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Three Veteran Relievers Ink Minor League Deals

By Wayne Cavadi

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Three veteran bullpen arms inked minor league deals on Thursday. Phil Coke, Peter Moylan, and Jim Miller will be in spring training battling for final roster spots on new teams. While one seems to have a very good chance at making the Opening Day roster, the other two may face an uphill battle.

Phil Coke signed a deal with the Chicago Cubs. Per MLB Trade Rumors, Coke can earn a $2.25-million with another $900,000 in incentives should he make the squad. He doesn’t have an easy road ahead of him, however he has an advantage. The Cubs’ current bullpen is very right handed heavy. The 32-year old lefty has a prime opportunity to sneak onto the Opening Day as the late inning left-handed specialist. 

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Coke has always struggled with high walk rates and has been quite hittable over the course of his seven year career. His WHIP hasn’t been bellow 1.50 in three years and he has allowed over 10 hits per nine innings over that same span. Coke can no longer be relied upon to close, but he is still highly effective against left handed hitters. Zac Rosscup, the 26-year old with 20 Major League innings under his belt, is Coke’s primary competition for the back of the bullpen lefty. Rosscup was unimpressive in 2014, so Coke’s experience could seal up the final Cubs’ bullpen spot.

Pete Moylan rejoins the team he started with in the Atlanta Braves. The 36-year old Australian righty was once a very effective piece in the Braves’ bullpen. He hasn’t thrown a professional pitch since 2013 as he is still on the mend from his second Tommy John surgery.

Moylan owns a career 21-9 record with 4 saves and a 2.80 ERA out of the bullpen, but he does have the odds stacked against him.The Braves bullpen is loaded with former veteran closers on minor league deals competing for one, maybe two Opening Day roster spots. A 36-year old battling back from his second Tommy John surgery does not bode well. The performance of Matt Capps and Jose Veras thus far, however, does leave the door open should Moylan prove to be healthy.

Lastly, Jim Miller signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. Miller, the 32-year old right hander has been up and down the minor leagues since being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 8th round of the 2004 draft. He has made a few stops in the big leagues along the way, serving as a key part of the A.L. West Champion Oakland As 2012 bullpen going 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA over 33 appearances.

Miller made spot appearances for the New York Yankees in both 2013 and 2014 but wasn’t as successful as he was in his previous big league stints. He was released in August by the Yankees and is now with the division rivals. Miller is coming off a solid campaign at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he went 6-4 with a 3.30 ERA and two saves while recording 60 strikeouts over 57.1 innings of relief.

He faces an uphill battle in a pretty stout Tampa Bay bullpen. There is seemingly one spot available, and Miller’s experience could help him prevail. If he does not, Miller certainly provides minor league depth until he is needed at the big league level.

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