New York Yankees Trade: Andrew Miller Agrees to a Four-Year Deal
The Yankees have landed a top free agent pitcher to bulk up their bullpen. Non-closing reliever and former Boston Red Sox, Andrew Miller will be suiting up in Pinstripes this April.
"I love pitching in the AL East," said Miller. "I know you don't hear that every day, but the best I have ever pitched is in that division (with the Red Sox and Orioles). I know the ballparks; I know the teams."
Miller ended up choosing location over money. Instead of signing with the Houston Astros, who were offering $40 million for four-years, Miller decided to stay on the east coast and the AL east by signing the $36 million four-year contract with the Yankees. According to sources reported by the Boston Herald, the Red Sox did not offer as much money and were only pushing for a three-year deal with a fourth year option.
"I was very . . . not surprised, but excited to see who was interested. I felt I pitched well enough to put myself in this position. But it was hard to even dream about it turning out the way it did," Miller, who finished last season with a 2.02 ERA pitching for the Red Sox and the Orioles, said. "There were things that the Yankees could offer me that no one else could. I live in Tampa. That's two months at home that I don't have otherwise."
Miller's numbers over the past two seasons have been stellar. He posted a 2.23 ERA in 110 appearances and struck out an average of 14.6 batters per nine innings. His contract is the most lucrative one in the history of al contracts for a non-closing reliever.
"I'm not signing him to be our closer. I'm signing him to be a weapon in our pen," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said reported by the Boston Globe.
With this deal, rumors are circulating that the Yankees will not re-sign their closer, David Robertson. With several teams interested in Robertson, the Yankees might not be able to make a competitive enough offer to get the closer to stay. Miller will mostly likely be the set up man for Dellin Betances. However, the Yankees general manager, Brian Cashman, has remained tight-lipped about the exact role that Miller will play.
