Headlines

  • Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib
  • Reds Release Jeimer Candelario
  • Dave Parker Passes Away
  • Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles
  • Pirates Reportedly Have Very Few Untouchable Players At Trade Deadline
  • Griffin Canning Believed To Have Suffered Achilles Injury
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Non-Tender Candidate: Andrew Miller

By Mike Axisa | October 30, 2010 at 7:58pm CDT

There is no commodity in baseball more precious than young power pitching, and that goes double if the player happens to be lefthanded. That's the case with Andrew Miller of the Marlins, the sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft and one of the key pieces in the December 2007 trade that sent Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to Detroit.

It's easy to forget that he's still just 25 years old, but it seems like Miller had lived a baseball lifetime. He made his big league debut a few weeks after signing his first contract, throwing 10.1 innings of low-pressure relief down the stretch for Jim Leyland's club. After a brief minor league tune-up the next year, Miller found himself in the Tigers' rotation at midsummer, posting a 5.63 ERA in 13 starts. The next year he was in Florida, and in his three seasons with the Fish he's pitched to a 5.89 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 5.1 BB/9 in 220 innings.

Miller has been bouncing back and forth between the majors and minors throughout his career as he's struggled to find consistency with his delivery and command, and as a result he's now out of options. If the Marlins want to sent him to minors next year, he'll have to first be exposed to the other 29 teams on waivers. There's a chance that will be a non-issue though, because Florida may opt to simply non-tender Miller this offseason.

Thanks to the major league contract he signed out of the draft, Miller earned a touch over $1.79MM in 2010. That original deal expired after 2009, though it paid him $1.575MM that season, which was used as a base for his 2010 compensation. Considering how poorly he's pitched, not to mention the system in general, Miller wouldn't have come close to a seven-figure salary in either of the last two years if he was a regular player with less than three years of service time. Given their financial restraints, it's not tough to see why the Marlins may opt to pass on paying Miller close to $2MM in 2011.

Despite all that, it's tough to walk away from a young lefty that still touches the mid-90's with his fastball. The Kevin Towers led Padres wanted Miller in a potential Heath Bell trade last year, and I'm sure general manager Michael Hill would be able to drum up some trade interest if he looks around. That would be preferable than a non-tender, since at least Florida would get something other than payroll relief in return.

What do you think the Marlins will do with Miller this offseason? Click here to vote and here to see the results. Thanks in advance.

Share 0 Retweet 9 Send via email0

Miami Marlins Non-Tender Candidates Andrew Miller

Mets Offered Takahashi One-Year Deal
Main
Odds & Ends: Crawford, Indians, Lopez, Brewers
View Comments (30)
Post a Comment

30 Comments

  1. cweradio

    15 years ago

    Attention Mr. Alderson … SIGN THIS GUY PLEASE

    Reply
    • Dave_Gershman

      15 years ago

      I don’t see why any team shouldn’t take a gamble on him, which is also why I see the Marlins keeping him. Anytime you have a pitcher who was as dominant in college as Miller was and who has visible potential (I’m not saying he has visible potential), you take a flyer. I don’t think the Marlins will or should non-tender him, but if they do, I expect many teams to attempt to sign him.

      Reply
  2. Al Briggs

    15 years ago

    i’d be shocked to see him get non-tendered. a young lefty w/ mid-90’s heat? he just needs the duncan treatment…

    Reply
  3. Sniderlover

    15 years ago

    I would like it if Jays could take a chance at him.

    Reply
    • safari_punch

      15 years ago

      Why?

      Reply
    • Dave_Gershman

      15 years ago

      I think the perfect team to sign him would be the Cardinals.

      David Duncan.

      Reply
  4. PookieGonzales

    15 years ago

    I think this has the sound of a guy theo would try out of the bullpen. ehhh….. that though kinda scares me

    Reply
  5. airohpue13

    15 years ago

    In an early post Mike Axisa wrote, “Miller was the consensus top talent in the 2006 draft, but lasted until the sixth pick because of bonus demands”. What went wrong with this guy? I know when I saw him play for the tigers it seemed like he only knew how to throw a fastball.

    Reply
    • bigpat

      15 years ago

      The Tigers rushed him like they did with all their prospects. Verlander worked out, but it hasn’t been so great for many other of their prospects. It seems like they don’t even give a guy a season in the minors before they’re in the bigs, and it’s too much pressure for a lot of guys, especially considering they draft power arms with spotty control. Tough to learn vs the best, but if they do I guess it works out.

      Reply
      • Christian

        15 years ago

        I thought he demanded to be in the big leagues pretty much right away or he wouldn’t sign. Not the Tigers fault on this one, just greed and impatience on the part of Miller.

        Reply
  6. Drew W

    15 years ago

    Remembering back to when he was such a huge draft prospect, it’s hard to believe his career is already at a crossroads. I think Miller’s future will be in the back of a bullpen somewhere, whether it’s for the Marlins or someone else. He needs to get with the right pitching coach that can help expand his repertoire and not lean everything on that fastball. Or maybe his career will be the Cliff Lee route; spending some time in the minors and coming back up a CY Young winner?

    Reply
  7. qudjy1

    15 years ago

    I could see towers going after him again…

    Reply
  8. vtadave

    15 years ago

    Taking Miller over Kershaw and that Lincecum guy probably wasn’t the best call…

    Reply
    • Dave_Gershman

      15 years ago

      He was drafted by the Tigers.

      Reply
      • start_wearing_purple

        15 years ago

        He was still drafted ahead of Kershaw and Lincecum.

        Reply
        • Dave_Gershman

          15 years ago

          Right, but at the time it wasn’t crazy.

          Reply
          • start_wearing_purple

            15 years ago

            True. As I recall of the 3, Miller was considered to be closest to major league talent.

            Reply
      • vtadave

        15 years ago

        Well aware of that…

        Reply
        • Sniderlover

          15 years ago

          So then why bring it up? Its easy to look into things hindsight.

          Reply
          • Dave_Gershman

            15 years ago

            Like our good buddy Albert Pujols, to whom every team passed on 12+ times.

            Reply
  9. mrsjohnmiltonrocks

    15 years ago

    He’s still fairly young, he’s still left handed, he’s managed to stay healthy. I see him as a project for Don Cooper or Mike Maddux. They both have great track records with mechanically screwed up youngsters.

    The Marlins should work a deal with Texas or the White Sox.

    Reply
    • RidiculousPage

      15 years ago

      He hasn’t exactly stayed healthy. As I recall, he’s had a fee knee problems through the years. And he’s not exactly throwing gas anymore.

      Reply
  10. SalvadorM

    15 years ago

    the Padres can take him easy. big park you know.

    Reply
  11. johnsilver

    15 years ago

    Watch him pitch a game. he can’t repeat his delivery pretty much every time he throws for some reason. Willis (Dontre) is about the only other troubled pitcher last year I at least noticed that on and maybe the guy is just plain old too stubborn to change it.

    Just because he throws mid 90’s and is LH isn’t some magical jelly bean either..Willis has the same talent (or rather lack of) and hasn’t been worth 2C for 3 years.

    Reply
    • cubfan4life

      15 years ago

      One of the biggest problems is that through his time at UNC he was a low 3/4 almost sidearm guy and for him it was an easily repeatable delivery even if it was somewhat unorthodox when you watched him it was an easy motion for him.

      Then when he got to Detroit and after that Florida, someone who thought he knew what he was doing decided to change his mechanics to make him more high 3/4 to over the top. You cant change a pitchers mechanics that much and expect him to succeed right away. Combine the mechanical change with high expectations and you have a guy still learning something only this time its against major league hitters.

      I thought i read something this season about the FLA guys letting him go back to what he used to use but by then all he had to be thinking was “why didnt you just leave me alone in the first place” and his confidence is shot and his trust in the team and coaches is shot.

      For his own good i hope he is Non-Tendered. If he is i smell STL/Dave Duncan in his future.

      Reply
  12. hartvig

    15 years ago

    Part of Willis’ problem is the leg kick he uses & as he’s gotten older & a little larger he no longer has the flexibility to do it consistently. I don’t remember enough about Miller’s mechanics to know what his problem is.

    Reply
  13. RidiculousPage

    15 years ago

    The thing with Miller is that he can’t repeat his delivery, which is huge for a pitcher, and in the last two years, he’s lost about 4 mph on his fastball. He kinda jus whips the ball up there at around 91 and then throws junk for breaking balls. Watching his delivery several times, I wonder how the hell this guy was ever dominant. 96 doesn’t matter if you can’t spot it.

    Reply
  14. marlinsfanatic

    15 years ago

    I can see the Marlins trading Miller to the Nationals for Pudge or in any deal to get a catcher.

    Reply
  15. abraves10

    15 years ago

    FRANK WREN SIGN THIS GUY….sign him and bonderman and let them battle it out for the number 5 spot

    Reply
  16. Henry Castellanos

    15 years ago

    This guy is one good pitching coach away from being a solid ML starter

    Oh Cardinals…

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Pirates Reportedly Have Very Few Untouchable Players At Trade Deadline

    Griffin Canning Believed To Have Suffered Achilles Injury

    Mariners Looking For Corner Infield Bats; Ownership Willing To Bump Payroll

    Wander Franco Found Guilty Of Sexual Abuse

    Mariners Place Rowdy Tellez On Release Waivers

    Max Meyer To Undergo Season-Ending Hip Surgery

    Whit Merrifield Announces Retirement

    White Sox Sign Noah Syndergaard To Minor League Deal

    Corbin Carroll Placed On IL With Wrist Fracture

    Hoops Rumors Has The Latest On NBA Draft, Free Agency

    Mets Option Francisco Alvarez

    Reds To Promote Chase Burns For MLB Debut

    A.J. Puk Undergoes Elbow Surgery; Gabriel Moreno Diagnosed With Fractured Finger

    Braves To Select Didier Fuentes

    Anthopoulos On Trading Chris Sale: “Will Not Happen”

    Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg In “Advanced” Talks To Sell Team

    Recent

    Yankees Select Geoff Hartlieb, Place Fernando Cruz On 15-Day IL

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Chicago White Sox

    Trade Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Today At 3:30pm CT

    Padres Designate Logan Gillaspie For Assignment

    Phillies Reinstate Bryce Harper, Designate Buddy Kennedy For Assignment

    Athletics Select Colby Thomas

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Submit Your Questions For This Week’s Episode Of The MLBTR Podcast

    Poll: Should The Pirates Trade Mitch Keller?

    The Opener: Brown, Waldron, Schmitt

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version