Crew adds former All-Star Boxberger (report)

February 15th, 2021

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers reportedly have an agreement with former All-Star closer on a Minor League contract that includes an invitation to big league camp.

ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel reported on Sunday night that the sides had reached terms. The Brewers, whose pitchers and catchers report to camp later this week, did not confirm the move.

Boxberger, 32, a right-handed reliever, has topped 30 saves in two of his nine big league seasons. He had 41 saves and made the American League All-Star team in 2015, his second season of a four-year stint with the Tampa Bay Rays, then logged 32 saves in 2018 for the D-backs. He made 23 appearances with the Marlins last season with a 3.00 ERA, striking out 18 over 18 innings. Overall, he has a 3.56 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP in 329 Major League innings.

Boxberger is familiar to some Brewers officials. In 2013, he pitched at Triple-A Tucson for manager Pat Murphy, who is now Milwaukee’s bench coach. And with the Rays he played under Brewers GM Matt Arnold, who worked in Tampa Bay’s front office.