Seattle Mariners Sign Journeyman Reliever Tyson Miller to Minor League Contract

The Seattle Mariners have signed relief pitcher Tyson Miller to a minor league contract, according to Baseball America's Matt Eddy.

Miller split his time with three organizations in 2023, taking the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. On the whole, Miller finished the season 1-0 with a 4.70 ERA, 1.239 WHIP and 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings.

While pitching for those three club's Triple-A affiliates, Miller went 3-0 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.305 WHIP and 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

The 6-foot-5 right-hander got his start with the Chicago Cubs, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Miller made his big league debut in 2020, but he was waived the following season.

The Texas Rangers scooped Miller up off waivers, using him out as a long reliever and spot starter in 2022. In his two relief outings that year, Miller tossed 6.0 scoreless innings with a 1.000 WHIP, but he went 0-2 with a 25.07 ERA and 3.857 WHIP as a starter.

Miller hit waivers again last offseason, ultimately landing with the Brewers. The Dodgers purchased Miller's contract in July, only to waive him at the start of August.

The Mets, after claiming Miller, waived him themselves, and he wound up back with the Dodgers three weeks later.

Miller, who has exhausted his options, was granted free agency in October. That means the Mariners won't be able to send Miller back and forth between the majors and minors without first putting him on waivers.

Seattle's bullpen boasted the fourth-lowest ERA in baseball last season at 3.48. Mariners relievers combined to issue the third-fewest walks, but only the 17th-most strikeouts.