BoSox Injection
Fansided

Red Sox greatest relief pitcher bargains in franchise history

By Cole Witaszek

BOSTON - MAY 1: Mike Timlin #50 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during their game at Fenway Park on May 1, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 7-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
BOSTON - MAY 1: Mike Timlin #50 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during their game at Fenway Park on May 1, 2006 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 7-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: Andrew Miller #24 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning at Progressive Field on September 22, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Red Sox 5-4 in 11 innings. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 22: Andrew Miller #24 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning at Progressive Field on September 22, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Red Sox 5-4 in 11 innings. (Photo by David Maxwell/Getty Images) /

#4) Andrew Miller

The Trade: Dustin Richardson to the Florida Marlins for Andrew Miller. Miller remained under team control on his rookie contract through the 2014 season (via ESPN).

Performance:

Season IP SV K/9 BB/9 ERA FIP WHIP FIP- fWAR
2011 65 0 6.92 5.68 5.54 5.12 1.82 129 -0.2
2012 40.1 0 11.38 4.46 3.35 3.17 1.19 78 0.6
2013 30.2 0 14.09 4.99 2.64 3.05 1.37 79 0.3
2014 42.1 0 14.67 2.76 2.34 1.69 0.9 46 1.3

Counting Miller for this list is cheating just a little bit as he started in 12 of his 17 appearances in 2011. Still, this dominant southpaw is a great representation of the best case scenario for reclamation pitching projects. The Red Sox traded a player with the ceiling of a middle reliever for a player who, despite struggling mightily with injuries and command to the time of the trade, was a former 6th overall pick and still had a sky-high ceiling.

Miller ended up being one of the most filthy pitchers I have had the pleasure to have watched. He got better every season and by the end, he was striking out 14 batters per nine with ease.

There are a couple of things holding Miller back on this list. First, the only one of Miller’s seasons in which the Red Sox made the playoffs was in 2013, and his 2013 season ended with a foot injury in early July. Second, the Red Sox traded him at the deadline in 2014 amidst his best season in Boston. Sure, if we counted the value the Red Sox have received from Eduardo Rodriguez – the player they received for Miller – then Miller would probably top this list. But this list is based on performance with the Red Sox and thus the fact that Miller didn’t pitch for the Red Sox during the second half of the season in 2013 or 2014 hampers his value relative to the other pitchers on this list.

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