The Milwaukee Brewers took another step towards strengthening their rotational depth on Wednesday, bringing a newcomer on board and welcoming a familiar face back into the fold.
First, right-hander Bryse Wilson was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash. Then, not long after, several reports saw lefty Wade Miley sign a one-year, $4.5 million deal free agent contract with the Brewers, which includes another potential $1.5 million in incentives.
The additions serve to better insulate Milwaukee against injuries and underperformance, both of which have plagued the team in 2022 as Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta and Adrian Houser all missed time and replacements Aaron Ashby, Jason Alexander and others struggled.
Wilson, 25, made 25 starts with 20 starts for the Pirates in 2022, pitching for a 5.22 earned run average in 115 ⅔ innings with 72 strikeouts and 39 walks.
Prior to joining Pittsburgh in 2021, Wilson was a top prospect in the Atlanta Braves system. He was a consensus top 100 prospect in baseball at the start of the 2019 season, ranked No. 60 by the Baseball Prospectus, thanks to a well-placed fast ball, strong change and decent slider.
Wilson outscored Clayton Kershaw in Game 4 of the 2020 National League Championship Series, pitching six one-run innings as the Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, but failed to repeat that success in the regular season. Over four years with Atlanta, Wilson had a 5.90 ERA and was traded in July 2021.
Wilson, who was assigned to assignment by Pittsburgh last week, has pitched better down the stretch in 2022, posting a 4.39 ERA and allowing just 1.9 walks per nine innings in 82 innings after July 1.
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Wilson’s four-seam fastball, once considered his best pitch, was heavily scored, prompting him to lessen its use noticeably as 2022 progresses.
Instead, he leaned more heavily on his sinker and a balanced mix of change, slider and curveball, while debuting a season-ending splitter who had a . 192 batting average and a breath rate higher than any of his other pitches.
In 56 major league appearances (43 starts), Wilson is 9-17 with a 5.54 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 162 strikeouts in 232 ⅓ innings.
Outside of minor league options, Wilson’s best chance of a roster break with the Brewers may come from the bullpen, given the variety of starters the team already has at MLB level.
“We are happy to acquire Bryse,” said General Manager Matt Arnold. “He is a standout former player with good pedigree and has the opportunity to compete for a spot on our rookie roster.
“He’s still young with major league experience, both as a starter and as a substitute, and we believe he can be a solid, deep addition to our pitching unit.”
The Brewers assigned right-handed reliever Trevor Kelley to make room for Wilson on the 40-man roster.
Miley was a huge contributor in 2018
Miley, 36, went 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA in 16 starts in 2018, helping the Brewers to a National League Central title and through Game 7 of the NLCS against Los Angeles.
Miley made four postseason starts that year, posting a 1.23 ERA.
He struggled with injuries for much of last season while playing for the Chicago Cubs, finishing 2–2 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in nine games (eight starts, 37 innings).
Since reaching the majors in 2011, he is 99-94 with a 4.13 ERA in 292 games (285 starts), having pitched for Arizona (2011-14), Boston (2015), Seattle (2016), Baltimore (2016-17), Milwaukee (2018), Houston (2019), Cincinnati (2020-21) and Chicago (2022).
He is tied for ninth in the major leagues since the 2011 season, including fifth among left-handed pitchers.
Miley’s contract reportedly contains a 2024 mutual option for $10 million with a $1 million buyout.
He is the Brewers’ second free agent signing so far this offseason, with outfielder Blake Perkins being the other. Milwaukee will have to clear another spot in the 40-man once the deal becomes official.
Former Brewers lefty returns in minor league deal
Left-handed fullback Alex Claudio, who spent 2019-20 with the Brewers, signed a minor league contract with an invitation to MLB spring training on Tuesday.
Claudio appeared in a league-high 83 games for the Brewers in 2019 and had a 4.11 ERA in 81 innings in two seasons with the team. Since then, he has bounced between the Angels, Red Sox and Mets, appearing in 44 big league games.
In 2019, the Brewers acquired Claudio from the Texas Rangers in exchange for a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick, who was the 42nd overall selection in the draft. One pick later, the Orioles selected Gunnar Henderson, now considered baseball’s top prospect.
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