Arizona Diamondbacks: Shelby Miller Optioned to AAA
On Thursday evening the Arizona Diamondbacks announced that struggling right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller was optioned to Triple-A.
#Dbacks option right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller to the Triple-A Reno @Aces. A corresponding move will be made tomorrow.
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 14, 2016
The Diamondbacks made a franchise altering trade this past offseason in order to acquire Miller when they sent 2015 number one overall pick Dansby Swanson, outfielder Ender Inciarte and right-handed pitcher Aaron Blair to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for the 25-year old right hander.
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The Diamondbacks certainly paid a steep price for Miller, who alongside Zack Greinke was supposed to carry the D-Backs starting rotation to a new level in 2016. However, tonight’s news is a harsh reality that the trade hasn’t quite worked out in their favor thus far.
In 14 starts through the first half of the 2016 season, Shelby Miller pitched to a 2-9 record with a career low 7.14 ERA and a career low 1.47 K/BB ratio.
Dansby Swanson on the other hand remains on track to rise through the minors and eventually be the every-day future shortstop of the Atlanta Braves. After just 21 games in Class-A Advanced ball with the Carolina Muscats, Swanson was promoted to the Double-A Mississippi Braves where he’s slashing .268/.350/.409 with 5 home runs, 19 extra-base hits and 29 RBI through 59 games played.
After spending about a month on the DL with a hamstring strain, the 25-year old Ender Inciarte has slashed .227/.294/.306 with 11 RBI and 8 stolen bases in 59 games played. Inciarte is on pace to hit .279 with 44 RBI and 25 stolen bases.
In his rookie-season, Aaron Blair has pitched to an 0-5 record with an ugly 7.99 ERA. After almost as bad a first half as Shelby Miller, the 24-year old Blair was optioned back to AAA Gwinnett.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to recall veteran southpaw reliever Edwin Escobar (0-2, 14.14 ERA) in place of the struggling Shelby Miller.
Currently at 38-52, The Arizona Diamondback season is all but over, but hopefully for the sake of Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart, Shelby Miller will fix his mechanics and turn things around.
After all, Miller, who was once traded straight up for Jason Hayward, remains under Arizona Diamondback team control through the 2018 season.
Next: Cleveland Indians Interested in Yankees Bullpen Assets
If he can’t turn things around, Dave Stewart might find himself out of a job sooner rather than later.