Interesting piece over at FanGraphs summarizing an unique contract clause that Miller and the BoSox put in his contract to 'discourage' teams from claiming him on waivers.
Miller signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox, with the plan being for him to begin the year in Triple-A. If he is called up at any point, they will have to pass him through waivers before they can re-assign him to Pawtucket, as he is out of options. If Miller had a good showing in his time in the big leagues, there would be a decent chance that another team would have taken a shot at him, and used the waiver process to grab him for themselves. So, to prevent that from happening, the Red Sox gave Miller a $3 million option for 2012 that vests if he’s claimed on waivers by another team.
This essentially guarantees that Miller will slide through waivers unclaimed, giving them the right to assign him to their Triple-A affiliate even though he’s out of options. Effectively, this contract structure gives Miller an extra option year.
Our old friend Andrew Miller has been pitching pretty well at Triple-A this year. He has the chance to opt-out from his contract, but it seems that he won't because he will likely be called up to start against the Padres next week.
Smart move by the Sox. And interesting guy to keep an eye on.
A Major League source told the Globe tonight that the Red Sox are working on a plan to add Class AAA Pawtucket lefthander Andrew Miller to the rotation.
Miller has a clause in his minor-league contract that would allow him to declare free agency tomorrow if he is not promoted to the majors.
Miller has been one of the best pitchers in the International League in recent weeks. In his last five starts, Miller has allowed seven earned runs over 30.1 innings with seven walks and 30 strikeouts.
Miller went 5.1 innings against Charlotte tonight, allowing one run on five hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts. He has a 2.47 earned run average this season.
According to the source, the Sox are planning to start Miller against the San Diego Padres next week and will create space in the rotation by shifting around the starts of John Lackey and Tim Wakefield. That would create essentially a six-man rotation.
The Red Sox have not commented on what their plans are for Miller. Speaking to reporters earlier today, manager Terry Francona praised Miller's performance and said he personally recruited him over the winter.
There is no word on when Miller would be added to the roster. But presumably the promise of being added to the rotation would keep him from exercising his out clause tomorrow.
Several teams in need of a starter, including the Yankees, have scouted Miller in recent weeks. Were he to opt-out, it's almost certain that he would be added to a major league roster.
wrveres wrote:Why not make it 30 million, or 50 million?? I cant believe they are the first to think of this. I wonder if it is even legal.
Looking at it from Miller's point of view, why would he take that option if he had any problem with essentially being "optioned" back and forth from Pawtucket for the year. I don't see a problem with a clause like this, as long as the player supports the clause and isn't being "forced" into taking it.
Andrew Miller gets called up today with Buchholz going on the DL. Miller will be getting the start tomorrow (he was scheduled to make this start even before Buchholz went on the DL)
"I do not think baseball of today is any better than it was 30 years ago... I still think Radbourne is the greatest of the pitchers." John Sullivan 1914-Old athletes never change.
Passing the eye ball test for the most part. Not that I have any scouting background or anything, but he's mixing pitches better than I ever remember. Throwing a healthy number of strikes and inducing ground balls as well. Obviously the final line will have to be taken with a grain of salt given the opposition, but signs of promise for those in deep leagues who may be curious.
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by StlSluggers » Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:11 am 
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