Wade Miley DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Veteran free-agent left-handed starter Wade Miley (elbow) signed a minor-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, according to USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale. Miley will make $2.5 million on a pro-rated major-league deal with $1,000 per inning and maxing out at a total of $4 million with a June 1 opt-out clause. The 38-year-old southpaw is recovering from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow but is expected to return in mid-May in 2025. In his last season with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023, he went 9-4 with a 3.14 ERA (4.69 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, 79 strikeouts and 38 walks in 120 1/3 frames over 23 starts. Not only is Miley recovering a major elbow operation, but he's never been much of a strikeout artist and won't be guaranteed a starting rotation spot once he's healthy. Fantasy managers in most leagues will want to avoid him.

According to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, free agent starting pitcher Wade Miley (elbow) is hoping to pitch in Spring Training and return to the regular season sometime in May. Miley underwent a UCL operation after making just two starts last season. Earlier this offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers declined his club option but the southpaw is hoping to return with the club before Spring Training. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during his recovery process as he may find a potential suitor for the 2025 campaign if he is able to pitch well during Spring Training. In 2023, Miley logged 120 1/3 innings to the tune of a 3.14 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. If he does agree to a major league deal, he should only be reserved for NL/AL-only formats, given his very low strikeout upside.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Wade Miley had his club option declined according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Miley was only able to make two starts in 2024 to the tune of a 6.43 ERA and 1.43 WHIP before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery. The southpaw would be entering his 15th MLB season in 2025 and faces a tall task to rebound from that procedure if he decides to continue pitching. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during the offseason as he could serve as a back-end option to a rotation if he decides to continue his professional career. In 2023, the left-hander posted a solid 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP with a 9-4 record.