ESPN's Buster Olney reported Monday that the Yankees are "strongly pursuing" former Red Sox reliever Andrew Miller, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the front runner for his services.
Milller's agent, Mark Rodgers, recently revealed so to The New York Post's Joel Sherman. Miller, 29, is coming off an impressive 2014 with the Red Sox and Orioles, in which he recorded a 2.02 ERA in 62 1/3 innings pitched.
Those numbers came with Miller primarily working as a set-up man, a position Dellin Betances held with the Yankees last season.
“I am talking to several teams about Andrew, and it has been fairly widely reported that the Yankees are one of the teams interested,” Rodgers said.
There's definitely a chance the Yankees sudden interest in Miller has something to do with David Robertson's determination to get a four-year/$52 million deal this offseason, especially when you consider the team already has Betances ready to step into his role.
Nonetheless, it's also a possibility they just want to upgrade their bullpen in light of last month's trade for the Pirates' Justin Wilson, who joins many other notable names already in the group. That swap featured the Yankees cutting ties with longtime catcher Francisco Cervelli, proving that they meant business when they made it.
Either way, it's a for-certain fact the Yankees have spoken to Rodgers, regardless of their current place in the competition for his client.
“They are still interested," Rodgers said, "but I will not elaborate on the talks. There is a natural progression ongoing and we are sorting through the issues.”
It is unknown exactly which other clubs have talked to Miller, but it's a safe bet two of them were the Dodgers and Astros.
Monday was a busy day for the Yankees, with New York also reaching out to the Braves and Marlins during the 24-hour-period. It's likely the Yankees were contacting them about the availability of closers Craig Kimbrel and Steve Cishek, who successfully converted 47 and 39 save opportunites last year, respectively.
