Miller: It’s ‘weird’ to be back in The Bronx

Wearing an Indians uniform, dressing in the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium and sitting in the left-center field bullpen wasn’t what Andrew Miller anticipated when he inked a four-year deal worth $36 million with the Yankees prior to the 2015 season.

At the time, the Yankees weren’t thinking about trading veterans to get younger. While he asked for no-trade protection that was denied, Miller couldn’t have believed that 1 ¹/2 years into the deal he would be sent out of The Bronx.

Yet, there was Miller in the Stadium’s interview room late Friday afternoon with facial whiskers, prepared potentially to face the Yankees, who dealt him to the Indians this past Sunday for four prospects.

“It’s kind of weird. It’s not the most exciting thing to pitch to these guys after playing with them for the past year and a half,’’ said Miller, who did not pitch in the Indians’ 13-7 loss to the Yankees Friday. “I am ready to get back to baseball, it’s been one distraction after another for two months.’’

Miller had appeared in two games with the Indians after working 44 games for the Yankees. With the Bombers he posted a 6-1 record, had a 1.39 ERA and whiffed 77 in 45 ¹ /3 innings.

Indians manager Terry Francona likes versatility in his relievers, so Miller could be used in a variety of ways.

As for what the Yankees received from the Indians for Miller, Francona said to get you have to give.

Francona never managed outfielder Clint Frazier and pitcher Justus Sheffield, the headliners in the deal that also included righthanders Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen. However, he saw Frazier in spring training and listened to the Indians minor league staff.

“As this season progressed [the staff ] really thought he made strides,’’ Francona said of Frazier, who is playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and was hitting .083 (1-for-12) going into Friday night’s action. “He has a chance to be a really good power hitter and we knew that.’’ The praise didn’t stop with Frazier. “He has a chance to be pretty special,’’ Francona said of Sheffield, whose first appearance with the Yankees was a start Friday night for Single-A Tampa. “I don’t know him very well, but reading the reports, he is a really special kid.’’