Mention Wade Miley to a Seattle Mariners fan, and you likely won’t get much of a reaction—his brief stint in the Pacific Northwest in 2016 was both short and unremarkable.
Acquired from the Boston Red Sox, Miley made 19 starts for Seattle, posting a 7-8 record with a 4.98 ERA, 4.76 FIP, and 1.348 WHIP before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles at the deadline. To his credit, he did cap off his Mariners tenure with a seven-inning scoreless outing.
Now, Miley is back in the news after signing a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds, a team he previously pitched for. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the 38-year-old will earn $2.5 million on a pro-rated Major League contract, with a $1,000-per-inning bonus that could max out at $4 million. He also has an opt-out clause on June 1.
Currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, Miley is expected to return by late May. For the Reds, this signing represents a low-risk, high-reward move, especially given their familiarity with him from his previous stint in Cincinnati.
Former Mariner Wade Miley at his most valuable with the Cincinnati Reds
The 2008 first-round draft pick had some of the best years of his 14-season MLB career with the Cincinnati Reds in 2020 and 2021. Over 34 games (32 starts), he posted a 12-10 record with a 3.55 ERA, highlighted by a career-high 5.3 WAR in his second season with the team.
While Miley never quite lived up to the potential of his early career—marked by a 16-win season and his lone All-Star appearance in 2012—he has carved out a lengthy Major League tenure through a mix of savvy pitching and relentless determination.
Many were surprised that the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t push harder to retain the veteran left-hander after two solid seasons. In 2023, Miley went 9-4 with a 3.14 ERA, 4.69 FIP, and 1.139 WHIP over 23 starts, proving to be a reliable presence in their rotation.
His most memorable moment came on May 7, 2021, when he tossed a no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over the then-Cleveland Indians. Additionally, Miley has delivered in the postseason, posting a 2.08 ERA and 1.096 WHIP over 17 1/3 innings across five appearances (four starts).
Leave a Reply