O'S LAND LEFTY RELIEVER MILLER
The Baltimore Orioles acquired pitcher Andrew Miller from the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez.
What does it give the Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles already had {P Zach Britton}, {P Brian Matusz} and {P T.J. McFarland} as lefties in their bullpen, but Miller should fit in nicely between Britton and Matusz in the bullpen pecking order. Britton is now the full-fledged closer in Baltimore, so Miller will be used as a setup man. This gives Baltimore a better shot at winning the American League East division this year.
What does it give the Boston Red Sox
In Rodriguez, the Red Sox land a very good starting pitching prospect. He's enduring a bit of a rough patch in Double-A ball this season, but he's still very young (21). He gives Boston another long-range starting pitcher for their completely revamped rotation. It's rare for divisional rivals to swing this type of important trade, but the Red Sox held out for a top pitching prospect in exchange for Miller (and got one).
Fantasy impact
Miller's fantasy value remains solid in Baltimore, though perhaps with fewer save chances (since he is a lefty, as is Britton). Then again, Miller wasn't getting many ninth-inning opportunities with {P Koji Uehara} around in Boston, either. As for Rodriguez, his future value is still strong and he might eventually benefit from Boston's offense in the future (though he might face even stiffer competition for jobs with the Red Sox).
