Cincinnati Reds: The addition of Wade Miley cements the starting rotation

The Cincinnati Reds reportedly inked left-handed starter Wade Miley to a two-year contract worth $15M. Miley’s addition fills out the Reds 2020 rotation.

According to multiple sources, the Cincinnati Reds have come to terms with free agent left-hander Wade Miley. The former Houston Astro is expected to be slotted into the Reds starting rotation alongside Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Trevor Bauer, and Anthony DeSclafani. Cincinnati’s rotation is essentially set for the 2020 season.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com was the first to report the agreement between Miley and the Reds. According to Feinsand, Wade Miley will take home $14M between 2020 and 2021 with a $10M club option for the 2022 season. There’s a $1M buyout attached to the club option, effectively guaranteeing Miley $15M over the next two years.

This is a mildly unexpected, yet wise move on behalf of Cincinnati’s front office. The Reds had been rumored to be after both Zack Wheeler and Madison Bumgarner before each was plucked off the free agent market. There were also rumors that Cincinnati was entertaining the idea of a trade for Boston Red Sox lefty David Price. This signing will quiet those rumors.

Miley will be reunited with his former pitching coach Derek Johnson. Wade Miley played for the Brewers for 16 games back in 2018 when Johnson was in the Milwaukee dugout. Miley went 5-2 with 2.57 ERA in 80.2 innings of work that season. That success helped land Miley a deal with Astros last season where he went 14-6 with a 3.98 ERA.

Miley’s 33 starts last season were the most he’s put together since 2014 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Through nine major league seasons, Miley’s put up a career-ERA of 4.23 and one All-Star appearance. According to FanGraphs, Miley’s strikeout-rate rose from 14.8% in 2018 to 19.4 last season. Unfortunately, his walk-rate increased as well, going from 8.0% to 8.5%.

This news can’t be welcomed by Tyler Mahle, who now looks to be on the outside looking in. However, Mahle still has a minor league option remaining, and would certainly be in the mix for a spot start if needed. There’s also the possibility that Cincinnati could look to trade a player like DeSclafani in order to fill a need in the lineup. However, that seems doubtful.

With Miley’s signed, sealed, and delivered, it’s time for the Cincinnati Reds to make one more solid addition to the roster this offseason. The Reds have rumored all offseason to be interested in adding a corner outfielder, perhaps we’ll see another signing before the year is up.