Friday, January 20, 2006
Miller Signs With Cubs
Free agent Wade Miller, non-tendered by the Boston Red Sox after his truncated '05 season and resulting labrum surgery in September, lopped $500,000 off his requested signing price to ink a deal with the Chicago Cubsfor an even $1 million. He was also asking for $3 million in performance bonuses, but settled for another $1 million. Miller this month began throwing on flat ground as part of a rehabilitation program that doctors predict will restore him to 100% within 90 days, meaning he'll miss the first month of the season. Cubs starter Kerry Wood also likely will miss a month or more. Miller is only 29. His best year was in 2001 when he went 16-8 with a 3.40 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 212 innings. If you have an inactive roster, Miller might be worth stashing away with a late round draft pick or a $1 bid in an auction league. Those bidding for the oft-injured Wood probably will overpay.
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Doctor X -- the 'Baseball Medic' -- is an anonymous U.S. government trauma specialist with a Duke University sports medicine background and more than 20 years experience in emergency medicine. From time to time he considers MLB rumors, events and news reports as they pertain to baseball players' injuries, illnesses and various other disabilities, both on the field and off.
MLB Rumors editor Greg Fieg is a former sports news editor and award-winning writer whose bylines have appeared on the wires of the Associated Press and in numerous publications, including San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Light, Houston Chronicle and Philadelphia Bulletin. He formerly was posted in various positions on the U.S.-Mexican border with Freedom Newspapers, and was a regular, independent contributor to United Press International.