According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Milwaukee Brewers have signed Josh Tomlin to a minor league contract with an invite to Major League Spring Training. Tomlin will receive $1.25MM in the major leagues and can earn up to an additional $2.25MM in incentives, maxing out at 150 IP.
Tomlin, 34, was part of the Cleveland Indians organization for more than decade but saw his effectiveness take a sharp downturn last season. A starter for much of his career, he was moved to the bullpen to make room for Adam Plutko in the rotation after struggling through the early part of 2018. He didn’t fare much better in relief, and finished the year with a 6.14 ERA in 32 appearances. Those appearances were marked by 5.9 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 rates, each the worst totals he had posted in several years. More notably perhaps were the 25 home runs he allowed in just 70.1 IP, a rate that will have to come down considerably for him to be effective in the major leagues.
Zack Meisel of The Athletic chimes in on Twitter to note that Tomlin hoped he could stay in Cleveland and has actually even been working out at Progressive Field, but after a dreadful 2018 will have to take what he can get. Still, there have been times in Tomlin’s career that he has looked dominant. His first two postseason starts in Cleveland’s 2016 World Series run were both excellent, winning against the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. The Brewers are obviously hoping for Tomlin to find some of that magic again and push for a role at the back of the rotation or in long relief, given the innings needed for his incentives.
Surprised who couldn’t get a major league deal
Why? He was awful last year.
1st- did you see his stats from last year?
2nd- have you followed any of the baseball offseason the best 2 years?
My sentiments exactly forstyle ,I see a lot of this on this site
Nostyle and Imgirl. If someone disagrees with your thinking you knock them and put them down. You see a lot of what people expressing opinions different than yours.
I posted before I was finished. I think you get the point. you have both been Donged
How did they put them down? Questions which may have implied the previous respondent wasn’t informed? That hardly seems like a “put down,” but maybe my definition of “overreaction online phenomena” is different than yours
Lol you have still been Donged
No one cares…
Tomlin doesn’t walk anyone that’s where the positives end. He’s going to be a homer machine in miller park if he pitched like that in Cleveland.
hmm. interesting sign. why the hell not.
my thoughts too. low risk, probably no reward. but maybe
I dont have high hopes but that’s what a lot said about the miley signing. you never know
I thought Tomlin might end up on the Mets based on the Callaway connection and their lack of interest in a substantial SP signing like Gio.
Yeah, I thought that was a possibility too. I’m mildly surprised that the only pitcher that Mickey would’ve seen in his tenure with the Indians that he brought on board this off-season is Kyle Dowdy.
That is not accurate.
Mickey was with the Mets BEFORE Dowdy entered the Tribe organization. Dowdy was part of the Martin trade in July 2018 coming over to the Tribe from the Tigers..
The Phillies get Realmuto & the brewers get Josh Tomlin. Not the best day for the nl team with the most wins in 2018.
well the brewers got Grandal which is a severe upgrade than what they had. they are also bringing back their entire roster basically, while adding some arms in the pen. still a chance they sign a big pitcher or make a trade so relax buddy.
Know the Brewers haven’t done as much as others but there is something to say to keeping a good group of players together so they grow together
Oxford karma…..at least the Brewers Front Office is trying to better themselves. You could be a Cardinal fan and be looking at another 3rd or 4th place finish in the Central because their Front Office is blind to what other teams are doing in the National League to also better themselves.
Did the cardinals not acquire goldhschmidt and Andrew miller? That appears to be making a significant improvement.
ehhh
Ehhhhh? As if adding arguably the top 1st baseman in the game and a typically dominant reliever isnt a significant upgrade? They might be your rivals but they’re clearly better with Goldy and Miller.
@jblgz12 they’re a better team with Goldy and Miller, yes, but not better than the Brewers.
That is some terrible rationale. The Brewers add Tomlinson and they are trying to better themselves. The Cardinals add Goldy and Miller but they are blind? I’d hate to live in your world.
Good thing they specified that it was the Milwaukee Brewers. I almost got confused.
Right?!
Hey give Gavin a break it’s like his first article!
Thank you Milwaukee, it means he won’t show up in Cleveland, please sign Michael Martinez now…
I think today’s signing of Flaherty ended any chance of that happening. At least I hope it did.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I wanted him to retire as an Indians-only player.
He’s no guarantee to make the big leagues with the brewers. If anything he’s a long shot.
If he can get back some of that magic form from just a couple years ago this deal is a steal…he did pitch decent against my Cubbies in the World Series
I’ll always remember game 3 at Wrigley and the story with his dad. Not to get sentimental but as a Cub fan I am glad that they beat the Indians, cause if any team deserves to be in a World Series it’s the Indians.
K.
Actually, not so much. He had a 7.71 ERA in the 2016 World Series.
Take a look at the 2 starts. Gm 3 he started at Wrigley Tomlin allowed no runs over 4.2 IP. Final was 1-0 Tribe.
Gm 6 Tomlin got shelled but the Tribe OF played horrible D. No errors were charged but Naquin & Chisenhall let the ball drop between them. So the runs were listed as earned but everyone watching knew the damage would have been much less if the defenders catch the ball like normal.
People Don’t usually go with what really happened and hold onto a number a stat or one moment. Like Rajai and his homer making him a hero; he needed that to redeem himself because his misplayed defense earlier in the game cost them the game.
New surroundings are often the best remedy.
And that’s the truth, … ppphhbbbhhlhhh!
Give him a chance he would have been better if the Indians didn’t move him around so much.
Cubs closing in on Bryce Harper
Haha I get it the name and the fake news…very funny
I’m glad the title clarified that it was the Milwaukee Brewers and not the Walla-Walla Brewers.
don’t really see him making the roster unless he’s lights out in spring, which is highly unlikely
A low-risk deal, and maybe with a high upside. Nobody would have predicted the season that Wade Miley had in 2018 (when he was healthy) based on his stats from 2017, so Stearns and company must see something here. The Brewers have some starter depth even without a big-name ace, and at this point they’re better off spending the money to re-sign Moose.
I agree. could be a miley situation. probably not though. idk about moose. he seems like he wants a multi year deal and with Hiura coming idk if they want him long term. if they wanted someone for a multi year deal i’m sure DJ Lemehue (butchered that one) or lowrie would be on the team.
If the Little Hillbilly is healthy and keeps the ball in the yard , Brewers have a legit number 5 starter or long middle guy.
Correction: his first THREE starts of the 2016 postseason were great. Who can forget his great start in Wrigley in game 3?
He’s pitched a few pitches in 2018 that still haven’t landed.
Good luck to him
Good first article, shame that it wasn’t as exciting as a Keuchel signing. Tomlin could’ve gone to the Pirates and it would have been a better signing.