Free Agent Friday: Red Sox relief pitching options

Jul 25, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Andrew Miller (30) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

#4 Relief Pitcher: Andrew Miller

And that brings us to an old friend, Andrew Miller. Miller represents Neshek’s counterpart as the best left-handed reliever available. Despite Neshek having the better stats for the most part, in my opinion it is Miller holding the title of best relief pitcher available. First off, his astronomical strikeout numbers (103 in just 62 innings!) suggest that he has better stuff than Neshek. This argument is strengthened by a 1.51 FIP, meaning Miller may have been even better with a little bit more help in the field (I’m looking at you Xander Bogaerts, Will Middlebrooks A.J. Pierzynski and Jonny Gomes).

Second, his 2.02 ERA (which is mere decimal point behind Neshek) has even more weight due to the fact that Miller was thrown into the fray that is the AL East, not to mention being stuck in two very hitter-friendly ball parks. Finally, Miller is younger and left handed and has begun to show consistency, which summed up means he’s gonna get a lot of money this winter. All of that said, there will be quite a lot of competition for Miller and he doesn’t seem like the type to take a home town discount to come back here.

The former sixth overall pick never got paid the way he expected to, and he is going to get a hefty contract this offseason. I think that the Red Sox will be outbid by a team in more desperate need of his services like the Dodgers or the Tigers.