The Detroit Tigers surprised many with their playoff run last season and have carried that momentum into 2025. Heading into Monday, they held the best record in baseball at 46-27, thanks in large part to a core group of players who contributed to last year’s success.
Although the Tigers retained most of their roster in free agency, they did lose one reliever. He’s putting up solid numbers with his new team, but as he battles for a postseason spot in a tight National League race, he might be second-guessing his decision to leave Detroit.
Shelby Miller is a Rare Bright Spot for Diamondbacks After Leaving Detroit
Shelby Miller was the only notable free agent departure from last year’s Tigers team, leaving after a stint in the bullpen. Despite making a career-high 51 appearances, he struggled with a 6-8 record and a 4.53 ERA, ultimately signing a one-year, \$1 million deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In some ways, the move has paid off for Miller. He’s bounced back impressively, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.57 ERA and recently taking over as Arizona’s closer. His chase rate has seen a major improvement too, jumping from 26.9% last season to 36.1%, making him one of the Diamondbacks’ most effective bullpen arms.
However, the situation around him isn’t quite as promising. Arizona has been hit hard by injuries, most notably to starters Corbin Burnes and Jordan Montgomery. As a result, the Diamondbacks are 3.5 games behind the Padres for the final National League Wild Card spot and are trailing more dominant contenders like the Mets, Cubs, and Dodgers.
It’s possible Detroit chose to move on, given Miller’s underwhelming 2024 performance. Still, at just \$1 million, he could have been a valuable asset in a bullpen that now belongs to the team with the best record in baseball.
While a playoff-bound team could still trade for Miller, it’s hard to imagine he isn’t glancing at the Tigers’ success and wondering what might have been.
