The New York Yankees are a contender, and every contender needs relief pitching at the trade deadline.
The back end of the Yankees' bullpen is full of righties, but they all play their role well. Devin Williams has recovered from an atrocious start and looks like Devin Williams. Luke Weaver has been a brilliant waiver wire find by the front office, and Fernando Cruz has been what the Yankees hoped they were getting in an offseason trade with the Cincinnati Reds.
Should the Yankees add one more power righty to the mix, though? That's what Joshua Diemert of Pinstripe Alley is proposing.
In a Tuesday article, Diemert named Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Shelby Miller, who has had a wild up-and-down career but is turning back the clock in 2025, as an intriguing Yankees trade candidate ahead of the Jul. 31 deadline.
Shelby Miller could (be a decent add)," Diemert wrote. "(He) is seeing a season with his second-highest strikeout rate, highest average fastball speed and a (1.97) ERA.
"He may be the biggest bullpen piece moved this summer, and two months of him in the mix with Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, and Fernando Cruz makes for a pretty lights-out group.
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In addition to the sparkling ERA, Miller has a 1.03 WHIP, 3.42 FIP, and 3.71 xERA. He doesn't throw all that hard anymore at age 34, but he gets good extension and his 98th percentile chase rate is a testament to his deceptive four-pitch mix.
Miller is on a one-year, $1 million contract, so even if the Yankees can only afford to make one minor move at the deadline due to budget restrictions, Miller would be easily affordable. And that's probably not the case for this team, which has championship aspirations.
It wouldn't be the move that dominated the headlines, but don't be surprised to see a quality relief arm like Miller headed to the Bronx at the end of July.
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