Wade Miley's biggest red flag shouldn't prevent reunion with the Reds

Rumors surfaced over the weekend that the Cincinnati Reds were kicking the tires on a few veteran starting pitchers. One of the names mentioned was former Reds' hurler Wade Miley.

At 37 years old, Miley is no spring chicken. There's a lot of wear and tear on that left arm, and Miley only pitched in 23 games last season for the Milwaukee Brewers.

But when he was on the bump, Miley was very effective. For the third consecutive season, Miley posted an ERA below 3.50 and kept the ball on the ground. While Miley's durability is a concern, it shouldn't preclude a reunion with the Reds.

Wade Miley's biggest red flag shouldn't prevent reunion with the Reds.

Wade Miley signed with the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 2020 season. After injuries and the coronavirus pandemic limited his starts that year, Miley turned back the clock in 2021 and was arguably the team's best pitcher.

The Reds, who were looking to retool the roster, decided against picking up Miley's tetam-option and instead waived the veteran. Miley latched on with the Chicago Cubs, but appeared in just nine games during the 2022 season.

Last year, Miley made a return to the Milwaukee Brewers. While injuries limited the left-hander to just 120.1 innings of work, Miley was very effective when he was on the mound. The pitch clock, obviously, didn't affect Miley and he posted a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts for the Brew Crew.

The Cincinnati Reds have plenty of pitching depth; the problem is, most of the team's starters are very young and inexperienced. Of course, the only way to correct that is to get them on the mound.

Last year, the Reds ran out rookies like Brandon Williamson, Andrew Abbott, Connor Phillips, Levi Stoudt, and Carson Spiers. While each of those pitchers showed flashes, one could argue that none of them were quite ready for the rigors of a full season in the big leagues.

You never want to assume that a player is going to spend one-third of his season on the injured list, but that's just the reality of signing a player like Wade Miley. The Reds, however, have the depth to weather such a storm.

Miley would likely be in search of a one-year deal and his presence could help in the development of the Reds young hurlers, while at the same time not impede their growth. A reunion with Miley could be in the cards this offseason.