The Chicago Cubs are reported to be on new terms with reliever Brad Brach.
The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney reported Monday that Brad Brach and the Chicago Cubs have agreed on a restructuring of the free agent contract that the reliever recently signed. The revised terms reduce Brach’s base salary from about $3 million to about $1.65 million.
Mooney indicated that medical issues apparently prompted the deal’s re-opening. The Cubs have said nothing to either confirm or deny the re-negotiation, and have adopted something of a mysterious stance concerning his situation. Although being carried on the team’s 40-man roster, he is not listed anywhere on the team’s depth chart, and is also not listed as injured.
Shortly after being signed, Brach said he was available to pitch in any role the Cubs desired. Questioned about it Monday, Brach confirmed the change and said “a little bit of a viral infection” was responsible for it.
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Brach has not yet made an appearance in a spring training game for the Cubs, and the team has not given any indication when they expect him to be on the field.
The original deal, signed Feb. 11, paid Brach a base $3 million but included options potentially increasing it to $4.35 million. It also contained a $5.15 million club option for 2020.
The new deal reduces the base to $1.65 million and includes up to $850,000 in bonuses based on time spent on the active roster.
Mooney said that at season’s end, the Cubs can choose between re-signing him for $5 million or paying a $100,000 buyout. Brach will also have a $1.35 million player option for 2021.
Brach is an eight-year veteran with the Padres, Orioles, and Braves. He has a career 31-23 record and 3.08 ERA. In 69 appearances last year for the Orioles and Braves, he went 2-4 in 62.2 innings with 12 saves and a 3.59 ERA.