Mailbag: What about Miller?

11/28/2005
Welcome to another edition of Red Sox mailbag. Here's hoping that everyone had a great Thanksgiving. There's certainly plenty of news to go over in light of the blockbuster trade made by the Red Sox. Now, on to this week's e-mails.
A few questions about a pitcher that I haven't heard anything about in the last couple of months. What is going to happen to Wade Miller? What is his contract situation and how is his health these days? Will he be counted on to help? I believe that when he is healthy, he can pitch with anyone that's out there.-- Mike Crockett, Sparta, Tenn.
Wade Miller does not yet have six years of Major League service time, which means he is not a free agent. However, the Red Sox must tender him a contract by Dec. 20, or he would become a free agent. Because the Red Sox already have such depth in their rotation, they would probably only be able to sign Miller with a deal laced in incentives. After his labrum surgery late in 2005, there's no guarantee he'll be ready for the start of Spring Training.
With the lack of options for second base and the Sox just dealing Hanley [Ramirez], shouldn't Bill Mueller's name at least be considered? Sure he doesn't have a wealth of experience playing there, but he's a gamer and no doubt could fair better than many defensively. We know his offense is plenty good. Not to mention he's likely a guy who'd sign a short contract for a small amount of money.-- Chris T., Berkshire County, Mass.
There's no doubt in my mind Mueller could do a decent job at second base. The problem is that, except for small spurts, he has always been a third baseman. The hot corner is the position Mueller knows and loves. From what I can gather, Mueller would have zero interest in making that position switch at this stage of his career. Don't forget about all the knee surgeries Mueller has had. Second base is a more demanding position from a physical standpoint -- especially when it comes to the knees -- than third base.
Because the front office has managed to land Josh Beckett, do you think they may seriously go after A.J. Burnett? What an unbelievable future staff that would be!-- George H, Bangor, Maine
I don't think the Red Sox will be players for Burnett. Consider that Beckett, Curt Schilling, Jonathan Papelbon, Bronson Arroyo, Tim Wakefield, Matt Clement, David Wells and Miller are all currently under the contractual control of the Red Sox for 2006. So as of now, the Red Sox have eight starters for five slots. They will subtract before they add.
How could the Sox trade some of their most highly touted prospects for [Josh] Beckett, [Guillermo] Mota and [Mike] Lowell? Beckett is good when healthy, but is often injured. Lowell is more of a power threat than Mueller and equal on defense, but his average is worse and he's more than twice as expensive. Mota can help, but he isn't wonderful. Ramirez and Sanchez were supposed to be part of the future of the organization. And isn't this the way the farm system was depleted before Theo Epstein arrived? Are we going to destroy it again as soon as he leaves? -- Reid M., Kotzebue, Ark.
While there's no way to know for sure, I, for one, think this is a trade Epstein also would have made if he was still the GM. True, the Red Sox gave up a couple of highly touted prospects. But when you have the opportunity to get a young, power arm like Beckett, it's hard to pass up. Beckett has proven to be a sure thing when healthy. At this stage, Ramirez and Sanchez are still prospects and there's no guarantee they will ever reach the level of Beckett, who was the MVP of the 2003 World Series.
Is it feasible to think, with the pending Beckett/Lowell trade, that Kevin Youkilis will be moving over to first to fill the hole left by [Kevin] Millar? I know Youkilis spent some time at first base last year. Do you think this is what the Sox have in store? -- John G., Anaheim, Calif.
I think that Youkilis will at least be part of the solution at first base, particularly against left-handed pitching. There's a chance the Red Sox will also add a left-handed bat and then there could be some sort of platoon for Youkilis. But all of these plans are still in motion. Nothing has been decided yet.
What are the chances, as you see it, of Mike Myers returning next year? In my opinion, he is the top shelf lefty specialist in the game today. -- Doug, Connecticut
Myers did a terrific job in 2005 and the Red Sox would like to bring him back. Because of the way Myers eats up left-handed hitters, there are a lot of suitors for his service. Ultimately, Myers will have to decide if he'd like to return to Boston or if he'd be happier somewhere else. I know that manager Terry Francona is one of his biggest fans.

Source: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/