Veteran reliever Andrew Miller is retiring after 16 Major League seasons, Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. In a text to Goold, Miller looked back on his career and gave to those who helped him along the way:
“The list of people who took me aside, put their arm around me, made me laugh when I needed to, or taught me something is endless. It’s safe to say I would have been faced with the next chapter much earlier on if it weren’t for them. As someone who thought their career was practically over in 2010, to be able to experience everything I did along the way is incredible. You shouldn’t ever hear complaints from me. It was a heck of a run.”
After being selected as the sixth overall pick of the 2006 draft, Miller was initially seen as a cornerstone piece of the Tigers’ future before he became part of one of the biggest trades in Detroit’s franchise history. Miller was one of six players dealt from the Tigers to the Marlins in exchange for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis in December 2007, though after three injury-plagued seasons in South Beach, the Marlins also parted ways with the left-hander.
Miller was dealt to the Red Sox in the 2010-11 offseason, and after more struggles in 2011, Miller became a full-time reliever in 2012 and essentially never looked back. The southpaw became one of baseball’s top relief pitchers, working in a variety of different roles depending on his team’s needs. Whether as a closer, set-up man, multi-inning workhorse, or lefty specialist, Miller became a valuable bullpen weapon in any capacity.
As flexible bullpens have become more and more prominent in recent years, it is also very easy to point to Miller as a trailblazer. As Cardinals teammate Adam Wainwright simply put it, Miller “changed the game and he kind of took that relief role back to when it first started, guys who could do two, three innings – and he was the guy who did it in the postseason.”
From 2013-17, Miller was next to unhittable, posting a 1.82 ERA, 41.1% strikeout rate, and 7.4% walk rate over 291 2/3 innings with the Red Sox, Orioles, Yankees, and Indians. That tremendous stretch saw Miller named to two AL All-Star teams, and receive top-10 Cy Young placements in both the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Miller received a World Series ring for his contributions to Boston’s 2013 championship team, even if injuries kept him participating in the postseason. However, as Wainwright noted, Miller was at his best in baseball’s biggest spotlight. Miller retires with a tiny 0.93 ERA over 38 2/3 innings in the playoffs, even winning 2016 ALCS MVP honors with Cleveland in 2016. That particular season saw Miller help carry an injury-riddled Cleveland pitching staff to within an inch of a World Series, falling to the Cubs in extra innings in Game Seven.
“He kind of revolutionized all of it – your best pitcher doesn’t have to be your starter or your closer,” Cardinals pitching coach Mike Maddux said. “And he was the best pitcher on multiple staffs. What he did in the postseason to help his team was groundbreaking. I don’t think anybody really duplicated what he’s done – as far as throwing multiple innings in the hairy innings, whenever they are.”
Miller’s success was reflected in his free agent value, as he landed a four-year, $36MM deal from the Yankees in the 2014-15 offseason. Hitting the open market again following the 2018 campaign, Miller signed a two-year, $25MM contract with the Cardinals that became a three-year, $37MM pact when he pitched enough innings in 2020 to trigger a vesting option.
Injuries began to hamper Miller later in his career, and both his velocity and his overall performance took a step back over his three years in St. Louis. Miller had only a 4.34 ERA over 103 2/3 regular-season innings in a Cards uniform, but again remained effective come October. Over seven postseason games and 5 2/3 innings with the Cardinals, Miller didn’t allow a single run.
If anything, Miller drew even more respect from teammates and peers off the field, due to his work with the MLB Players Association. A longtime team union rep and a member of the MLBPA executive board, Miller was one of the most prominent and outspoken voices representing the players’ causes both during his career, and particularly this offseason during the lockout. While Miller will never himself play under the terms of the 2022-26 Collective Bargaining Agreement, it will stand as something of a legacy for his contributions to players both present and future.
“I have an appreciation for what he did for the entire game of baseball,” Wainwright said of Miller’s MLBPA work. “As many hours as that guy put in for the union over these past few years is kind of staggering. He may retire and that means this whole offseason he still spent 16 hours on the phone a day, for us, for who’s next – that means a lot.”
The 36-year-old Miller will retire with a career 4.03 ERA, 27.1% strikeout rate, 979 strikeouts, 10.6% walk rate, 63 saves, and 141 holds over his 829 innings with seven different Major League teams. We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Miller on a great career, and we wish him all the best in retirement.
For the last word on Miller’s career, the lefty himself sums things up as part of his text message….
“I feel very fortunate that my career worked out the way that it did. Of course there were tough stretches, injuries, and times of doubt. I also won’t deny that I can find myself in moments of wondering what if this or that had happened differently, could it have somehow been better? I’m usually pretty quick to be able to step back though and see how lucky I have been. The hard times were necessary for me to grow and to be able to appreciate the highs along the way. Ultimately, I was able to play for many great franchises, wear historic uniforms, and play in some amazing ballparks. I made some of the best friends I will ever have in life through the game. I was able to work with the union and see the good it can do for players while learning so much about the game.”
Tacoshells
Great career. But why was he one of the main player reps negotiating for a new CBA if he had no intention of even playing this season?
bucketbrew35
Sometimes you have to leave a legacy and protect those who come after you.
minnesota2887
Seems odd to me that you even have to explain this @bucketbrew35, but that’s the world we live in. Selfishness and greed above all else.
Ducky Buckin Fent
That wasn’t how I took that.
Seems like an obvious/potential conflict of interest. Or from the other side that perhaps his heart wasn’t really in it.
I concur with, @Tacoshells here. Miller was a questionable choice.
The truly cynical take would have been; he didn’t step down so he could continue to collect his extra pay as a union rep.
Joe says...
Then again maybe he really planned on playing and got no offers.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
This Buds for you, but I always liked Miller
Yankee Clipper
He seemed….. less filling toward the end of his career.
redsoxu571
Are we going to ignore that he was likely well up to speed on negotiations, and thus it would have been silly for him to drop out late just because he might soon call it a career? How does his physical and/or playing status affect his ability to effectively serve in his rep role? It isn’t as if this was something that just began recently.
Gwynning
Swinging for a ‘Tastes great’ joke but I’m whiffing…
diddlez
@Tacoshells it’s OK to have an incorrect take sometimes. @Ducky Calling it a conflict of interest or acting as if he didn’t have the players best interests is a fairly ignorant way to think about it. Believe it or not you guys have no idea why he was one of the main negotiators. In fact we don’t even know if that is a true statement or exactly how much negotiating he did. All we know is that Andrew Miller was the player rep for the Cardinals and he did his job instead of not doing it as you both suggest should have happened instead.
Also, it took me all of 10 seconds to find out Andrew Miller was paid a salary of $0 and total compensation of $1,421 as an MLBPA rep so to imply he did it for the money is also extremely misinformed.
Comet
He stayed on in negotiations because he is the Champagne of (his) peers.
Ducky Buckin Fent
40 games of 4.75 ERA (4.50 FIP) in ’21.
Seems with his track record, handedness, & nearly palatable results from last year, that someone would have offered him a little one year MLB deal. But I hadn’t thought about wether he actually intended to play this year. Which…well pretty much undermines my erstwhile take.
Joe says...
Andrew Miller doesn’t always represent the players but when he does he drinks Dos Equis.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Yeah. I blew that take. Pretty clear by now.
But wasn’t implying he actually did it for the union fee. Just to be clear on that part of it, @diddlez.
diddlez
fair enough @Ducky
Ducky Buckin Fent
Wasn’t the first time, won’t be the last.
Stupid take is stupid take. Not much more to say.
Yankee Clipper
It was a pure setup to see who would bite, Gwynning!
playhard9
Thanks for knowing when to say when.
Fever Pitch Guy
Buck – I can’t decide which of your comments I disagree with more.
What conflict of interest could there be?
The dude was “a longtime team union rep and a member of the MLBPA executive board” and the lockout negotiations were arguably the most important in decades. You’re saying the MLBPA would have been better off with a guy that has less or no experience?
And he’s pretty well off, I really doubt money was a motive.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Alas.
Your “chastisement” comes far, far too late. Not easy to believe you somehow “missed” it. But go super bonkers nutso with it, if it aids you in some way, Guy.
Fever Pitch Guy
You don’t seem like yourself today Buck, seems like you’re bummed out about something. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day for you man, I sincerely mean that.
And I have no clue what I supposedly “missed”.
LordD99
I suspect he committed to being part of the Executive Committee a while back. No reason to back out as he has always been a very active player in the Union. Based on his personality, he likely considered it both an honor and a commitment to fill. Nonzero chance that the nature of the negotiations may have pushed him to retire. Most likely, he may not have fully made up his mind until post negotiations.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Got nuttin’ to add here. Ducky is still cool in my book.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Man.
You can tell I sat The Great CBA Debate out. There were easily half dozen(!) aspects I hadn’t even considered. The pro’s certainly weren’t having that.
I feel I have been pretty clear – however – that I realize it was a thoroughly ill-founded take.
Fever Pitch Guy
My understanding is Miller preferred a different type of bud … and I ain’t talkin’ about Bud Bundy.
“The [2011] team was split 15 ways, split between pitchers and position players, split between the super-serious guys and the fun-loving guys, split between the drinkers and the pot smokers.” — Bill James
dirkg
Love it. You seriously can’t beat an ice cold Champagne of Beers on a hot day.
saluelthpops
It’s a fair question to ask. Not sure why all the hate for simply asking a question. Welcome to the world we live in.
Tcsbaseball
Lol all you guys arguing over things that didn’t even matter
FSF
@Tcsbaseball
Maybe you don’t understand the point of the internet!?!?
Deadguy
He was still under contract with STL
Mickey777
Ducky,
No one is perfect and no one’s take on an issue is always right on. I’m with all your other friends it’s over!!!
Roll
He could also be speaking for those players that are retired and make sure they receive a cost of living increases which i believe are also part of the negotiations.
Ducky Buckin Fent
{sigh}
This is exactly why I stayed out of the CBA threads. Too many aspects to something I find little interest in. But: Yes. That’s yet another good point, @Roll.
miltpappas
Well worded, bucketbrew35
Logjammer D"Baggagecling
Oh look, now he’s a philosophizer
-White Goodman
Wish I could post the gif
top jimmy
Because some people do things for others and not just for themselves.
RoastGobot
Why do you think he had so much time on his hands?!
cgbeauchamp1958
It’s that simple, Andrew Miller was still a dues paying member of the Players Association during the recently concluded negotiations ans every right to participate.
nukeg
Another thought is that instead of focusing on finding employment, he was busy helping the MLBPA as an executive committee member. Once that was agreed to, he probably lost out on some opportunities
nukeg
…and became perhaps a little jaded. He’s had a great career and from all accounts is a pretty solid dude. Go have a cold one Andrew and enjoy the next chapter.
Ducky Buckin Fent
& this one too @nukeg.
User 4245925809
Miller has as long can remember been a big voice in MLBPA topics and pretty sure a team rep for years with various teams, I’d want a guy who looks out for possible items of interests 1st myself and is intelligent enough to do the job properly than some doof reps asking for salad chef’s.. Like happened the last CBA.
phenomenalajs
He may have intended to play but was only getting non-roster invites. It wasn’t worth it to him to fight for a position. For example, I think Chasen Shreve will win the battle with Mike Montgomery and Alex Claudio to be the Mets lefty reliever. Miller could’ve been offered the same opportunity but might’ve wanted a guaranteed deal that the Mets wouldn’t make because it would put them in the top luxury tax bracket.
BaseballGuy1
…. had not decided to retire… read article with comments he would play if presented a good contract for 2022. One was not offered, so he chose to retire. Guy was and is a class act.
mrperkins
Because he is good at it? Part of the union responsibilities is pensions of former players so he would be directly affected there.
Ducky Buckin Fent
& another one.
So. Deivi looked good, @perkins.
Yankee Clipper
All three looked good in their outings so far Ducky!
JimmyForum
The people that pulled him aside were either just being polite or flat out lying to his face.
player027
How would you know?
bucketbrew35
Yeah because after a failed run as a starter he wasn’t the most dominant set up reliever in baseball for 5 years or anything.
RoastGobot
Check his spin rates
redsoxu571
Miller after being traded from Boston made it very clear how much he appreciated the hard work some guys put in to him to help him get past his struggles and find his role. He definitely had some folks in his corner, no lie.
Pedro Cerrano's Voodoo
Yes but then he thanked them by signing with the yankees… for less money.
Dusty Baker's tooth pick.
@scott
So? It’s a business and maybe he had no faith in the red sox. Maybe he was a Yankee fan as a kid?
Mystery Team
If you’re a toothpick how do you put a grammatically correct sentence together? Also are you a mint flavored toothpick? I love those.
junkmale
Loved Miller during his insane run of dominance.
racosun
Enjoy the time off. Thanks for helping get Miggy to Motown, and for all those fantasy points too.
miggy4prez
Hear hear
LordD99
Was still extremely effective against lefties. Probably had a few more seasons in that arm.
roob
I have nothing against him at all. Just saying he made $81 million dollars generating a lifetime WAR of 7.6. I’ll bet he’s grateful.
That might be some kind of a record.
WillieMaysHayes24
“WAR is the best measure of a relief pitchers performance.”
– No one ever
junkmale
I dunno, Chris Davis made $162 million for 11 WAR
Jonny5
How many relief pitchers have won ALCS MVP? Dude was flat out unhittable for like 5 years straight. Worth every penny in my opinion.
Fever Pitch Guy
At least four off the top of my head.
Uehara
Eck
Mariano
Miller
Poster formerly known as . . .
WAR is cumulative. A reliever doesn’t pitch as many innings as a starter. Since he became a full-time reliever in 2012, Miller pitched 469.2 innings for 10.5 fWAR. Fangraphs put the dollar value of his performance in those innings at $82.3 million.
redsoxu571
During his six season peak, he produced 12.0 WAR, good for 2.0 a season, as a RP. That’s plenty good. The negative value he generated as a SP was behind him when he got the bulk of his pay.
elmedius
New head of the players union?
Gwynning
We should all hope so!
angt222
Guess he’s Not going to the Mets. Congrats on a great career!
whyhayzee
Resurrected by the Red Sox and then passed to the Orioles for Erod, who is now gone. Great job Andrew Miller.
User 4245925809
Good point WHZ and what is all forgotten about Miller, when they got him from the Marlins, is that his mechanics were wrecked.. he was falling off the mound with each delivery, couldn’t repeat 2 in a row the same AND his once prime velocity was only sitting in the upper 80’s they had messed him up so bad.
It was a long work in progress and 1 reason he gave them a 2yr MiLB deal.. Miller knew everything was a mess and would take time to repair.
Was a big marlins fan also back then and all could think of was maybe the supposed coaches doing this to him figured if Dontrelle Willis could never repeat 2 deliveries, fall off the mound every pitch.. Why couldn’t Miller?
hawkny11
John Farrell, Red Sox manager in 2013, didn’t do Miller any favors during that season. Time and again he, Farrell, purposely undermined Andrew’s efforts to become a reliable starter for the Sox. I, for one was so glad to see Farrell get the axe while Miller went on throughout
the next decade to have an above average career as a lefty reliever.
whyhayzee
Farrell was a pitching guy and I think he got the best out their pitching in 2013, but at a cost. That team out and out mashed their way through the league and had good enough pitching to win it all. And Uehara was simply otherworldly. But yeah, Farrell had to go.
Joe says...
I would like to see him replace Tony Clark. He seemed calm and well spoken during the CBA talks where Clark and Scherzer were nearly unhinged.
Lloyd Emerson
To be fair, Scherzer quite likely is unhinged from the moment he awakens, daily.
walls17
One of my favorite Yankees of all time. Enjoy retirement, man
costergaard2
Congratulations ! Loved you on the Yankees and went to the stadium to cheer for you your first game back when you were with the Tribe. Your first batter faced was Brett Gardner, who smiled at you prior to your first pitch = )
Joseph Gonzalez
This guys was a monster for the Yankees. One of the most dominant lefty relievers you will ever see out of the pen
Bigtimeyankeefan
Now he becomes a common man… a rich common man
Yankee Clipper
This guy netted the Yankees all-time-great Clint Frazier. He is the stuff of trade legends!
Ducky Buckin Fent
After putting up an .809 OPS in ’19, & following up with a .905 & Gold Glove finalist “season” in ’20, I thought Frazier was going to be part of our core moving forward. But now it is: best of luck in Chicago, Clint.
Poster formerly known as . . .
And Sheffield, whom they traded for Paxton, for what that was worth.
BTW, Clint is batting .375 this spring with 3 walks and a 1.045 OPS. I hope he rakes for the Cubbies.
FSF
I certainly don’t wish Frazier any ill will but he’s another guy who’s handled himself in all the wrong ways and today’s revelations just add to the headcase that he’s been.
Poster formerly known as . . .
In his defense, the vultures in the New York sports press and their Sir Echoes in the blogosphere were on Frazier’s case from day one. They put a negative spin on everything he said. After their skepticism about the detrimental effects of his first concussion and their questioning his work ethic and commitment, I won’t judge him for keeping quiet about the second concussion and trying to play through it. Even after he admitted to it, they cast doubt on the opinions of multiple specialists. The “headcase” rep is the handiwork of those jerks. I’m glad he got the hell out of New York. Good for him.
Ducky Buckin Fent
All because he had the “audacity” to say he wanted to wear #7. Suzy freaked. She was, some F-ing how, deeply offended by his – ya know – impertinent demeanor.
FSF
@Fink Ployd
That would be your perspective on it. I nor you are privy to all of the facts. If you think the Yankee organization is that callous and undermining, it makes me wonder why you or Ducky are fans at all. Because if I felt that way, I’d be over them in a heartbeat. My main beef with him and Sonny Gray is the manner in which they left the organization, especially Gray. There’s no need to bad mouth what’s behind you at that point, especially Gray. Did I mention Sonny? I hope he pitches against the Yanks so they can pounce all over him.
Poster formerly known as . . .
And he didn’t say it. That was another false report.
nypost.com/2017/04/05/scrambling-yankees-clint-fra…
Ducky Buckin Fent
Well now, I do hope we knock Sonny out in the first inning. I wasn’t a fan of his comportment myself.
But Clint (& Sanchez) were kids we watched come up. & they both showed some real promise for us at times. I understand completely why we moved on from both. But I spent plenty of time cheering/hoping for them. Ya know?
Now.
Don’t get it wrong. I hope they put up Golden Sombreros every time we play them. But otherwise? I hope they go bonkers for their new teams & have great careers, man.
FSF
I don’t care about the Mantle thing, or his hair or whatever. None of that bothers me one bit.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Good for him & so do I.
I remember when I saw him play out here. He was pulling scouting reports out of his back pocket & studying them between pitches in the field. His head was right in the game. & he played all out. (Which actually was kind of the root of his problem with the original Spring Training collision.)
Really have to wonder how things would have gone without the concussion/CHI/vertigo stuff. If he is past that, Cubs have a nice ballplayer.
Yankee Clipper
Yeah, my original comment was actually intended to be a mockery of those who consistently make fun of Yankees fans by using Frazier in their Yankees fans hyperbolic hypothetical proposals…. I certainly didn’t mean to start all this…”serious talk.”
But, I do agree with what you guys said. I don’t wish him any ill will & hope he gets a fresh start. I also agree he didn’t always handle himself in the best way, but, we all make those mistakes at times.
YankeesBleacherCreature
@Clip I concur. Just look at what Ducky posted above. I forgive him ::wink wink::
Yankee Clipper
I know, like a train run off the tracks, I tell you! Lol….
Ducky Buckin Fent
Right?
That guy, uh? Seems like he might have fired too many shotgun shells or spends too much time around mineral spirits or something.
Train. Wreck.
Yankee Clipper
I was actually thinking, “Self, Ducky probably swapped out beer for lead paint at some point. I wonder if he knows which way to point the shotgun anymore?”
Ducky Buckin Fent
Wait…this is a shotgun?
Huh. Thought it was an easel. Hey, why is my beer ultramarine blue?
Yankee Clipper
Ultramarine blue? Coooool color. You should try the Seafoam…. Wait a second…maybe you shouldn’t.
Ducky Buckin Fent
I had a painting Prof in college who said, “If you can’t make it good, make it big. If you can’t make it big, make it red.”
_________________________________________________
Getting my morning cappuccino today, the topic in line was: Phat Sancho & the Twins FO out-maneuvering Brian Cashman. Couldn’t help but agree with ’em, man.
Only the most stubborn part of me is holding out any hope that *this* isn’t it for the off-season. All signals suggest it is. It’s come down to hoping Pham signing in Cincinnati makes Naquin more available. BBTV suggests that Deivi for Naquin is a fair trade. I do it. However – I doubt the guy is even anywhere near Cash’s radar.
But: that may interfere with Cash’s precious value.
Going to have to hope Hicksy holds up.
Yankee Clipper
“Going to hold out hope Hicksy holds up”
That about sums up the offseason, Yankees hopes for the past several offseasons, since our Bryce Harper debacle, & our foreseeable future – hope that Aaron Hicks, the perennially injured 85-year-old CFer with a 25-year contract stays healthy – ugh.
Thanks for that ray of sunshine, bro. Made my day….lolol.
Ducky Buckin Fent
I actually thought the Hicks extension was a good move. He is one of those Saber/WAR darlings, but I can deal with all that. Certainly hasn’t worked out, however.
Yet…ya know, a healthy Aaron Hicks would slot in nicely in the 7 spot. Just so hard to think we can get a hundred games – or whatever – out of him. That particular notion borders on abject neglectfulness.
Yankee Clipper
I know, right? Yeah, honestly that could’ve turned out to be a steal had he played 130+ every year. But, you never can tell & Yankees luck dictates we are usually on the losing end of these deals…
I just hope that we don’t redo the Harper catastrophe when Soto becomes a FA, but I have a feeling we most certainly will.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Damnit, Cash.
Watching the game a little. Ya know; had Cashman just dipped a little further into his prospect capital, we could have added Gibson as opposed to Heaney at the deadline. Posteason may have gone differently. (i.e. we most likely host the WC game. So: who knows? But…) & our starting pitching would have looked *really* good right now.
CravenMoorehead
Solid pitcher, classy guy. Would love to see him take over for Tony “Jabroni” Clark one day.
Gwynning
Happy trails AM!
dsett75
He cudda made a lot more money, but if it’s time….
Dorothy_Mantooth
Back when Miller was in Boston, I saw him and Pedroia walking through a local mall. I had no idea Miller was that tall..it looked like a scene out of Fantasy Island with Pedey standing next to him. He was absolutely filthy for Boston and Boston did okay when they traded him to Baltimore as they got E-Rod in return. Wainwright is correct that Miller changed the game when it came to relieving. He was a Swiss Army knife as could pitch 3 innings, he could pitch as a set up man and even as a closer. A lot of teams copied that model with their best relievers. He had quite a successful career; I wish him luck in next chapter.
Rsox
To be fair, standing next to Pedroia most people look tall
Yankee Clipper
So Miller was like 5’10” then?
doxiedevil
Classy comments from Miller , best wishes.
Rsox
The centerpiece of the Marlins return in the Miguel Cabrera trade. Miller definitely reinvented himself as a reliable Reliever for a long stretch. Enjoy retirement Andrew
ohyeadam
Come on dude I wanna see the stupid strike calls on the curve when we get robot umps
Todd Kemmerer
To me borass needed all his puppets at the cba table to fulfill his agenda. Even during negotiations some friends of mine said isn’t miller retired or going to
The Krukker
Andrew Miller has produced 8.3 WAR over his career and has earned $81.3 million. Well done sir. By contrast, Tommy Pham has produced 16.0 WAR and has earned $14 million. Didn’t realize how underpaid Pham was per WAR until he signed recently. (Not passing judgement on anyone, just putting some stats out there for contemplation)
Joe says...
The Athletic did an article showing how tying dollars to WAR got very skewed by including the relief pitchers.
FSF
The timing of when you produce that WAR will make all the difference in the world.
The Krukker
@FSF yeah. Pham got called up later in his career and produced a big 6.2 WAR year in his 4th season at age 29. The discrepancy in pay is still striking though.
FSF
Let me tell you something my friend, Chris Davis will wind up with less than 12 WAR for his career and bank close to $200M.
The Krukker
My bad. Looks like Miller is still at 8.3 WAR for $81.3 million, but Pham is actually at 16.0 WAR for $22 million through 2021. The discrepancy is still interesting regardless.
junkmale
Miller was far more vital of a player during his peak than Pham could ever dream of being
FSF
Very true. One of the few middle relivers that could be called an “impact player”.
outinleftfield
That you don’t realize that WAR is a cumulative stat and relievers don’t get enough innings to get a high WAR says everything.
Fever Pitch Guy
leftfield – I agree, WAR is a nearly worthless stat.
mookiessnarl
What an amazing second life he had as a pitcher. He revolutionized relief pitching. Loved watching him pitch and help the Red Sox to the World Series. Enjoy your retirement, Andrew.
Bob Ivy Jr
I want to wish you a very happy retirement life. I really enjoyed watching you pitch over your career. I had you on several of my fantasy baseball leagues. You help me win a few times. I hope you still spend time in baseball life in another aspect of the game.
Marcus Graham
In Miller’s heyday, when he got to 2 strikes, he was literally unhittable. You KNEW that nasty slider was coming and there was nothing a hitter could do about it. Just couldn’t hold up. Ever.
sandytolan
Beautiful tribute. Had no idea what a good guy he was.
17dizzy
Miller was fantastic in his prime!!! He just hung around too long. Which made him low hanging fruit, and diminished his Career Averages.
Sniff…Sniff…Sniff.
Does anyone smell Low Hanging Fruit but me??(John Mozeliak of the Cardinals asked!?)
Miller retired before that picture was taken!!! (Look up his Cardinal stats!!!)
FSF
Nothing wrong with hanging around too long and collecting a nice paycheck. There are very few instances where I might not agree with that. Such as Mantle letting his BA go under .300. Yes, he’s still treated like the Uber stud that he should be but something looks a bit off with him when I see a .298 lifetime hitter. It doesn’t reflect at all the fact that he could arguably be the greatest peak player the game has ever known.
17dizzy
Got to meet Mantle at a Card show. He had some hilarious stories. Said he was making more money at Card shows in a year than his best ever season as a player!! Said he truly couldn’t understand it!! He said as his knees started getting weaker— he drank a lot more. To the point he came to more than one game slightly inebriated!! Hit 3 home runs in the game. He said that was the only reason the Yankees didn’t fine him!! Ha!
censorshipsuxblowme
card show stuff doesn’t surprise me.
if pete rose was making over 100k a year doing it while still active, i’m sure mantle and mays were making bank doing it.
considering that mantle never made 200k in a season (outside chance he got there at his peak earning if world series bonus is factored in, though yanks were notorious for underpaying guys while using the world series bonus as the excuse for it), i don’t doubt doing 75-100 days a year of signings made him more than his playing days (and at least there, his only worries were wrist cramping or bottom hurting from sitting on it all day*).
*don’t think i have to put this here, but will anyways:
mentioned it more because of his injury history as a player (he is one of the biggest “what if?” guys out there, and dr andrews has seen his chart from the 1951 injury and claims with today’s surgeries, mick would have been 100 percent by 1953) than anything else.
Inside Out
So his last contribution was to vote against an agreement almost all players supported since he knew it wouldn’t impact him as he wasn’t losing any money. What a guy.
MarlinsFanBase
Excellent career. Too bad you didn’t get a chance at the bullpen gig until after the Marlins let you go.
Once again, thank you Mike Hill.
Bright Side
A great Yankee for a short time. A pity for what they traded him turned out to be one year of Paxton.
Fever Pitch Guy
Sox got 6 years of ERod for him, so I ain’t complaining.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Last of the LOOGYs.
Polish Hammer
Uh no, he was no LOOGY, nobody was running him out there for one batter. And when he was closing often came in in the 8th to put out a fire.
YankeesBleacherCreature
I’m aware. I saw most of his Yankees outings. He was elite for a long stretch.
Cap & Crunch
*Elite Roto Auctioneers always had 5~7 $ in the tank for this Non -Closer no matter how hard it stung the pre-draft budget
**Bonus points if you paired w Betances those Yankee years
outinleftfield
Great career by one of the truly good guys in the sport. Enjoy your retirement Miller. You earned it.
AmericanRedneck
Helluva a player and a career. Enjoy all that cash you earned and retirement!
Jacksson13
For Andrew, It’s now “MILLER Time” !!
BaseballClassic1985
$81 million dollars for 829 innings of slightly above league average performance. And the players were acting like they have it so bad during the lockout.
FSF
Tens of millions to over $100M in profits for each of the owners every year for not even being obligated to run their business with any amount of competence because they have a sanctioned monopoly on the sport and the owners were acting like they have it so bad during the lockout.
BaseballClassic1985
Financial information for all clubs except for the Braves are private, yet here you are claiming you know how much profit each team makes. Ok, Zoomer
FSF
First off, I’m a highly qualified CPA/MBA financial analyst who does this sort of thing for a living and have looked at various bits of information to discern what I am saying. I could go on and on with the information but I have neither the time nor the inclination to indulge you. Why do you think the Yankees paid $3.7 BILLION to buy out the remainder of the YES network just a couple of years ago. Because they’re hurting?
But all that aside, you’re the hypocrite who thinks Miller was overpaid. You claim the financial information is “private”, yet here you are claiming you know how much is too much to be paying any given player.
BaseballClassic1985
If you think Andrew Miller earning $81 million for pitching 829 innings for his career made him underpaid, I’m really glad you’re not analyzing my finances.
FSF
The guy is a reliever. Was Mariano Rivera overpaid because he got $170M for throwing less than 300 more innings than Miller?
The fact that you would harp on innings in this situation is completely ridiculous and makes you look ridiculous.
BaseballClassic1985
Mariano was a virtual lock for almost 20 years. Miller had about 4 excellent seasons. Big difference.
Actually, I think the $ Mariano made as a reliever was ridiculous, as well. This coming from a Yankee fan. As an owner, I’d find it extremely difficult to pay a pitcher that only contributes 60 to 70 innings an 8-figure salary, no matter how effective they were.
FSF
1985, Miller had been a lock down reliever for the better part of a decade. If you don’t understand that, then you obviously just don’t get it. And he lagged Mariano’s career by 10 years (when salaries went up that much more) and came into the sweet spot of when relievers were starting to get seriously paid. That you don’t know all this and take the CONTEXT into account is why your comments are hard to take seriously.
And while I love Mo, he wasn’t always such a virtual lock in some extremely key moments.
AnnaDad
And you think you know anything? Have you ever put your family’s livelihood on the line for anything? No you haven’t. Have you ever owned a business? No you haven’t. You act like an entitled person that gives nothing and expects everything handed to you. The problem isn’t the owners or players. The problem is people like you that fail to try to succeed at life.
Learn to try, and not expect. Your thinking is pathetic.
Michael Macaulay-Birks
That comment seems awfully personal for a baseball website
FSF
AnnaDad, you sound like a very embittered loser.
Mrbarky
Miller was the epitome of a team guy as he didn’t care when he pitched or if he would get the save.Miller was more interested in getting outs than saves.Terry Francona loved Miller’s team first attitude.
DarrenDreifortsContract
Andrew Miller>Mariano Rivera
gbs42
Wut?????
Luke Strong
Great career! It had to be absolutely brutal to face him in his prime with that long lanky motion and arm slot.
Kelly Wunsch N' Munch
Congratulations on a nice career. Real nice run of being a dominate force there for a nice stretch. Not sure about all these takes on him “revolutionizing” relief pitching though. More of a throwback if anything. It was commonplace for relievers to work multiple innings before the baseball world became obsessed with labeling roles for relief pitchers when they all have the same role really, and that is to get outs. More relievers should be used in the same fashion. Not to say that they’d all excel at it like Miller did for some time. I had wanted the White Sox to use Rodon in that fashion. Doesn’t seem to handle the starters workload well historically, nasty stuff, capable of being effective over multiple innings, etc… I’m sure there’s others who fit the bill as well for the aforementioned reasons. Anyways best wishes to Andrew Miller. Thanks for the entertainment!
bobsugar84
Best left handed reliever of all time.
moteus
Yeah, always regretted losing Andrew Miller, but if that was part of the price for scoring Miggy ,,,,? I’m OK with it!! 🙂
angt222
From struggling SP to All-Star relieve, congrats on a great career, and all the best in retirement!
etex211
He made $81 million playing baseball. Congratulations.
TF4L
Congrats on a great career!
hyraxwithaflamethrower
Congrats to him. I’m glad he made the switch to the bullpen. Pretty bad as a starter, but one of the league’s best relievers for five straight years. Funny how it works that way sometimes.
Beldar J. Conehead
A contender for the Hall of Pretty Good.
NickGarren
Almost played spoiler for the Cub winning the 2016 World Series. Guy was unhittable that offseason. Wish the Cub would of got sometime during his stellar career.
southern lion
Now you can truly enjoy the Miller High Life. Seriously, congrats on a great career, Andrew.
bobtillman
A darn good performer…one of the VERY few middle relievers that had an impact.
Labor-wise? Ony the pro-owner contingent (which represents most of the sports writers) think the MLBPA gained anything of significance with the new CBA; it actually was a complete disaster for the players. Miller knew this (as did the rest of the Exec council) and fought against it.
But have no fear; the Association says it had “meaningful dialogue” and “things will be better next time”…. which it what they said 5 years ago….10 years ago….15 years ago….
extreme113
Any particular reason Rumors hasn’t mentioned about the NYY female minor league manager getting hit in the face while tossing a ball in a soft toss drill?
realbaseball
What’s a woman?
moteus
Maybe more like a woe-man? 🙂
yanks2323
One of my favorite Yankees in recent memory, what a filthy slider and a great team mate. He was lights out while in NY! Best of luck on the retirement and thanks Andrew for the great memories!!!
JerryBird
Good bye Andrew Miller. A typical free agent who signs a multi year contract and then milks the team for money by not producing to the level required of the salary. St. Louis tries to find a name pitcher, then settles for washed up talent. No wonder MO shops the discount racks in the back of the store. Thanks for 13 glorious innings in a season shortened by the pandemic. Just didn’t get the opportunity to get injured in that short time span. Enjoy your undeserved Cardinal money, swindler.
Poster formerly known as . . .
“No wonder MO shops the discount racks in the back of the store.”
If Mozeliak gets burned by shopping the discount racks, why is it no wonder that he does it?
JerryBird
Fink – MO goes to the discount rack because he gets burned by great trailblazing relief pitchers on a three year deal. Teams have their hands tied while waiting for their great free agent signings to FINALLY get off the books; therefore, the discount rack. Free agency has a forty year history of players past their prime expecting payment for what they did somewhere else, not where they are going. Don’t you get tired of that kind of disappointment? I certainly do.
Poster formerly known as . . .
If that’s your take, it seems like you should be angry at the front office, not the player they signed. Miller missed 99 days on the IL the year before St. Louis signed him, including 13 days with a shoulder injury 08/29/2018 – 09/10/2018.
JerryBird
Fink – Deals are made in good faith by both sides. Teams MUST honor the deal, no matter how badly they get burned. Players don’t once they sign. They get paid handsomely for a bad performance, like Miller did. He wasn’t hurt when he took the mound for St. Louis. Nobody plays hurt anymore. He was healthy when he pitched UNTIL he got hurt. When he pitched, he did not earn his money, plain and simple. The way I see it, he reneged on the contract and the team suffers for it.
Poster formerly known as . . .
If you think a major league player isn’t competitive enough to try his best I have to say you’re hanging out in the fantasy realm. Not only do they all want to win, but a player of Miller’s caliber is mindful of his career record. He was aging and afflicted by multiple injuries. No player refuses a contract when a team shows as much faith in him as he has in himself. He tried and failed. Major League baseball is hard.
JerryBird
Fink – Bottom line is he did FAIL. Cardinals take the hit, The bullpen suffers for 3 years with this worn out piece of meat who was merely a shadow of his past self. Once in a blue moon, he would shine like a diamond in a goat’s ass, but not often enough for that kind of money. Miller walks away with $34M on 104 innings of crap results. Wasted money.
MLB players are not as honorable kind of people as you think. Most of them are spoiled rotten brats who many get lazy after they get their guaranteed contracts. No player refuses a contract when a team shows as much blind faith as the Cardinals showed in Miller. He let down the team and more than that, he let down the fans as he laughs all the way to bank.
Poster formerly known as . . .
You don’t know him personally and neither do I. Therefore, neither of us is in a position to say how his failure affected him emotionally.
Your judgmental attitude prompts you to assume the worst. I prefer to give the benefit of the doubt.
When he pitched for the Yankees he willingly ceded the closer’s role to Chapman and served as a setup man although accumulating saves would’ve given him more value on the market. He was a team-first player.
You express such a low opinion of ballplayers (again, none of whom you know personally), I have to wonder why you spend any time watching them play. I doubt that your anger towards them is doing you much good. What do you think?
JerryBird
Fink – My “anger” suites me fine and I love to find a foolish person like you who allows me to rant. You feed that anger quite well, thank you.
Andrew Miller had absolutely no choice in the matter of giving up the closer role to Chapman. That was strictly management’s decision and the best one possible. He made the same money no matter what role he had and he knew it. Please stop trying to make him out as an honorable man. There was no pride to swallow, just a check to cash. I still consider him a swindler after the past 3 years.
joemooneysrake
Why can’t we just acknowledge that Miller was a great, trailblazing reliever, wish him luck, and leave it at that? He was also an unwitting participant in this classic Remy/Orsillo moment:youtu.be/oa5xH2a3HuI
JerryBird
Joe – refer to my comment above to Fink. That’s why we can’t just acknowledge free agent players like Miller, IMHO.
realbaseball
4 years too late. Mozeliak was duped into signing him. Money for nothing.
anotherdamncardinalfan
Thank God
blahable
It’s Crazy Dontrelle Willis was basically out of the league by 29..