Report: Yankees In Serious Pursuit Of Lefty Reliever Miller
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Imagine the back end of a bullpen featuring Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller.
The Yankees are reportedly dreaming up that very scenario.
Coming off their second straight non-playoff season, the Yankees were expected to be proactive in fixing the problems that plagued them in 2014. However, since free agency started they've made just minor moves and have reportedly been focusing on specific areas of need over all-out spending.
It looks like Miller, one of the better relievers in all of baseball, is someone they covet, ESPN reported Monday.
The hard-throwing left-hander is coming off a tremendous 2014 season in which he pitched to a 2.02 ERA with 17 walks and 103 strikeouts in 62 1-3 innings for the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles.
Since becoming a full-time reliever in 2012, Miller, the former No. 6 overall pick in the amateur draft by the Detroit Tigers in 2006, has pitched to a 2.56 ERA over 133 1-3 innings, a far cry from his career 4.91 ERA that was largely inflated by early struggles as a starter.
The Red Sox traded Miller last season in a salary dump and the 29-year-old southpaw went on to pitch to a 1.35 ERA in 23 appearances for the Orioles.
It is believed Miller could command a four-year deal in the neighborhood of $8 million per, and if the Yankees are going to get him they will reportedly have to outbid a few teams, including the Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Teaming the 6-foot-7 Miller with the young and also 6-7 Betances, who quickly became one of the premier power relievers in the game last season, would give the Yankees a serious presence in the later innings and would allow them to end their pursuit of closer David Robertson. The Yankees have reportedly wanted to bring the veteran right-hander back, but not for four years and around $52 million, which is what he's reportedly demanding.
Then again, as the New York Post reported Monday, the Yankees could be pursuing Miller to put pressure on Robertson to take less to return to the only team he's ever known.
If Robertson signs with another team, the Yankees would receive a compensatory draft pick.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
