hell is this.

[Bellhorn04]

What the hell is this.

 

Not a surprise.

[BigPapi]

Not a surprise.

 

Yes but the guy we got back

[Jasonbay44]

He's put together a solid 5 ERA season in AA. He probably has "potential". Another great trade!

[jd98]

He's put together a solid 5 ERA season in AA. He probably has "potential". Another great trade!

 

Exactly. He's considered one of Baltimore's top prospects. Why? I don't know. Certainly not based on performance. I think sometimes teams just hype a guy as a top prospect for no reason, so then they can trade him for a good player and the other team thinks they are getting a top prospect.

Edited July 31, 2014 by jd98

[BigPapi]

Exactly. He's considered one of Baltimore's top prospects. Why? I don't know. Certainly not based on performance.

 

Andrew Miller was regarded as one of the best pitchers in his draft class. He was picked before kershaw. He has finally figured it out the past couple of seasons and this year has been dominant. I hope we can get him back for next season. This dude isnt even a top 100 prospect and sucks in double a.

[sk7326]

Top 100 prospect in both BA and KLaw. He is struggling this year ... but as a 20 year old in AA. That is important to appreciate. Young for his level, stuff is raw but apparently very projectable. For a short reliever, this is pretty good.

[Palodios]

How did the Red Sox get a top 50 prospect for Andrew Miller, but struggled to get anything for Lester and Lackey? I don't get it.

[sk7326]

How did the Red Sox get a top 50 prospect for Andrew Miller, but struggled to get anything for Lester and Lackey? I don't get it.

 

One theory that makes it all fit: Ownership gave Cherington a mandate to maximize the potential of the 2015 team, that the team was selling in 2014, but intend to contend next season. The two deals with Lester and Lackey have clear positive 2015 impact (especially if Craig's issues can be solved with an offseason of rest). The prospect inventory is still there to do a lot - they did not need to add more to that. I am not sure if that was the "right" course - but it makes sense in that context. In particular, if Lester is amenable to returning - this makes more sense than that. I don't like either trade - but if this is the endgame, it fits better.

[BigPapi]

Top 100 prospect in both BA and KLaw. He is struggling this year ... but as a 20 year old in AA. That is important to appreciate. Young for his level, stuff is raw but apparently very projectable. For a short reliever, this is pretty good.

 

Nesn said he projects as a starter. And mlb.com doesn't have him on their top 100 list.

[gojohn99]

Well Lester can walk in two months....

 

How did the Red Sox get a top 50 prospect for Andrew Miller, but struggled to get anything for Lester and Lackey? I don't get it.

[Jasonbay44]

Well Lester can walk in two months....

 

So can Miller

[crc2120]

Tigers just acquired Price..

[d-money]

Damn the tigers just got even with the As

[Wasatch]

I liked Miller, sorry to see him go.

[Behindenemylines]

Miller is one of the top bullpen lefties in all of baseball. It would be great if they can get him back for 2015. The O's needed it because their starting pitching is not even close to the A's and Tigers. They have to shorten the game with a great bullpen.

[Northern Star]

Miller is one of the top bullpen lefties in all of baseball. It would be great if they can get him back for 2015. The O's needed it because their starting pitching is not even close to the A's and Tigers. They have to shorten the game with a great bullpen.

 

While pitching in general matters most in the postseason, I believe you have to have a strong pen and bench to win in October.

[Behindenemylines]

Sox need a shut down lefty for 2015 so I can see Miller being brought back. The thing with him is that he is starting to have great success against righties so he could be your setup guy for Uehara next year and then slide into the closer role in the future.

[jd98]

Eduardo Rodriguez had a great debut with Portland. 5.1 inn, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 7K. Maybe he really is a top prospect.

[Behindenemylines]

With all of the arms in the upper minors the Sox should move some of them to the pen much like they did with Miller. He struggled as a starter, but has had success out of the bullpen. I think Webster and Workman are candidates to do this.

[seabeachfred]

With all of the arms in the upper minors the Sox should move some of them to the pen much like they did with Miller. He struggled as a starter, but has had success out of the bullpen. I think Webster and Workman are candidates to do this.

 

If they were smart they would do this with Workman immediately. He is not a starting pitcher and by the second look at the guy the opposing hitters are ready for a feast and they get it. As for Webster, back up the truck. This guy is a total joke.

[Behindenemylines]

Miller is still being very effective with the O's. What does anyone think about the Sox bringing him back as a potential closer of the future?

[a700hitter]

Miller is still being very effective with the O's. What does anyone think about the Sox bringing him back as a potential closer of the future?

I'd bring him back as a late inning guy, and injuries to closers give those guys a chance to step up.

[Spudboy]

I'm in favor of bringing him back, of course.

 

What will it cost?

[curiousd]

Miller is one of the top bullpen lefties in all of baseball. It would be great if they can get him back for 2015. The O's needed it because their starting pitching is not even close to the A's and Tigers. They have to shorten the game with a great bullpen.

 

(1) Now that the ALCS has begun between Orioles and Royals, Miller is indeed part of a lock down bull pen for the Os.

 

(2) A primary reason given for the demise of the Dodgers in the NLDS is the lack of a decent Dodger set up man in the bull pen. Quoting Bill Shaikin of the L.A times:

 

"The Dodgers showed up for the playoffs with the highest payroll in North American sports history and not a single setup man that Manager Don Mattingly could trust".

 

From (1) and (2) above a good guess is that with one of the two richest teams in baseball (the Dodgers) desperately needing a good set up man for next year when Miller is a free agent, there is no chance for the RS to get Miller back and a record might be set for a set up man contract.

[Behindenemylines]

(1) Now that the ALCS has begun between Orioles and Royals, Miller is indeed part of a lock down bull pen for the Os.

 

(2) A primary reason given for the demise of the Dodgers in the NLDS is the lack of a decent Dodger set up man in the bull pen. Quoting Bill Shaikin of the L.A times:

 

"The Dodgers showed up for the playoffs with the highest payroll in North American sports history and not a single setup man that Manager Don Mattingly could trust".

 

From (1) and (2) above a good guess is that with one of the two richest teams in baseball (the Dodgers) desperately needing a good set up man for next year when Miller is a free agent, there is no chance for the RS to get Miller back and a record might be set for a set up man contract.

 

I think he has shown he can get righties out so he could be someone's closer.

[jacksonianmarch]

Miller is likely looking at a bottom of 3 yrs $24 mil (Benoit's deal plus one yr) and a top of 5yrs $55 mil (BJ Ryan). He's gonna be signed as a closer. If he is signed as your closer, then so be it. I highly, highly, highly doubt he's a red sox next yr

[Behindenemylines]

Just a thought. If the Sox can't get a number 1 starter and go the Royal route and built a shut down bullpen that shortens the game to 6 innings would the Sox go hard after him. Royals went to WS without a number 1 (Shields no longer is that) so this route is an option. Still can't see a team winning it all without an ace.

[sk7326]

Miller is the best reliever on the market - the capital "C" closer thing is silly (closers are made not born). But that means somebody will could pay him for 4 years - and I'd deeply, sincerely loathe having to give ANY reliever that kind of bread.

 

The Royals approach makes sense - and to be fair, the Red Sox had a game shortening pen last year. But there is an element of luck to find those guys and you have to be good with cycling through a lot of dudes. Personally, I'd move Workman back to the pen and Webster to the pen in this spirit. In particular Webster profiles as the sort of guy who could be dynamite only having to throw 2 pitches.