The Orioles have acquired lefty reliever Andrew Miller from the Red Sox, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. In exchange, Boston will receive left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, as WEEI's Alex Speier first reported.
Andrew Miller traded to Orioles by Red Sox
Miller will make a short trip across the AL East to Baltimore.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Miller, 29, has posted a 2.34 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP in 42⅓ innings out of Boston's bullpen this season. Originally a first-round pick by the Tigers in 2006 and a highly touted prospect, the 6'7 Miller struggled with his control, consistency and mechanics until making a transition to the bullpen with Boston in 2012. While not much went right under then-manager Bobby Valentine, Miller was one of his successful projects, as he encouraged the elimination of his windup and helped smooth out Miller's previously violent delivery. Now, he's one of the most dominant relievers in baseball. He's struck out more than 11 batters per nine in the three years since making the switch, and this season has even managed to cut his walks to a better-than-average level.
The Orioles are already flush with lefties, including closer Zach Britton as well as Brian Matusz and T.J. McFarland. Miller is possibly the best of the bunch, though, besides maybe Britton, who has also blossomed in a relief role. So even if the Orioles now have too many southpaws, it's because they managed to upgrade on preexisting ones.
Rodriguez is a steep price for the O’s to pay for a reliever, even one as effective as Miller. The 21-year-old lefty was widely considered one of the Orioles’ top five prospects coming into the season, ranking in the 60-70 range at most major prospects outlets in preseason top-100 lists, and at No. 43 on Keith Law’s. So far this year he’s been underwhelming, posting a 4.79 ERA in 16 starts for Double-A Bowie, but he’s just 21 and in his first taste of the level.
Rodriguez joins Edwin Escobar, acquired for Jake Peavy, as a recent top-100 prospect added to the Red Sox's already flourishing prospect pitching ranks. Even though they don't have a single prospect who will grow up to be the next Jon Lester -- traded earlier on Thursday in a deal that netted the Red Sox Yoenis Cespedes -- they do have essentially two upper-level rotations full of potential major-league starters, a group that includes Rodriguez.
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