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Dansby Swanson is now in the majors, and Shelby Miller is not
Wednesday’s Say Hey, Baseball wants to you remind you that baseball is always ruder than you think it is.
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
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The Braves traded Shelby Miller to the Diamondbacks this past offseason, following a strong summer that made it seem as if the right-hander could have a future as a number two starter. It was an expensive trade even if you believed that to be true, as the D-Backs apparently did, but that might just be the cost of starters these days, too. Things haven’t worked out at all for Arizona or Miller yet, as the 25-year-old has a 7.14 ERA and a career-worst 1.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in the majors this year, a performance that has him down in Triple-A trying to return to form. This all stings that much more on Wednesday, as the Braves are promoting Dansby Swanson — a major piece from the swap — to the majors.
Swanson was the top pick in the 2015 MLB draft — not just for the D-Backs, but for everyone. He’s 22 and is skipping Triple-A after a good, but not great performance for Double-A where he hit .261/.342/.402. So, the potential to struggle in the majors or see himself back in the minors by next spring is real, but that doesn’t exactly make Diamondbacks’ fans feel any better considering he could be dealing with those growing pains in their team’s uniform instead.
This isn’t mean to say the trade was wrong — though it certainly looks at this time like Arizona’s faith in Miller was misplaced — but more to remind you that baseball is rude and unpredictable. The greatest opponents of this deal did not believe that Miller was going to pitch himself out of the majors and back into minor-league ball. And Miller still might rebound and find the production that made him a D-Backs’ target in the first place, but that won’t entirely erase this lost 2016. And if Swanson comes up and thrives and looks like he’ll never see the minors again... well, here’s your reminder that the Diamondbacks have until August 31 to exercise general manager Dave Stewart’s option for 2017, and they haven’t done it yet.
- It was just like old times over in Philly, as both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard went deep in the former’s return to Citizens Bank Park.
- Utley is beloved in Philadelphia still, if you couldn’t tell by the reaction to his dingers, but what if Chase Utley were to Chase Utley a Phillies’ player?
- The owner meetings are set to take place in Houston, and considering the collective bargaining agreement expires this offseason, there is going to be a whole lot of focus on what they’ll be negotiating.
- These are the best baseball stories of 2016 (so far). Don’t worry, the far more depressing ones will be on the way soon, too.
- Here are five players teams would love to move before the August 31 waiver trade deadline.
- The Royals still have a chance to sneak into the playoffs, as their recent run is reminding everyone, but they’ll have to be great from here on out.
- Over at Baseball Prospectus, Russell A. Carleton tries to figure out just how much performance-enhancing drugs actually, you know, enhance performance.
- Ben Lindbergh has an intriguing look at Zack Britton’s value this year, suggesting that, through a certain lens, you could argue he’s been the AL’s most valuable player.
- A’s reliever Sean Doolittle guested at ESPN to write about his favorite bullpens in the game. Not his favorite bullpens, as in the people comprising them, but the places where those relievers hang out during games.
- The Red Sox will have to keep fighting for a playoff spot without Blake Swihart, as he underwent ankle surgery and is expected to be back in time for 2017.
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