With Miller to Yanks, all eyes turn to Robertson
After helping the Orioles win the AL East, Andrew Miller stays in the division with the Yankees. (USATSI)Top free-agent setup man Andrew Miller is happily and comfortably fitted for pinstripes in New York, with a record deal for a non-closing reliever, but the relief market is only about to heat up. The winter's best reliever, David Robertson, the longtime New Yorker, remains of interest to the Yankees but seemingly drawing bigger interest elsewhere, with a chance to break the overal contract record for any relief pitcher.
Miller took less money ($36 million with the Yankees as opposed to $40 million with Houston) and no guarantees to close (uber talented right-hander Dellin Betances may actually get more closing chances, if not all of them) to go to Robertson's old team. In the end, Miller seemed to opt for the comfort of the East Coast and the AL East, where he has had his greatest success, though the University of North Carolina product saw the irony of suggesting that perennially difficult division is more comfortable.
Robertson, meanwhile, the fellow who seamlessly replaced Mariano Rivera, is the key target for the Astros, who seem to understandably now view Sergio Romo as the main fallback candidate but are expected to be linked to several more excellent relievers in a market stocked with them. Rafael Soriano, Luke Gregerson, Francisco Rodriguez, Pat Neshek and Jason Grilli stock a solid bullpen group.
It may seem odd that this non-contending team is so focused on the bullpen, but Houston blew 70-plus leads the past three seasons, tops in baseball according to Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle. That really is an amazing stat when one considers that they very likely had the fewest leads in baseball to blow.
The Yankees, with hopes to build a Royals-like pen of domination, retain interest in Robertson, though word so far is that they remain reluctant to go four years for Robertson, which may seem odd since he's the same age as Miller and the more accomplished and consistent pitcher. Anyway, the apparent reason for this is the higher salary it would take to sign Robertson (Miller will receive exactly $9 million in each of four years), plus the draft-pick attachment issue.
In any case, word was out that Robertson may have a $39 million, three-year offer from some unknown team, and also outside interest beyond the Yankees and Astros, with a chance to surpass the pen record of the $50 million over four years the Phillies gave to Jonathan Papelbon. Robertson would also seem likely to at least have four-year chances considering his much more consistent résumé.
Miller's greatest success in a career on the stark upswing came last season with the Red Sox and Orioles in the AL East after some uneven early performances in Detroit and Miami. So he may have been more eager to stay in the division, anyway.
'It may seem weird, but I valued playing in the AL East,' Miller told CBSSports.com by phone.
Miller revealed he also wanted to stay on the East Coast so his folks in Fort Pierce, Fla., could stay up to see his late-game appearances, and also loved the idea of springs in Tampa, the winter home of the Gainesville, Fla., native. And while the Astros have much more great young talent, Miller understands the history in New York.
'With the Yankees, it's a given they're going to try to win,' said Miller, who got his first playoff taste with 7 1/3 scoreless innings with the Orioles this past October. 'Their expectation is: Win the World Series or bust.'
Miller, a career setup man following early attempts at starting following a bonus-baby beginning with the Tigers, also has no issue remaining in that role. He saw what Betances did (Betances and Wade Davis may have been the two more dominant pitchers in the AL, even ahead of Miller, who had a 1.51 FIP and league-leading 14.89 strikeouts per nine innings).
Miller also would be happy to welcome back Robertson to the Bronx even though that would completely close the door on any closing chances for him -- though it seems more likely now that Robertson finds another home based on the marketplace.
'I have no ego,' Miller said. 'I have no problem handing the ball off to the next guy.'
The next guy in the market is actually the best guy, Robertson. And it'll be interesting to see how much more he gets.
Miller's deal and $40 million chance in Houston bolsters Robertson, a closer. Miller actually broke the record of Jeremy Affeldt ($18 million, three years) for a non-closer. The Yankees once gave Rafael Soriano $35 million, but he was actually a closer who was signed to set up (then wound up closing after Rivera was hurt).
It would seem unlikely for Robertson to take anytine less than that to stay in New York. But he will surely beat that somewhere -- with a chance to approach or beat Papelbon in this hot market.
The Blue Jays have no new offers out to free agents at the moment but don't seem to have ruled out Robertson, and there could be mystery teams at a time when the value of great relievers is obviously skyrocketing. Robertson may leave New York, but will surely find greater riches.
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