Free-agent pitcher Wade Miller agreed to terms Monday on a one-year, $1 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.

 

Miller, 29, was 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA last year with Boston. He underwent surgery on his right labrum in September, but expects to return in May.

 

The Mariners, Pirates, Astros, Phillies and Red Sox had also expressed an interest in Miller, who is 62-43 in seven seasons with Houston and Boston.

 

"We had a handful of teams interested in Wade, but the Cubs were very aggressive the last couple of days, and that's where he decided he wanted to pitch," said Bob Garber, Miller's agent.

 

Miller, who made $1.5 million last year with Boston, can earn an additional $1 million in incentives.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2303134

The Cubs sure do love their injury prone SPs, don't they?

Yet another pitcher for their simulated rotation. Proving once again, the cubs have a volume discount on MRI's.

The Cubs sure do love their injury prone SPs, don't they?

 

 

 

 

So who makes more starts next year? This guy or Wood?

   

So who makes more starts next year?  This guy or Wood?

Miller.

s***.

 

If simulated games ever count, the National League is in a heap of trouble.

Hmm so this is the big move to plug their starting pitching spot, stupid move, hes injury prone like the rest of their starters and isnt doin to hot.

Hard to knock this move at just $1 million.

Hard to knock this move at just $1 million.

 

It becomes a lot easier when you realize there is no option on a 2007 season and he'll be pretty much shelfed for the majority of 2006.

Expected back in May. Cheap, safe gamble, why not?

Expected back in May.  Cheap, safe gamble, why not?

 

i agree, if we made this move then people would be praising KW for the "low risk high reward" move that kenny loves to make.

 

i like the move if i'm a cubs fan

It becomes a lot easier when you realize there is no option on a 2007 season and he'll be pretty much shelfed for the majority of 2006.

Well I'm not sure but I think if worse comes to worse they might be able to go to Arb with Miller in '07. He'll be right around the 6-year mark at least. If he is a free agent after '06, good luck with getting him to agree to a team option in '07 anyways. The health issue is a serious concern. However, if I'm a GM, I'm more than willing to risk less than 1/100th of my payroll on a Wade Miller comeback.

Edited January 24, 200620 yr by 3E8

i liked the red sox taking a flyer on him last year, and he actually lived down the street from my dad.

 

i've always liked wade miller, i wish him all the best.

Hard to knock this move at just $1 million.

 

Me personally, I'm not really knocking the move...I do like Miller...think he's a gamer and is just gritty as hell. He doesn't have the best stuff, but when he's right, he can be very effective.

 

I just find a little irony in the fact that he's a very injury prone SP on a team where the rotation is infamous for being full of injury prone SPs(even though Wood is really about the only real injury prone one in the rotation)

i liked the red sox taking a flyer on him last year, and he actually lived down the street from my dad.

 

i've always liked wade miller, i wish him all the best.

I liked the BoSox taking a chance on him last year too...But like at least 1 other person said...it's insane that the Cubs only signed him for 1 year and didn't get club options for the next 2 years or so, just in case somehow he does come back. Especially if it looks like he won't be ready to open the season...they may spend $1 million on him so that he can rehab in AAA until September.

Cubs are getting him cheap, that's probably why they signed him.

Good signing although I think he's probably kaput given that two teams gave up on him in spite of his ability so those injury concerns are just too much too ignore. Good flier though

But like at least 1 other person said...it's insane that the Cubs only signed him for 1 year and didn't get club options for the next 2 years or so, just in case somehow he does come back.

Club options into first years of free agency = not happening.

The Cubs tried to get an option for 2007 but Miller refused. It will be his first year of free agency and he wants to prove he is healthy in 2006. He didn't want to explode and let the Cubs have him for nothing in 2007.

Damn, I just now found out about this. Not a bad move. Miller is pretty good if healthy.

Damn,  I just now found out about this.  Not a bad move.  Miller is pretty good if healthy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's the key. But a $100 million payroll team like the Cubs shouldn't have to depend on so many "if healthy's" like Kerry Wood and Wade Miller. A $100 million payroll team also shouldn't have a starting outfield of Matt Murton, Juan Pierre, and Jock Jones. That's pathetic.

That's the key.  But a $100 million payroll team like the Cubs shouldn't have to depend on so many "if healthy's" like Kerry Wood and Wade Miller.  A $100 million payroll team also shouldn't have a starting outfield of Matt Murton, Juan Pierre, and Jock Jones.  That's pathetic.

 

No argument from me. The Cubs suckage makes me laugh. But hey, It's still a Cubs town.

I read in the Tribune this morning that he was signed for insurance, not to plug a hole.

If you take the fact that it is the Cubs out of the equation, then signing Miller is for that amount is a good low risk, potential high reward gamble. Just because it's the Cubs does not make this a bad move.

i agree, if we made this move then people would be praising KW for the "low risk high reward" move that kenny loves to make.

 

i like the move if i'm a cubs fan

I concur. Miller has a good arm and this is a very low risk move.