Although there has yet to be official confirmation from the team, The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required) reported on Tuesday afternoon that the Dodgers had signed 32-year-old/10-year MLB veteran right-hander Shelby Miller as bullpen help for the 2023 season. A short while later, ESPN‘s Kiley McDaniel reported that the deal was for one year at $1.5 million, plus performance bonuses.

As Dodgers fans know, Miller pitched for the division-rival San Francisco Giants in 2022, where he posted an 0-1 record and less-than-stellar 6.43 ERA in his 7.0 innings pitched for The Hated Ones. He finished the 2022 season with a combined 0-1 record and a combined 9.24 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched with the Cubs, Pirates, and Giants.

As Rosenthal notes and barring a complete meltdown (or injury) during Spring Training, Miller is expected to begin the 2023 campaign on the Dodgers 40-man and active rosters, this due to the potential free agent losses of Craig Kimbrel and Tommy Kahnle, and Blake Treinen (probably) lost for the entire 2023 season while recovering from right shoulder labrum and rotator cuff surgery.

Then again, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman could still re-sign one (or both) of these guys, and he is unquestionably still shopping The Hot Stove free-agent market for additional bullpen pieces, which could force the Dodgers top executive to designate Miller for assignment before making even one regular-season pitch in Dodger Blue; although this seems like a bit of a stretch – especially with a guaranteed $1.5 million already in Miller’s pocket. In other words, Friedman wouldn’t have even offered Miller a guaranteed Major League deal (as opposed to a Minor League deal) if he hadn’t planned on Miller being in his Opening Day bullpen.

Play Ball!

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UPDATE:

The Dodgers confirmed the deal late Friday morning, December 2, 2022:

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