Atlanta agrees to trade pitcher Shelby Miller to Arizona

Having just gotten around to introducing Zack Greinke as their new ace, the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night agreed to acquire right-hander Shelby Miller from the Atlanta Braves, and a starting rotation has bloomed in the desert.

The rebuilding Braves would receive outfielder Ender Inciarte, shortstop prospect Dansby Swanson, who was the first overall pick in the 2015 draft, and minor-league right-hander Aaron Blair, a top-40 prospect according to Baseball America.

Just last month, the Braves traded shortstop Andrelton Simmons to the Los Angeles Angels for two young pitchers and shortstop Erick Aybar, and outfielder Cameron Maybin to the Detroit Tigers for two more young pitchers.

The Braves were thought to be seeking All-Star outfielder A.J. Pollock from the Diamondbacks in a deal for Miller, but may have done better in the long run with the three players they received. They are angling toward fielding a contending team by 2017, when they open their new ballpark in the suburbs, though may have to wait longer.

Fox Sports was first to report the trade agreement, which is pending physicals.

The Diamondbacks, conversely, have taken immediate aim on the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants in the NL West. After four consecutive non-winning seasons, the Diamondbacks wrested Greinke from the Dodgers with their offer of $206.5 million over six years. Patrick Corbin, a 14-game winner in 2013 and an emerging force when he was felled by Tommy John surgery, is expected to be healthy and productive again.

The addition of Miller, 25, extends the rotation further. Traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Braves for outfielder Jason Heyward last winter, Miller posted a 3.02 ERA in 33 starts. Because the Braves averaged 2.64 runs in those starts, the lowest run support for any pitcher in the league, Miller lost a league-high 17 games.

The candidates likely competing for the two remaining spots in the rotation would be Rubby De La Rosa, Robbie Ray, Chase Anderson and Archie Bradley.

While the cost was very high in salary for Greinke and in players for Miller, the Diamondbacks do appear to have filled their greatest need without going too deep into their offense, which outscored all but the Colorado Rockies in the National League.