Dodgers finalize 1-year deal with Shelby Miller

The Dodgers announced a one-year, $1.5 million Major League deal with reliever Shelby Miller on Friday.

An All-Star in 2015 with the Braves, the 32-year-old Miller was traded to the D-backs following that season -- and he's struggled with consistency in the seven seasons since. He put up a 6.15 ERA over 20 starts in his debut season in Arizona in '16, then was limited to just four starts the following year before Tommy John surgery sidelined him for more than a year.

? The unheralded relievers who could make a difference

After posting an 8.59 ERA across 19 outings (eight starts) with the Rangers in 2019, Miller opted out of the '20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned in '21 as a reliever for the Cubs, though he struggled to find his footing out of the bullpen before being released and later signing with the Pirates.

Miller spent the majority of last season in the Minors, racking up a 2.87 ERA across 43 appearances (one start) between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees) and Triple-A Sacramento (Giants). He joined San Francisco in late September and turned in three straight scoreless appearances that included 13 strikeouts over just 5 2/3 innings before stumbling in his season finale (five runs in 1 1/3 innings).

Overall, Miller is just 1-9 with an 8.92 ERA in 41 games (12 starts) since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2018. Still, there is reason for optimism given the development of his slider over the last couple of seasons and his impressive strikeout totals down the stretch last year.