New York Was NOT Getting Shelby Miller

The Arizona Diamondbacks are going for it ladies and gentleman. After acquiring Zack Greinke off the free agent market for the largest AAV (average annual value) in MLB history the team also made a trade with the Atlanta Braves for their ace starting pitcher Shelby Miller. The New York Yankees were said to be interested in Miller’s services and depending on who you read and what city you were in the Yankees either did or didn’t offer Luis Severino in the deal. Now that the deal is officially done and we can analyze the trade from both sides this much is obvious, the New York Yankees were in no way, shape or form touching or acquiring Shelby Miller this offseason.

The Arizona Diamondbacks gave up #1 overall draft pick Dansby Swanson in the deal along with outfielder Ender Inciarte and pitching prospect Aaron Blair. I’m sorry Yankees fans but not even Jorge Mateo, the team’s best shortstop prospect, is as valuable as Swanson is to other teams. Swanson hit .289 in 83 at bats this season in Low-A and is already considered to be MLB.com’s fourth best prospect at his position.

Blair is a 2013 draft pick that is likely to break camp with the team and head to Atlanta with the big league club after going 7-2 with a 3.16 ERA in Triple-A last season. Inciarte is a center fielder with great defense that had a .303 average and 21 stolen bases in 2015, just his second season. Inciarte is under team control for five more seasons and will likely replace Cameron Maybin in center field this season. Blair will replace Miller and Swanson, a Vanderbilt product, will likely not be far behind to replace Andrelton Simmons at shortstop. Miller gives the Diamondbacks a rotation of Zack Greinke, Miller, Patrick Corbin, Rubby De La Rosa and Robbie Ray.

New York could have offered Severino, Mateo, Bird and Judge and maybe (MAYBE) got Miller. That may not have even been enough and it definitely wouldn’t have been worth it. It’s nice to dream but the Braves got an absolute haul for Shelby Miller, a price that I am glad that Brian Cashman was not willing to pay this winter.