JAN. 23: It is indeed a minor league agreement for Chamberlain, and the contract is now complete, tweets Heyman. The 31-year-old right-hander has a $1.375MM base upon making the big league club and can earn additional incentives beyond that point, Heyman further reports.
JAN. 20: The Brewers have agreed to a deal with veteran righty Joba Chamberlain, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). Though it’s not mentioned in the report, it seems likely that the contract is of the minor-league variety.
Chamberlain, 31, put up a 2.25 ERA in twenty frames for the Indians last year. Though he allowed only a dozen hits, however, he surely benefited from a .216 BABIP and posted a mediocre 18:11 K/BB ratio. After permitting three free passes in an outing in early July, he was designated and later released by Cleveland (after he refused an outright assignment).
While there were obviously some limitations in Chamberlain’s game, it was surprising that he did not end up joining another organization in 2016. He had managed to post a sturdy 11.6% swinging-strike rate, was not allowing much hard contact, and was averaging better than 93 mph with his fastball when he was cut loose.
Milwaukee now becomes the latest team to have a look at the one-time top prospect, who has spent time with four organizations over the last three years since leaving the Yankees. Chamberlain figures to join the battle in camp for a role in a Brewers’ pen that figures to have a few spots up for grabs this spring.
Thanks for giving me something to distract me from the inauguration and the hypocrites on tv mlbtr!
You don’t have an off switch on your TV?
Really, you’re gonna bring that into here? Please stop.
Go find your safe space cupcake and keep your political comments and obvious views off of this website.
Are the Joba rules still in effect?
Yawn
Looks like after he refused assignment, he found out everyone else only wanted him in AAA too.
For a guy who used to have so much promise he kind of just fizzled out didn’t he?, I hope he manages to get it back together
I’m with you. Would have loved to see the Yankees give him a shot at the 7th inning.
He will be forever infamous for the 2007 post season pitching in Cleveland with all the bugs crawling over him. One of the craziest things I’ve ever seen in a baseball game.
A Yankee prospect overrated? Say it isn’t so…
Misused by the Yankees. Starter, reliever,starter etc.
wrong team, you must be talking about red sox.
Seems like a good value signing with a bit of upside. I like what the Crew are doing.
I sat near the visitor’s bullpen a few years ago. Joba was very entertaining interacting with the fans. For that alone, I want to see him again in MLB. 🙂
Yeah it’s always cool when the guys in the pen interact with the fans…when I was a kid I had a blast during a game with Rod Beck in the visitors bullpen at Dodgers Stadium…a memory I will never forget because he was so cool, RIP Rod!
1.375mm to be entertaining to the fans…. are you hiring … thats a pretty good gig to me
The very definition to high risk high reward .
Where does the high risk part come into play? Guy will sign for 1M tops and if it’s a minor league deal with camp invite there’s zero risk on the Brewers end
Idk because he’s crazy and possibly bad for a clubhouse especially a young one that can easily be influenced.
Again, where’s the high risk part? It’s a minor league deal with camp invite. If he doesn’t make the team it’s peanuts and he’s a body. If he makes the team and is good then there’s the reward aspect. If he tanks it doesn’t matter. Its 1yr for 1.3M. There’s no risk let alone high risk. His behavior is irrelevant especially when your point is he’s “possibly” bad for the clubhouse meaning it’s not certain yet your gist is spoken in certainties. Additionally, because a clubhouse is young that doesn’t automatically equate to simple minded and easily influenced. Braun runs that clubhouse. They played their butts off last year and had a lot of fun doing so. Their genuine love for the game was visibly present. That’s not changing
Which is more the reason why he must be a cancer since he had no takers last year after being released and had a hard time finding somebody to take a flier on him as a spring training body.
With all the arms we traded last year and this year so far he’ll make the team for sure
His contract says otherwise. Feliz, Torres, Barnes, Knebel are the only locks. Rest of the pen will be made up of 3-4 of the following at this point: Marinez, Milone, Magnifico, Blazek, Joba, Suter and possibly Lopez being stashed there too
Lots of bugs in Milwaukee…at least he has enough money to buy plenty of repellant
He looks so depressed in his baseball-reference picture.
Rather have David Hernandez
Joba looks like the stench that comes off of him on a hot day could drop a charging rhino.