The Baltimore Orioles were looking for pitching help in the rotation and bullpen at the 2014 trade deadline, and found some relief help in the form of left-hander Andrew Miller. The Boston Red Sox continued to make trades on this busy day, dealing their setup man to an in-division rival for pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez.
Miller is a big get for the Orioles, who have had to elevate Zach Britton to the closer role thanks to the ineffectiveness of and subsequent injury to Opening Day closer Tommy Hunter. He's back and active, but the Orioles bullpen hasn't been imposing.
Miller adds major strikeout potential-he's whiffing a career-high 14.9 batters per nine innings and has posted a 2.34 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 50 appearances this season. He has been an especially devastating strikeout pitcher vs. left-handed hitters, but he's proven to be more than a specialist by getting out right-handed hitters as well.
In exchange for Miller the Red Sox got prospect Eduardo Rodriguez. In Double A this season Rodriguez posted a 3-7 record with a 4.79 ERA. According to Fangraphs.com though that mark was inflated, listing his FIP at a much lower 3.54 mark. His strikeout-per-nine was 7.51, although throughout his minor league career he has shown an ability to keep hitters in the ballpark.
This was Boston's third trade of the day, and the first that didn't bring back an MLB bat. They kicked off the day by trading Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes to the Oakland Athletics for Yoenis Cespedes, and then shipped John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly.
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