The New York Yankees continue to make moves to rebuild a farm system that was once in shambles. Just days after moving closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs for top prospect Gleyber Torres, New York has reached a deal to send Andrew Miller to the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees will receive propsects Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller, and J.P. Feyereisen in return.
Hi.
We’ve acquired @a_miller48 from the Yankees.
Andrew is 6-1 w/a 1.39 ERA and 77 strikeouts (!!!!) in 45.1 IP. pic.twitter.com/UCvU2gGjvp
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) July 31, 2016
Yankees Ship Andrew Miller to Cleveland
Coming into the season, the back end of the Yankees bullpen was considered perhaps the most talented in baseball. Miller, Chapman, and Dellin Betances comprised a three-headed monster that few batters relished facing. Now, only Betances remains.
Miller’s presence instantly shores up one of the Indians few remaining weaknesses. Cleveland sits at 59-42, good for first place in the AL Central and 4.5 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. With Miller along for the ride, the Indians look primed for a deep post-season run.
Over the past few seasons, Miller has become of the the premier setup men in the game. The 31-year-old broke into the league in 2006 with Detroit, but really began a career renaissance in 2012 with the Boston Red Sox. He’s recorded sub-3.00 ERAs and sub-1.00 WHIPs in each of the last four seasons, and is striking out well above a batter per nine innings.
This year, across 45.1 innings, Miller has tossed seventy-seven strikeouts against just seven walks, and owns a 0.77 WHIP and a 1.39 ERA. Miller also has closing experience, should the Indians ever need him to step into the ninth inning. He saved thirty-six games as New York’s closer last season
The Yankees Haul
Today @yankees acquire OF Clint Frazier, LHP Justus Sheffield and RHPs Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen from Cleveland for LHP Andrew Miller.
— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) July 31, 2016
Miller did not come cheap for Cleveland. Frazier is the crowing jewel of the package. The Indians drafted the 21-year-old center fielder fifth overall in the first round of the 2013 June Amateur Draft. He’s seen as a potential Mike Trout-type player. He has great bat speed and is a true threat on the bases. This season, he’s spent time at both the Double- and Triple-A levels. He’s hitting .273 with thirteen steals, thirteen home runs, and an .811 OPS. He immediately becomes the apparent future in center field at Yankee Stadium.
Sheffield is another former first round pick by the Indians. He was selected 31st overall in the 2014 draft, and is the nephew of former Yankee Gary Sheffield. This year, with High-A Lynchburg, the 20-year-old was 7-5 with a 3.59 ERA. He also struck out ninety-three batters in 95.1 innings, but also issued forty walks. He’s still just beginning his professional career, and the control should improve with time.
Heller, a 24-year-old right-handed pitcher was in the midst of his strongest minor league campaign yet. Across two levels, the reliever has a 1.73 ERA and twelve saves in 41.2 innings. He’s struck out forty-eight while walking just twelve. In addition, he’s allowed just eight earned runs.
The 23-year-old Feyereisen, another young righty arm, was also having a sold year. The reliever tossed 40.1 innings for Double-A Akron while putting up a 2.23 ERA and fifty-six strikeouts. Neither Heller nor Feyereisen truly replace Miller, at least not year, but they look like solid prospects who should someday contribute at the Major League level.
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