The Arizona Diamondbacks generated plenty of buzz during the offseason when they signed Zack Greinke and traded for Shelby Miller. Both acquisitions came at a significant cost — financially for Greinke, and in terms of players sent to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Miller.
All Arizona’s splashy offseason has amounted to a sub-.500 record that has the club 17 games back of first place in the National League West. It’s a far cry from the projections that had the Diamondbacks dethroning the Los Angeles Dodgers as division champions in 2016.
Greinke struggled out of the gate and while he began to right the ship, is now on the disabled list with oblique tightness.
Meanwhile, Miller was optioned to Triple-A Reno prior to the Diamondbacks beginning their weekend series with the Dodgers.
Although the right-hander has been a disappointment in the desert, Miller has reportedly garnered trade interest from the Dodgers and others, per Robert Murray of Today’s Knuckleball:
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins are among the teams that have inquired with the Arizona Diamondbacks about starting pitcher Shelby Miller, league sources tell Today’s Knuckleball.
Miller this season is 2-9 with a 7.14 ERA, 5.68 FIP and 1.75 WHIP in 14 starts. The follow through of his deliver caused Miller to be removed early from two April outings as the repeated dragging of his throwing hand on the mound resulted in a cut.
Prior to signing Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda, the Dodgers were linked to Miller in the offseason; it was reported Atlanta asked Los Angeles to include Joc Pederson in any trade for the 25-year-old.
While the Dodgers were also among the teams said to be inquiring on Tampa Bay Rays starting pitchers, their need for pitching doesn’t appear to be as dire as it once was.
Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu have returned, Clayton Kershaw is expected to rejoin the rotation shortly, and Brett Anderson and Alex Wood should return at some point in August.
Nonetheless, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman asserted the club will target ‘elite-level players’ at this year’s trade deadline. This season notwithstanding, some may have viewed Miller as a player of that regard.
He owns a carer 3.64 ERA in 116 games (110 starts) over parts of five seasons in the Majors. The young righty is under team control and eligible for salary arbitration after this season.
