Cincinnati Reds free agency preview: Starting pitcher Wade Miley

The Cincinnati Reds are in serious need of starting pitching this offseason. Blog Red Machine is going to check out a few potential free agents who could help. Maybe a familiar face, like Wade Miley is just what the Reds need.

Free agency doesn’t start for a few more weeks, but it’s never too early to preview which players the Cincinnati Reds may target this offseason. Obviously, starting pitching is far and away the biggest need for this ballclub going forward.

As we continue to peruse the list of upcoming free agent pitchers, a familiar face is slated to join the crowd this offseason. Wade Miley, currently part of the Milwaukee Brewers club who won the NL Central, will hit the open market in a few weeks. Could the veteran find a home in Cincinnati following the Brewers postseason run?

Wade Miley is a former All-Star and was runner-up to Bryce Harper for the 2012 Rookie of the Year Award. He actually bested former Reds third baseman, Todd Frazier, in the voting that year. Miley opened his career out west for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

I’m always leery of chasing after free agents whose best years are far behind them. However, if we’re being realistic, there’s little-to-no chance that the Cincinnati Reds are going to dish out the kind of money it’s going to take to lure a starter like Dallas Keuchel or Patrick Corbin to the Queen City.

His tour through the American League from 2015-2017 was not one to remember. After a three-year stint with the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, and Baltimore Orioles, that saw his ERA balloon to 5.10, Miley decided it was time to get back to the National League.

So, while Miley hasn’t seen the same success that he back in his rookie season when he went 16-11 with a 3.33 ERA, he has enjoyed a bit of resurgence with the Brewers this season. In 16 starts, Miley has compiled a record of 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA.

Miley, like so many of the free agent pitchers we’ve previewed, is left-handed. I know it sounds like a broken record, but the Cincinnati Reds need to find a left-handed pitcher to be part of their 2019 starting rotation.

In two starts during this postseason, Miley has thrown 10.1 innings, allowed only 5 hits, 1 walk, and struck out 5 batters. He’s allowed no runs thus far this postseason, and will no doubt be given another chance as the NLCS progresses this week.

Miley is currently on a minor-league deal, so he’ll definitely see a bump in pay this offseason. But, at age 32 with a sub-.500 career winning percentage and 4.26 ERA, Miley won’t command a king’s ransom. He is most certainly a name the Reds should keep an eye on when the free agency period begins.