CLEVELAND -- Serious about winning the World Series, the Indians batted .500 in making a pair of major trades on Sunday.
Call it an All-Star split doubleheader.
Going all in for October, the AL Central leader acquired All-Star left-handed reliever Andrew Miller from the New York Yankees for four minor leaguers.
The deal came less than 12 hours after the Indians had reached agreement on the parameters of a swap with Milwaukee for Brewers All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy. However, that trade was stopped by Lucroy, who refused to waive his no-trade clause and turned down a chance to join a contender.
"There were some circumstances that came up that made me void it, obviously," Lucroy said in Milwaukee. "I think when it eventually comes out, everyone will understand why. I'm not going to comment on any specifics."
Lucroy said Sunday he wasn't going to go into the details behind his decision, but the long term is more important than the short term for him and his family.
The teams had reached a preliminary agreement on a deal to send Lucroy, a two-time All-Star, to the Indians. Milwaukee general manager David Stearns says the Brewers will move on after Lucroy refused to waive the no-trade provision in his contract. He says there's no chance of re-working a deal with Cleveland.
Cleveland, which leads the AL Central, has been looking for a catcher since Yan Gomes separated his shoulder earlier in July.
Lucroy's decision would have been a huge blow to the Indians if not for the addition of Miller, who will help Cleveland Manager Terry Francona shorten games and gives the Indians a legitimate shot at winning their first World Series title since 1948.
"It certainly should help us a lot," Francona said before the Indians beat the Oakland Athletics 8-0 to complete a three-game sweep. "I know when we go into New York next week, we don' have to face Andrew Miller, which will be really nice."
So will his ability to mix and match Miller with right-hander Bryan Shaw in the late innings before handing the ball to closer Cody Allen.
The Indians sent four minor leaguers, including highly touted outfielder Clint Frazier, to New York for Miller, 31.
The Indians had been tracking Miller for weeks but were reluctant to part with any of their top prospects, especially Frazier, a 21-year-old who can hit with power and was recently promoted to Class AAA Columbus.
However, with the club leading its division and showing signs of being able to compete in October, Indians owner Paul Dolan and president Chris Antonetti felt the time was right to go all in and see if they can win their first World Series in 68 years.
"We want to try to do what we can to get to the postseason and win a World Series," Antonetti said. "That's why we do what we do, and we felt that this team has done its part."
"For me now, it's a chance to go to a team that's in the thick of it and has big plans for this year," said Miller, who is signed through 2018 at $9 million annually. "I'm not going to change one bit, whatever they ask me to do, hopefully do it up to their standards. They've got a pretty darn good team. They've got some good pieces out in the bullpen. They've got a great lineup, rotation."
The Yankees reacquired Tyler Clippard on Sunday, obtaining the reliever from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Vicente Campos in a swap of right-handed pitchers.
Clippard, 31, was 2-3 with 1 save and a 4.30 ERA in 40 relief appearances with the Diamondbacks, who signed him to a $12.25 million, two-year contract in February.
Clippard was drafted by the Yankees in 2003, made six starts as a rookie in 2007 and then was traded to Washington. He was an All-Star in 2011 and 2014 and is the only big league pitcher to appear in 69 games or more in each of the past six seasons.
Campos was acquired in the 2012 trade that brought right-hander Michael Pineda to the Yankees. Campos, 24, is 9-3 with a 3.20 ERA this year in 20 combined starts for Class AA Trenton and Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
OTHER TRADES
Orioles get Miley
CHICAGO -- The Baltimore Orioles acquired left-hander Wade Miley in a trade with the Seattle Mariners.
Miley is 7-8 with a 4.98 ERA on the year but he had a 3.45 ERA in five July starts. He pitched seven innings, allowing one hit, in Seattle's 4-1 victory against the major league-leading Chicago Cubs on Saturday.
Seattle received left-hander Ariel Miranda in the trade. The Cuban pitcher has spent most of the year with Class AAA Norfolk. He appeared in one game for Baltimore on July 3 at Seattle, allowing 3 runs and 4 hits in 2 innings.
Miley, 29, was selected by Arizona with the 43rd pick in the 2008 amateur draft and made his major league debut with the Diamondbacks in 2011. He is 56-54 with a 4.07 ERA in six years in the majors.
Cardinals acquire Duke
MIAMI -- Left-handed pitcher Zach Duke was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the St. Louis Cardinals for minor league outfielder Charlie Tilson.
The deal was announced before the Cardinals' game Sunday at Miami.
Duke went 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA for the White Sox this year and leads the American League with 53 appearances. He made 169 career starts, all from 2005 to 2013.
The 23-year-old Tilson was the Cardinals' second-round pick in 2011 and was batting .282 this season for Class AAA Memphis. He has a .293 career minor league average in 471 games.
Sports on 08/01/2016