The Brewers announced they have acquired infielder Owen Miller from the Guardians in exchange for a player to be named later or cash. To make room on the 40-man roster, catcher Mario Feliciano has been designated for assignment.
Miller, 26, was originally drafted by the Padres but came over to the Guardians in the Mike Clevinger trade in 2020. He cracked the club’s 40-man roster in May 2021. Though he’s always hit well in the minors, he’s struggled at the big league level so far. In 190 MLB games, hit batting line is .231/.283/.338. That production is 26% below league average, as evidenced by his 74 wRC+.
The bulk of Miller’s major league experience came this past season. He hit .243/.301/.351 in 472 trips to the dish. Miller connected on just six home runs, but he rapped out 26 doubles and showed excellent contact skills. Miller put the bat on the ball on nearly 84% of his swings, well north of the 76.6% league average. He went down on strikes just 19.7% of the time, part of a broadly contact-oriented lineup in Cleveland.
Without much power and a meager 6.8% walk rate, however, Miller was a below-average offensive player overall. The Illinois State product has a much stronger minor league track record, hitting .305/.368/.450 in just under 1100 plate appearances.
Miller has a fair bit of defensive flexibility. He’s played mostly second and first base in the majors, but he has some experience at shortstop and third base at lower levels. He doesn’t have a particularly strong arm, indicating he’s probably best suited on the right side of the infield. He’ll add a right-handed bat to potentially jostle for playing time with lefty-hitting rookie Brice Turang at the keystone and lefty slugger Rowdy Tellez at first base.
With two remaining minor league option years, Miller can bounce between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville as a depth player for the next couple seasons if he holds his spot on the 40-man roster. He has between one and two years of MLB service, so he’ll be controllable through at least the end of the 2027 campaign. Miller won’t reach arbitration until after the 2024 season at the earliest.
Adding him to the roster bumps Feliciano, whose time in the Milwaukee organization could now be coming to an end. A supplemental second-round pick out of Puerto Rico in 2016, the righty-hitting backstop was regarded as a potential catcher of the future for the Brew Crew. Feliciano had a monster showing at High-A in 2019 and was named by Baseball America one of the top ten prospects in the Brewers system the next two seasons. After the canceled minor league season in 2020, however, his production has tanked.
Feliciano has spent the bulk of the last two years in Nashville. He has just a .256/.304/.367 line in 425 plate appearances. The 24-year-old has shown solid contact skills, but he doesn’t draw many walks and hasn’t hit for much power at the higher levels. Prospect evaluators have also raised concerns about Feliciano’s defense, and Milwaukee hasn’t given him much of a look at the big league level. He’s gotten into just three MLB games over the past two seasons despite holding a 40-man roster spot since the end of the 2020 campaign.
The Brewers will have a week to deal Feliciano or place him on waivers. He still has one option year remaining, meaning another team that claims him could send him back to Triple-A next year to see if he can right the ship at the plate.
It’s a me, Mario.
Guardians perspective:
They’ve acquired another Cash.
I remember when we traded away Norm Cash
But we got Steve Demeter
Don’t like the Brewers outfield one bit. Should have kept Ruiz. Mitchell still a question mark, and Taylor is a 4th OF, at best. Never gonna see those great Yelich seasons repeated. Don’t know what happened to him. Must be an injury that hasn’t gotten any better.
What did Feliciano do to tick off Brewers management so much?
A dreadful winter league showing.
He doesn’t fit Counsell’s image of a Brewer. Unfortunately, it’s Counsell’s job until he quits.
Hometown kid!! Good addition!
MEH this guy does not look like a needle mover. This guy looks like Jake Bauers 2.0
I want to argue as to why Owen is better than that comparison but I just… can’t.
clearing a spot.
Did they have a full 40 man before adding Bell and Zunino? Makes sense they’d need to clear some space.
No. Their roster was full, and one more needs to go so they can officially add Zunino.
May be mistaken. But I think roster was at 39 after Maile was Non Tendered. Then Bell was added to bring back up to 40. Miller being traded brings roster back down to 39 so Zunino could be added.
Not quite the breaking news like the MLB network ticket indicates!
“Breaking news” doesn’t necessarily equate to “exciting news.”
One day it did, that day is apparently gone!
They are also vying for local products John Pabst, Bill Schlitz, Mark Leinenkugel and Bob Blatz.
Traitorous if they go after Sam Adams though.
I think it would be worst if they went after Busch
Both Padres’ utility players are available. Hamm and Keystone.
The 1915 and 1916 Phillies hat an outfielder named Bud Weiser, who had a -0.8 WAR. St Louis traded for him and changed his name to Bud Light.
Brewers love those former Padres.
Guess that answers the questions about Feliciano (ever) joining the big club, or, apparently, having any trade value whatsoever.
I’m thinking with Contreras trade they probably felt fine losing him, especially as Quero looks pretty good in the minors, and when they found no takers it made Mario man 41 with a 40 man roster.
Anybody looking to find a catcher that is possibly ready for the majors should grab him like the Cubs. Personally I hope we’re able to keep him and earns his way back on the team.
Steve- I get that, it just seems like he should have some value to someone. Even as a throw in going to Oakland in the Contreras deal, assuming Oakland had room for him/thought they could flip him later.
Stubby- yeah, back to my point of having any trade value..not 1 team wanted or had room for him? Even if they DFA him later after other moves at least they get a little time to evaluate more.
It’s not a huge deal to me just kinda curious is all.
The A’s are now loading up on ex Brewers. They could use one more.
The reason OAK traded the best player on their team (catcher) is because they’re overloaded with talent in that department.
I thought it was because they’re cheap. Wouldn’t a young, controlled and inexpensive catcher be more valuable to them than Pina?
Even if they’re loaded with young talent at C, it seems more logical to get another young one than 1 at the back end of his career and coming back from injury.
I agree. He has WAY more potential to improve and break out than Henry (baffled that we re-acquired him). Mario should have been our 3rd C this year, not that stiff we signed from outside.
What does Owen Miller bring to the table, except a namesake for Brewers fans?
Watched him come up in Padres system and spring training. Call him a hard nose ball player kind of a guy. Probably a good utility as a ceiling though. Didn’t cost you anything (not likely) and you get a flyer on what will likely be a good “fan favorite” guy to pull for if nothing else.
So we replaced Jace. Who just became the latest ex Brewer to go to Oakland.
Future manager, Craig Counsell type
He’s only 25 and had a .863 OPS last year at AAA? Not too exciting I know, but seems low-risk.
last year = 2021
Miller can play a lot of positions passably. He has some ability to hit, although he hasn’t shown it much in the majors. If he improves his hitting a little he could become a decent bench piece because of his ability to play all over the Diamond.
Options.
He’s always hit in the minors, but that same success hasn’t quite translated over to the big leagues. Not a lot of power. Probably 10-15 HRs peak. Not very athletic. Can play multiple positions just ok. Got off to a scorching hot start to start the season and then cooled way down. Doesn’t hit lefties well. He’s probably just fine as a utility bench role but he won’t be a difference maker.
Don’t laugh……
He either led or close to led the AL in sacrifice fly’s. Say what you will, but for a team that plays run suppression, getting a guy home from 3B with less than 2 outs makes a difference.
He supposedly was a SS that they used at 2B and 1B – neither of which he played very well. Cleveland has a number of youngsters that can play those positions better and probably hit better. Mainly he played 1B against LH pitching when they sat Naylor. Bell is a better bat for those situations.
Perhaps the Brewers can get something out of him. 0.3 bWAR in 472 PA’s is not good.
I like that Samuel. Lofting a sac fly must be tough to do. You just don’t see enough of it anymore – they’re all swinging for the fences. I get it, but so many GIDPs is frustrating
25 yrs old with couple of years of control and show level experience. Why not see if he can improve. Good for the Brew Crew.
Very good take Samuel.
He’s afraid to get his hands dirty… Like genuinely won’t touch the dirt of a baseball field.
Miller is a lousy first baseman, and sucks defensively at second. He did have 50+ rbi as a part-timer, though.
Disappointed we cut that guy. Again, why do the brewers not trust their players in the farm system? Not Impressed at all!
Yeah, it’s just really disappointing that they don’t value anyone in the entire farm system who can play 3B and put up the same numbers as Urias. If you can’t develop league average players in your farm, you have serious issues. It’s not just the Brewers, as you see the free agents and the money they bring. You know what Urias has to offer. You Don’t know what some of those other kids can do with steady playing time. You think we’re frustrated, I bet those AAA and AA players want to scream!
I honestly think this guy will play a bit more 3B than anything, followed by 1B. Toro is also in the mix. And Brosseau at 3rd as well. Urias is going to get almost all of the starts at 2nd (but with all those guys getting some as well).
With a full season’s PAs, Urias would have projected well over 25 the last couple of years. Which is light years ahead of Wong. That kind of production is mediocre at 3rd, but exceptional at 2nd.
I’d still rather they figured out a trade for a decent 3B. I’ve been hoping for Isaac Paredes. He’d be slightly expensive, but they haven’t really dipped into the minors at all and have assets to afford him. He’s also multi-positional. And they now have a LOT of those guys.
He is a grinder. Solid average glove at 1B 2B & 3B. Can probably handle left field spot duty. Played one game there in the minors 2021 and handled both his fielding chances. If I remember correctly he was on an absolute tear at the start of the season so maybe there’s a little more in the bat if he can make adjustments to the ones pitchers made on him. Little risk and solid clubhouse addition.
He is not average defensively. If you watched every game this year you would see exactly what he does wrong. He is not “flexible”, he’s afraid to let his hands get dirty and drops normal balls that should be an out.
Bitles – you obviously didn’t watch him play last season. He’s a below average glove, has no real position, and doesn’t hit well enough to DH.
Me thinks I smell another trade or semi-big move. Yes, I consider the Contreras trade a big move. The Brewers have their starting infield all set and now have as infield reserves: Miller, Brosseau, Huira, Toro, Sigleton …all of them on the 40 man. They want to improve 3rd base and more so, they REALLY want Daulton Varsho from Arizona for the outfield. AZ wants a load and especially a starting infielder. Package deal on the way?
If miller had trade value he would not be in Wisconsin for a player to be named later or cash. If Nolan Jones had trade value the return would have been more than a low minors infielder. There is not a single impact player on that list. If there is a trade it will be insignificant.
Why does no one on any fan site spell Hiura correctly?
They’re too lazy to look it up.
In their defense, I still have to look it up every time, lol.
I guess I don’t because I’ve read a LOT of Japanese literature and know that the long ‘E’ sound in Japanese is always spelled with an ‘I’.
It IS pronounce HE YER UH.
Varsho is way out of their reach and I don’t think he’s the budding star everyone believes. They’d have to give up something like Chourio to get him.
They’re set in the OF now. They are going to supplement it with try outs among the minor league guys. Yelich, Mitchell, Taylor is almost set in stone. Frelick maybe makes the team as the 4th and Winker is the emergency 5th.
I like the HR potential of that starting OF. Mitchell will be a star and Taylor will hit 25-30 with a full season’s ABs. Yelich may even crack 15 again!!
Looks like a nice catcher to snag off waivers.
My list was the reserves! The Brewers might package a starting infielder with others, NOT the reserves I listed.
Miller was hitting like Ted Williams out of the block once he was called up then transformed into Mauricio Dubon
In Milwaukee, it is once again MILLER TIME !!
I haven’t watched Miller’s performance since he moved to the Cleveland Indians organization (no such thing as a “Guardian”), but I watched him develop in the minors. He was a terrific infielder (SS), good range and solid defensively, and he was one of those guys where the ball just sounded different coming off his bat. I say that when he was playing with and against, some pretty good prospects. He wasn’t a “Tatis” type prospect, he was drafted out of college, so he was older, but he wasn’t too far behind overall.
I think the Brew crew got themselves a good one. Maybe they can help him get back on track.
Again, you know nothing, not having watched him play the last two years. He’s a AAAA player.
Keep on calling them the Indians then! Good on you, sir! Stick to your guns!!! That’s quite the hill to die on though!! I would just hope you show similar if not more of that single-minded pig-headed stubborness to SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY MATTERS!!! smh.
It does matter.
Declaring everyone a racist for their childhood team…Indians… DOES NOT make them a racist. That’s what Dolan did when he changed the name.
Milwaukee traded it’s designated Christmas Singer.
Feliz Navidad
youtu.be/N8NcQzMQN_U
Brewers needed some bench depth, and Miller fills that
His stats in Cleveland were Miller Lite
Good One!
I genuinely hate you as a person.
Is a mystery why Felliciano never got a shot at MLB level. Miller the new Mathias?
What are the Marlins waiting fo they need to sign Feliciano pronto. Right now Feliciano is better than what the have.
Watch the guy is gonna be a stud for the brew crew
ITS A ME FELICIANO (I had to say it. I’m half italian
which half, the top half or the bottom half? LOL
I like this addition for the Brewers.. aside from being from Wisonson and having the last name “Miller”, I think he can be an effective bench piece.
Miller always seemed to me to a good approach at the plate with guys on base. He can advance runners or get a sac fly. He is tough to place defensively though. He can play a handful of positions but he always struck me as a below-average defender at each one. He seemed especially bad at first base last year, but I am not sure he got a ton of reps there before being thrown into the position.
Owen Miller=Brad Miller?
Can’t hit + terrible defense, albeit at several positions?
Note the keywords (“grinder, hard-nosed, fan favorite”, etc.) people are using to describe this guy. Now you know exactly what’s wrong with the Brewers, Counsell, and a certain mindset in the organization. Other than a few players, this team is below average defensively, slow afoot, and not fun (very vanilla) to watch as a fan. Doesn’t matter though, they’ll accomplish their goal of winning 70-85 games, putting 2 million+ butts in the seats, and deem it a success because they can call themselves a “small market” team.