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New York Yankees: Andrew Miller Just Wants To Win

By Kenneth Teape

Sep 26, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees defeated the White Sox 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Andrew Miller (48) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees defeated the White Sox 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Yankees are replacing Andrew Miller at closer, despite his outstanding 2015 season, with Aroldis Chapman. But, it will not bother Miller has winning is his No.1 priority.

The New York Yankees had a dominant duo at the back end of their bullpen in 2015 in closer Andrew Miller and set-up man Dellin Betances. Betances is considered to be the closer in waiting by many, but Miller was outstanding in the role last season, saving 36 games with a 2.04 ERA. It was the first time in his career that he was a closer, and he ran away with the job. But, that is not a job that he will have this season.

With a trade this winter with the Cincinnati Reds being consummated, the Yankees acquired flame throwing Aroldis Chapman for four prospects. Despite his outstanding 2015, Joe Girardi has already decided that Miller will be moving back into a set-up role with Chapman taking over as the team’s closer.

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This is something that would normally discourage players, especially if they had a season as successful as the one that Miller put together. But, Miller is taking a total different approach to his ‘demotion’, as he will put the team ahead of himself and take the change in stride.

“At this point in my career I’m not building any sort of resume on saves,” Miller said on the Michael Kay Show. “I’m not chasing any numbers or records. I’ve seen teams win and I’ve seen how much fun that is. That will be the most rewarding thing if we win games and accomplish our goals.”

The 30-year old Miller is already pitching for his fifth team in his major league career, and is ready to be on a winning team. It also doesn’t hurt that he will still be earning a nice chunk of change from the four-year, $36 million contract he signed last year as he will be making that money regardless of whether he is the closer or not.

Some people will be surprised that Miller is still on the Yankees roster at all at this point. Miller was a part of plenty of rumors this offseason, as teams were going fishing for relief help on the trade market, which was deeper than the free agency class. After seeing the package that the rival Boston Red Sox had to send to the San Diego Padres for premier closer Craig Kimbrel, it makes sense that the Yankees would at least send out feelers for what they could get for Miller.

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But, according to Miller, a trade never really came close to getting done. Also on the Michael Kay Show, Miller said, “Everything I’ve heard from the Yankees, and they seemed to have backed it up, it would have to be pretty extreme for them to move me. And I don’t blame them. If they feel they can make the team better, that’s their prerogative.”

Deciding to hold onto Miller, the Yankees now have arguably the most dominant trio ever put together at the backend of a bullpen. All three of Miller, Betances and Chapman are capable of closing and blowing away opposing batters.

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“I came to New York to be a winner,” Miller also said on the Michael Kay Show. That is something the Yankees should be doing a lot of this upcoming season. If they bring leads into the sixth and seventh innings, it will be a tall hill to climb for opponents to score off of the trio that the Yankees have waiting for them in the bullpen.

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