The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have agreed to terms with free-agent left-handed relief pitcher Andrew Miller on a two-year (2019-2020) deal with a vesting option for 2021. Two years, $25M, plus vesting option, full no-trade clause. Option worth $12M, vests at 110 games combined in 2019-20. Incentives: $500K per year based on appearances. Breakdown: $11M in 2019, $11.5M in ‘20, $2.5M buyout on option.
“One of our stated goals this off-season was to improve our bullpen,” said Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. “Andrew Miller is one of the premier relievers in the Major League, and his addition certainly strengthens our bullpen.”
A veteran of 13 seasons in the majors, Miller, 33, has stood among the games’ top relievers over the past three seasons, enjoying All-Star campaigns in both 2016 and 2017. The 6-7, 205-pound Gainesville, Fla. native was a key member of the Cleveland Indians bullpen in 2016 when they advanced to the World Series, and he was voted the MVP of the American League Championship Series that year, striking out 14 batters in 7.2 innings.
Miller, whose major league career began in 2006 with Detroit, has compiled a 49-48 mark with a 3.98 ERA in 483 games pitched, striking out 853 batters in his 725.1 innings pitched. Miller has taken part in postseason play each of the past five seasons (2014-18) and has made 22 career appearances in the postseason, going 2-1 with a 1.09 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 33.0 innings of work.
Miller ranks among the Major League’s top-10 in reliever ERA (2.00-4th), opponent average (.170-7th), strikeouts (263-T9th), strikeout/walk ratio (5.72-7th), Holds (63-7th) and WHIP (0.88-4th) over the past three seasons. He was 2-4 with a 4.24 ERA in 37 games pitched during an injury-shortened season for Cleveland in 2018, but did come back to pitch down the stretch and into the postseason.
Among the majors’ left-handed relievers, Miller is ranked 3rd in strikeouts/9 IP (13.84) and 2nd in strikeout to walk ratio (5.72) since 2016.
The Cardinals have designated right-handed pitcher Ryan Meisinger for assignment to make room for Miller on the team’s 40-man Major League roster.
The Cardinals plan to officially introduce Miller at the team’s Winter Warm-up event in January.
