Miguel Andujar trade forces Reds veteran onto IL with retirement looming

The Cincinnati Reds made a handful of upgrades at this year’s trade deadline. They didn’t go out and land the blockbuster bat some fans may have clamored for, but they didn’t sit idle either. Instead, the front office made targeted improvements to bolster both sides of the ball — and one of those additions might have quietly ushered in the end of a veteran’s career.

On deadline day, the Reds acquired outfielder Miguel Andujar from the Athletics, sending right-hander Kenya Huggins, the organization’s No. 22-ranked prospect in return. Andujar, now 30, has quietly pieced together a solid season, slashing .298/.329/.436 with six home runs, 10 doubles, and 27 RBIs in 60 games. He brings a contact-first approach and positional versatility that should help the Reds down the stretch.

Miguel Andujar trade could quietly close the book on Wade Miley

But as one door opens, another may be closing. In a corresponding roster move, Cincinnati transferred veteran left-hander Wade Miley to the 60-day injured list, effectively delaying his return until late August at the earliest.

Miley, who signed a low-risk deal this offseason, has been plagued by injuries all year and has managed just 12 innings for the Reds, posting a 6.75 ERA with seven strikeouts in three starts. For a pitcher who has made a living off ground balls more than raw stuff, those numbers are less concerning than the underlying question they raise: will we ever see Miley on a big-league mound again?

Though the Reds were careful to note the 60-day IL move doesn’t necessarily alter his timeline, Miley has been throwing long toss out to 120 feet and is scheduled for a bullpen session soon, it does start the clock on what could be the final chapter of a 15-year MLB career.

And if it is the end, it won’t come as a shock to Miley.

Last year, while recovering from Tommy John surgery, the 38-year-old spoke candidly about retirement with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Curt Hogg. “I’ll probably be around the game until they can’t move my body anymore,” Miley said. “But it’s really getting close to time for me to go back and be a dad.” Even as he rehabbed, he admitted to wrestling with whether the grind was still worth it. He still felt the itch to compete, but didn’t know if he needed to scratch it anymore.

That’s the reality now facing the Reds. While Andujar represents a fresh injection of offense and depth, the move also marked a quiet turning point. Miley’s latest injury setback, combined with age and a family-first mindset, means it’s entirely possible the Reds have already seen his last pitch.

If that’s the case, Miley walks away from the game with pride. A 2012 All-Star, he carved out a successful career on eight different teams, reinvented himself more than once, and provided a steady veteran presence in clubhouses across the league. He was never flashy, but always dependable.

For now, his timeline to return remains uncertain. And if he does manage to make it back before season’s end, Reds fans should savor every inning. Because whether it’s in late August, early September, or not at all, Wade Miley’s long and winding ride in Major League Baseball may have just reached its final stop.

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