The Braves and the Diamondbacks have been rumored to be talking about Shelby Miller for over a week now. Yesterday afternoon, however, the Cubs were reported to be interested in the Braves’ young starter as well. No matter who ends up getting him, multiple reporters are hearing that a deal for Miller could happen as soon as today.
There appears to be some interesting dancing going on between Atlanta and Arizona on Miller, with Mark Bowman of MLB.com reporting that the Braves have “moved their attention away” from him while Jon Heyman reports that the Braves met late last night and seem close to shipping him out . . . someplace.
The Braves have been reported to keen on bringing back an elite outfielder for Miller, with A.J. Pollock being high on their list. The Diamondbacks have repeatedly rejected any deal including Pollock and, understandably, consider him to be untouchable. The Cubs, meanwhile were rumored to be offering some package including Javier Baez. Indeed, there was a report last night that they had a deal to that effect, but the club immediately denied it. One has to figure such false reports are a function of misinterpretations of the status of actual conversations, however.
Either way, it appears as though the Braves are intent on dealing the 25-year-old Miller today. Whoever gets him will acquire a pitcher under team control through 2018, and who is coming off a solid first season in Atlanta where he posted a 3.02 ERA and 171/73 K/BB ratio over 205 1/3 innings.
UPDATE: If Miller is traded today, it may not be to either the Dbacks or the Cubs:
Correction: #Cubs, #Dbacks not currently in mix for #Braves’ Miller. #Dodgers have talked to ATL. Where they stand is unclear.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 8, 2015
There’s so much noise and so little signal to all of this that it’s hard not to think that everyone involved is talking up and/or down their interest strategically.