Free Agent Signings?

by jacob on Dec 20, 2005 10:48 AM CST in Milwaukee Brewers News

Do you think the Brewers will be active in the Free Agent Market over the next few weeks? There is supposedly enough room in the payroll to add some more salary.

I've got one potential free agent I'm keeping my eye on.

Today, it is expected to be Boston's turn not to tender [Wade] Miller a contract, a tacit acknowledgment that the risk did not pay off the way the Sox had hoped. Sox co-general manager Jed Hoyer would not confirm yesterday that the club intends to cut its ties with Miller today, the deadline for teams to tender contracts to players under their control. But Miller, who went 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA before undergoing surgery on his right labrum in late September, almost certainly will not be tendered and thus become a free agent.

Miller has the stuff, when he can stay healthy and his delivery is on he's pretty good. I know he lit up the Brewers a few times when he was with the Astros. How about we bring in Miller and return the favor to the 'Stros?

The scouting report from Stats Inc.

Miller has a complicated delivery that has to be just right for him to be effective. When he's right, Miller has as much stuff as practically anyone on the staff, throwing his fastball in the mid-90s and his slider around 90 MPH.The slightest deviation, however, and he not only has troubles pitching, but can be prone to injury. In mid-May, he was having problems and came out of a game with a strained neck, which was similar to a problem he had in the past. He seemed to be back on track in June before the shoulder began to bother him too much. An ironman who had pitched an average of 188 innings per year since 2000, Miller never was his former self last year.

He has a career GB/FB ratio of 1.24, that's a good sign for a pitcher's future. Guys with high GB/FB ratios are usually more likely to have better years that those with low GB/FB ratios.

Miller just turned 29 in September. Seems like a perfect Mike Maddux project for next year, smooth out that delivery kep him healthy... Also he probably doesn't expect to make much, if any, more than the 1.5 million the Red Sox paid him last year.

What do you think?

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Comments

GREAT call, man

I totally agree about Miller. I had forgotten about him. For some reason I thought he had been signed to a 2-yr deal by the Sox before last season, but no.

He's JUST the kind of guy the Crew can take a gamble on--we don't need him, he won't be expensive, and if he comes back strong, we move Bush to the pen for a while (that is, if everybody's healthy), and we've either got an even better staff with WAY more ML pitchers than roster spots, or killer trade bait. Imagine what a Wade Miller/Carlos Lee type package could bring in July?

Another thing to think about is that if Miller comes back with great stuff but without much durability, he's got the stuff to close. Not that we need another late-inning guy (turnbow, kolb, capellan, adams, wise...maybe Miller can be our 4th-inning guy), but that might increase his trade bait, and you never know how the injury bug will bite (knock on wood!).

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 20, 2005 11:20 AM CST reply actions

I'd love it ...

... if Miller were to sign with the Brewers, and not just the whole beer/park/ballclub tie in. I think he'd be an excellent type of guy for Maddux and staff to mold ... Turnbow-esque. Just calm down that delivery and he could be gold. Gold!

Nate

by nmc on Dec 20, 2005 11:25 AM CST up reply actions

I didn't even think of the name angle.

We could sign Kevin Millar to a minor-league deal...maybe we should've signed Bill Mueller...we could get Trever Miller and Justin Miller for the pen...sign Corky Miller as the backup catcher...and if Robin Yount doesn't work out, we could get Ray Miller to be bench coach.

Good thing we already got Damian Miller!

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 20, 2005 11:30 AM CST up reply actions

red sox

the red sox discussion of Wade Miller is at OvertheMonster.com

Randy Booth thinks he should start in AAA.

I'm for giving Miller a contract ... but not a major league contract. I think Miller needs to start the year in Pawtucket and get at least a month of starting pitching under his belt. He needs to be evaluated very thoroughly while he's in Rhode Island, because this could be his last chance to show himself in Boston.

I can't imagine Wade Miller would go, "Yeah, OK, good deal, I'll take a minor league contract instead of checking out free agency" ...

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Dec 20, 2005 11:59 AM CST reply actions

non-tendered

Miller was not offered a contract and becomes a free agent.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/12212005/sports_n/79063.htm

I really hope DM takes a shot at him.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Dec 21, 2005 9:11 AM CST reply actions

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