The Brewers have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent righty David Phelps, per Ken Rosenthal and Patrick Mooney of The Athletic (via Twitter). It’ll promise him $1.5MM and comes with a club option for another season, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand adds (Twitter link).
The deal is loaded with other earning potential as well. Phelps will play for a $1.25MM salary in 2020 but can tack on $1.9MM in incentives. The option is priced at $4.5MM, with a $250K buyout. If Phelps is picked up, there’s another $1.9MM in performance milestones available in 2021.
Phelps, 33, returned from Tommy John surgery in 2019 and showed rather well. He split time between the Blue Jays and Cubs, turning in 34 1/3 frames of 3.41 ERA ball with a 36:17 K/BB ratio. That also enabled him to trigger a clause in his contract that boosted the price of his option year to $5MM, leading the Cubs to decline and send Phelps back onto the market.
The Brewers obviously hope that Phelps can continue to make strides now that he has one post-TJ campaign under his belt. Phelps lost nearly two miles per hour on his average fastball between seasons, so it’d be nice to see some velo return. On a related note, he also managed only a 7.8% swinging-strike rate. But Phelps did show above-average fastball and curveball spin rates, which helped him limit the hard contact allowed against both of those offerings.
Phelps has at times functioned as a high-leverage setup man, but he’ll likely be in more of a middle innings role as part of a deep Milwaukee ’pen. Josh Hader should have the closer’s role locked down, and Corey Knebel, returning from Tommy John surgery, should give manager Craig Counsell a similarly dominant late-inning option (health permitting).
Former starters Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta could both factor into the mix as well, and the Brew Crew did add Ray Black and his triple-digit fastball prior to the 2019 non-waiver deadline. Lefties Alex Claudio and Brent Suter, too, should play key roles in 2020. Phelps will bring an experienced arm that has worked as a long man and a starter in addition to his time as a setup man, which should give the Brewers flexibility in terms of how they prefer to align their relief troops.
cmon Klentak.
Ada boy darkside,,get the first one in!
Rather would have had Greg Holland, but either way I have no idea why the Phillies arent signing more guys like this
Another cub gone, another cub gone, another cub bites the dust.
Brewhemion Rhapsody.
Hes gling to Wrigley North.
Cubs would of had to pay $5 million if they kept him, he is not worth that. Phelps is ok bullpen arm, but much cheaper options out there at the fraction of the price.
Why $5M? If I’m reading this right the deal (if he hits all his incentives) would pay him 3.15M with a 250K buyout on the option. Seems like if they keep him 1 season the most he’d get is about 3.4M.
That was the option the Cubs declined on him which was for 5 million
So the Brewers traded Jeremy Jeffress for David Phelps…
Didn’t trade Jeffress and Jeffress was awful last year.
He’s referring to the fact that Jeffress (2019 Brewer) signed with the Cubs and Phelps (2019 Cub) signed with the Brewers.
That makes more sense. I guess it will be a wait and see to see who won that swap
Damn it Edward I wanted to say that
Basically. Yeah. Good post.
Those free agent moves/trades. Just like the White Sox acquiring Colome and Graendal for Navarez.
Talk about Blue Jays west. Three in three signings.
*Midwest!
Another classic Brewers signing. More cast offs or injured re treads.
Another classic Karlander negative Nancy post. More gibberish and nonsense because it’s not a name player. Ho hum
Another personal attack for a reasonable statement based on numerous Brewers acquisitions. Yes, Ho hum describes Brewers acquisitions perfectly.
How are Garcia, Narvaez or Urias cast offs? Many teams were also in on Lindblom as well. I’ll give you Anderson for injured (even though he was solid last year) and Smoak for a cast off even though he will probably hit better in Milwaukee than Thames did.
A personal attack? Yeah ok. All you post is negative stuff about the team you’re supposedly a “fan” and criticize the regime that has brought back to back postseason appearances without an ounce of a clue what you’re talking about.
A personal attack would be more like saying I just rolled off your mom, and on my way out the door she asked me to tell you it’s past your bedtime, and remember to wear your pull-ups tonight so you don’t ruin the sheets and mattress again.
He merely pointed out that you regurgitate the same sad comment with every signing or roster move.
You are correct Karlander, this is a classic signing of a proven veteran reliever who will strengthen an already above average bullpen. Damn you David Stearns for continuing to find creative ways to improve the roster without overspending on players nearing the end of their prime!!!
Another classic Brewers signing. More cast offs or injured re treads.
Another classic Karlander post. Only 50 IQ points necessary and possessed.
One team’s “castoff” or retread is another team’s undervalued pickup. Remember the skepticism about the Jordan Lyles, Drew Pomerantz and Wade Miley signings? The Crew seems to have a pretty decent analytics department, and seems to be able to get the most out of these “retreads.” They don’t have (and never will have) the ability to spend $35 million on a starter, not even after Braun comes off the books in 2021.
p.s. this and other bullpen signings gives the Brewers some wiggle room if they decide to pull off a Hader trade soon — don’t forget Bobby Wahl is available to pitch this year, not just Knebel. I think most fans would still like one more SP and 3B, even although they have plenty of infielders.
I heard another MLB rumor… Mark Attanasio is considering hiring Karlander for the assistant to the traveling secretary position.
I heard another MLB rumor… Mark Attanasio is considering hiring Karlander for the assistant to the traveling secretary position.