The Chunichi Dragons have signed left-hander Kyle Muller, according to multiple reports out of Japan. Muller elected free agency after he was outrighted off the Athletics’ 40-man roster at the end of the season, and he’ll now explore a new chapter of his career in Nippon Professional Baseball.
A second-round pick for the Braves in the 2016 draft, Muller was a regular on Baseball Prospectus’ top-100 prospect lists during his time in Atlanta’s farm system, though his numbers in the minors were more solid than dominant. Muller made his MLB debut in 2021 and posted a 5.14 ERA across 12 games and 49 innings with Atlanta in 2021-22 before the Braves sent him to the A’s as part of the three-team trade in December 2022 that saw Sean Murphy wind up in Atlanta.
Given a greater opportunity to start in Oakland, Muller posted a rough 7.60 ERA in 77 innings in 2023, losing his rotation job in the wake of his struggles. The southpaw was used only as a reliever in 2024 and posted a 4.01 ERA and five percent walk rate over 49 1/3 innings, with the improved control a big step forward given how walks had been a major issue for Muller in his previous big league work. Never much of a strikeout pitcher, Muller’s 17.8% strikeout rate in 2024 almost exactly matched his 17.9% career mark.
Since Muller is out of minor league options, the Athletics had to designate him for assignment and then outright him a first time in August. The lack of option years will be an obstacle for Muller going forward in terms of North American baseball, and if perhaps faced with a 2025 season spent bouncing around DFA limbo and the waiver wire, pitching for the Dragons on a guaranteed deal probably carried extra appeal. Muller is still only 27, so there’s plenty of time for a potential return to the majors if he pitches well in NPB.
Maybe he can get someone out over there.
I feel like he didn’t do that bad last year, 4.01 era in 49.1 innings is alright. He struggled a bit at the end of the season but I’m surprised no one wanted to give him a shot.
Probably jumped at first chance to make money and did not want to wait for an MLB team.
Lots of players are going to Japan, good food so jealous.
Be interesting to learn the value of the contracts. I liked Kyle Muller, thought he was a nice return in the Murphy trade, which also landed the A’s Estuary Ruiz.
So far both Muller and Royber Salinas have been DFA’d it will be up to Ruiz to make that trade good for the A’s side. Murphy did his best to boof it for the Braves this year.
Dragons always fish at around $1M and likely just one year with incentives. They were previously reported to be chasing Cole Irvine who signed for Doosan Bears in the KBO for $1M.