Brewers Agree to Sign Mike Gonzalez

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Milwaukee Brewers have come to terms with free agent reliever Mike Gonzalez. Jim Bowden adds that the deal is for one year and $2.25 million.

Oct 8, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Mike Gonzalez (51) throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the sixth inning of the 2012 NLDS at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 12-4. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Gonzalez has been one of the premier left handed relievers in baseball for the better part of the past decade and brings closing experience with him to Milwaukee, though he will work in a set-up role for the Brewers. Last season, Gonzalez fanned 39 batters in just 35.2 innings of work over 47 games for the Washington Nationals while posting a 3.03 ERA. Left handed batters were held to a .179 average and .516 OPS when facing Gonzalez in 2012.

The 34-year-old southpaw has a career ERA of 2.94 and has average more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings over his 10-year major league career. His best season came in 2009 as a member of the Atlanta Braves. That year, Gonzalez worked in 80 games with a 2.42 ERA.