MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers' first offseason acquisition is 30-year-old former A's reliever Michael Brady, who has agreed to a Minor League contract that includes an invitation to big league Spring Training.
The Brewers made the deal official on Monday morning, making Brady, a right-hander who works primarily with a cutter, the club's first confirmed non-roster invitee.
Drafted by the Marlins in 2009 as a shortstop, Brady converted to pitching the following year and made 283 appearances in the Minors before ascending to the big leagues with Oakland last June. He surrendered 33 hits, including seven home runs, in 31 2/3 innings for the A's and posted a 5.68 ERA in 16 games.
More encouraging was Brady's ratio of 24 strikeouts to six walks, which better reflected his performance throughout a long Minor League career. Brady owns a 3.07 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 519 2/3 Minor League innings.
"I really try not to walk anyone," Brady said when he was called up to Oakland. "I used to be a hitter, so I know how hard it is to actually hit. Just in my mind, if I make them put it in play, the odds are with me."