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The Milwaukee Brewers cleared a spot on the active roster earlier today when the trade of Orlando Arcia was announced, and shortly after that the club revealed that they’d be filling that void by bringing up a pitcher from the Alternate Training Site:
RHP Brad Boxberger has been selected from the Alternate Training Site. RHP Justin Topa was transferred to the 60-day injured list. pic.twitter.com/MH0l63eT2h
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 6, 2021
The Brewers had to add both pitchers acquired in the Arcia deal with Atlanta to the 40-man roster, so to create room for the purchase of Brad Boxberger’s contract, right-hander Justin Topa was transferred to the 60-day Injured List. Topa suffered a flexor strain in his right elbow and is attempting to rehab the injury and return for the second half of the season.
Boxberger, 32, was with the Brewers for Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, allowed eight runs in 9.0 innings but with a 14:1 K/BB ratio, then was released and re-signed to a new minor league contract so that the Brewers did not have to pay him a $100K retention bonus in order to keep him at the Alternate Training Site. The Brewers opened the year with a 12-man pitching staff as a way to keep hitters Arcia and Dan Vogelbach on the roster, but Stearns said now was the “right time” to balance the roster at 13 hitters and 13 pitchers. Eric Yardley and JP Feyereisen have both already appeared in three games and Josh Lindblom in two, in addition to Brent Suter getting into his second game tonight.
Boxberger has appeared in parts of nine big league seasons with the Padres, Rays, Diamondbacks, Royals, and Marlins, and owns a 3.56 ERA in 329.0 inning across 340 appearances while notching 77 saves and 40 holds.
Also worth noting, Craig Counsell told reporters before tonight’s game that Lorenzo Cain has been dealing with an oblique issue of late, and that’s why he has been out of the lineup. Cain is available if necessary but the club is trying to play it safe to prevent a small issue from becoming a large one, and the luxury of having Jackie Bradley, Jr. allows them to comfortably do so.
Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference