The Arizona Diamondbacks have reportedly informed other teams that starting pitcher Shelby Miller is on the trade block amid the pitcher’s struggles this season.
Continue for updates.
Stewart Comments on Miller’s Future
Monday, July 25
“We have been asked about [Miller],” Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart said to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. “Teams think we’ve given up on him, we haven’t.”
Diamondbacks Reportedly Gauging Market for Miller
Sunday, July 24
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported Miller is being shopped to teams ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Diamondbacks Face Difficult Decision on Struggling Miller
Miller, 25, has had a rough 2016 campaign with a 2-9 record and 7.14 ERA.
Expected to be among the better arms on the Diamondbacks staff behind ace Zack Greinke, Miller has fallen well short of expectations in his first season with Arizona.
The Diamondbacks acquired the right-hander in a trade with the Atlanta Braves in December. He was coming off a season in which he posted a 3.02 ERA in 33 starts but had only a 6-17 record to show for it.
On July 14, Arizona demoted Miller to Triple-A.
“I saw it coming,” Miller said, per AZCentral.com’s Nick Piecoro. “I have a 7.14 ERA. It’s not like I’m pitching great. … Obviously I was kind of struggling up here for a while. I’m surprised I stayed up here this long.”
Part of the problem may be related to Miller’s right index finger injury, which resulted in his first career trip to the disabled list and kept him out of action for nearly a month.
In his first start for Triple-A Reno, Miller allowed three earned runs and struck out 10 over 6.2 innings. Per Kevin Zimmerman of ArizonaSports.com, Miller had a no-hit bid going through the first five innings before yielding three consecutive hits, including a three-run homer.
If Miller recovers the form he showed in Atlanta, trade suitors may well be interested in him. But the Diamondbacks will have difficulty recouping their investment in him—which included 2015 No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson.
Arizona could use any assets it requires in a trade involving Miller, though. The Diamondbacks are in last place in the National League West and have the third-worst record in the NL.
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