Cards near deal for veteran reliever Miller

Sources: Cards near deal for veteran reliever Miller

The Cardinals, addressing their need for at least one left-handed reliever, are close to signing free agent Trever Miller to a two-year contract, major-league sources say.

The deal, which is pending the completion of a physical examination, is expected to be announced Thursday.

The addition of Miller, who was part of the American League champion Rays' bullpen last season, would be the Cardinals' second significant move of the off-season.

The day after the season ended, St. Louis re-signed right-hander Kyle Lohse to a four-year, $41 million contract, preventing him from reaching the free-agent market.

Miller, 35, earned $2 million last season. He appeared in 68 games for the Rays, going 2-0 with two saves and a 4.15 ERA in 43 innings.

The Cardinals would be Miller's seventh team. He made his major-league debut with the Tigers in 1996, and has appeared in at least 60 games in every season since 2003.