Diamondbacks bring back former All-Star pitcher in free agency

Corbin Burnes is no longer the only All-Star newcomer to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ pitching corps.

Robert Murray of FanSided reported on Sunday that the Dbacks have signed free agent right-hander Shelby Miller to a minor-league contract. Miller is also getting an invite to major league Spring Training, Murray says.

Miller, now 34 years old, was an All-Star with the Atlanta Braves back in 2015 (posting a 3.02 ERA over 205.1 innings pitched that season). He also played for the Dbacks already from 2016-18.

But Miller was never able to recover the form that he had in his mid-20s, thanks in large part to Tommy John surgery in 2017. By the middle of 2019, Miller had transitioned into a full-time relief role, and he made 51 appearances out of the bullpen last season for the Detroit Tigers (going 6-8 with a 4.53 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP).

The Dbacks, after signing the former Cy Young winner Burnes in free agency a month-and-a-half ago, have been focused on improving their roster of relievers in more recent weeks. A couple of days ago, we received word that Arizona had signed a former Astros reliever attempting an MLB comeback.

Miller’s first stint with the Dbacks was marred by a major failure to live up to expectations, in large part because of how much Arizona gave up in their trade with Atlanta to acquire him. Now almost a full decade after that forgettable trade, the Dbacks feel comfortable enough with giving Miller another spin, this time as a bullpen cog instead of a starter.