The Los Angeles Dodgers currently only have three healthy starting pitchers in place for their 2016 rotation in Clayton Kershaw, Brett Anderson and Alex Wood.
While re-signing Zack Greinke is said to be a priority for the Dodgers this offseason, there are other viable options. One appears to be Atlanta Braves right-hander Shelby Miller.
Shortly after Atlanta traded shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Dodgers reportedly contacted the Atlanta to check on the availability of Miller.
According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Miller is available but the Braves have a high asking price:
Young righthander Shelby Miller is creating quite a feeding frenzy on the trade market, and it’s to the point it’s got to be record interest for a pitcher who went 6-17. Of course, by now we know pitchers’ won-loss records aren’t a very useful tool in deciphering a pitcher’s value. And that is certainly the case here. The Braves have put a very high price tag on Miller, and understandably so.
For the Dodgers, that reportedly entailed a package that included 23-year-old center fielder Joc Pederson:
The Braves are also said to have asked for a big package from the Dodgers, believed to include young outfielder Joc Pederson.
The Dodgers however, informed the Braves they prefer to trade from their pool of prospects:
source says Pederson not involved in shelby miller talks. LA made clear rathe consider trading from deep prospect stash.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) November 30, 2015
The 25-year-old Miller went 6-17 last season, which was largely a product of poor run support. He finished with a 3.02 ERA, 124 ERA+, 3.45 FIP and 1.25 WHIP.
He was 5-5 with a 2.38 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through 18 first-half starts, and was Atlanta’s lone representation at the 2015 MLB All-Star Game. Miller has three more seasons before being eligible for free agency.
Pederson took the baseball world by storm in the first half by hitting 20 home runs, but then struggled in the second half batting just .178 with six home runs. Overall on the season he hit .210/.346/.417 with 26 home runs, 54 RBIs, 92 walks, a .335 wOBA and 115 wRC+.
