The Brewers have officially announced the signing of Mike Gonzalez to a one-year contract. The veteran left-hander is a client of the MVP Sports Group and is guaranteed $2.25MM with incentives that can increase the value of his contract.
Gonzalez, 34, pitched to a 3.03 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 4.0 BB/9 in 35 2/3 innings for the Nationals last season after signing in early-May. He held left-handed batters to a .179/.257/.269 batting line with 23 strikeouts in 75 plate appearances. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes did not rank Gonzalez as one of the offseason's Top 50 Free Agents.
Relief help was a priority for the Brewers this offseason after their bullpen posted a MLB-worst 4.66 ERA in 2012. Earlier this month they acquired Burke Badenhop from the Rays and signed Tom Gorzelanny, another former Nationals left-hander. ESPN's Jim Bowden says (on Twitter) the Nats and Reds were also in on Gonzalez.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first broke news of the agreement (Twitter links). Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM tweeted the financial details, and MLB.com's Adam McCalvy tweeted that Gonzalez's physical would take place after New Year's Day (on Twitter).
Steve Adams contributed to this post.
