NEW YORK — Andrew Miller, a two-time All-Star and dominant postseason reliever who helped negotiate the recent labor deal that ended Major League Baseball’s 99-day lockout, has retired at 36.

Miller had a 4.75 ERA in 40 games last season, his third year with St. Louis. The left-hander with a devastating slider played 16 seasons with seven teams and was the MVP of the 2016 AL Championship Series for Cleveland.

Long involved with the players’ association, Miller spent recent months on the union’s executive subcommittee as it bargained with owners toward a settlement.

“Andrew’s selfless, tireless and relentless advocacy on behalf of his fellow and future players during challenging times will be as much a part of his baseball legacy as his extraordinary accomplishments on the field,” the union said in a statement Thursday.

“His thoughtful, reasoned and pragmatic leadership earned the respect of his fellow players in all 30 clubhouses,” it said.

Miller pitched in 11 different postseason matchups for Baltimore, the New York Yankees, Cleveland and St. Louis, with an 0.93 ERA. He was 2-1 with one save and struck out 54 in 38 2-3 innings.

Miller was 55-55 with 63 saves with a 4.03 ERA in 612 games overall during a career that also included time with Detroit, Boston and the Florida Marlins before they switched to being called the Miami Marlins. He was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003 when the team still carried that name, but didn’t sign.

TRADE: The Toronto Blue Jays traded outfielder Randal Grichuk and just over $9.7 million to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday for outfielder Raimel Tapia and minor league infielder Adrian Pinto.

Grichuk, 29, hit .241 with 22 homers and 81 RBI in 149 games last season. He was dealt two days after hitting a grand slam in a spring training game against the Yankees.

The cash will offset a little more than half the $18.7 million Grichuk is owed over the final two seasons of his $52 million, five-year contract.

Tapia agreed this week to a $3.95 million, one-year contract and is eligible for free agency after the 2023 season.

Colorado’s free-agent signing of infielder/outfielder Kris Bryant had a big impact on Tapia, who was penciled in as the team’s left fielder before Bryant’s arrival. Tapia became the odd outfielder out, with Sam Hilliard in center and Charlie Blackmon in right.

Known for his speed, Tapia tied for the team lead with 20 stolen bases last season. The 28-year-old from the Dominican Republic also hit .273 with six homers and 50 RBI.

DODGERS: Walker Buehler will be the team’s Opening Day starter when the season kicks off on April 8 in Colorado, Manager Dave Roberts announced, giving the 27-year-old right-hander his first career opening day nod – and marking the first time in more than a decade that Clayton Kershaw won’t pitch the season opener for a reason other than injury.

Since 2011, Kershaw has missed an Opening Day start only twice: in 2019, when he had left shoulder inflammation, and in 2020 because of back stiffness.

But this year, the future Hall of Famer will slot inTO the rotation behind Buehler, the burgeoning ace who cemented himself last season as the top arm on the team.

While Kershaw battled an elbow injury during the 2021 campaign, Buehler had a career-best season. He led the team’s starters with a 2.47 ERA, 212 strikeouts and 5.5 wins above replacement, according to Fangraphs.

CONTRACTS: Rookie of the Year winners Randy Arozarena and Yordan Alvarez and All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette were among 16 players whose contracts were renewed by their teams rather than being negotiated agreements.

Arozarena, the outfielder voted the 2021 AL Rookie award, was given a $716,600 salary for 2022 while in the major leagues by the Tampa Bay Rays, according to contract information obtained by The Associated Press. That is up from $581,200 last season. He batted .274 with 20 homers, 69 RBI and an .815 OPS.

Alvarez, the Houston Astros’ designated hitter and outfielder voted a unanimous winner of the 2019 AL award, was given a $764,600 salary, up from $609,000 last year. He hit .277 last year with 33 homers, 104 RBI and an .877 OPS.

Bichette was given a $723,550 salary, an increase from $587,800 last year, when he also earned a $10,000 bonus for making the All-Star team. He hit .298 with 29 homers, 102 RBI, an AL-leading 191 hits and an .828 OPS.

Atlanta right-hander Ian Anderson was renewed at $710,000 after pitching five hitless, scoreless innings to win World Series Game 3 over Houston. He had been renewed at $575,500 last year.

Others whose contracts were renewed before the Wednesday deadline were Washington catcher Tres Barrera ($700,000), Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Matt Beaty ($730,000), St. Louis outfielder Dylan Carlson ($703,000), Texas outfielder Adolis Garcia ($714,000), Colorado left-hander Austin Gomber ($710,000), Boston right-hander Tanner Houck ($716,000), Toronto right-hander Alek Manoah ($706,200), Oakland left-hander A.J. Puk ($705,000), Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles ($700,000), San Francisco right-hander Logan Webb ($730,000), Baltimore right-hander Tyler Wells ($704,500) and Milwaukee right-hander Devin Williams ($714,500).

MARINERS: Seattle bolstered its bullpen by signing veteran right-hander Sergio Romo to a one-year contract.

The deal was finalized following a physical and is for $2 million.

DIAMONDBACKS: Right-handed pitcher Zach Davies agreed to a one-year deal that includes a mutual option for the 2023 season.

ATHLETICS: Free-agent catcher Stephen Vogt has reached agreement on a contract to rejoin Oakland, a person with direct knowledge of the deal said.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract was still pending a physical for the two-time All-Star.

Vogt, a 37-year-old journeyman, spent from 2013 through part of 2017 with Oakland.

Over 78 games between the Braves and Diamondbacks last year, Vogt batted .195 with seven home runs and 25 RBI.

« Previous

U.S. Alpine Championships: Super-G races postponed due to inclement weather

Next »

Red Sox notebook: Story’s deal with Red Sox nearly fell apart over COVID-19 vaccination status