Brewers reach agreement on $20.5M Ashby Deal through 2027. Add McGee

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Left-hander Aaron Ashby and Milwaukee agreed Saturday to a $20.5 million, five-year contract through 2027, and the NL Central leaders made a short-term addition in former San Francisco reliever Jake McGee.

Ashby has club options for 2028 as well as 2029.. The 23-year-old is 2-7 with a 4. 56 ERA and one save in 12 starts and six relief appearances, striking out 83 in 69 innings.

He wouldn’t have been eligible to arbitration until after the 2024season, but the options might cover two seasons during which he could be eligible for agency free of charge.

Brewers President of Baseball Operations David Stearns stated that negotiations had been ongoing for several months with Ashby.

” We feel great about investing in this type of player and person,” Stearns stated. He feels great about the Brewers. Combining these two elements allows you to reach agreements that can be beneficial to both sides .”

Ashby was a big league rookie in June 2021,. He went 3-2 and had a 4. 55 ERA in four starts and nine relief appearances. He is the nephew of Andy Ashby, who pitched for five major league teams from 1991-2004.

” He’s an extremely talented kid,” Craig Counsell, Brewers manager said. He’s also always been eager to learn. This kind of dedication to learning is something I look for in players. These two qualities, I think, are what make this player a person you believe in and who feels like he has a chance at becoming something unique .”

McGee, who turns 36 on Aug. 6, was 1-2 with a 7. 17 ERA and three saves in 24 games for the Giants this year. That followed a 2021 season in which the left-hander had 31 saves and a 2. 72 ERA.

He has a career record of 32-27 with a 3. 64 ERA and 79 saves.

Counsell stated that

“Jake was clearly a highly experienced reliever.” He had a difficult first half working with San Francisco. He had a fantastic year in 2017. It’s normal for relievers to be misleading. This .”

sample is very small.

McGee was cut by the Giants on July 14 with the team responsible for $1,653,846 owed the left-hander as part of a $5 million, two-year contract – $1,153,846 of this year’s $2.5 million salary plus a $500,000 buyout of a $4.5 million team option for 2023.

Milwaukee is responsible for $288,462 – a prorated share of the $700,000 minimum – and the Brewers’ pay will be offset against what the Giants owe.

McGee might help the bullpen, which has been taxed due to injuries to Milwaukee’s starting pitchers. Both 2020 All Star Freddy Peralta (Brewers) and Adrian Houser (Brewers), are on the injured lists. Brandon Woodruff was another 2020 All-Star who spent this year on the injured roster.

The Brewers made another move as well Saturday, placing utilityman Jace Peterson on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday. Peterson has been batting despite a left elbow injury. 252 with eight homers and 30 RBIs this season while playing all over the field.

Counsell stated that Peterson would be absent for at least one month.

” “It’s a huge loss,” Counsell stated. Counsell stated that he believes we will have to replace him. However, he is so good at so many things and does them all very well. It can leave .”

some gaps.

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