Veteran Reliever David Phelps Reportedly Signing With Brewers
By Alex Coffman
The NL Central is moving and grooving, and everyone is more or less stealing from one another.
The Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly close to signing former Chicago Cubs reliever David Phelps. This naturally comes right on the heels of former Brewers All-Star Jeremy Jeffress making his way to the North Side.
Free-agent reliever David Phelps in agreement with #Brewers, pending physical, sources tell me and @PJ_Mooney.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 29, 2020
Phelps pitched 17 innings for the Cubs last season after coming over from Toronto, throwing 18 strikeouts. He posted a 3.41 ERA overall for 2019.
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports that the deal is for one year and $1.5 million, with a club option in 2021 at $4.5 million in addition to incentives. This offer comes after the Cubs declined Phelps' option $5 million club option.
David Phelps will earn $1.25 million in 2020 with up to $1.9 million in performance bonuses based on appearances, per source. Phelps’ 2021 club option is worth $4.5 million ($250K buyout), also with $1.9 million in performance bonuses based on appearances. #Brewers
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 29, 2020
The Brewers have signed a number of bullpen options this offseason in hopes of boosting their ranks, with the likes of and Shelby Miller also joining up with a strong unit led by Josh Hader.
The Brewers went 89-73 last season to make it to the NL Wild Card, where they were beat by eventual World Series champion Washington Nationals.