Brad Mills is Back with the Athletics
By Tony Frye
Brad Mills may make his way back to the Oakland mound in the 2015 season. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Brad Mills, affectionately known among fans as “Dollar Bill Mills” has signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics and will receive an invite to spring training, presumably to compete for the fifth rotation spot. Brad Mills was acquired by the Athletics for cash consideration ($1) to cover for Drew Pomeranz who lost a fight with a folding chair and landed on the disabled list but was claimed off of waivers when the A’s acquired Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hamel from the Chicago Cubs.
While Mills wasn’t a lights out pitcher in his 3 starts with the Athletics, going 1-1 with a 4.41 ERA, he could be a solid fifth starter in the rotation with the right guidance. The Athletics have considerable depth, now, at the major league level when Jarrod Parker and AJ Griffin return and Melissa Lockard, who reported the story for Oakland Clubhouse, speculated that this may give Billy Beane a little wiggle room to trade pitchers for other needs in the organization.
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A move like that wouldn’t surprise me in the least, no move by Billy Beane surprises me anymore, but I doubt that Beane is looking at Brad Mills as a potential every day starter to fill a spot vacated by Jeff Samardzija or another trade bait pitcher. What he does offer is some extra depth at a position that can scarcely weather an injury year similar to 2014. With Hammel and Lester gone, losing two starters during spring training would put the Athletics in a very tough spot since they have nobody left in the minors who is ready to fill that void.
It makes one think, though, if Tommy Milone crosses the waiver wire, will Beane bring him back to Oakland, too? Probably not but Beane has a history of acquiring players that he had previously traded or lost through waivers such as Jonny Gomes, Sam Fuld, or Adam Rosales so one can never rule it out.
We’ll have to wait until spring training to see if Brad Mills has what it takes to throw a full season at the big league level. His minor league numbers are impressive but, as we’ve seen countless times, those numbers don’t always translate to The Show. Hopefully, with the Athletics stellar coaching staff, Mills can hone in his skills and succeed if Beane puts him in the position to have to pitch a season.
Welcome back Dollar Bill Mills!