While the offseason won’t get into full swing until after the World Series, the Brewers have been making some smaller moves internally to prepare before free agency officially begins. Today, the Brewers kept one of their relievers within the organization, as they signed Deolis Guerra to a one-year deal.
RHP Deolis Guerra has been signed to a 1-year contract. The 40-man roster returns to 40. pic.twitter.com/VpUMSe9HJc
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 18, 2019
Guerra only pitched in one game for the Brewers in 2019. He pitched against the Pirates on July 5, allowed four runs in 0.2 innings in that game. Despite that one bad outing, his numbers in the minor leagues were good. In 45 appearances for San Antonio, he had a 1.89 ERA and 2.94 FIP over 66.2 IP. He had a strong strikeout rate at 11.88 K/9 and walk rate of 2.16 BB/9.
Guerra will factor into the bullpen battle in Spring Training, though he likely will need to make the bullpen to stay on the roster. He is out of options, and has already been outrighted, so he can elect to become a free agent. Financial details were not disclosed, but the deal is a major-league one.
With this addition, the 40-man roster is full again. The Brewers will have to clear some space as the offseason continues to progress, to add players currently on the 60-day DL (Corey Knebel and Bobby Wahl) as well as add free agents and protect players from the Rule 5 Draft. Some of those spots will open up when free agents become official after the end of the World Series, while others will have to be cleared.