Beyond the Monster: Ben Cherington trades Andrew Miller to the Orioles
A look back at the 2014 trade that brought Eduardo Rodriguez to Boston
Beyond the Monster is an ongoing series where we take you back in time and look at moments in Red Sox history.
This past week, Eduardo Rodriguez left the Red Sox and signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Tigers. Rodriguez’s new deal is for five-years, $77 million, with an opt-out after two seasons.
The former Red Sox left-hander spent seven seasons with the organization. Rodriguez took to his personal Instagram on Tuesday to say thank you to the Red Sox.
“After 7 year with the organization that gave me the opportunity that changed me and my family life after all the ups and downs, I wanna say thank you, Red Sox, for believing in me,” Rodriguez said.
“For all the good memories together and especially that World Series ring. To all my teammates that I had the opportunity to play in the same uniform with , thank you all.”
Now that Rodriguez has said goodbye, let’s take a look at home he arrived in Boston. Back in 2014, the Red Sox were in sell mode at the trade deadline. Then general manager Ben Cherington was shopping some of his veteran players on the roster.
Boston was sitting in last place in the American League East with a 48-60 record. The Red Sox already traded Jon Lester and John Lackey at the trade deadline.
Cherington decided to also trade left-hander Andrew Miller to the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox would trade their top bullpen arm to Baltimore for top-prospect Eduardo Rodriguez.
At the time of the trade, Rodriguez was the No. 3 prospect in Baltimore's system, the No. 65 overall prospect in baseball. He also appeared in the 2013 MLB Futures Game at Citi Field in New York representing the World Team.
The lefty was pitching in Double-A, going 3-7 with a 4.79 ERA when he was traded.
The 29-year-old Miller would land with a contending Orioles team. Miller was 3-5 with a 2.34 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings for the Red Sox. His dominance in the bullpen would allow the Sox to land a top prospect like Rodriguez.
"[Miller] probably pitched his way off the team because he pitched so well and because we are where we are and we have him for two more months," Cherington said.
“Especially that type of pitcher is even more valuable for a winning team than he is for a team that's not winning as much so you have to listen to what you can turn that into,” added Cherington.
The Red Sox initially acquired Miller in 2010 from the Marlins for reliever Dustin Richardson. Boston non-tendered Miller a month after the trade but manager Terry Francona wanted the lefty back.
The Orioles got exactly what they wanted out of the trade for Miller. He went on and dominated out of the bullpen for Baltimore. The Orioles finished in first place with 96 wins and lost in the ALCS to the Royals.
Rodriguez made 159 appearances for the Red Sox. The lefty went 64-39 with a 4.16 ERA while also having a career year in 2019. He went 19-6 with a 3.81 ERA in 203 ⅓ innings. The following season he would miss due to myocarditis which was a complication from COVID-19. Rodriguez would also win a World Series with the Sox in 2018.
The trade worked out for both teams, but the Red Sox gained more out of the deal. Rodriguez will be remembered for his time in Boston but now will begin a new chapter in with the Tigers.