The Dodgers have inked infielder Brad Miller to a minor league deal, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports on Twitter. He’ll join the MLB side of Spring Training once the deal is finalized.
Miller, 29, has generally been a solid offensive performer, with an overall track record of .239/.313/.409 hitting through 2,505 plate appearances in six MLB seasons. He delivers notable pop for a player capable of playing the middle infield, with a lifetime .170 isolated power mark and one thirty-homer season under his belt (2016). A left-handed hitter, Miller has typically found quite a bit more success against right-handed pitching, with a 46-point platoon split in his lifetime wRC+ figures.
It’s hard to characterize Miller otherwise, as his offensive profile has shifted over the last few seasons. His follow-up to his power surge was a 2017 season in which he lept to a 15.5% walk rate but managed only a .201 batting average and career-low .136 ISO.
It was also in 2017 that Miller began to strike out with greater frequency. That issue truly came to the fore last year, when he went down on strikes in nearly a third of his plate appearances. Otherwise, though, Miller turned in a relatively balanced campaign that mostly reflected his career mean, with a .248/.311/.413 slash and seven home runs through 254 plate appearances.
The shapeshifting hasn’t prevented Miller from typically turning in plenty of offense for a shortstop. But he hasn’t been asked to line up there since ’16, when metrics distinctly soured on his glovework. Miller hasn’t graded as a positive on the right side of the infield, either, but he can probably be trusted with at least some innings anywhere on the dirt.
Making the Dodgers roster out of camp will likely be a tall order for Miller, though his versatility and platoon-friendly offensive profile certainly suit the club’s mantra. Miller will look to follow in the footsteps of several other recent utilitymen — including former Mariners shortstop competitor Chris Taylor and 2018 breakout performer Max Muncy — in finding new form in Los Angeles. Muncy’s own presence on the roster is what makes Miller seem like a particularly tough fit at this point, though any number of developments could leave Miller with an opening to stake a claim to a job.
Does this take them out of the Harper sweepstakes?
Definitely, there’s no way they can afford Harper now with this signing
I came here to see how many comments it would take before someone said this…
Same.
Me three.
Same here
Nice depth signing…now how about some bullpen arms to go along with Mr. Miller please and thank you
For both starters and relievers, the Dodgers have the deepest pitching staff in baseball. At least three, quality, big-league arms won’t make the roster out of spring training.
Teasers.
I got excited thinking it was going to say Dodgers sign Bryce Harper hahaha
It would be awesome and initially I predicted he would sign with the Phillies or the Dodgers would sneak in and grab him. But, if the Giants are going to offer a 10 year deal and hit the 300 million plus mark I’m afraid he might decide that San Fran is close enough to Vegas. I hope that I’m pleasantly surprised.
I agree with you completely and I also hope we get nice surprise that he chooses the Dodgers.
The first 15 letters of this headline got all dodger fans excited
Dodgers to sign brrrrrrrrad Miller.. lol
Dodgers to sign [anticipation builds]…………Brad Miller
Womp womp
Better buy them season tickets now. We’re World Series champions for sure now. I guess left field should read MILLERWOOD! Sorry Manny
Didn’t do well in math I guess?
.313/.409 OPS+ was about league average last year
The Dodgers have done a great job making the most out of their depth signings, waiver claims, and minor trades. Guys like Justin Turner, Chris Taylor, and Max Muncy have come out of nowhere to become very useful and effective major league players. For my money, Miller could be that guy this year. Not saying he will for certain (it’s more likely than not he won’t), but if I had to guess which depth piece of the Dodgers will come out of nowhere this year, it’d be him
I have to admit, some teams can take a pitcher and revive them, but the Dodgers excel at reviving position players.
Yeah, they have a pretty analytically-minded front office that is great at analyzing data and relating it to players to improve results. Muncy is a great example of this.
I feel like this player may be a bit overrated…His career year seems like more of an anomaly. I hope the Dodgers aren’t expecting that kind of production….oh sorry…copy-pasted from a different story…hahaha!
Dodgers…
…to sign…
…Br…
…ad Miller!
This signing could be the product of information we are not privy to yet. There could be an injury to someone or even a trade in the mix that would be the opening for Miller.
Or just signed Miller as a depth signing.
Jeff Todd on first shift today, denying us Adams until 2nd shift…
Most notable signing of the Dodgers offseason. I can’t see any other signing topping this…
Seriously nice depth move though.
“Hasn’t lined up at SS since 2016”
*opens page
*6 games at SS for MIL
Terrific signing. He’ll blend in perfectly in the Dodgers offense since he strikes out 1/3 of his at bats.
I agree. Seems like their true sport is golf rather than baseball especially Cody Bellenger. Man, what a golf swing. He would have already won the Masters at the rate he swings the bat. Lookout Tiger here comes Cody and the Dodgers!!!!!
May be cheap insurance on a couple fronts (a) could be concern that Seager may need extended spring camp for month or two or (b) a Harper signing could lead to a few trades that would reduce infield options
How is batting 239 solid? This is exactly why baseball is going to hell. Numbers like that are acceptable. Players are being rushed to the Majors because cheap owners would rather tank than compete. MLB should take a page out of the NBA notebook and penalize teams for tanking on purpose.
Careful metric geeks will belittle you for caring about his batting average.
Hmm. Not a metrics geek but according to OPS+ he’s been around league-average over the course of his career. Pretty good to have someone like that as depth.
Lol
If you’re going to give me a stat, give me anything except batting average. The difference between batting 240 and 300 is six singles per 100 at-bats. That’s nothing. Give me OBP or SLG% or total bases or…well, anything. Runs win games. The way to score runs is to get on base.
Sweet, another Logan Forsythe!
Loving Dodgers off season…
Pollock instead of Harper
Miller instead of Dietrich
Martin instead of Grandal
Dumped Wood and Puig for a couple prospects
What’s next? Are they going to trade Muncy so they can sign Logan Morrison?
You know your reaching when you say signing 1 guy to a minors deal over another is bad.
Dietrich is a horrible defender. Yes he can play multiple positions, but his bat is what’s keeping him around. Miller on the other hand is an above average defender.
They also dumped Kemp, who was either their 2nd or 3rd best hitter in the clutch, either behind just Turner or Turner and Muncy.
Hey Friedman, Kastan. Do the names Harper,Kimbrel, and Keuchel sound interesting enough for the hard earned money that us Dodger fans bless your paychecks, and the organization with every single season. Don’t we deserve more than just these mediocre signings. And Friedman, can you please just stop scouting and signing players from the Tampa Bay Rays organization if their names are not Chris Archer. It’s getting old dude! Go back if you miss the organization that much.
They are trying to sign Harper. Kimbrel wants to close and is demanding a ridiculous contract. Keuchel is a 3 starter on a good team and has neck issues. Chris Archer is not good either so your idea of talent takes a huge dip after Harper.
Whether my take on Keuchel, Kimbrel, and Archer takes a dip in your opinion but it sure in the hell beats what we have right now considering our bullpen took a dive last year and with Kershaw not feeling it this early in the season any kind of help will do. They’ve signed worse before. Take the Jason Schmidt, Kevin Brown acquisitions for example.
Wow they signed some bad contracts 10/20 years ago that really has an effect now. Unless Kimbrel and Keuchel drastically drop their asking price there is no reason to sign them. Even if Kershaw gets hurt they have plenty of depth to handle it
If you enjoy just being National League West Division champs knock yourself out with your opinion about our so call depth but it gets frustrating to see an opposing team celebrate twice on our field a World Series championship while some like yourself talk about how much depth we have. I guess we’ll have to wait and see how much our depth takes us this year. If their taking a chance on this guy then why the hell not kenleyfornia!
Yes and thats why i want Harper. Keuchel doesn’t move the needle at all. He would be the 3rd starter on this team and his postseason history is shakey after that wild card game in NY. Kimbrel wants to close and get Jansen money. Thats not happening.
Bigjimboy47, Exactly. Are we any better depth wise going into this season over last year…I say nope.
2016 was his Brady Anderson Season…now reality..
Its only depth
No way LA will go above their $197M threshold promised to potential investors awhile back. Front office is stringing fans along….
Last year before his release he was at 1B and played brilliantly against Boston. Small sample size and his offense is NOT quality. Sorry .248/.311/.413 “slash” line (boy is that phrase overused) is not quality at any position other than catcher or pitcher.
Enjoy the feast or famine, LA.
What ever happened to Tom Koehler?
What happened to Tom Koehler?
He had shoulder surgery and is in minor-league camp with the Pirates.