After great 2014 season, will O's shell out big bucks for Andrew Miller?

Andrew Miller picked a good time to have the best year of his life. He pitched great for two teams during the 2014 season and now he can sit back and watch teams fight over him during free agency. He can go to the highest bidder and the bidding should go high for this reliever who combines talent, size, smarts and a devastating slider to produce impressive statistics. Fans seem convinced that the Orioles made a shrewd trade when they gave their No. 3 prospect, 21-year-old left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, to Boston for Miller. Several teams, including the Detroit team the Orioles beat in the playoffs, sought Miller at the trade deadline and the price was high. Miller was everything the O's hoped for and more. But if Miller signs with another team now, the club will have given up Rodriguez for 27 1/3 innings from Miller, counting the playoffs. Does that put pressure on the Orioles to re-sign the lefty reliever that turns 30 on May 21? This past season was Miller's third as reliever. He pitched to an ERA of 3.35 in 2012, 2.64 in 2013 and 2.02 this season. His ERA was even better at 1.35 in 20 regular season innings for the Orioles. Among many reasons teams will covet Miller is his ability to get right-handed batters out. He is actually better against right-handed hitters. In 2013, Miller gave up a batting average against of .281 against lefty batters and .155 versus right-handed batters. In 2014, he was great against both, but a little better against right-handed batters. Lefty hitters batted .163 with a .467 OPS against Miller while right-handed batters hit .145 with a .446 OPS. With the Orioles, Miller held lefty batters to a .188 average while right-handed batters hit .057 with a .211 OPS off him, going 2-for-35 with 20 strikeouts. That is ridiculous. That was due to his devastating slider that, as he explained to me in this mid-September interview, is actually more effective against right-handed hitters. Miller said he can throw the pitch to both sides of the plate against right-handers, while he is reluctant to come inside with a slider and possibly hang it to a lefty batter. "I have lots of confidence in my slider against right-handed batters," Miller said. "If anything, I feel like I have more options with my slider against right-handed hitters than lefties. Lefty, you generally want to keep it away. "With right-handers, I can throw the ball back door (to the outside corner) and I have a few more options. When I have good command of it, I feel like it allows me to be more creative and use it in different ways. I'll take my chances with my two pitches against anybody, really." Miller threw the slider down and in often to overmatch, overpower and strike out righty batters. During the 2014 season, Miller averaged 14.7 strikeouts per every nine innings and 2.8 walks with Boston. As an Oriole, those numbers got even better at 15.3 and 1.8. He struck out more and walked fewer hitters. He was simply tremendous. This MLBTraderumors profile of Miller's free agency ends with a prediction that he will get a four-year deal worth $32 million via free agency. No doubt the Tigers could have strong interest, as will his former team in Boston. Would the O's consider such a contract for Miller? One possible argument against it would include the fact that relievers' performances fluctuate from season to season. Just look at Miller in 2013 and 2014. In 2013: A 2.64 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 7.3 hits per nine innings, 5.0 walks per nine. In 2014: A 2.02 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 4.8 hits per nine innings, 2.5 walks per nine. Miller had the best control and season of his career in 2014 and some team will pay him big-time, gambling not only that he can do that again or come close, but that he can do so for several seasons. As good as Miller was for the Orioles, should they take that chance?