Red Sox imperative: Andrew Miller
By Rick McNair
MLB teams have been migrating to a new phase of team development by emphasized depth and talent in the bullpen. Kansas City brought attention to this latest strategic endeavor with the various proclamations by manager Ned Yost of just getting his starter through five or six innings and then turn the game over to arguably one of the best ‘pens in the game.
Boston was no slouch in the ‘pen department for 2014 with a nice statistical performance including a 3.33 ERA, WHIP of 1.27, xFIP that checked in at 3.52 and a WAR of 5.6. Part of the reason was Andrew Miller.
Miller was simple outstanding splitting his 2014 between Boston and Baltimore. A WHIP of Koji Uehara like 0.80, an ERA a shade over 2 and the fact the ball does not stay in play often with a 14.9/9 K rate. Miller has now become a devastating option out of the bullpen and the suitors are lined up like the noon half priced buffet at a casino.
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The good news with Miller is he has professed his love for the Boston area and, of course, the Red Sox do have a few dollars on the books to entice Miller – which brings up the bad news. Money.
Miller will want plenty. Miller is a solid union guy with this a golden opportunity for one big financial kiss. Relief pitchers are – like their starter brethren – a fragile bunch. So don’t expect any hometown discounts and with many a suitor a price tag that will just elevate – especially with no draft pick attached.
So the ball or contract are in the hands of the Red Sox. Koji walked away with 2/18M and expect Miller to get the same only with an additional year or two tacked on. This season was the perfect storm for a Miller. Market and game conditions have provided Miller with his own baseball golden ticket. Go for it!
The Red Sox may pass on Miller and pony up contracts with many zeros for Jon Lester or Pablo Sandoval or whomever else they may need for a rotation that consists of virtually nothing in the depth department. The Red Sox certainly have other options in the bullpen with the suddenly second half resurrected Edward Mujica, the continued excellence of Junichi Tazawa, the surprising Tommy Layne and maybe a return of Craig Breslow or Burke Badenhop.
To me the one missing piece in extending that bullpen, especially with a questionable group of starters, is to get Miller onboard. Make a statement. Sign Miller and move on to the slightly bigger fish in the starter’s pond.