Boston Red Sox reliever Andrew Miller is well-aware that rumors will continue to fly before Thursday’s Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline. The trade chatter simply isn’t a priority for the left-hander.
Miller is drawing interest from other clubs, according to various reports, and could fetch the Red Sox a considerable return if Boston looks to deal the 29-year-old. But while Miller understands the reality of the situation, his focus is unwavering.
“Honestly, I don’t really care to find out if I’m worth a team’s seventh-best prospect or Baseball America’s 150th-best prospect. I would have no idea where to begin. That’s for the general managers and scouts to figure out,” Miller said on WEEI.com’s “Minor Details” podcast. “As far as the trade deadline, being mentioned, it’s impossible to avoid. Shoot, my parents, my wife, my agent, everybody — you hear the rumblings. You can be aware of that stuff, but when I get to the ballpark, I’ve got to completely forget it, ignore it and focus on the task and hand, and that’s winning the ballgame today and how can I help?”
Miller is having an excellent season with the Red Sox, solidifying himself as a dominant late-inning option at the back end of Boston’s bullpen. The Red Sox appear to be in sell mode, though, and Miller is set to become a free agent after this season, meaning the organization might look to strike while the iron’s hot.
Miller, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning in Sunday’s 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, owns a 2.45 ERA in 40 1/3 innings over 48 appearances this season. He is averaging 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
