All-Star closer Mason Miller, possibly one of the most coveted targets at Major League Baseball’s trade deadline, won’t be pitching for anybody in the immediate future after breaking a finger in an act of frustration.
Miller, the Oakland Athletics’ dominant reliever, was placed on the injured list Thursday with a fractured left pinkie finger. The A’s web site reported that Miller suffered the fracture Monday after slamming his hand on a padded training table, then later attributed it to putting his hand down ‘awkwardly’ as he prepared to do an exercise after pitching a clean ninth inning in a 4-0 win over the Houston Astros.
Later Thursday, A’s manager Mark Kotsay told reporters in Anaheim that Miller’s injury in fact occurred in a brief spate of frustration and ‘kind of pounded his fist down on a padded table out of emotion.’
The 25-year-old has been electric this season, striking out 70 batters in 40 2/3 innings. He broke an All-Star Game record for velocity by throwing a pitch 103.6 mph in the game.
With the A’s long out of contention and not expected to challenge for a playoff berth for several seasons, reliever-hungry postseason hopefuls have inquired about Miller, who after this season will still have five years before free agency. The trade deadline is July 30.
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‘At the end of the day I don’t have a say in it all,’ Miller told USA TODAY Sports last week. ‘That portion of it’s easy for me to dissociate with and say, I don’t have a dog in that fight and whatever will be, will be.
‘I’m happy being with the guys I’m with and honored to be here representing them and excited to work with them in the second half.’
Now, he may not be going anywhere. Kotsay says Miller will be evaluated in a few weeks, but can throw in the meantime.