Bobby Miller Heads to NY Mets in Wild Blockbuster 3-Team Proposed Trade

If you were to look up 'Sophomore Jinx' in the dictionary, it's possible that the latest versions would show a picture of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller. After a tremendous rookie season in 2023, Miller had a disastrous sophomore campaign, posting an ERA of 8.52 (yes, you read that right) in 13 starts. He will not take part in a single postseason game for LA after he was sent back down to the minors in late September.

Have the Dodgers given up on the 25-year-old? That's unclear at this point. They're a little busy at the moment doing a little thing called the World Series.

But if they do decide to move on from Miller and let another team take a chance on getting him back to his rookie form, Kerry Miller (no relation) of Bleacher Report has a wild three-team trade proposal that would send the Dodgers' right-hander to the New York Mets. It would go like this:

New York Mets Receive:

RHP Bobby Miller from LAD

Cincinnati Reds Receive:

3B Brett Baty from NYM

Los Angeles Dodgers Receive:

3B/SS Noelvi Marte from CIN

This trade actually makes sense on a whole lot of fronts.

The Mets could be losing 3/5ths of their starting rotation to free agency. Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana will all be on the open market looking to go to the highest bidder. But the Mets will be focusing their free agent attention on their own Pete Alonso, and the Yankees' Juan Soto, so those three pitchers could be headed elsewhere.

Someone has to fill out the Mets' rotation, why not take a chance with the hugely talented Miller? They've already got their third baseman of the future in Mark Vientos, so Baty isn't much needed.

For the Dodgers, shortstop has been a problem for some time now, ever since Trea Turner left in free agency before the 2023 season. They tried Mookie Betts there for a chunk of this season, but that is not his best spot. Noelvi Marte, while he played 3B for the Reds this season after coming back from his 80-game suspension, is a natural shortstop. He might be able to recapture his offence being back at his familiar position.

The Reds could be ready to move on from Marte, who missed half of the 2024 season due to that PED suspension, and when he returned to take over third base, batted just .210 with a .549 OPS. His elite prospect pedigree was built on his offensive potential. Perhaps Cinci is ready to take a shot on another top third base prospect in Baty, who could possibly thrive in the Great American Ballpark with an exciting young lineup around him.

Kerry Miller calls this a "wild" trade scenario, but it sure makes a lot of sense on all counts.