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The Milwaukee Brewers are officially announcing one of the free agent signings they worked on during last week’s Winter Meetings, reintroducing Josh Lindblom to stateside baseball today.
RHP Josh Lindblom has officially been signed to a 3-year contract. Lindblom went 35-7 with a 2.68 ERA in 56 starts over the last two seasons in Korea. pic.twitter.com/q3AjfuP4g1
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) December 16, 2019
"There are a lot of buzzwords nowadays & you hear the word ‘family’ a lot around here. From the first few days I’ve been part of this organization, I can tell you it’s not just a buzzword. They live by that value & that’s something that’s very important to us." -@JoshLindblom52 pic.twitter.com/qjiNfCwfUP
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) December 16, 2019
Perhaps a pitching version of Eric Thames, Lindblom went from MLB journeyman to superstar in South Korea, winning the KBO’s MVP award and equivalent of the Cy Young this past year.
The level of competition is obviously greater in the U.S., but GM David Stearns and the Brewers front office appear to be believers in Lindblom’s change overseas.
David Stearns: “During his time in Korea -- and most specifically over the past two seasons -- Josh has been as dominant as any pitcher in the world. We believe his combination of stuff, execution and experience will allow him to have success at the Major League level.”
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) December 16, 2019
During his introductory press conference today, Lindblom talked about how he became a different pitcher in the KBO out of necessity.
Lindblom said with only 10 teams in KBO, you face the same hitters a lot. "You can't do the same thing, over and over again."
— Tom (@Haudricourt) December 16, 2019
Lindblom on using a different baseball in KBO: "You still have to make pitches. Execution, at the end of the day, wins."
— Tom (@Haudricourt) December 16, 2019
With Madison Bumgarner signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks, most of the top end free agent starting pitching options are off the board early this offseason. When asked if Lindblom, Brett Anderson and Eric Lauer were the totality of his starting pitching moves this winter, Stearns gave a Very Stearns-ian non-answer.
David Stearns isn't closing the door on adding more starting pitching, but after signing Brett Anderson and Josh Lindblom on top of trading for Eric Lauer, he said, "If we were going to go into the season today, we feel good about where we are."
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) December 16, 2019
If this is the group (with Freddy Peralta and Corbin Burnes providing additional depth) Stearns does roll with heading into Spring Training, attention may turn to filling holes in the lineup. Stay tuned.