O's Make A Move And Add A Pitcher, Trade For Wade Miley

A few weeks ago Orioles fans were clamoring for the Birds to go out and get a pitcher. Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Cashner, Matt Moore, and Jeremy Hellickson were the names we were hearing. Wade Miley’s name wasn’t really tossed around too much, until yesterday when the O’s sent 27-year-old Ariel Miranda to Seattle for Miley.

Miranda made one appearance for the O’s this season, giving up three runs, four hits, and striking out four in two innings against Seattle in July. In AAA Norfolk, Miranda is 4-7 with a 3.93 ERA in 19 starts. As a 27-year-old prospect, it was time to figure out what his deal was, and if he had what it took to have a spot in this bullpen. The fact that the O’s were able to get an actual MLB starter for an aging prospect is pretty impressive in itself.

Miley isn’t a needle-moving move, but it is a slight upgrade over what the O’s have been trotting out there with Ubaldo Jimenez. He has struggled this season, 7-8 with an ERA of 4.98 and a WHIP of 1.348. The stat that doesn’t go over well with me, 18 home runs in 19 starts this season, with 11 of those homers coming in gigantic Safeco Park. Even with his 9 K performance last week against the Cubs, Miley isn’t missing bats this season, averaging only 6.6 Ks per 9 innings pitched. His HR/9 is up, but his BB/9 is down to the lowest it has been since 2013. Miley also brings something to the club that they haven’t had since October 3rd 2015- a lefty starter.

I don’t think that a lefty starter is a necessity, as the Orioles haven’t had one all season and are in first place. If there is one manager who can work with an all righty rotation, it’s Buck. Miley doesn’t make this team that much better, but he brings some stability to the rotation for this season and next. The O’s aren’t paying him a shit ton, Roch Kubatko is reporting that they are on the hook for $6.167 million this season, and $8.917 million next season, so not the worst contact.

While it’s not the sexiest of moves, the O’s 1) replace Ubaldo, and 2) add a lefty. This trade reminds me of the Joe Saunders deal a few years back, a veteran pitcher who isn’t a top of the rotation guy, but will work as glue to keep the rotation solid. They still need him to produce, and pitch better than he has this season. I expect Miley to be in the rotation behind Tillman and Gausman, sending Vance Worley back to the bullpen, and having Yovani Gallardo, and Dylan Bundy follow in the rotation. I asked Jared Carrabis, who led the Sox last season in wins with 11, his thoughts on Miley.

 

 

I then confirmed he understood I meant Miley, and not David Price. Thanks for the in-depth analysis, Jared.

With the non-waiver trade deadline today at 4 PM, I expect this to be it for the O’s. Maybe a lefty for the bullpen, or an outfielder who can take over if AJ10 gets hurt in center, but expect them to be busy after the deadline with some waiver moves.