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The Brewers had a couple days to make a decision on Wade Miley after he finished his rehab assignment with a sparkling start in Biloxi on Friday night that saw him strike out 11 batters over 6 innings. Based on the quotes coming from the front office on Saturday, that decision was going to come sooner rather than later, and it was pretty obvious what it was going to be.
The team made it official Sunday morning, announcing that Miley will be joining the starting rotation later this week in Cincinnati. The only question was really whether Miley would be bumping Junior Guerra or Brent Suter from the rotation, and today we got that answer — Suter will be the odd man out for now.
LHP Wade Miley will make his #Brewers debut in a start on Wednesday at Cincinnati. LHP Brent Suter moves to the bullpen.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 29, 2018
The team isn’t announcing a corresponding move yet, but it might be a good bet that Brandon Woodruff goes back down to Colorado Springs to stay stretched out as a starter.
Complicating issues, though, is that the 40-man roster is full and room will need to be cleared for Miley there as well.
Wade Miley will join #Brewers Tuesday in Cincinnati. To be eligible to pitch Wednesday, he must be added to 40-man roster, which is full, as well as major-league roster.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) April 29, 2018
If Woodruff isn’t the one getting sent down, a “two birds, one stone” philosophy may also work — with Suter moving to the bullpen, Oliver Drake could end up being pushed out, and DFAing The Drake would create room on both rosters for Miley.
Now that he’ll be added to the major league roster, Miley is guaranteed at least $2.5 million this year. He could make more than $3 million in additional money if he hits incentives for innings or games started, although those numbers may be hard to hit considering he missed the first month of the season.
#Brewers have fully guaranteed Wade Miley's $2.5 million base salary. He has another $3.2 million available in incentives that max out at 190 innings and 28 games.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) April 29, 2018
The Brewers likely won’t announce their corresponding moves for Miley until after today’s series finale against the Cubs, just in case they need the arms in jeopardy of getting sent down to get through today’s game.