The Padres have signed infielder/outfielder Brad Miller to a minor league deal, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. The client of ISE Baseball also receives an invite to big league camp.
Miller, 34, is coming off a couple of mostly lost seasons with the Rangers. He made separate trips to the injured list last year due to a right oblique strain and left hamstring strain. He only got into 27 games and hit .214/.328/.339 in that time. 2022 was a similar situation as he got into 81 games and hit just .212/.270/.320, missing time due to right hip issues and a neck strain.
Prior to that, he was coming off a strong three-year run, which is what led to his two-year, $10MM pact in Texas. From 2019 to 2021, he suited up for Cleveland, Philadelphia and St. Louis, hitting 40 home runs in those three seasons, one of which was shortened to 60 games. His 28.3% strikeout rate was a bit high but he also drew walks at an 11.8% clip. His combined .236/.331/.480 slash line over that three-year period translated to a wRC+ of 114, indicating he was 14% above league average.
Defensively, Miller has bounced all over the diamond, having played all four infield spots in his career as well as all three outfield positions. But he has hardly played shortstop since 2016, hasn’t played center at all since 2015 and his last second base appearance was in 2021. He’s probably best suited to the four corner spots, which could still make him a fit for the Padres.
The Friars have a wide open outfield, apart from Fernando Tatis Jr. being in right field. Non-roster invitees like Jackson Merrill, Jakob Marsee, Calvin Mitchell and Óscar Mercado appear to be competing for outfield playing time with guys like Jurickson Profar and José Azocar. On the infield corners, Jake Cronenworth figures to be at first and Manny Machado at third. There’s some uncertainty with the latter since he’s coming back from elbow surgery but he seems on track to be ready by Opening Day.
Infielders Eguy Rosario and Matthew Batten are on the 40-man roster but both have options, as does Azocar. The Padres only have 37 players on their 40-man roster and Tucupita Marcano will likely wind up on the 60-day IL at some point due to a torn ACL that’s going to keep him out until midseason. If the Friars wanted to, they could select someone like Miller to serve in a bench role, even if they also add a couple of those NRIs to fill out the outfield. Meanwhile, the optionable players could be sent to the minors for regular reps. The club also doesn’t have a strict designated hitter on the roster, which opens up plenty of opportunities for someone in this cluster.
Miller is also a lefty hitter with strong platoon splits who could perhaps be utilized in a specialized role. He has slashed .242/.325/.438 against righties in his career for a wRC+ of 109, but just .216/.273/.334 against southpaws for a 67 wRC+. Each of Azocar, Rosario, Batten and Mercado hit from the right side, which could give manager Mike Shildt some opportunities to mix and match as needed. But first, Miller will need to earn himself a spot on the roster after a couple of injury-marred campaigns.
The best shortstop available.
Who?
A former 30 HR hitter and a world champ.
I thought he retired years ago
Rangers legend.
Cool
Jordan Montgomery, Jake Odorizzi, Robbie Grossman, and Kole Calhoun are former Rangers that remained unsigned.
Odorizzi is technically not a Ranger because he has not played a game for them in 2023.
Also Brett Martin and Matt Bush are available.
Padres loading up on veteran depth pieces to stash in the minors. Locastro and now Miller.
Love the sarcasm here.
You think that my comment is sarcasm? Why? Both of those guys are minor league depth at this point in their careers.
Lefty bat off the bench.
Had a nice little year with the Rays back in the day.
Miller could see a lot of DH AB’s as the Padres currently lack options there as well
Crazy that there’s a very realistic chance that this guy is San Diego’s Opening Day DH. I know Preller’s strapped for cash, but that roster is almost unfieldably thin.
There is very little chance that Miller is the opening day DH. As long as he keeps playing like he has this far in camp, that job belongs to Pauley.
Miller is slated for El Paso to start the season and the only reason we should see him in SD is in the case of utter collapse by some of the youngsters or injuries. I hope neither of those happen.
There is a reason that Pauley has the most games played of any Padres player in camp. 11 games so far, and if you include the 2 “B” games and the one intrasquad scrimmage he has played in 14 games.
Hadn’t realized Pauley was the plan, but in that case the latter half of my comment stands. That’s a lot of faith to put in a guy who’s never even seen AAA.
Rosario and Batten have seen AAA and they have been more effective in the majors in recent years. Miller will start the season in the minors, or at a minimum minor league camp, while the Padres are in Korea. If a catastrophe strikes or the kids are awful, he MIGHT get a shot at being called up in April but even that is doubtful. He has been horrible AND hurt the last 2 seasons.
these last minute invites to camp have to sleep on someone’s couch
IT’S MILLER TIME!!!
I hope he doesn’t displace Pauley, who looks very ready to make the leap to MLB
Saw Miller many times when he was in Seattle. The baseball equivalent of a gym rat. He’s stuck around with his versatility and carved out a nice career. Best of luck to him with the Padres. .
Backyard Brad!
Hasnt been relevant since ‘21, and even then he hit .227. Won’t be relevant now either.
Nice minor league depth move. Hoping that is where he stays.
He’s gonna make a great Chihuahua…
Padres fans excited about Locastro, Miller, Mercado, Mitchell and Profar must have been in a full stage of ecstasy last year when they signed Cruz, Carpenter, Dahl and Engel.
Padres narratives that need to just shut up and go away:
1. Manny Machado doesn’t sign if they don’t sign Eric Hosmer first.
2. A. J. Preller doesn’t trade for Fernando Tatis Jr. if he doesn’t trade Trea Turner away first.
3. Jurickson Profar lost money by opting out after 2022.
4. David Bednar was in the Adam Frazier trade.
5. Matt Brash was in the Austin Nola trade.
6. Wil Myers was ever good.
#6 Wrong! He was a good gamer, lazyass, pot smoker and had a keen sense of taste… Those east coast tacos were soooo much better tasting…
Miller was cut loose March 16…