Orioles Trade for Wade Miley: Fantasy Impact

By Brad Kelly | Jul 31, 2016

Jun 12, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Wade Miley (20) reacts after getting called on a balk during the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orioles traded for starting pitcher Wade Miley, as they desperately seek rotation help. What is the fantasy impact of the deal?

The Baltimore Orioles are in a dogfight for the A.L. East divisional crown, and it was clear that the team’s biggest weakness was in the starting rotation. The Orioles’ staff has been carried by the efforts of Chris Tillman, but in order to make any October run, they were in desperate need of another quality arm. With a weak starting pitching free agency class in 2017, and an even weaker rotation trade market this season, Wade Miley emerged as their man.

Miley will be joining his fourth organization in the last four seasons, and has had a pedestrian season so far in 2016. But, the Orioles are in desperate need, and do not have any top-tier talent in the minors, so the Miley types of additions are what they will have to settle for.

Wade Miley had posted a, 4.98 ERA/82 K/1.35 WHIP/4.75 FIP line, for the Mariners in 2016. He has been better in July, posting a 3.45 ERA across five starts, and is coming off the heels of arguably his most impressive start versus the Cubs this week. He even had a no-hit bid going, and was able to strike out nine, while surrendering one run over seven innings.

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Miley’s struggles this season are rooted in his career worse home run rate. He has surrendered 18 already in 2016, one higher than last season, and only five away from tying his career high. The move to Safeco was supposed to be a blessing for the homer prone Miley, but he was only able to post a 4.94 ERA at home this season.

Another problem Miley has run into is the type of contact he has surrendered, as teams have a 31.7% hard contact rate off of him this season. Combine that with his 2% drop in his ground ball rate, and 3% increase in his fly ball rate, things seem even more problematic.

Seattle’s return in the deal, Ariel Miranda, at least serves as an intriguing arm. He is 27-years-old, so the room for development is more than likely at its end, but he has put together two sub 3.95 seasons in AA and AAA the last two years. The Cuban lefty will more than likely need an injury in the rotation to make an impact, but his mid-90s fastball and decent splitter could play at the backend of a rotation in the majors.

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Miley could be a streaming candidate moving forward, but would be a risky weekly play. This deal will have much more real life value as Miley will surely eat innings, but in fantasy terms, this does not move the needle any.

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