The Tigers introduced this afternoon that right-hander Shelby Miller has cleared outright waivers and been positioned on unconditional launch waivers. Assuming Miller clears launch waivers, he’ll grow to be a free agent.
Miller, 34 subsequent month, was the Nineteenth-overall choose within the 2009 draft by the Cardinals and seemed to be a budding star in the course of the early 2010s as he posted a 3.22 ERA in 575 1/3 innings of labor from his debut in 2012 via the tip of the 2015 season, when he made it to the All-Star sport with the Braves. The wheels got here off for Miller after that, nevertheless, and he struggled badly with each accidents and ineffectiveness over the subsequent a number of years. From 2016 to 2022, Miller noticed little success on the massive league stage with a ghastly 7.02 ERA in 202 2/3 mixed innings of labor throughout six seasons. His 5.21 FIP in that point indicated he made have been the sufferer of some poor luck, however even that determine was effectively under the league common mark for a pitcher.
Happily for Miller, he managed to show his fortunes round after signing a minor league cope with the Dodgers forward of his age-32 season final yr. Now a full-time reliever, Miller pitched 42 innings for L.A. final season and dominated to the tune of a superb 1.71 ERA that was backed up by a stable 3.68 FIP and a 25.8% strikeout fee. Miller’s spectacular turnaround earned him an enormous league cope with the Tigers final offseason that assured him $3MM.
It’s a contract that didn’t end up particularly effectively for Detroit, as a handful of blow-up outings marred an in any other case stable season for the right-hander. Whereas 37 of his 51 appearances with the Tigers this yr have been scoreless, he had 5 outings the place he surrendered three or extra runs whereas recording three outs or much less, together with a disastrous outing final month the place he surrendered 4 runs on 4 consecutive hits with out recording an out. Turning again to his general season in 2024, his 4.53 ERA and 4.48 FIP are each worse than league common, and his 21.8% strikeout fee represents a big step again from final yr’s stage. Miller additionally struggled with the lengthy ball this yr relative to his time in L.A. as 12.3% of his fly balls have left the yard, practically double final yr’s fee.
Nonetheless, with free company on the horizon for Miller as soon as once more it appears attainable he might garner curiosity as a center reduction possibility this winter. Even contemplating his down yr with the Tigers this yr, the right-hander has pitched to a 3.32 ERA with a 4.14 FIP in 97 2/3 innings since rebounding with the Dodgers final winter with a mixed 23.5% strikeout fee and an 8.2% stroll fee. That provides Miller a reasonably stable monitor document if his final two seasons are checked out in tandem, and it’s not arduous to think about a membership believing his true expertise stage falls someplace between final yr’s dominant efficiency and his barely under common leads to 2024.
