Wade Miley has slight groin tear, future with Brewers uncertain

After a great start to spring training that had him on the verge of making the starting rotation as a non-roster invitee, Wade Miley has had a nightmare week.

First, he was crushed for 7 runs on 10 hits in 3 innings in a spring start against the Cincinnati Reds last Friday, less than a week before the deadline for the Brewers to tell him whether or not he’d make the Opening Day roster. Then he had to leave his final start before today’s deadline with an injury after fielding a bunt.

An MRI revealed today that Miley tore his groin, and it’s unknown when he can return.

While Miley wants to stay, the Brewers still have the option of releasing him today.

The Brewers could try to keep him around in the minors if Miley were willing to accept a AAA assignment, paying him a $100,000 retention bonus today even though he’s injured. They could also add him to the 40 man roster and put him on the Major League disabled list to start the year, but this is where the business side of baseball could complicate things.

If the team were to decide to keep him around and put him on the DL, it wouldn’t just be about the $100,000 bonus -- it’d also be guaranteeing him a $2.5 million salary. Without a timeline for recovery, that may be a risk the budget-conscious Brewers may not want to take, especially considering how conscious they’ve been about keeping the flexibility to possibly add a big name midseason at the trade deadline.

Miley himself seems to know that’s probably isn’t going to happen, and there are some negotiations that need to be done quickly.

The fact Miley seems open to doing what it takes to stay with the organization would provide some hope that an agreement -- handshake or otherwise -- could be reached.

The other Brewers pitcher injured yesterday, lefty reliever Boone Logan, has a strained triceps and while his timetable for return is also unknown, he at least has a major league contract.