MLB: Deadline Deals Helping Shape the 2016 Postseason

Cleveland Indians acquire Closer Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees

To this point the most substantial move made at the trade deadline was the Cleveland Indians acquisition of Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees. The Yankees broke up the best bullpen in all of baseball (Betances, Miller, Chapman) in an effort to stock pile top-tier prospects, in a very un-Yaknee like manner. The Indians were leading the American League Central, but knew that they needed help at the back-end of their bullpen, and boy did they ever get it.

Miller went 4-0 with a 1.55 ERA, 46 strike outs, just two walks and three saves over 29 innings pitched with the Indians down the stretch. Since the playoffs have begun Miller has been absolutely lights-out for the Tribe, appearing in six of the Indians eight games, posting a 1-0 record with 21 strikeouts, two walks, and five base hits allowed over a combined 11.2 scoreless innings. Yes, you read that correctly Miller has not allowed a single run this postseason.

Miller has anchored an Indians bullpen that has lifted a sleeping offense and a depleted starting rotation into their first fall classic since 1997. The icing on the cake for the Indians? Andrew Miller is under contract through the 2018 season.