Cincinnati Reds add Wade Miley to improving rotation

The Cincinnati Reds have made another move to improve their starting rotation, reportedly signing Wade Miley to a two year deal worth $15 million.

Heading into the 2019 campaign, the Cincinnati Reds made a concerted effort to shake off their rebuild and begin contending. With a variety of moves, including their acquisition of Trevor Bauer at the trade deadline, the Reds had significantly improved their roster during the season. However, they were not done in their efforts, as they signed Mike Moustakas earlier in free agency to add another powerful bat to their lineup.

The Reds were not done with that move. On Monday, they added to their rotation, reportedly signing Wade Miley to a two year deal worth $15 million, along with a $9 million option for 2022.

Although he faltered down the stretch in 2019, Miley had a solid season with the Astros. He posted a 14-6 record, along with a 3.98 ERA and a 1.345 WHiP. Over his 167.1 innings, Miley struck out 140 batters while issuing 61 walks.

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Those numbers would fit in well in the back of any rotation. With the Reds, Miley is likely to be the fifth starter, slotting behind Bauer, Luis Castillo, Anthony DeSclafani, and Sonny Gray. Suddenly, that Reds rotation that had been rather maligned over the past few seasons has become formidable.

Obviously, the Reds still have work to do. The bullpen could use an upgrade, and it would not hurt to bring in another reliever with closing experience. Center could still be an issue for the Reds as well, with Nick Senzel currently penciled into the starting role. The Reds are not a finished product.

However, at this point, the starting rotation appears to be ready for the start of the regular season. The Reds may look to add another veteran as a depth piece, especially to ensure backup should Gray’s elbow not be healthy. For now, though, the heavy lifting, at least with the rotation, is likely over.

The Cincinnati Reds have upgraded their starting rotation, adding Wade Miley on a two year deal. They are certainly getting closer to contending, at least on paper.