Headlines

  • Marlins Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Strain
  • White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor
  • Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony
  • Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence
  • Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.
  • Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment
  • 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
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • 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

Cubs To Acquire Tyson Miller

By Anthony Franco | May 13, 2024 at 11:06pm CDT

The Cubs are acquiring reliever Tyson Miller from the Mariners for minor league infielder Jake Slaughter, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (X link). Seattle had designated Miller for assignment last week.

Miller returns to the organization that selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. The Cal Baptist product reached the majors for a very brief stint during the 2020 season. The Cubs lost him on waivers to the Rangers the following year. That kicked off a nomadic stretch of his career that has seen Miller suit up for five teams without reaching even 15 innings for any of them.

The right-hander played for three teams last year. He bounced via waivers between the Brewers, Mets and Dodgers. Miller combined for 15 1/3 innings of eight-run ball and cleared waivers in September. He hit minor league free agency and inked a non-roster deal with Seattle going into 2024. The M’s called him up two weeks into the regular season.

Miller had a productive month in the Pacific Northwest. He threw 11 2/3 frames over nine appearances, allowing four earned runs. Miller punched out 12 against one walk with a solid 12.6% swinging strike percentage. It was a little surprising that Seattle nevertheless took him off the roster, although he’d been in a low-leverage role in a solid bullpen.

The Cubs have a shakier relief corps than the Mariners do. Chicago’s bullpen entered play Monday ranked 24th in the majors with a 4.58 earned run average. Their 23.4% strikeout rate is fine, but they’ve issued walks at a huge 11% clip. Chicago also has five relievers on the injured list at present. Yency Almonte landed on the shelf over the weekend, while Adbert Alzolay just went down with a forearm strain this evening.

Miller is out of options, so he’ll step right into the major league bullpen. The Cubs need to create a 40-man roster spot to finalize his acquisition and will need to make an active roster move once he reports to the team.

In return for a middle reliever who had been squeezed off the depth chart, Seattle adds an upper minors infielder who is out to a strong start. Slaughter, 27, has a .297/.392/.486 slash line over 130 plate appearances for Chicago’s top affiliate in Iowa. He has connected on five homers, stolen 10 bases in 11 tries, and drawn walks at a strong 11.5% clip. His 24.6% strikeout rate is slightly higher than average but around three percentage points lower than last year’s 27.5% mark.

Slaughter was an 18th-round pick out of LSU back in 2018. He has never drawn much prospect fanfare and has gone unselected in the Rule 5 draft twice. His numbers this season are strong enough that he has a chance to reach the majors in a reserve capacity this year, though. He would qualify for minor league free agency at the start of next offseason if Seattle doesn’t add him to the 40-man roster before then.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Chicago Cubs Seattle Mariners Transactions Tyson Miller

Yankees Release Luis Gonzalez
Main
The Opener: Hoskins, Lowe, MLBTR Chat
View Comments (52)
Post a Comment

52 Comments

  1. SODOMOJO

    1 year ago

    They want the slider. His arm slot and the movement make that thing nasty, when he’s locating

    2
    Reply
  2. Logjammer D"Baggagecling

    1 year ago

    Did they overpay for someone they already DFA’d 3 years ago?

    3
    Reply
    • frankf

      1 year ago

      I wouldn’t classify a 27 year old AAAA utility guy as an overpay.

      14
      Reply
      • golga333

        1 year ago

        I feel like to be a AAAA guy, you would have had to at least played in the bigs once. He’s a AAA guy.

        2
        Reply
      • Sam66mvp

        1 year ago

        Slaughter was also left unprotected in the last 2 Rule 5 drafts, with no takers.

        Reply
  3. Stevil

    1 year ago

    Too much will probably be made of this. Miller was good for Seattle, but he was used selectively and rarely. I don’t expect either player to have significant roles for their new, respective clubs.

    That said, I’m struggling to understand why Bazardo wasn’t optioned following his rehab stint.

    6
    Reply
    • myaccount2

      1 year ago

      I agree. “Selectively” is the key word here. He had a 3.09 ERA in essentially all low leverage situations. He’s a bullpen version of an inning eater.

      4
      Reply
    • Jarred Kelenic's Beer Can

      1 year ago

      They probably really like Bazardo and think he could break out.

      1
      Reply
      • SODOMOJO

        1 year ago

        Bazardo was hard to watch the other day. Yikes

        Reply
    • DarkSide830

      1 year ago

      FWIW, this was Miller’s 2nd full season as a RP. Very possible he can make it work in this newer role.

      1
      Reply
      • Dogbone

        1 year ago

        Cubs taking a flyer on this move. They could be only buying time, while some BP arms heal.
        Nothing of significance to lose, and no one can say for sure how it might help, even if it’s only for a short time. Slaughter was a loyal soldier in the minors, he didn’t have a path to Chicago – the Cubs are doing him a big favor.

        2
        Reply
  4. Trojan Toss

    1 year ago

    White Sox, Southside.

    2
    Reply
  5. Unclemike1525

    1 year ago

    That’s a waste of a really good player in Slaughter for another P who can’t get anybody out. Terrible trade. Hoyer loves his pets. Smyly, Straily, Wisdom. Slaughter was the guy who could replace Wisdom.

    1
    Reply
    • Unclemike1525

      1 year ago

      I was surprised to read he was passed up twice in the Rule 5 draft. He’ll be a decent player for Seattle.

      Reply
      • myaccount2

        1 year ago

        I would love for that to be true, but I have my reservations. I think both players are more so going to be swing players.

        1
        Reply
        • drasco036

          1 year ago

          Scouts see things different than fans. If 30 teams passed on Slaughter in the rule 5 and the Cubs are dealing for a player who was DFA, that pretty much tells me all I need to know. Just because a guy can hit decent in the minors, doesn’t mean he will hit at all in the majors.

          4
          Reply
      • Logjammer D"Baggagecling

        1 year ago

        I don’t know much about him. I thought he was a top 30 cubs prospect. I hope he gets the call finally. I think he was blocked by too many players. I think if they were going to trade for a bullpen piece. I could have seen them getting a bigger name reliever and packaged Slaughter with a top 20 prospect maybe 2. Maybe not Mason Miller but maybe Tanner Scott.

        Reply
      • frankf

        1 year ago

        He’s the type who can maybe slaughter (pun intended)fastballs for a few weeks before pitchers stop giving them to him and he craters into oblivion.

        1
        Reply
        • Unclemike1525

          1 year ago

          He can play 1B, 2B, 3B, Of can run and has power. It was all the same crap The Cubs have been saying about Wisdom for the last 4 years Ad Nauseum. So they lost a hitter, They have enough, And lose a bum Lovelady, And replace him with an old Hoyer bum Miller. Not going to lose a lot of sleep over it and can’t wait to see Miller pitch against the Braves. You know they’ll toss him right out there. Keep shopping at the bottom of the reliever pond and you’ll have a DFA bullpen.

          Reply
        • mike127

          1 year ago

          Uncle—I challenge you, as one that watches all the minor league stuff, to show ONE time EVER where you touted Mr. Slaughter. Please. I dug through some articles this morning just to backtrack on his projections—guess what—pre-season NOT in the top 30 prospects—back to January–not in the top FIFTY prospects and he’s 27.

          You’ll jump online and complain about the pen (no issue what that) but be the first to question ANY move when they try to patchwork it together at absolutely no cost at all. Seattle had a glut and had to desginate someone—the Cubs picked him up with nothing. And, I promise, when Slaughter becomes the second coming of Frank Schwindel in Seattle I will eat crow—promise.

          You have to quit living in the absolute millisecond of everything—it’s a 162 game season and thankfully Jed and team have that concept in mind.

          2
          Reply
      • Sam66mvp

        1 year ago

        For their AAA team

        1
        Reply
    • mike127

      1 year ago

      Since Miller has no option he needs to come directly to the roster—hmmm, does this mean a 60 day IL for Alzolay? Does Uncle finally get his wish and Davis is DFA? Or is it Brewer that gets DFA and Miller slots there?

      The odd part of the trade is that Miller has no options left so it reduces, even more, any shuttle ability the Cubs have to “try” to piece together the right bullpen parts.

      And Uncle—the guy that replaces (when that time comes) Wisdom had better be Matt Shaw, not some 27 year old career minor leaguer. I’m not a Wisdom fan at all, but I’m certainly willing to admit that Dras is much more correct on Wisdom than either of us. He is and has to be a key part of this team.

      Reply
      • MacGromit

        1 year ago

        cubbies may try to DFA Miller themselves and push him to the minors if they don’t think they can roster him immediately.

        Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      1 year ago

      What? Slaughter is a 27 year-old minor leaguer. He wasn’t replacing anybody in Chicago. Cubs desperately need bullpen help because Hoyer continues to believe that relievers aren’t worth paying.

      Reply
      • Brick House Coffee Tables Inc

        1 year ago

        Slaughter might give the Mariners a Schwindel-ish three weeks at 2B later this season. But he wasn’t going to do that in Chicago. Hopefully he gets a call up and gets a few hits for the Mariners.

        1
        Reply
        • rememberthecoop

          1 year ago

          I mean, sure, anyone can get hot over a small sample size. I wasn’t implying that Slaughter is useless.. We don’t know. Inwas responding to the overreaction on moving a guy like him.

          Reply
        • Logjammer D"Baggagecling

          1 year ago

          Or 3rd. He would be an immediate upgrade to Eugenio Suarez.

          Reply
    • mohoney

      1 year ago

      He has been getting outs this year. He is definitely worth a look for a bullpen that has seen a rash of injuries.

      1
      Reply
  6. Ben10

    1 year ago

    Ty France, you have been put on notice.

    Reply
    • myaccount2

      1 year ago

      Because they traded for a guy who was passed up in the rule 5 draft? Or are you joking?

      3
      Reply
  7. CarryABigStick

    1 year ago

    Who gets the boot, Thompson or Cuas for the 3rd time this week?

    Reply
    • mike127

      1 year ago

      Neither of them—it has to be a DFA or 60 day IL stint to add Miller to the 40 man. You are not flat out letting go of either Keegan or Cuas. It has to be someone the organization is willing to lose for good. My bet is Adbert goes on the 60 day IL to create the spot. THEN Miller will slot in for Keegan or Cuas. I think that is what you were getting at, Stick.

      Reply
      • rememberthecoop

        1 year ago

        I would easily let go of Cuas. Keegan, I would still keep around, although he isn’t pitching well enough to be on a contending team’s active roster right now.

        Reply
      • CarryABigStick

        1 year ago

        Correct. Somebody on the active roster had to be optioned.

        Reply
    • Logjammer D"Baggagecling

      1 year ago

      Thompson went to the IL some some kind of illness.

      Reply
  8. frankf

    1 year ago

    You see, if you sign enough middling relief pitchers, you can combine them into one all powerful relief pitcher. Like Devastator, only a relief pitcher.

    2
    Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      1 year ago

      I sometimes wonder if Hoyer actually believes this.

      Reply
    • solaris602

      1 year ago

      Now that you mention it this seems exactly what CLE has been doing so far this year in acquiring 3 dumpster fire-level righty relievers. Even if they merge the three it’s still gonna take a lot of luck and spellcasting on the part of Carl Willis to create one somewhat serviceable, shaky at times bullpen piece.

      Reply
  9. Old York

    1 year ago

    In the grand tapestry of professional baseball, this trade epitomizes the symbiotic relationship between past experiences, present needs, and future aspirations. It serves as a testament to the perpetual evolution and strategic acumen inherent in shaping championship-caliber teams.

    1
    Reply
    • lee cousins

      1 year ago

      Yeah, was that Yogi Berra?

      Reply
  10. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    SEA killed it in this trade.

    Reply
    • rememberthecoop

      1 year ago

      Nobody killed it in this trade. You’re making way too much out of nothing.

      2
      Reply
    • Blah blah blah

      1 year ago

      Slaughter is what is known as a Quad-A player. There is a reason he is passed up in the rule 5 draft every year. Teams know his bat will not translate to major league level.

      1
      Reply
  11. Dumpster Divin Theo

    1 year ago

    Slaughter rules!

    2
    Reply
    • solaris602

      1 year ago

      Country Slaughter 2.0

      1
      Reply
  12. lee cousins

    1 year ago

    I liked this trade, hitting from any source whatever if for nothing else shows the M’s have there eyes on the ball. And with a name like Slaughter that sounds like a good start.

    Reply
  13. chrisjaybecker

    1 year ago

    Let the Sergeant Slaughter era begin.

    1
    Reply
  14. vtadave

    1 year ago

    They traded for the wrong Miller.

    Reply
    • solaris602

      1 year ago

      Miller time ain’t what it used to be.

      Reply
  15. deadmanonleave

    1 year ago

    Genuinely strange that Miller got DFA’d ahead of Bazardo on what I’d seen so far but the Ms do know their pitching. Slaughter seems more interesting than the usual token return but we will see.

    Reply
  16. Wheeler Dealer

    1 year ago

    This is about as bad as dumpster diving gets

    Reply
  17. lee cousins

    1 year ago

    Slaughter has play improved defense of late, plays multiple positions, can hit well, runs the bases also well. He checks all the box’s, and yet there remains some reservation about him accenting further. Now for him to hit in the majors.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Marlins Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Strain

    White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Angels Acquire LaMonte Wade Jr.

    Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment

    Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

    Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox

    White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel

    Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

    Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain

    MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026

    Giants Designate LaMonte Wade Jr., Sign Dominic Smith

    Reds Sign Wade Miley, Place Hunter Greene On Injured List

    Padres Interested In Jarren Duran

    Royals Promote Jac Caglianone

    Mariners Promote Cole Young, Activate Bryce Miller

    2025-26 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: May Edition

    Evan Phillips To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Recent

    Marlins Place Ryan Weathers On 60-Day IL With Lat Strain

    White Sox To Promote Grant Taylor

    Nats Notes: Nuñez, Chapparo, Williams

    The Orioles’ Long-Term Catching Situation

    Angels Select Shaun Anderson, Designate Garrett McDaniels For Assignment

    Fantasy Baseball: The New CSW Darlings

    Red Sox Promote Roman Anthony

    Mariners Designate Leody Taveras For Assignment, Outright Casey Lawrence

    Red Sox Designate Robert Stock For Assignment, Select Brian Van Belle

    Trade Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

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

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 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

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    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

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version