Miller, 35, has had an unusual career. The 2009 first-rounder was a top prospect with the Cardinals and finished third in NL Rookie of the Year in 2013. He spent two seasons with St. Louis before being traded to Atlanta for Jason Heyward in the 2014-2015 low season. The Braves made 33 excellent starts with Miller in 2015 before trading him to the D-backs in a lopsided blockbuster that Dansby Swanson – just six months removed from being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft – Ender Inciarteand former first-rounder Aaron Blair back to Atlanta. Miller’s time in Arizona was an injury-plagued nightmare; he pitched to a 6.35 ERA in 139 innings over the course of three seasons before being let go.
Miller bounced around the league for a few seasons without much success — including a two-inning stint with the 2021 Cubs where he was tagged for seven runs — but he has found a second act in his career as a late-innings reliever. He played for four clubs over the past three seasons, including a much more successful return tour with the D-backs in 2025. Since Opening Day ’23, he has posted a 3.13 ERA with a strong 25.3% strikeout rate, 8.2% walk rate, 13 saves and 17 holds in 143 2/3 innings.
Last season, Miller and the D-backs agreed to a one-year pact that yielded excellent results. He pitched 36 1/3 innings for Arizona, posting a dominant 1.98 earned run average with a 28% strikeout rate. The reunion was cut short by a forearm injury, and the Brewers traded for Miller at the deadline while he was still on the 15-day IL.
Miller made 11 appearances for Milwaukee, pitching well in August before making one appearance in September. He faced two batters, allowing both to reach base, and sought help from a trainer after feeling what he described as a “pop” in his elbow. Miller later told the Brewers that an internal bracing procedure and flexor repair were presented as an option when he was first placed on the injured list with the Diamondbacks. He wanted to continue trying to pitch that season, knowing that he would likely eventually need surgery and that could mean a full Tommy John procedure, which involves an even longer rehabilitation period than an internal brace.
The Brewers were aware of the risk at the time they traded for Miller, which is why they didn’t send a prospect back to Arizona, instead simply taking $2 million of the $22.5 million Arizona paid on the left side. Jordan Montgomery last year (while Montgomery was rehabbing his own Tommy John procedure). Miller ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery in October – the second of his career. His first came during that original run with Arizona.
Miller will turn 36 in October, right around the one-year anniversary of his second UCL reconstruction. He will have to appear on the Cubs’ 40-man roster if the deal is completed — players can be left unsigned and placed directly on the 60-day injured list — but he will move to the 60-day IL once Chicago needs to open up a new roster spot. He will be 16 months removed from surgery by the time pitchers and catchers report for spring training in 2027 (pending a possible lockout related to the expiring 2022-2026 collective bargaining agreement).
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