Major League Baseball

New Red Sox pitcher Miley: Gluten-free? What would the Babe say?

Published Dec. 20, 2014 12:31 a.m. ET

foxsports

Wade Miley kind of has a point.

Miley, whom the Boston Red Sox acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks last week, said earlier this week that he butted heads with his former club last season because of a disagreement concerning its stance toward players' diets.

The new Red Sox pitcher clarified things Thursday, suggesting his initial comments were overblown.

"I said something a little sarcastic, and I guess it got taken a little further than it needed to be taken," Miley said Thursday on WEEI's "Hot Stove Show" in reference to the idea Arizona required him to be gluten-free.

"They did not require you to be gluten-free. They would like you to be a little healthier than I would think, than I would expect, but no, they definitely don't require you to be gluten-free. They just really worry about your health a lot."

Miley, 6 feet tall and 220 pounds, struggled a bit in 2014 after back-to-back solid seasons, including a 2012 campaign in which he earned a National League All-Star selection. The left-hander doesn't see his preparation or diet as being an issue, though.

In fact, Miley was able to make light of the supposed beef.

"I'm a big fan of old-school guys," Miley said. "You can't tell me Babe Ruth ever stopped eating gluten."

Well played, Wade.

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