Yankees Could Very Well Trade Andrew Miller

With so many conflicting reports about the New York Yankees trading or not trading Andrew Miller, it’s hard to believe what is fact or fiction. But perhaps now we know.

During Monday’s media availability for tonight’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Diego, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post asked Yankees setup man Andrew Miller about the trade rumors swirling around his 6’7″ frame.

Miller said on the record that Yankees officials never told him he wouldn’t be traded, refuting a report from earlier last week.

Miller further elaborated on the details of his conversation with Yankees brass, by relaying the message that the club said they would indeed deal him if they were blown away by a potential offer.

So what’s with the cat-and-mouse game with the media then? Is this some sort of baloney tactic that the Yankees have employed to further jack up the asking price of Miller in a deal? Why must Yankees fans be emotionally toyed with in 2016?!

The message that Miller is indeed up for the grabbing (great offer or not), foretells the belief that this club doesn’t intend on playing October baseball. Otherwise, why upset the most dominant 8th inning arm in all the majors?

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We’ve heard the Cubs are interested, the Giants, Nationals, Cardinals, Dodgers and even the Rangers would love Miller to be their 9th inning closer. Boasting an ERA of 1.37, with 69 strikeouts in 39 innings should garner an absolutely amazing haul from any number of aforementioned suitors.

On top of that, Miller is making a team friendly $9 million per year through 2019, so why, if you intend on contending at all within the next 2 1/2 years would you deal away the absolute strength of your team?

I know, it seems like I have a lot more questions than answers right now, but that’s what the Yankees do to you in 2016; fill the night sky full of question marks.

Some will argue that it’s the right thing to do, to float Miller’s name out there, keeping him in the loop while letting the market develop. And while I’m all for setting the Yankees up for the inevitable future, I’d personally build around a guy who unselfishly handed over the closing role (35 SV and a 2.04 ERA in 2015) to Aroldis Chapman because he felt it was in the best interests of the club.

I would reward a player life that. Unless the Yankees feel trading Miller to a contender is a reward into itself.

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It’s really too bad, though, because it sounds like Miller wants to stay in New York for the long haul:

“The Yankees want to win. What they say is what they mean. The people that make the decisions, all they know is winning. That’s a big reason I signed there. That’s their plan until the absolute last minute.”