The Brewers announced they’ve acquired reliever John Axford from the Blue Jays for cash considerations. Axford signed a minor league deal with Toronto in June and was not on the Jays’ 40-man roster, which is why he’s eligible to be traded even after last Friday’s deadline.
Axford will be selected to Milwaukee’s big league roster before this evening’s game against the Pirates, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com (Twitter link). His season debut will be his first big league appearance since August 2018.
It’s an incredible comeback for the 39-year-old, who’d barely pitched in any capacity between his last big league stint and his signing with the Blue Jays six weeks ago. Axford missed essentially all of the 2019 season on the minor league injured list, and his hopes of returning to affiliated ball last year were derailed by the pandemic.
Given Axford’s age, it seemed likely his playing career was over after two lost seasons. But he remained in shape — even as he did some work as a television analyst — and made it back to professional ball with Toronto. Axford has made the best of his somewhat limited body of work with Triple-A Buffalo over the past month-plus, tossing 10 2/3 innings of one-run ball. He’s struck out an impressive fourteen batters faced while issuing just three walks. Along the way, he’s shown a fastball in the 96-98 MPH range, per Scott Mitchell of TSN.
That strong work was enough to catch the attention of the Milwaukee front office, who’s now set to give Axford a chance to carry over that success against big league hitters once again. The veteran righty was one of the better closers in baseball during the first few years of the last decade and has been generally solid overall, working to a 3.87 ERA across 525 1/3 big league innings.
Of course, Axford’s biggest success came in Milwaukee. He broke into the majors with the Brewers in 2009 and pitched with the team through 2013. Axford led the National League in saves (46) in 2011, en route to a ninth-place finish in NL Cy Young Award voting that year. He worked to a 3.35 ERA in his first four-plus seasons with the Brew Crew and his 106 career saves in a Milwaukee uniform ranks second in franchise history.
Run it back 2011 style.
Lets get fielder and braun out of retirement and get this going again!!!
Kameron Loe is next!!!!
Last I’ve heard, Braun isn’t officially retired. Guessing he’s taking the year off to try and get healthy before trying to find a contract next season.
I wouldn’t mind him back if we get the DH next season. He can still hit a bit but i wouldn’t want him in the outfield. Hes always clutch in the postseason and late september.
2019 grand slam against the Cards in the 9th was wild!
NO! NO! NO! Is not any better than anybody but Pedro! Pedro is going when Yellich or Peterson is coming back!
Red Sox to play 1B or they can sign Matt Adams or Chris Shaw.
No thanks to any of those three
Trying to get a gig as a FedEx driver. Oh wait. They’d beat living hell out of him for his lies.
I don’t believe FedEx actually physically assaults employees or applicants. Sounds like more of a DHL thing
Didn’t FedEx buy DHL?
Bartolo Colon is out there and would be eligible for the post-season if signed before Aug 31.
This is always true… Colon to LAD!
Who needs Boxberger, Williams, and Hader when you can run it back with these 3 gems…
7th Loe
8th Axford
9th Turnbow
Turnblow at the end!
Jerry Koosman anyone?
Jon Matlack and Ron Darling looked pretty good accepting their inductions to the Mets Hall of Fame this weekend so maybe they’re available. 🙂
Don’t forget LaTroy Hawkins
I feel like this has happened before
To be clear, this is possible because he wasn’t on the 40 man roster and he was on an minor league deal?
Curious as to what kind of trades can be made following the trade deadline.
Answered in update…
I thought the trading deadline was over?
he wasnt on the 40 man roster so i guess you can apparently
It clearly says in the first paragraph why he was able to be traded.
Question was asked before article was edited with more info.
Watch your back, Hader!
Is Mike Cameron still available too?
Hope not- he dropped a ball he should have caught in philly 2008 playoffs. Lol.
No, but you can have Cameron Maybin for a used bullpen golf cart. Even one with a dead battery.
Probably
Not eligible for postseason play tho
Might have to be in organization to be available.
I think you’re eligible for postseason play as long as you are on the 40 man roster before September 1, or at least that’s the way it used to be when there was a waivers trading period in August.
Yes he is. If he sticks with the roster until August 31st, he’s eligible.
He is eligible
I wonder if Covid just hit a few more relievers?
Your suspicion was correct!
Glad they don’t have to rely on Gagne anymore.
August trades are back baby!!!!!
This might hurt when he’s shutting us down in game 7 of the World Series.
Have Sportsnet give him a raise and bring him back in the studio right before the game
Still not eligible for postseason play, right?
Any person on the 40 man roster or the 60 day DL, who is not on some type of restricted list. By 11.59pm ET on August 31st IS ELIGIBLE FOR POST SEASON..
Unless Covid has changed something, that’s the way it was.
This is correct.
This is the rule that has been in place for years: “Any player who is on the 40-man roster or 60-day injured list as of 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 is eligible for the postseason.” Not sure if this still applies in 2021 or not but if it does then Axford would be playoff eligible if he sticks with the team.
Apparently, Axford and others who were not on a 40-man roster or IL-60 list before the trade deadline are eligible for playoffs if they join by 8/31. The rule change blocking post-trade deadline waiver wire deals is to prevent teams from using the waiver process from unloading high priced players still on their active rosters for prospects where both teams could get their players through waivers. That’s one of the main reasons there were an insane amount of trades at the deadline. The only well-known “names” that come to mind immediately who could possibly join a roster this month for a run at the playoffs would be Cole Hamels, Bartolo Colon, Yasiel Puig and Yoenis Cespedes, but Hamels is the only one of those four I could realistically see doing it. There are also a few currently at the Olympics, but again that’s highly unlikely.
Workman,Adams and others could get DFA and get released but won’t be like Story or so on who didn’t get Trade.
Good luck to John. Given the jays pen at times earlier this year, definitely think he could have helped get outs in the bigs this year.
The Ax Mustache Spray commercial is relevant anew:
youtube.com/watch?v=GsP7VIDYMJo
Nice to see John Axford back in the show. I always thought he was a classy guy with a classy mustache. I hope he still has it. If not he should bring it back.
Porn stache winner
he needs to retire
MLBTR should make a list of players who might be traded in August. Trade speculation, its what you do!
A) there will be no trades in August. Waiver deadline isnt a thing anymore and July 31 was the only deadline
B) the only “trades” that are going to be made are ones with players who are currently off the 40 man roster…like John Axford. This will most likely be the only one. He will most likely be DFA’d in a weeks time anyways. Im sure the Brewers have another covid positive test or two so they decided to get one more arm. they play the pirates to start the week anyways so John Axford will look like Nolan Ryan to those dudes
Axford is hitting 96-98 mph at age 39. Something tells me he still has something left in the tank. This is a classic Brewers move; I really hope it works out for them.
There has to been some other player in Axford’s position.
Neftali Feliz, Greg Bird, Drew Hutchison, Andrew Albers, Kevin Quackenbush
Some vets among AAA leaderboards that seem to be on minor league deals and have yet to play MLB this year. Seems like Axford’s scenario.
Groundhog Day
Did not expect to see this headline when I opened the app. I like the move though… just need Derek turnbow back now and they are a near lock for a WS appearance
The Brewers acquire another old Blue Jay that everyone thought was retired. Tomorrow, Jose Bautista and his 85 mph fastball will be in the Milwaukee bullpen.
If Bautista can still hit bombs, I would take a flyer on him to back up in the OF / come out of the bullpen in mop up situations
Why do we keep trying to improve what is not broke. We just traded for Norris ,another lefthander? I do not care if we paid for one George web cheeseburger for him! So what!
It’s almost criminal how the F.O. keeps making these moves every time you step out of your CEO-GM office, despite you telling them in no uncertain terms to not make roster moves without your consent!
Haha nice! Guessing this is because of the Covid situation. Maybe another player came down with it? Also I believe 3 relief pitchers are down… so gotta beef up the bullpen some how right? Odds are he won’t be on the 40
Man come playoffs unless he really shines.
Correction: Ax is a righthander! ME BAD!
Reminds me when Ax temporarily retired and they brought in Crush to team with Smash in Demolition.
That was a disaster
A walking disaster, to be more precise.
It’s amazing this guy is still getting a paycheck from a major league team.
“who wants mustache rides?”
His downfall was his bobble head night. He fell apart on that night and after.
Is the rumor true that the cash considerations in this deal amounted to one dollar? The guy was traded for $1?
I saw the same thing lol
The question is, was that a Canadian or American dollar?
Oof, 1/3rd of an inning, 2ER… Not a good debut
For a $1? Brewers are cheap and you get what you pay for.
Maybe a little hesitant after paying over $100 million to Suppan, Lohse and Garza in the last decade.
And honestly, it was a bit of a desperation move..and a band aid..with the run of covid cases. I sincerely doubt there was any intention, or likely scenario, that would have kept him around once this settles down.
overpay
Milwaukee Milkmen had 3 guys hit 94mph on the gun the other night. Time to give them a call. Get maybe two of them for 50 cents.
…aaand Tommy John after one night