Milwaukee Brewers: Chase Anderson signed to extension

The Milwaukee Brewers have locked up a key part of their 2017 starting rotation through 2019.

Although the Milwaukee Brewers narrowly missed the postseason in 2017, they still had a very successful year under manager Craig Counsell, going 86-76 and finishing in second place in the NL Central. It was the team’s first winning season since 2014. The Brewers last reached the postseason during the 2011 campaign.

A key part of the Brewers’ starting rotation this past season was right-hander Chase Anderson. The soon-to-be 30-year-old Anderson, who first reached the majors at the age of 26, began his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He went 15-13 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP for the D-Backs from 2014-15.

After being acquired in the same deal that sent Jean Segura to the Diamondbacks prior to the beginning of the 2016 campaign, Anderson had a relatively average first year with the Brewers, going 9-11 with a 4.39 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP over 31 games (30 starts). He elevated his game to a whole new level in 2017.

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Breakout Season

Through 25 starts, Anderson put up ace-caliber numbers this past year, going 12-4 with a 2.74 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He also averaged nearly a strikeout per inning with an 8.47 K/9. Anderson’s 3.3 fWAR ranked second among the team’s starting pitchers, trailing only Jimmy Nelson (4.9). During the first three seasons of his career, Anderson had never been worth more than 1.7 fWAR.

According to Mike Axisa of CBSSports, the Brewers and Anderson have now agreed to a two-year extension, which will guarantee him at least $11.75 million through the next two seasons. The deal also reportedly contains team options for both 2020 and 2021.

Brewers’ 2018 rotation

Going into the 2018 season, Anderson will be right at the top of a rotation that will also consist of Zach Davis and perhaps Brent Suter. Although Nelson is expected to miss time in 2018 after undergoing shoulder surgery, he could rejoin the rotation at some point as well.

Nelson, Davies and Suter each had tremendous seasons last year. Davies won a team-high 17 games in 2017, and Nelson posted an ERA of only 3.49. Suter, who spent part of the year in the bullpen, also emerged as an excellent rotation piece, going 3-2 with a 3.45 ERA in 14 starts. Eventually, the Brewers could have a terrific top four in their starting rotation, with Brandon Woodruff still holding plenty of upside.

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With a solid starting rotation, an excellent closer in Corey Knebel and an offense that features names such as Ryan Braun, Eric Thames, Travis Shaw, Domingo Santana and Orlando Arcia, the Brewers could be poised to be an NL Central force once again in 2018.