The Cardinals have signed Aaron Miles to a minor league deal, according to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). Miles will report to extended spring training.
Miles, 33, was released by the Reds two weeks ago, and had garnered interest from the Rangers before signing with St. Louis. The switch-hitter was owed $2.7MM this season by Cincinnati, who will likely now pay $2.3MM of that figure, with the Cardinals picking up the remaining $400K.
Miles struggled through an injury-plagued 2009 season with the Cubs, hitting .185/.224/.242 in 170 plate appearances, but has enjoyed some success in St. Louis in the past. From 2006 to 2008, Miles posted a .289/.335/.363 slash line in 1328 plate appearances as a utility player for the Cardinals.
he’ll probably be ready fast…
either that or now that Lopez is hurt, they realize what little depth they have.
Either way, decent signing.
Decent signing? The cubs couldn’t wait to get rid of him. First, they traded him and 1mm along with Jake Fox to Oakland for Jeff Gray. Then, about a month later he gets traded to Cincy for Wily Taveras. Taveras was released by Oakland moments after they acquired him. So, Miles gets traded for a guy that Oakland did not want. Miles sucks!!! The worst player in MLB last year.
worse than todd wellemeyer? i think not. a bench player can only hurt you once every so often, but a SP can kill you every 5th day.
Did you see the Cubs play last year? due ti all the injuries he was in the lineup frequently. Miles was terrible at the plate, His fielding was average at best and the guy is slow. He brought nothing to the table. I know Wellemeyer isn’t exactly good but i would rather have Wellemeyer doing mop up duty than Miles coming of the bench.
it’s offical, he was working for the cards last year
He sure as shootin’ wasn’t working for any of the teams that were paying him last year.
It looks like the Cubs have moved one step closer to closing the gap between them and the Cards.
How would this count as the Cubs moving closer to the Cards??? If anything this gives the Cards another valuable switch-hitter off the bench. Miles was money for St. Louis, Just because he was poor as a Cub (like so many players are…ahemm….bradley, soriano, etc.) doesn’t mean jack. Quality signing by the Cards. Brendan Ryan you are on Notice lol better start hitting lol.
he still wont hit himself out of a paper bag either
Maybe we’ll both be rooting for Miles to reclaim a starting job with Cards then. Who says Cubs and Cards fans can’t be on the same side?
you do realize that he isnt starting and wont come close to it and once lopez is healthy miles will find him self either down in the minors or gone…I agree just because he was bad as a cub in small sample size does not mean he is bad…the cubs tried to make him a starter because anything is better than fontenot when in all reality he is a back up…god cubs fans piss me off
Oh gee. Where do I start? Do I bother mentioning that it’s all just tongue in cheek? That, barring injury, I really don’t expect Miles to actually start? Or do I start with this Miles being “bad as a Cub in a small sample size”? Or that he’s “better than Fontenot”?
Aaron Miles does not field well, does not run well, and does not hit for any kind of power. He also doesn’t walk. That leaves batting average as his only asset. His career best WAR was 1.8, which makes a good backup or a below average starter. That’s his best year…by far…and it’s still backup material and supported by a fluky batting average. Miles career WAR is -0.5, meaning he has been less valuable than someone you can generally pick up off the waiver wire! Mike Fontenot’s career WAR is 4.2, including 3.0 in 2008, which is what it would be for a solid starter. Mike Fontenot has never had a negative WAR, Miles has had 4 years with negative war and another one at 0.1…his second best year of his career!
As far as fielding, his career UZR is -4.0 at 2b. Fontenot’s is 11.0. Fontenot has a career OPS of .757, Miles? Nearly 100 points lower at .678. Fontenot’s career OBP is .339…Miles .322. Slugging Pct.? Fontenot .418…Miles .356…
I could go on and on and on…it really isn’t even close between the two.
So, nice try…well, maybe not. Next time bring something better to back up your posts than your cliche disdain for Cubs fans.
Well put. Not only do the number show it watching him play shows it. He hates the Cubs so he went as far as backing Aaron Miles. Scary I know. Suzysman is probably spinning in his computer chair right now.
If anyone has less regard for Aaron Miles than I do, it’s definitely Suzysman!
Hes like Neifi Perez to me. Every time they put him in or he started I wanted to put my face through the TV. Dusty was in love with that guy for some reason. I guess Neifi could at least hit the occasional HR (not often). For Aaron Miles the warning track was the infield dirt.
Yeah…the bad part was that Neifi got a lot more playing time and was here a lot longer. So it was more of a slow, constant torture. Don’t know who qualifies this year, maybe Koyie Hill? Seems like Lou has taken a bit of a shine to him. He’s getting his hits to drop now but I can see it lasting much longer. But at least Hill plays good defense — which is more than I can say for Miles, at least.
Koyie Hill doesnt bother me all that much. Ill take him as a back-up catcher. His receding hair line throws me off a bit. There really isnt a guy on the team that just down right makes me mad when he gets in the game. Well, thats not including relief pitchers.
AMEN
Too bad his post isn’t supported by the facts. But don’t let that get in your way.
Overreaction much? It’s a minor league deal first of all, and secondly, the dude might start 1 game a week if he is lucky. There’s also Tyler Greene he has to worry about, so I don’t understand how you are treating this like the execution of the Cardinals.
Aaron Miles will singlehandedly take down the entire Cardinals organization. And, quite possibly, the city of St. Louis itself.
no!!@!@!@!@!@!@@!
The Cubs are pating Miles $1 million as part of the trade to Oakland. So the Reds will only owe him about 900K with teh Cards picking up the major league minimum
Couldn’t hurt I guess for a minor league deal.
Please let Felipe Lopez heal in time to keep Miles off the roster!
Hah a valuable switch hitter off the bench! Perhaps in 2008 if by quality you mean 32 rbis in 414 abs with a .328 obp. He could always pitch in relief I guess.
bacon, i am suspicious of you
Por Que?
please tell me he is staying in the minor leagues….
he has like no value..
low obp. no power. crap defense. what’s their to like??????
You forgot diminishing speed. Look on the bright side. He’s “scrappy”. And at least you didn’t pay 4.9M for 2 yrs for him 🙂
Decent signing? The cubs couldn’t wait to get rid of him. First, they traded him and 1mm along with Jake Fox to Oakland for Jeff Gray. Then, about a month later he gets traded to Cincy for Wily Taveras. Taveras was released by Oakland moments after they acquired him. So, Miles gets traded for a guy that Oakland did not want. Miles sucks!!! The worst player in MLB last year.
I believe that honor goes to Brian Bixler, though Miles was a close second.
What exactly is extended Spring Training?
Welcome back Aaron! You will play well in StL like all Cardinals do!
Except Kip wells.. My eyes would just bleed every time he took the hill
The only problem I have with this signing is that LaRussa loves him. Yes, he is unlikely to even get called up, but if he does, watch out. LaRussa lamented his loss when the Cubs signed him – I’m sure he would relish the chance to throw him in a game at first opportunity. Which would be unfortunate.
Crunchy nailed it above – Miles is less valuable than typical waiver wire fodder, and the stats back it up.
ah it all comes full circle now
What the Cubs don’t know is that we, the Cardinals, sent Miles into the Cubs organization to single handedly take down their team last year. The problem was, he got too much help from pitching and soriano/bradley to make the team look terrible last year. Same story this year…different people…cubs still bad!