The Colorado Rockies have acquired utilityman Owen Miller from the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Miller, 28 this month, has spent parts of four MLB seasons since being drafted in the third round by the San Diego Padres in 2018. In 2020 he was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in the large package, along with current Rockies pitcher Cal Quantrill, that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego. He made his big league debut with Cleveland in 2021, playing in 60 games and slashing .204/.243/.309 with four home runs and 18 RBI.

2022 saw Miller play a career-high 130 games, including 108 starts, with the Guardians where he slashed a palatable .243/.301/.351 while setting career-highs in home runs (6) and RBI (51). Following the 2022 season, he was shipped to Milwaukee where he would spend parts of the next two seasons. He turned in a solid .674 OPS in 90 games with the Brew Crew in 2023 but struggled in a brief 14 games with the big league squad in 2024, resulting in being designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A in July.

Still, Miller performed well during his Triple-A stint this past season. As a member of the Nashville Sounds, h slashed .276/.354/.392 in 91 games with five home runs and 37 RBI. When given opportunities there is a capacity to be a contributor to some degree. The Rockies could also find his below-league-average 21.3% strikeout rate intriguing, something that could help coming off the bench.

Still, with no minor league options and only a .239/.287/.345 slash line to show for his 1,015 career plate appearances in the big leagues, Miller has entered the journeyman portion of his big league career, dependent on his defensive skills primarily going forward. He has made at least one appearance at every position save catcher and center field, with the majority of time coming at first and second base.

Owning a career .983 fielding percentage, Miller has proven worth 7 Fielding Run Value per Statcast and has a -2 Defensive Runs Saved. In 2023, he carried top ranks in fielding range with eight outs above average and clocked in at 29 feet per second in sprint speed.

As the Rockies evaluate moves to tamp down payroll, second baseman Brendan Rodgers could end up on the trading block this winter, though general manager Bill Schmidt considers him part of the plans for 2025. Still, should he be moved, the Rockies could turn to Miller for an extended look in a rebuilding year until they feel prospects like Adael Amador or Ryan Ritter are ready to take over. Aaron Schunk spent the bulk of the second half of the 2024 season as the utility infielder and his spot on the 40-man roster gives him the advantage to reclaim his spot, but there is bound to be healthy competition in spring training for the bench. Miller also provides needed depth in Triple-A should the need arise during the 2025 season.