It seems almost all of Major League Baseball is interested in Shelby Miller of the Atlanta Braves, but the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants are probably closer than the rest.
The 25-year old rightie made his first All-Star game in 2015, his first season with the Braves. He had a 6-17 record (more losses than anyone in the NL) but that had more to do with little run support, not his ability. He finished with a 3.02 ERA through 33 starts, getting pass the 200 innings pitched for the first time in his career, finishing with a WHIP of 1.247, which is pretty much similar to his two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Braves are driving a hard bargain. This is a team that isn’t planning on winning a lot next season, but they want more than just prospects for someone like Miller, who might not be a #1 guy for years to come, but he can be a solid part of any rotation with plenty of room for growth an improvement.
For example, the Braves want Luis Severino from the New York Yankees in return for Miller. From the Marlins? They want Marcell Ozuna, who has plenty of teams chasing him as well. They’re sending away a young talent? They want a special player in return, as long as he’s not too expensive.
Miller, the 19th overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft, made his debut late in the 2012 season for the Cardinals. He has since started in 96 games, posting a 3.22 ERA with a 32-35 record, averaging 7.6 strikeouts per nine innings. His postseason pitching for the Cardinals hasn’t been that good, with a 5.27 ERA in five appearances both as a reliever and starter.