ST. LOUIS _ One of the first things the Cardinals said they needed to add this winter was an elite left-handed reliever for the bullpen, and with a few shopping days remaining before Christmas they closed in a deal with an All-Star who has helped reinvent on bullpens are used.
Andrew Miller and the Cardinals are working to finalize a deal that will add the two-time All-Star lefty to the Cardinals' late-inning options, a source told the Post-Dispatch. Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network also reported on Twitter that the Cardinals were nearing a deal with the lefty.
The details are not yet clear, though the Cardinals had been discussing a multi-year deal with the lefty, and it is likely any agreement is still pending a physical.
The Cardinals declined comment to The Post-Dispatch.
Miller, 33, spent parts of the past three seasons with Cleveland, and he was an essential part of its American League pennant-winning team in 2016 because of his willingness and ability to pitch any inning in relief and multiple innings of relief. This past season he was off an on the disabled list several times and finished with a 4.24 ERA in 37 games. He struck out 45 batters in 34 innings.
Miller had a hamstring injury that put him on the DL for a couple weeks, and in August and September he had trouble returning from a shoulder impingement. He has had knee trouble in recent years, too.
Before the 2015 season, the Cardinals expressed interest in the lefty but were not in a position to offer him a closing role. He landed a four-year, $36-million deal with the Yankees and then became part of New York's quick rebuild by being dealt to Cleveland.
In 22 playoff games, he has a 1.09 ERA and 48 strikeouts from 33 innings pitched. He's only walked 11 for a 0.879 WHIP.
