Wade Miley DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Wade Miley (elbow) is starting his minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday night with High-A Dayton, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer's Charlie Goldsmith. Miley continues his recovery from an internal-brace procedure/Tommy John surgery last May and still has a long ways to go before he's considered an option for the Reds' major-league starting rotation. Even if the 38-year-old veteran soft-tosser makes it back to the big leagues in the first half of the 2025 season, he's not going to present fantasy managers with much upside, if any at all, in the strikeout department. Those in mixed leagues should have more attractive options to choose from. Miley only made two starts for the Milwaukee Brewers before being shut down in 2024 and has a career 7.0 K/9 in 14 MLB seasons.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Wade Miley (elbow) is scheduled to throw three innings in an extended spring training game on Tuesday in Arizona and then could start a minor-league rehab assignment, according to manager Terry Francona. It's unclear when Miley might be an option to make starts for the Reds in 2025, but the veteran 38-year-old southpaw is clearly making progress after having a hybrid internal-brace/Tommy John procedure on his left UCL last May. He will need a lengthy rehab assignment and probably won't be an option for Cincy's starting rotation until late May or early June, and he doesn't have much fantasy appeal at all these days. Miley made only two starts a season ago with the Milwaukee Brewers before being shut down with his elbow problems, and he allowed five earned runs on six hits while walking two and striking out two in seven innings.

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.