The Brewers have avoided arbitration with right-hander reliever Corey Knebel, whom they’ve signed to a one-year contract, the team announced. Knebel had been projected to earn $5.125MM in 2020, his penultimate year of arbitration eligibility.
The 2019 campaign was a lost season for Knebel, who underwent Tommy John surgery in late March. At last check, though, Knebel was recovering well from the procedure.
Going forward, the return of a healthy Knebel should be a boon for the Brewers. The hard-throwing Knebel, now 28 years old, truly came into his own from 2017-18. During that two-year span, he posted a sterling 2.54 ERA/2.74 FIP with 14.66 K/9 and 4.25 BB/9 across 131 1/3 innings. Knebel also added 55 saves along the way. The fact that the Brewers made the postseason without him in 2019 makes their run all the more impressive, but he should be able to factor in next year as they go for a third straight playoff berth.
Hyped to have him back. I think its a main reason Hader struggled. He was asked to pitch way too many high leverage innings. Plus, hes a true closer. Hader is more of a Andrew Miller type. Hader and Knebel is a terrific 8/9 combo. Getting Bobby Wahl back could help too. Interested to see what he can bring to the pen.
Honest question, do you expect him to be as good as he was previous to the injury? Didn’t he struggle a bit prior to the injury? Of course that could’ve and likely did contribute to the struggles, but I always have concern with pitchers after TJ even with modern medicine.
He was sent to the minors earlier in 2018, came back, and was lights out. He pitched terrific in the playoffs as well. Dont think he gave up much. But yes, he did struggle before being sent down.
Im hoping hes the same pitcher, you never know after an elbow injury though.
Think the Brewers will not be counting on him but gladly will accept anything. I’m sure they realize he will mostly use the year to getting back on track along with strengthening the arm.
Yeah the elbow always scares me too. As a Cubs fan, I hope he comes back as he was because he was an electric pitcher and it’s sad when pitchers days get cut short. If he comes back as he was, I’d argue MKE has the best potential 8/9 in the game.
Suter made it all the way back in less than a year. He doesn’t throw nearly as hard, but maybe whatever magic dust he was using, he had some left and gave it to CK. That said, *if* he is on or a little ahead of schedule, he could be back early in the regular season.
But yeah, who knows how good he’ll be coming out of the gate.
wonder if they’d consider trading him.
Probably wouldn’t get an offer they like since he’s coming off surgery. A Hader trade could bring back a ton, and they need a lot at the moment, but I don’t see Knebel getting them enough in return to make it worthwhile.
Great to get those Tommy John guys back at low dollars. Always a good business move. Maybe they even pitch a little.