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Well the Cleveland Indians almost escaped the deadline without parting for Clint Frazier or Bradley Zimmer. According to Ken Rosenthal, they have agreed to a deal with the New York Yankees for reliever Andrew Miller that could include outfield prospect Clint Frazier and pitcher Justus Sheffield.
BREAKING: Andrew Miller to #Indians.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2016
As of this writing, it's not confirmed if Frazier is in the deal, but Buster Olney believes they are.
Yankees expected to get Indians prospects Frazier and Sheffield and others in the trade for Andrew Miller.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 31, 2016
Early this morning the Indians also agreed to a deal for Jonathan Lucroy, but the trade is waiting on the catcher to officially drop his no-trade claus. So far there is no word on if this Andrew Miller means the trade is off or not. If the Indians get both players, they are clearly going all-in for the 2016 and 2017.
No word yet on status of Lucroy trade. Possible #Indians getting both him and Miller. Possible Lucroy deal falling apart.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2016
Jon Heyman is reporting the other two prospects in the deal are relievers Ben Heller and JP Feyereisen, the team's two best bullpen prospects.
Heller and Fryerson go to yanks in miller deal, too
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2016
Miller, 31, could potentially slot into the Tribe's closer role. Over the past three seasons he has been worth 6.0 FanGraphs WAR with a 1.86 ERA and a 1.82 FIP in 169.1 innings. Current closer, Cody Allen, previously said he would be open to moving out of the role when the Indians were reportedly chasing after closer Aroldis Chapman.
The package the Indians are sending over is obviously huge, including top prospect Clint Frazier, but Miller is more than a one-year rental. Like Jonathan Lucroy, whom the Indians traded for at midnight Sunday, Miller should be with the Indians beyond 2016. He is currently signed through the 2018 season for $9 million a year.