In his brief incarnation, Andrew Miller proved to be a great Yankee, and I for one would love to see him return

Three springs ago, for a brief blink in time, the Yankees assembled perhaps their greatest set of closers in history. The Yes Men and the grovelin' Gammonites called it "NO-RUN-DMC," (a rare Yankee nod to the Bronx as birthplace of rap) - but, sadly, it didn't matter. 

The early season 2016 Yankees were a miserable team with few games to close, and the famous big three - Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman - languished, unused, in Scott Proctorville, until the roster was dismantled in late July. For the first time since the days of Syd Thrift, the Yankees consciously decided to tank, launching the most defining period in the evolution of the current team.

For me, the key to that bullpen - and to today's Yankees - was the middle man, Andrew Miller. When he signed a four-year deal with the Yankees, Miller was almost certainly the game's most dominant closer. But when Aroldis Chapman arrived - distressed merchandise due to a domestic violence incident - Miller graciously accepted the role as set-up man. In doing so, he set an example for Betances and every Yankee: The team came first. 

When the Yankees sent Miller to Cleveland, he understood. Miller pitched the Indians to the brink of the World Series - going toe to toe with Chapman, who won it for the Cubs - and I still wonder if the Yankees, just 6.5 games out when they dismantled the team, blew up the team too quickly. (If you remember, once the Yankees ditched the dead wood - Code Name: Alex - Gary Sanchez and Aaron Judge led a huge resurgence. Had they kept Miller and Chapman, could they have gone on a run and made the playoffs? And from there, could they have - SHUT UP, DUQUE, STOP YOURSELF! COME TO YOUR SENSES! YOU CAN'T GO DOWN THAT ROAD AGAIN!) 

Where was I? Oh, yeah... Andrew Miller. Great pitcher, great teammate, great Yankee.

But last year - listen: there's no polite way to put this - Miller crapped the bed. He tweaked his hammy in April, went on the DL, then returned with a bum right knee - tendinitis. He missed more time, then returned, then suffered a left shoulder impingement. All totaled, he threw just 34 innings with an ERA of 4.24. He's 33. Yeesh. Call the glue wagon. The days are getting shorter.

But wait. He's still Andrew Fucking Miller. Supposedly, the Phillies want either Miller or Zach Britton - a lefty to balance their RH bullpen - and they plan to spend like Sheldon Adelson at a GOP cattle call. At 30, Britton might be a better gamble. Also, Boston could pop into play. The Redsocks might chase David Robertson - also 33. All three will follow the dough. This is the last big contract they'll ever see, and they know it. Robby wants to stay in the Northeast. Miller wants a no-trade clause. Britton will want the most years. 

Prediction: Cashman will sign whichever is the cheapest - then try to fortify the bullpen via the impending Sonny Gray trade. I can't say that's a bad strategy. Here's what our bullpen could look like:

El Chapo
Dellin
Miller/Britton/Robertson, or another free agent
Mean Chad Green
Jonathan Holder, "the Holder of Holds"
Sonny Gray trade acquisition
Kahnle, Tarpley, Heller, Cessa, Johnny Lasagna, the cast of "Glee"

Hey, that's not bad. It might even be capable of "bullpenning" a few games, a la Tampa, copying the Rays' latest horrible innovation. (Has anybody noticed, but Tampa always has a terrible team, and they're reaction is to constantly come up with ways to make games longer and more boring?)
For whatever it's worth, though, I would hereby take Andrew Miller in a heartbeat and launch NO-RUNS DMC II, close my eyes and think of August 2016, what might have been, as the Yankees chase a (SHUT UP, DUQUE! STOP IT, YOU FOOL! NOOOOOOOOOOO...)