TODAY: The Brewers have also re-signed Boxberger a new minors deal, manager Craig Counsell told reporters (including Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).
MARCH 27: The Brewers announced they’ve re-signed Zimmermann to another minor-league contract.
MARCH 26: The Brewers have released veteran right-handers Brad Boxberger and Jordan Zimmermann, president of baseball operations David Stearns announced to reporters Friday (Twitter link via Adam McCalvy of MLB.com).
Though both are now free agents, Stearns noted that he hopes to be able to re-sign both to new minor league deals. Both players were Article XX(B) free agents (i.e. six-plus years of MLB service and in camp on a non-roster deal after finishing the prior season on a big league roster), and as such could only be retained in the minor leagues beyond Saturday if they were paid a $100K retention bonus. That arrangement, by default, allows a player to opt out of the deal on June 1 if he’s not added to the MLB roster by then.
The Brewers could work on a new deal with either player that comes with an earlier opt-out opportunity while avoiding the $100K retention bonus as a trade-off. In the meantime, they’ll both be able to seek big league opportunities — or more promising minor league deals — elsewhere.
Neither veteran pitched particularly well with the Indians during Cactus League play. Boxberger whiffed 11 hitters in eight innings but also served up eight runs on 10 hits — including three home runs. He was sharp in 18 innings with the Marlins in 2020, however, logging an even 3.00 ERA with an 18-to-8 K/BB ratio.
Zimmermann, meanwhile, yielded four runs in six frames while punching out three hitters. He recently wrapped up a five-year deal with the Tigers that was marred by injuries and a precipitous downturn in performance. Zimmermann, a Wisconsin native, may have some extra incentive to work out a new deal with his hometown Brewers.
The human emoji!
Zimmermann should go to the Pirates
He’d be our ace!
Red Sox Opening Day Starter!!!!
Tigers should resign him, as a bullpen catcher or batboy
“The Brewers have released”… “Neither veteran pitched particularly well with the Indians during Cactus League play”
Which team is it… Brewers or Indians? OUPS!!
Those pesky non-coastal teams are hard to differentiate.
If you’re not the Yankees or Dodgers, then you must be the Indians. Got it.
Not like he was writing more than one story at a time
And it’s not like 3 different Brewers, Reds and Indians story all posted nearly simultaneously. Oh wait
Haha, Steve clearly had his Indians’ roster moves post in mind while writing this one.
The Brewers do it right: They release Jordan Zimmermann when he doesn’t do well.
My guess is the Crew knows they can bring him in on a minor league deal to eat innings later in the month. He wasn’t horrible and he’s from WI. But I could be wrong!
Mets PLEASE pick up Boxberger
And use Betances’ spot to do it
Boxbergers FB started to heat up at the end of camp. A team needing an addition ‘pen piece could do worse than him.
Now there’s a ringing endorsement.
Yup, some team will catch up on Box.
Jordan now… he might need to stick in the minors or chill at home.
Last time Zimmermann was even fringe relevant, Obama was still president.
Red Sox Opening Day Starter!!!!
Boxberger could fit as a Pirate or on an NPB team.
Zimmermans career has got to pretty much be over by now. He’s been trash for 5 years
Don’t forget the one month me pitched like an all star for the Tigers. April 2016…..pitcher of the month.
The other 23 months….not so special.
May be time to take his $120 mil and move along.
Yeah, he was fine until the second time he faced any teams.