Atlanta Braves new lefty Tommy Milone: a deeper look at the new arm in town

The Atlanta Braves desperately needed pitching help, and today some relief is on the way, but more is needed to take the team deeper into postseason play.

As Seth told you earlier, the Atlanta Braves acquired Tommy Milone from the Orioles this morning in exchange for two PTBNL not in the 60-man pool. You can read the official Braves’ press release here. To make room for Milone on the 40-man roster, the team DFA’d Matt Adams.

Seth gave you a birds-eye view of Milone earlier, but as the first addition to our rotation of Max Fried and the short-straw of the day, a more in-depth look at what to expect from Milone is due.

If you look in the dictionary under journeyman, you might see Tommy Milone’s picture. Selected by the Nationals in the tenth round of the 2008 draft, Milone made his debut just over three years later against the Mets. He made five starts for the Nats that September and pitched to a respectable 3.81 ERA.

The following December (2011), Milone went to Oakland as part of the package that sent Gio Gonzalez to Washington. He spent two and a half seasons with the Athletics making 73 starts and two relief appearances and throwing 442-2/3 innings at a 3.84 ERA, 4.17 FIP, and 1.263 WHIP.

The Twins acquired Milone at the deadline in 2014, and he remained in Minnesota for the next two seasons, but something happened after the trade.  After arriving in Minnesota, his ERA ballooned over his next six appearances (five starts) to 7.06, with a 5.90 FIP and 2.215 WHIP.

Milone bounced back in 2015, posting a 3.92 ERA, 4.30 FIP, and 1.275 WHIP in 23 starts and 128-2/3 IP, but 2016 saw his ERA for the Twins climb to 5.79  in his first 23+IP; in May they demoted him to AAA and the Twins non-tendered him in November.

He bounced between the Brewers, Mets, Nats, and Seattle before joining Baltimore last winter. When opening day starter John Means went down with a dead arm, the Orioles turned to Milone. In his six starts this season, Milone threw 29 1/3 innings with a 3.99 ERA, 3.86 FIP, and 1.26 WHIP, striking out 31 and walking four.

Milone’s ability to stay in games, plus his solid strikeout and walk rates are key reasons Atlanta Brave acquired him. He provides a stable if unexciting addition to a rotation currently using one starter, one prospect, and relievers to pursue a championship.