The Indians though did strike out on a deal that would have landed them catcher Jonathan Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers.
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According to MLB.com, the Yankees’ now have seven of the top 100 prospects in baseball, and four of those – three trade additions and this year’s top draft pick – were added to the organization in the past two months.
Adding onto the bounty for Chapman, which included two top 100 prospects and one in the top 25 (on most evaluation lists), NY struck again, dealing Miller, acquiring: Elite outfield prospect, Clint Frazier, lefty starter Justus Sheffield and a pair of relievers in J.P Feyereisen and Ben Heller.
“I’m still trying to get over that we traded the best of the best”, Betances said of Miller, still stunned about the deal following the Rays’ 5-3 win – the Yankees’ fourth straight loss. “If we win games, that’s what’s important”.
“I think he’s going to be fine”, Miller said. “That’s why we do what we do, and we felt that this team has done it’s part”. Among qualified relievers, his 1.8 WAR is third in baseball, per FanGraphs. Chapman is entering his free agent year while Miller can remain in Cleveland for a few more seasons. The Indians will be assuming his entire contract.
Other reports also add that Cleveland will be sending two more prospects to NY in the deal and likely, these are prospect pitchers in the Indians roster.
So will his ability to mix and match Miller with RHP Bryan Shaw in the late innings before handing the ball to RH closer Cody Allen. Whether that’s in the eighth inning or closing out a game, it doesn’t seem to matter to either.
“I was on the road trip with the team and [Allen] came to me and said, ‘Chris, hey, for whatever it’s worth, all I care about is winning”. “I’m not going to change one bit, whatever they ask me to do, hopefully do it up to their standards”.
But it’s hard to rationalize this as anything other than a team selling at the deadline, something the Yankees haven’t done with much significance since 1989 when they sent Rickey Henderson to the Athletics.
“It’s exciting”, Allen said. “He helped us the last couple of years. A guy like him, as dominant as he is, as good as he’s been his entire career, everything we’ve heard about him, we’re definitely excited to have him”.
The first order of business when Miller arrives will be for manager Terry Francona to decide how he is going to use him. “There is no bigger”. That’s nice, but I think ultimately I’ll get to know these guys pretty quick. “He kind of brought a different attitude, mentality, whatever you want to say to the mound today”.
The Yankees had communicated to Miller that if they were blown away by an offer, they would take it. Theres no better message..
Miller was a 2016 All-Star selection and is having arguably the best season of his career, which is saying something as he’s been one of the top five relievers in baseball for a couple years.
The Brewers and Indians had agreed on a trade Saturday night that would have sent Lucroy to the Indians in exchange for four prospects. But Lucroy, citing concerns with playing time in 2017, opted to veto the deal with his no-trade clause.
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ORIOLES ADD STARTER: Baltimore acquired Wade Miley in a trade with the Mariners, giving manager Buck Showalter an experienced left-hander for his rotation as the team tries to hold off the Blue Jays and Red Sox for the AL East title.
