Earlier this offseason, it was reported that left-handed starting pitcher and Milwaukee Brewers fan favorite Wade Miley wanted to pitch again in 2025. His 2024 season, also with the Brewers, lasted just two starts after he needed season-ended surgery, a procedure that will likely keep him out for the beginning of this upcoming season, too.
And while he was not under contract this winter, he made no secret that the team he wanted to play for was located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and that he would even take a minor league contract and earn his place on the Major League roster.
And he got the contract he wanted, just not with the Brewers.
Former Milwaukee Brewers LHP Wade Miley Signed with the Cincinnati Reds
Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that Miley had agreed to a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds, who were one of the few teams that he said he would consider playing for in 2025. The others were the Brewers, of course, and the Chicago Cubs.
Miley has pitched for all three of those teams throughout the course of his Major League career. He spent 2020-2021 with the Reds, going 12-10 with a 3.55 ERA. His best year was 2021, a season that saw him go 12-7 with a 3.37 ERA and throw a no-hitter.
Aside from his brief season with Milwaukee in 2024, Miley also pitched for the Brewers in 2018 and 2023. He was 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA (16 starts) in 2018 and 9-4 with a 3.14 ERA (23 starts) in 2023.
The Milwaukee Brewers Refused to Match What the Cincinnati Reds Offered Wade Miley
According to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Miley gave Milwaukee a chance to match the $2.5 million base salary that he would earn should he reach the Majors (which could be upped to $4 million based in innings pitched incentives), but the Brewers declined.
“There was mutual interest in a Wade Miley return to Milwaukee, but ultimately the sides couldn’t agree on the structure of a deal as enticing as the one Cincy was willing to offer. Miley had a very small list of places he’d sign, which included the Reds and Cubs.”
Needless to say, fans were not thrilled to hear that their team had turned down a pitcher who, when healthy, is a reliable starter and wanted to play in Milwaukee.
Brewers going cheap again.
— Mark W. Biefeld (@MarkBiefeld) January 29, 2025
But we got $ 2 million from yankees. We have $ for this. Im confused. New tv deal. Cheap cheap cheap.
— travis fitch (@spidermonkeys92) January 29, 2025
Ridiculous . We need a new owner
— Kent (@KentBardouche) January 29, 2025
Darn, I was hoping he would retire a brewer.
— Drew Taylor (@drewtaylor30) January 29, 2025
He will beat us 3 times. This was bad
— Jim Koerten (@JimKoerten) January 29, 2025
The Brewers have not made many moves in free agency this offseason, and certainly none that would add significant money to their payroll. Miley wanted to play in Milwaukee, and it’s a shame the owner/front office would not give him a chance to do so while paying him what he is worth.
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