It has been a fun weekend if you are a baseball fan. After a lockout spanning greater than three months ended, the ability to make major league transactions also re-opened. It did not take long for the rumor mill to start up, in which of most significance the Brewers have been linked to Nelson Cruz.
While talks surround Cruz are still on going, the other area of need for the Brewers to focus on was bullpen depth. Prior to the lockout, they signed Trevor Gott and Hobie Harris along with trading for J.C. Mejia. Of these three, none are established/proven players.
In need of a veteran arm, the Brewers struck a deal with relief pitcher Brad Boxberger.
Reliever Brad Boxberger and Milwaukee are in agreement on a one-year, $2.5 million deal for the right-hander to return to the Brewers, sources tell ESPN. Boxberger, 33, was excellent in 71 games last season and can earn another $550,000 in performance bonuses.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 13, 2022
There was a lot of speculation and hope among fans that Boxberger would sign back with the Brewers post-lockout. He pitched extremely well for the Crew last season and as a result will re-join the team for a second season! His contract even includes a club option for the 2023 season.
RHP Brad Boxberger has re-signed with the #Brewers to a 1-year contract with a club option for 2023.
Boxberger led the team with 71 appearances last season. 📦🍔 pic.twitter.com/iNW4EOFLvI
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) March 13, 2022
Boxberger established himself as a high leverage reliever last season. He often times served as the bridge man prior to Devin Williams and Josh Hader taking the bump. He will re-join a mostly unchanged Brewers bullpen in which Jake Cousins, Brent Suter, and Aaron Ashby are all set to return as well.
Adding Boxberger back into the mix makes the bullpen better. The Brewers and this bullpen have the making of being very good again.
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