Dodgers Sign Aaron Miles….Again

Yep he is back. All winter long we saw the natural course of the Baseball cycle, as player after player signed with their respective teams. Each day a new player would be subtracted from the free agent pool, like apples being plucked off a tree. However for Aaron Miles, he was never plucked from the hanging vine of free agency. Miles waited for the phone to ring as other players were inking contracts, and reporting to spring training. Miles waited for his phone to ring. And he waited. Spring training ended, and the regular season began. Miles continued to wait by the phone. The call never came. Until this week that is, when his bat phone finally rang. Who was the team that called him? The Dodgers, again of course.

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

The nine season, 35 year old plucky infielder, after originally coming up with the White Sox, has played with five different major league teams including the Dodgers. (White Sox 2003-Colorado-2004-2005-Cardinals-2006-2008-Cubs-2009-Cardinals-2010-Dodgers-2011)

Miles who is from Pittsburgh, and went to Antioch high school in northern California was drafted by the Astros in 1995. Miles is a switch hitter, and has collected a career line of .281/.320/.352 during his nine season career. Miles has had experience playing three infield positions over the course of a career fueled by perseverance alone. Miles may not be very big, or physically intimidating, he is only 5’8 and 175, but he has spunk. Sometimes that can go a long way in Baseball.

Miles played for the Dodgers last season, who could forget him? Miles put up a line of .275/.314/.346 with three home runs and 45 RBIs. Miles had 125 hits in 2011 for the Dodgers while playing second short and third, and also providing late inning pinch-hitting duties. He was often asked to perform above his pay grade, and was a decent bat off the bench.

This week the Dodgers signed Miles on a minor league deal. Right now he is currently at the Dodger’s spring training complex at Glendale Arizona working out in extended spring training. Miles could provide the Dodgers with an emergency infield option and switch hitting bat off the bench, while mega rover Jerry Hairston Jr. is out with a strained left hamstring, and Dee Gordon continues to struggle at shortstop. We will never forget Miles’ Hail-Mary RBI triple against the Cardinals last August that led the team to a win at Busch stadium. Miles’ determination is so well known, that he has a website dedicated to him. aaronmilesfastball.wordpress.com

Will we ever see the plucky stocky infielder in a Dodger uniform again? Keep it here to find out Dodger fans.