CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds placed ace right-hander Hunter Greene on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain Wednesday and signed veteran left-hander Wade Miley to a one-year contract.
Miley, 38, who had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in May 2024, gets a $2.5 million salary while in the major leagues and $300,000 while in the minors. He would earn a $15,000 performance bonus for each inning pitched from one through 100.
He signed a minor league contract with the Reds on Feb. 4 that included an opt-out clause if he didn’t reach the major leagues by June 1. The 14-year veteran executed that clause Sunday but remained in Cincinnati while he pursued potential deals with other clubs, and he stayed in touch with the Reds.
“I was able to spend some time with the family, just being a dad, going to Little League games,” Miley said. “I’m appreciative of the Reds organization and the way they handled it. We always stayed in contact. I feel healthy. I’m really excited to be back. I’m ready to go to work.”
Miley is the third left-hander in Cincinnati’s rotation, joining Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo. He made 34 appearances (32 starts) for the Reds across the 2020-21 seasons, going 12-10 with a 3.55 ERA. He tossed the 17th no-hitter in Reds franchise history and his first during a road win against the Cleveland Indians on May 7, 2021.
Miley has posted 108 victories for eight teams in his 14 MLB seasons. Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said Miley’s veteran presence is a welcome addition for the team’s young rotation and that the pitcher and Nick Krall, the president of baseball operations for the Reds had already “talked multiple times.”
“I know how much he appreciated Nick’s honesty,” Francona said. “We were going to have him in the bullpen and then knowing at some point we would probably need him — well, it happened a little quicker.”
Miley made his first appearance during Wednesday night’s 9-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, who won two of three games in the series between National League Central Division teams at Great American Ball Park. Miley allowed four earned runs in two innings, including Isaac Collins’ three-run homer in the ninth.
“He was in full (uniform) early this morning,” Francona said ahead of the game. “It’s really welcome. We’ve been waiting for him. He’s a bright light. He brings a lot. His ability to compete, he won’t short-change you.”
Miley will now move into the rotation and could start Monday, when the Reds open a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Meanwhile, it was another setback for Greene, who had made three starts since a 15-day stint on the injured list last month due to a groin strain he sustained May 7 during a start against the Atlanta Braves.
In Tuesday night’s 4-2 win over the Brewers, the 25-year-old Greene threw 85 pitches before leaving the game after five innings when he felt discomfort in his groin. An MRI was scheduled for Wednesday morning, but Francona said there was no need to wait for the results.
“We talked to him, we talked to trainers, it was kind of an easy decision even without seeing the MRI,” Francona said. “We’ve got to get him healthy.”
Greene, who was an MLB All-Star for the first time last season, is 4-3 with a 2.72 ERA in 11 starts this year.