Report: Arizona Diamondbacks Inquire on Andrew Miller
By Charles Rahrig V
According to reports, the Arizona Diamondbacks have checked in on the availability of New York Yankees’ closer Andrew Miller.
Just about everyone knows that the Arizona Diamondbacks are a bullpen away from being serious contenders in the National League West. They have the offense and have young starting pitching that is coming along but the bullpen of the Snakes could definitely use some work.
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One area that the Diamondbacks need work on solving this off-season is finding a reliable closer after the disaster that was Addison Reed, who graced the mound late in games for the Diamondbacks. The team turned to the very reliable Brad Ziegler to close out games, but Ziegler, as even he would admit, is best served taking the ball earlier to get it to the closer.
Well, with the General Managers’ meetings underway in Florida, the Diamondbacks are doing their due diligence as they check around to see what is available in the closing department. Rumors have been flying around about the Diamondbacks and players they are checking in on thus far.
One of those names the Diamondbacks have been linked to is indeed a closer. According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the D-backs are among multiple teams that have inquired about the availability of the New York Yankees’ Andrew Miller.
Sources: #DBacks among teams to inquire on #Yankees’ Miller. No names exchanged yet, but AZ has young SPs, IFers who would interest NYY.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 11, 2015
The Diamondbacks and Yankees are no strangers to making deals as the two teams have made several deals in the past together. The Diamondbacks also have what the Yankees could be looking for in a deal for a closer.
Rosenthal states that the Yankees are looking for young pitchers and infielders to add to the roster. It just so happens that a deal for Miller could potentially solve those woes for both teams.
It’s a matter of what it would take to get Miller and whether or not the Diamondbacks are willing to pay the price to get a closer. With a ton of young infielders like Brandon Drury, Nick Ahmed, Chris Owings and others in the Minors, the Diamondbacks could very well have the assets to get a deal like this done.
The team might have a harder time giving up young starting pitching as the team wants to hold onto the pitchers they have, to see how they grow and progress going forward. However, they do have a numbers game that they are playing when it comes to the number of spots available in the rotation. So trading a young pitcher perhaps in a package for Miller is not out of the question either.
In 2015, Miller had a 2.04 ERA in 61.2 innings pitched for the Yankees. He had a WHIP of 0.859 and a BB/9 of 2.9. He also had 100 strikeouts in his 61.2 innings.
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The Arizona Diamondbacks are in need of a closer. Andrew Miller won’t be the only one that they inquire on the availability of. Expect them to be linked to more names as the days go on.