DECEMBER 21, 7:31pm: In a new tweet, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com breaks down the full details of Gallardo’s deal. The $2MM in incentives are based on innings pitched, or relief appearances. The righty will earn $100K for reaching milestones of 50, 65 and 80 IP, $150 for 95 and 110 IP thresholds, $200K for reaching 125 and 140 IP, and $250K for 155, 170 and 185 IP marks. Gallardo can also earn $50K for reaching 30 and 40 relief appearances, and $75K when he makes 50 and 60 relief appearances.
11:39am: MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy tweets out an important note regarding the $2MM salary: it’ll only apply should Gallardo crack the Opening Day roster, meaning it isn’t fully guaranteed. McCalvy further notes the incentives can be achieved either by innings or appearances, allowing him some earning possibilities regardless of role.
11:55am: Gallardo’s signing has been announced. He’ll be promised $2MM and can double that via incentives, per SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (via Twitter).
DECEMBER 16, 5:23pm: Gallardo received a major league deal, Jon Heyman of FanRag tweets. It’s pending a physical, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel adds (via Twitter).
4:53pm: The Brewers and free agent right-hander Yovani Gallardo have agreed to a contract, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (Twitter link). Details of the pact aren’t yet available. Gallardo is an Octagon client.
This move represents a homecoming of sorts for the soon-to-be 32-year-old Gallardo, whose greatest major league success has come in a Brewers uniform. A second-round pick of the Brewers in 2004, Gallardo debuted in the majors in 2007 and ultimately served as a front-of-the-rotation presence with the club through 2014. During that eight-season span, Gallardo racked up 1,289 1/3 innings – tossing fewer than 180 frames in just two individual campaigns – and recorded a 3.69 ERA with 8.56 K/9, 3.31 BB/9 and a 46.3 percent groundball rate. He also earned an All-Star nod, the only one of his career, in 2010.
While Gallardo was terrific during his first go-around in Milwaukee, he has significantly declined since it traded him to Texas in a January 2015 deal involving now-Brewers closer Corey Knebel and others. Gallardo’s results were appealing with the Rangers that season (184 1/3 innings of 3.42 ERA ball), but he fell off in earnest after inking a three-year, $35MM contract to join the Orioles heading into 2016. Between Baltimore and Seattle, where he spent last season after going to the Mariners in a January trade for outfielder Seth Smith, Gallardo posted a 5.57 ERA with 6.48 K/9 against 4.38 BB/9 across 248 2/3 innings and 51 appearances (45 starts).
Despite his woes last season, Gallardo did offer some encouraging signs in the form of a velocity increase, his highest swinging-strike rate (8.3 percent) since 2011 and a career-best infield fly percentage (16.3). The Brewers will obviously hope those gains carry over, though it’s unclear if Gallardo will slot into their rotation immediately or occupy a swingman role in his return to Milwaukee. Gallardo’s struggles as a starter last year forced him into the bullpen for the first time in his career, and the Mariners subsequently bought him out in November for $2MM in lieu of keeping him aboard with a $13MM club option.
The Brewers were among the majors’ surprising success stories during an 86-win 2017, but they’ll head into 2018 without top starter Jimmy Nelson, who will miss time after undergoing shoulder surgery in September. Now, they’re down to Chase Anderson and Zach Davies atop a rotation mix that could clearly use more help beyond Gallardo (depth chart). It’s reasonable to expect general manager David Stearns to make further pitching additions, then, whether via free agency, the trade market or both.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Welcome back
Yikes!
Welcome back to Milwaukee, Yo!
Really? Stearns this is a terrible signing. I don’t even care what the money is.
There is no such thing as a bad one year deal. At least Streans isn’t shelling out the entire farm system like Melvin did for Greinke in 2011
Gallardo on the Brewers. Kemp on the Dodgers. Pablo on the Giants. Headley on the Padres. Its 2013 all over again
and none of them are any good. Gallardo will cost the least amount of money by a long shot.
He didn’t say they were any good. No one did.
did I make any statement saying he did say that? nope. take it easy. that was just my opinion.
Headley was quietly a solid hitter for NYY outside of May last year so that statement is objectively incorrect
If Rafael Palmeiro makes his return to Baltimore the circle will be complete.
This will work. I like that that he’s back.
This will work? He’s pitched to a 5.5 ERA last two years. I know we need innings but it doesn’t matter if we don’t fill them with quality arms.
The deal isn’t even guaranteed so clearly they will need to see something in him in spring training for him to crack the opening day roster. Very low risk with decent upside. If he is bad in ST, he will just be released.
And it begins. With the first pick in the 2018 draft the Milwaukee Brewers select….
Wouldn’t go that far…I don’t like this signing at all though.
really depends on what it is. could be minor league with spring training invite or just a one year deal for like $5mil. also Brewers will not be close to the top pick. at worst I think they would be around the middle record wise.
2018 is set.. guessing you meant 2019
They already have the 21st pick. Gallardo coming to the team doesn’t affect that
Lol the amount of hate over one player is surprising. It’s not like the brewers don’t have other rotation options if he doesn’t work out to be a durable mid rotation starter. As long as the money isn’t over the top and the number of years is low, it’s a pretty low risk signing
I agree, Gallardo with his 5.5 ERA is basically the Brewers ace, great signing!
Not every move is going to be the best move Stearns has ever made. Pretty sure other people reacted like you when He crew picked up Broxton and Villar and they both have built some level of value in Milwaukee. Way too premature to criticize the move without any information on how much they paid and how he fits in their plans.
When the player is toast though, you shouldn’t be giving him a MLB deal. Gallardo might have a case for worst pitcher in the MLB
His era as a starter last year was horrendous, but his era when he switched to the pen was under 1.7- the Mexicutioner is back.
He had his best success here and then struggled moving to the AL. Low risk signing, big deal.
So apparently you both know the money? There’s no benefit to sign a guy who couldn’t pitch below a 5 ERA two straight years, lost all the life on his fastball and is 32 on the decline. That’s great he’s ‘low risk’ but if it’s for a major league deal where we have to keep him on the 25 man with all the money we have to spend why nickel and dime to get garbage
I know it’s likely only a few million, nobody is making big $ besides Braun, so not sure why you’re getting so worked up.
because they don’t have a ton of money to throw at garbage. Brewers aren’t the Yankees they need every nickel
Exactly. Because “we have money” let’s spend it on guys who haven’t been relevant the last two years? I’m only getting worked up because Stearns did a great job improving the system and getting us through a rebuild. Now that we have money and are in a spot to really contend with a good offseason he does nothing?
Assuming Gallardo isn’t getting more than about $4-5M, the Brewers still have plenty of payroll space for a starting pitcher.
It worked with Jeffries and K-Rod. So why not with Yo. I like this move. It‘s worth a try and won‘t cost that much.
Jeffries wasn’t exactly good last season..
Jeffries was horrible
You’re a Brewers fan? His name is Jeffress.
It won’t cost any draft picks either.
Disappointing. The guy hasn’t been effective for years.
Why in the world would you sign him. Surely means you aren’t serious about competing.
MILB deal is probably what every Brewers fan is probably fervently hoping for right now.
Won’t cost a draft pick. Won’t kill the budget for the next 7-8 years like Darvish and Arrieta
Won’t help the team win.
Any chance they make this guy a reliever … in case you haven’t noticed, relievers are getting crazy money now… even the bad ones
His velocity on his fastball has dropped considerably the past 5 years. If he makes the rotation and that’s a big IF #5 at best but I see him as a long reliever at best
his fastball got back up to an average of over 94 last year. mostly from being in bullpen work. could be the plans here.
And yet, Hughes was non-tendered.
Big disappointment and drop off but he did have his best years with the brewers. Maybe they can fix him before he gets older. Pirates would have been a decent landing spot. They always have a knack for fixing various veterans.
Terrible signing!
Low risk-modest reward signing.
He’ll slot into the back of the rotation, his upside is a ~4.50 ERA innings eater. Maybe he and Derek Anderson build a bond.
His downside is that he blows up and he’s replaced with a minimum salary option.
Yet we decided to give him a major league deal and eat up a 25 man spot.
40 man roster spot.
That’s what I meant my bad. I would assume he doesn’t have any minor league options though
Not when you sign a major league deal..lol
It’s only a bad signing if they do nothing else. You need 8 SP at the least thru the year. It’s good to have Yo back. Don’t over complicate this.
As a Mariners fan. See you
wow, really surprised by all the hate already; the dude was damn good in MIL for a long time. I realize that was a few years ago and his numbers have declined-which is to be expected when an NL pitcher moves to the AL-but damn, give the dude a chance before you jump all over it. Its not gonna be a deal that financially cripples your franchise, and the expectation is not that he will be your ace again. relax and try to enjoy the game.
He has stunk for a lot more then a few years. Enjoy your sentimental signing. Teams that want to win do not make this lousy move
Did you watch him, he was horrible for the Mariners. He is not gonna bounce back, guaranteed.
The dude last year would laugh in post game interviews after he pitched terrible like it wasn’t big deal. The Brewers can have him.
No worries crew fans, he won’t make the big squad out of Maryvale.
Lol central will feast on his pitching
Even Detroit is applauding this move.
Bank on it. Any league or division will feast on his pitching
That’s fantastic news!! Woohoo!!!
Stop the presses, everyone! The Brew Crew have found their new ace! What an immaculate signing by the great David Stearns.
How does a guy spend over a month sitting on his rump and then out of nowhere snatch Gallardo out from underneath everyone’s nose?? What’s not to love about this guy? He improved his swinging strike rate and infield fly ball rate, yet still managed to get smacked around like a red-headed stepchild all year. It’s been said before: “Chicks dig the long ball!”
I don’t think this is a bad deal. 1 year deal and he probably ends up in the bullpen. There will be games this team will need a innings eater and he can be that. Also maybe he can give advice to the younger pitchers. and if he does stink out loud you DFA because his contract is likely eatable.
For those who are freaking out at this move, it’s hard to judge anything without knowing how much the deal is worth and what their plans are for him. We aren’t likely division champs in 2018 anyways with the cubs still bulking up and the Cards looking to make big moves. We don’t need to blow out the payroll in Darvish to compete for a WC. This won’t be the end of the world…
This sounds like a Doug Melvin move. Been waiting all week for this blockbuster checking out the internet watching MLB NETWORK. Suppose next move Garza for 3 years 60M.
a trade for weeks
Great signing Yo has a high ceiling as a low end #5 sp with a floor of the worst starter in all of baseball. I’d go so far as to say that he would be worth a spot on the brewers 40 man roster if all the brewers pitchers in the big leagues and AAA died in a plane crash
Probably won’t be a good signing, but rest assured he’ll shut out the Pirates and hit a home run, too. Used to just kill Pittsburgh as a Brewer.
I was at a game where the Brewers beat the Pirates 1-0 on a Gallardo home run.
Thankfully I am not a Brewers fan! They seem to like this move! Amazing
I don’t.
5.72 ERA – This guy needs to go to the minor leagues and learn to reestablish himself.
Everyone just needs to calm down. He’s a veteran to be the long man out of the bullpen/seventh starter. I doubt the team expects anything beyond that. And the deal is probably cheap enough that he can be released if he doesn’t do the job.
It’s a better signing than paying $14M over two years for Swarzak.
It’s not a very inspiring signing, but I think it’s for depth. The Brewers know what they’re getting. Does Milwaukee need a third baseman? If they take Longoria’s contract, they might be able to get Odorizzi or Archer from the Rays without giving up too much in prospects. The Rays are trimming payroll, and I think taking Longoria’s contract off the Rays’ hands might be the only realistic way a team can acquire Archer or Odorizzi without breaking the farm.
They do not need a third baseman. Look up Travis Shaw.
I couldn’t imagine that the Brewers would be considering him as a possibility for their starting rotation. His era is well over 5 for the past two years as a starter. However, if you look at his splits from last year as a relief pitcher, he threw for a 1.69 era and 1.00 whip across 16 innings. So perhaps Stearn’s is thinking about trying him out in the bullpen as a full time gig, but knowing that he could eat up multiple innings if needed.
$2 million on a flyer? No one can be that upset over this. Dump him in June or July if he doesn’t pan out. Could be a steal.
With the signing of Chacin as well odds are Yo will be a bullpen arm or a spot starter if someone gets hurt. Worth the risk IMO.
Not a bad roll of the dice on a pitcher you have had before. He could be a good bullpen guy so why not try.
As a Stl Cardinals fan I am going to have to start hatin on the Brew Crew because we won’t be able to compete against the Cubs anymore, but we might have a shot at the Brewers. “ just a bit outside “on this signing!
You’re going to start hating the Brewers because you won’t be able to compete against the Cubs…
Poor logic from dear old, Dad.
It’s a non-guaranteed contract. No risk. But yeah sure this signing will make them worse somehow.
MLB is out of sync with reality. One of the WORST SPs in MLB the last two seasons gets a multi-million dollar guarantee for a few months playing a game because he MIGHT be useful.
i didn’t realize it was MLB that signed him. The Milwaukee Brewers organization != the MLB
Ya just don’t get it Garry!
Apparently you can’t read –
‘an important note regarding the $2MM salary: it’ll only apply should Gallardo crack the Opening Day roster, meaning it isn’t fully guaranteed.’
Guys leave him alone. Reading the first paragraph in any article is tough.