D-Backs acquire Shelby Miller from Braves in five-player deal

The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller from the Atlanta Braves, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported Tuesday night. 
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The Braves received quite a haul in return for Miller. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reported that outfielder Ender Inciarte, right-hander Aaron Blair, and shortstop Dansby Swanson are headed to Atlanta. Other reports surfaced that Arizona also acquired righty Gabe Speier. 

The 25-year-old Miller went 6-17 with a 3.02 ERA (3.45 FIP) in 33 starts with the Braves last season. He posted a 171 to 73 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 205 1/3 innings pitched.

Last was Miller's first year in Atlanta, as they acquired Miller from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Jason Heyward deal last offseason. 

A true benefit to Miller is that, not only is he one of the better pitchers in baseball, but the Diamondbacks will still have three seasons of team control over him. He is not a free agent until after the 2018 season, making him a really valuable piece for Arizona. 

Miller probably has not even hit his prime yet and could be entering the best years of his career with Arizona. They did not just buy into the pitcher that Miller is now, they also bought into the pitcher that Miller will be in two or three years. 

Miller is first-time arbitration eligible this offseason. MLBTradeRumors.com projects him to make $4.9 million in the process. 

Many teams showed interest in Miller throughout the offseason, with the Dodgers, Cubs, and other teams being connected to him. However, it was thought that the Braves would ask for primer Major League talent in exchange for Miller, which, for the Diamondbacks, could have meant giving up A.J. Pollock. 

The Diamondbacks themselves have had a huge offseason already, signing Zack Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million deal earlier this offseason to bolster their rotation. 

As it stands, Arizona's rotation looks like this: Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller, Patrick Corbin, Rubby De La Rosa, and Robbie Ray. They have definitely attacked what they felt was a dire need for them, which was the starting pitching staff. 

Arizona already had a good offensive core with the likes of Paul Goldschmidt, David Peralta, and Pollock, but had not been able to put a contending team on the field over the past few years purely due to the lack of pitching.

Between the signing of Greinke and the trade for Miller, the Diamondbacks have shown that they want to start contending as early as 2016. 

With that said, they did not get Miller for nothing. The Braves, who are currently in a lengthy rebuilding stage, acquired a young, budding Major Leaguer in Inciarte, a top starting pitching prospect in Blair, and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft in Swanson. These three players could all have major impacts in Atlanta when they get around to contending. 

But for now, it's been the Diamondbacks' offseason, and the rest of Major League Baseball is just watching it. 

--Devan Fink

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