Orioles Acquire Lefty Andrew Miller from Red Sox

Published by Jake English at July 31, 2014

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The Orioles made a move before the end of today’s non-waiver trade deadline, bolstering the bullpen. The team reportedly wanted to add a left-handed pitcher who could get outs against lefties and righties. They found that pitcher in Andrew Miller of the Boston Red Sox.

In return, the Birds gave up AA prospect Eduardo Rodriguez. Rodriguez was on a short list of trade chips which included untouchables Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman, as well as recently injured Hunter Harvey. Rodriguez, 21, was 3-7 in 16 starts for Bowie.

Miller is having an excellent season on a terrible team. The reliever has appeared in 50 games, and notched 69 strikeouts in 42.1 IP. His ERA stands at 2.34, and his FIP is 1.69. The guy can get lefties and righties. He fits the bill. He’s also a free agent in 2015. The Boston Globe notes that the Red Sox have “good rapport” with Miller, and suggest that he could resign with Boston in the offseason.

What does this all mean?

Well, it means that the Orioles traded a prospect for two months of service from a pretty good reliever. If you’ve listened to the podcast over the last couple of weeks, you’ll know that I have been preaching that the Orioles start to use these prospects they can’t develop as currency to improve the team. Maybe it’s time for me to put my money where my mouth is, but I can’t help but feel that the Orioles paid too high a price for what they got.

With a fourth lefty entering the pen, one has to imagine that TJ McFarland will be sent to Norfolk until rosters expand in September. This will shift primary long-man duties to Brad Brach. Whereas it makes the bullpen stronger in one regard, it makes it less maneuverable on the other.

There’s a lot to like here, but a lot to second guess. The O’s weren’t “all in” enough to make a move for a top of the rotation pitcher, which is their obvious need. Instead, Dan Duquette has tried to improve his bullpen for the stretch run, and hope that it will be his (relief) pitching that wins championships.