Breaking: Wade Miley Signs With Familiar Team in 2025 Comeback from Tommy John

A veteran starting pitcher is off the free agent board, as 38-year-old Wade Miley, who will be coming back from Tommy John surgery this season, has signed back in the NL Central Division with the Cincinnati Reds.

Veteran starter Wade Miley signs minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds. He’ll earn $2.5 million on pro-rated MLB contract with $1,000 per inning maxing out at a total of $4 million with June 1 opt-out. He’s expected to return from Tommy John surgery in mid-May
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 29, 2025

It's a minor league deal for Miley to return to Cincinnati, where he spent two seasons back in 2020 and 2021. He has remained in the NL Central ever since, spending a year with the Chicago Cubs and the last two years with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The deal will pay him $2.5 million if in the majors, plus a unique clause that will earn him $1,000 per inning pitched up to a max of $4 million. He also has a June 1st opt-out if the Reds have not brought him up to the big leagues by then.

In his first go-round with the Reds, he had a 3.55 ERA in 177 innings.

Miley pitched just two games with the Brewers last season before suffering the elbow injury that led to his Tommy John. He's expected to be able to return to the mound in mid-May.

Across 14 major league seasons, the left-hander has a 4.07 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP. He has a career 103 ERA+, 3% above average. He was an All-Star in his second year, back in 2012 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.