As the saying goes, bad news comes in threes, and this week has been a doozy for the Orioles.
Lockdown left-handed reliever Andrew Miller reached an agreement on a four-year, $36-million deal with the New York Yankees on Friday, capping a week in which the Orioles also lost free-agent outfielders Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz.
If Miller remains in his setup role with the Yankees, his deal would be the largest given to a non-closer reliever. Miller has one career major league save.
Miller played a large role in the Orioles' success down the stretch and in the postseason after he was acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox just before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. But the Orioles were never a favorite to retain him.
Executive vice president Dan Duquette said Thursday night that 22 other teams were also pursuing Miller, so it would be difficult to keep him, especially since it appeared the Orioles would need to make Miller a four-year deal to compete. The Orioles never made an offer to Miller, according to a source.
"There's only one Andrew Miller out there," Duquette said Thursday. "He's only going to sign with one club. And I'm not sure we can support paying him that kind of money in that job and make sense for our ballclub. I'm not sure a relief pitcher has that kind of economic value for this ball club in this market. If Andrew Miller signs with another club – I understand there are three major market clubs trying to sign him – it will be because he got paid more money and he may have more value in that market than in this market."
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros were also reportedly in the mix for Miller at the end.
It especially stings the Orioles that Miller will be joining the division-rival Yankees, bolstering a bullpen that already has stellar right-handed set-up man Dellin Betances.
Miller posted a 1.35 ERA in 20 innings with the Orioles, recording 34 strikeouts and just four walks in that span. He also tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings in the postseason, striking out eight, walking none and allowing just one hit.
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