Cleveland Indians: Andrew Miller Matters More Than Jonathan Lucroy

The Cleveland Indians acquired pitcher Andrew Miller in a trade with the New York Yankees to help bolster the bullpen.

Sunday morning got off to a great start for the Cleveland Indians. A trade with the New York Yankees brought Andrew Miller to town, while it appeared a deal was in place to bring in Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy as well.

Miller is now a member of the Indians, but Lucroy headed to the Texas Rangers after vetoing a trade to the Indians.

The veto seemingly came out of nowhere for fans who expected some help at the catcher position, but he got hung up on two details.

It seems Lucroy wanted the team to deny his option because there was no guarantee he would be the starting catcher in 2017, although he could have easily gone to spring training and won the job. Even if he did start at DH and first base, he would still be in the lineup every game and his value would continue to rise if he continued his offensive dominance.

But none of that matters as Lucroy is now a member of the Rangers, who could potentially meet up with the Indians in the postseason.

The Indians added another bat with former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Brandon Guyer, but Andrew Miller is the player everyone in Cleveland is now talking about.

It was no secret the Indians needed bullpen help, specifically from a left-hander, before the trade deadline ended Monday.

The only left-handed pitcher on the active roster besides Miller is Kyle Crockett, and he is more of a mid-game reliever than a lefty specialist who can be called upon in late-game, pressure situations.

Adding Miller gives the Indians someone who can come in for setup in the eighth, close in the ninth or work with current closer Cody Allen in a platoon situation in the closer role.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

If Bryan Shaw can avoid his occasional bad outing, the Indians will have a 7-8-9 punch of Shaw, Miller and Allen that can make any lead heading into the seventh inning a dangerous one.

This new bullpen presence helps more than acquiring Lucroy, who would only come if his 2017 option was denied, making him a two-month rental for a team with great chemistry in 2016. Adding this type of player, who openly refuses to be a part of the team in the future, may not have been worth the trouble. That is, if Yan Gomes can improve his .165 batting average upon his return from the DL.

Miller was embraced by his teammates, the organization and its fans as soon as the move was announced. The fact he is under contract through 2018 helps that sentiment just a bit.

His arrival in Cleveland addresses the club’s most glaring need and makes an already strong pitcher staff even better.

Gomes still has time to figure himself out behind the plate, and the first-place Indians seem to be fine if it takes some more time upon his return from injury. While getting Lucroy would have been nice, no one in Cleveland wants someone in town who is just looking to leave.

Next: MLB Trade Deadline winners

Perhaps Miller can strike him out in the ALCS to end the series, making it all come full-circle. This is the new Cleveland, where anything can happen.