Former Mariners pitcher rejoins Reds after career 2021 season in Cincinnati

Mention the name Wade Miley around a Seattle Mariners fan and you likely won’t get much of a reaction, because his stay in the Pacific Northwest was pretty much as nondescript as it was short back in 2016.

Acquired from the Boston Red Sox, he went 7-8 in 19 starts and produced a 4.98 ERA, 4.76 FIP and 1.348 WHIP before being moved to the Baltimore Orioles at that season’s trade deadline. (Although, to be fair, he did throw seven scoreless innings in his last ever start for the Mariners.)

In any event, Miley has made headlines this week after signing a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds, another team he used to pitch for. As per USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, the 38-year-old will earn $2.5 million on a pro-rated Major League contract with $1,000 per inning, maxing out at a total of $4 million with a June 1 opt out.

Miley is still recovering after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April, with him currently projected to be back in action towards the end of May. This represents an astute piece of business by the Reds, with everything to be gained and little to be lost, and with a player who they already have a lot of familiarity with.

Former Mariner Wade Miley at his most valuable with the Cincinnati Reds

The 2008 first-round draft pick enjoyed some of the best success of his 14-year Major League career when he was with the Reds in 2020 and 2021. He went 12-10 and recorded a 3.55 ERA in 34 games (including 32 starts), with the highlight being his career-high 5.3 WAR in his second season in Cincinnati.

In some respects, Miley has never quite fulfilled the promise of his early days in the Majors, which included a career-best 16 wins and his only All-Star selection during his second Major League season back in 2012. At the same time, he has still enjoyed a long career at the highest level, thanks in large part to a combination of his savviness and dogged determination.

There was some surprise that the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t try harder to re-sign the southpaw after he spent the last two years there. He enjoyed a fine 2023 season with the club, sporting a 9-4 record in 23 starts and producing a 3.14 ERA, 4.69 FIP and 1.139 WHIP.

The best moment of Miley’s career is arguably the no-hitter he threw back on May 7, 2021 — a 3-0 win against the then-Cleveland Indians. It is also worth mentioning that he has enjoyed excellent success in his limited exposure to the postseason, with a 2.08 ERA and 1.096 WHIP in 17 1/3 combined innings, spread over the course of five appearances (including four starts).