LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ annual search for upside potential in their bullpen candidates has apparently led them to veteran right-hander Shelby Miller.
Miller, 32, has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract that includes performance incentives that could take it higher.
Miller was once one of the most successful young starting pitchers in the National League. After debuting with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012, Miller went 26-18 with a 3.33 ERA over three seasons before he was traded to the Atlanta Braves.
Miller never recaptured that early success. He bounced from the Braves to the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Texas Rangers, missing time following Tommy John surgery in 2017 and sitting out the 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He spent much of 2021 and 2022 in the minor leagues, working his way back as a reliever. He has pitched a total of just 19-2/3 innings in the major leagues since 2019 (with the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants) but struck out 14 in seven innings at the end of last season with the Giants after posting a 2.87 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 53-1/3 innings as a Triple-A reliever in the Giants’ and New York Yankees’ systems.
Miller will compete for a spot in a Dodger bullpen that could be depleted this winter. Chris Martin, Tommy Kahnle and Craig Kimbrel are all unsigned free agents. Additionally, Blake Treinen is likely to miss the entire 2023 season following shoulder surgery.
Related Articles
Hoornstra: MLB’s anti-shift rules are already taking effect
Dodgers non-tender Cody Bellinger and Edwin Rios, making them free agents
Cardinals’ Goldschmidt voted NL MVP; Dodgers’ Freeman, Betts finish 4th, 5th
Tyler Anderson picked Angels over Dodgers for security
Hoornstra: Making peace with the slow pace of MLB’s offseason