Report: The Marlins Have Looked Into Wade Miley

It appears that the Marlins are staying busy this off-season. Barry Jackson from the Miami Herald reports that Miami has touched base with the Arizona Diamondbacks to try to make a move for Wade Miley. Apparently, one of the names discussed was Nathan Eovaldi.

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Eovaldi took a step backwards this year, but Miley did as well. Eovaldi had a strong 2013 that saw him with a 3.39 ERA in 18 starts, including a career high 6.6 strikeouts per 9 innings. This past season his ERA jumped to 4.37, a run higher. While his walks dropped to the best level in his career, his hits per nine innings jumped from a career low 8.5 to 10.1. His park adjusted ERA was an 87, also the worst of his career.

Wade Miley, while having a poor 2014 season, has been much more successful in his few years in the league. He has started at least 29 games the last three seasons, starting a full 33 in both 2013 and 2014. His ERA rose from 3.55 in 2013 to 4.34 in 2014, but he also racked up 36 more strikeouts in 1.1 fewer innings. Regression is seen in his walks and WHIP jumping up.

Eovaldi, 24, is actually four years younger than Miley, but they are both entering their first year of arbitration eligibility in 2015 and are both under team control through the 2017 season. Eovaldi is a 6’2 righty and Miley is a 6’0 lefty. On paper, they are nearly identical, though Miley has been a workhorse and received Rookie of the Year consideration his first season in the majors.

A trade like this doesn’t appear to benefit one team very much, so either the Marlins will swap Eovaldi for someone else, or there will be more pieces in the deal. At least those are the only possibilities that make sense to me. While Miley has seen a little more success in the past, Eovaldi is taller and much younger. While it’s a benefit that Miley is a lefty, there needs to be more for Miami to even bother making this move.

The Marlins need some help around the team and trading two nearly identical pitchers is not a step in the right direction. It’s not a step in any direction. Look for this deal to not happen, or not look like this when it is completed.

Next: MLB Rumors: Marlins Interested in Francisco Liriano?

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