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Yankees Rumors: Andrew Miller Cleveland Indians’ Top Priority

By Kenneth Teape

Jun 25, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees winning pitcher Andrew Miller (48) pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees winning pitcher Andrew Miller (48) pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Yankees rumors recently have Andrew Miller being the number one target for the Cleveland Indians on the trade market.

New York Yankees rumors continue to pop up, and Andrew Miller is the name that continues to pop up the most. The Yankees have another option available in their bullpen in Aroldis Chapman, who is also left-handed and would cost less in the way of a trade package than Miller, as he is an impending free agent.

But, Chapman comes with some off the field baggage after starting the season suspended. That could be part of the reason teams would rather get their hands on Miller, but it will not be cheap to pry him away from the Yankees.

Miller has a team-friendly contract that runs for two more seasons beyond this one, making him a hot commodity. He has also become one of the best late inning options in baseball, showing that he can be a dominant closer or set-up man.

As a result, Miller is highly sought after around the league. One team that badly wants to acquire Miller is the Cleveland Indians, who are seeking a left-handed option to add to their bullpen, which currently is all right-handed. Miller would fit that mold, as Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and MLB Network says that Miller is the number one priority for the Indians heading into the trade deadline.

It would take a haul to get Miller away from the Yankees, because all of the reasons that other teams are interested in him for are reasons that the Yankees want to keep him in pinstripes.

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Miller has been lights out for the Yankees this season, registering a 1.34 ERA and 0.74 WHIP. He has a 15.62 K/9 on the season, striking out 70 batters in only 40 1/3 innings, against seven walks. He has also registered seven saves and 15 holds on the season, showing that he can excel as either the setup man or closer for a team.

The Indians could also be in the market for a corner outfielder, as they had interest in Brett Gardner earlier in the year. Gardner has had a tough season at the plate, so the Indians might be interested in acquiring Carlos Beltran in a package deal with the Yankees.

That would be an astronomical price for the Indians to pay, as Miller would be expensive enough but adding in Beltran, who has been the Yankees’ best hitter this season, would put that already high price through the roof.

Given what the Yankees have been looking for in other trade talks, controllable young arms, players such as Rob Kaminsky, Triston McKenzie, Adam Plutko and Shawn Marimando could be targets of the Yankees. Those players have varying ranges of potential and MLB readiness, but would give the Yankees some building blocks in their rotation that has very little stability right now.

Miller is a top flight bullpen arm currently in the MLB, and the Yankees should not trade him unless they are getting a haul in return. Prospect may not be enough for the Yankees to part with Miller, as they are probably looking for players to not only help them down the road, but right away as well.

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If Miller proves to be too expensive for the Indians, they will most likely check in on Chapman. Chapman is right up there with Miller as the best left-handed bullpen arm potentially available in the coming leading up to the MLB Trade Deadline.

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