Brewers Ink These Two Veteran Pitchers in Free Agency

Brewers Sign Wade Miley, Joe Ross

The Miley deal is for one year with a mutual option for 2025. Ross is reported as simply having signed a “major-league contract,” meaning it’s likely also one year. Miley returns to the Brew Crew after starting his second stint with the team last year. He also spent the 2018 campaign in Milwaukee. In 13 major league seasons, the 37-year-old southpaw has a career record of 108-98 with a 4.06 ERA and 1,359 strikeouts. Miley has pitched for eight different teams. He made the All-Star team in 2012 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and pitched a no-hitter in 2021 with the Cincinnati Reds. Last season, Miley put up solid numbers for the Brewers, apparently incentivizing them to bring him back. In 23 starts, he went 9-4 with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.139 WHIP in 120 1/3 innings.

Ross has not pitched since 2021, as he is coming off Tommy John surgery. He spent six seasons with the Washington Nationals and was a member of their 2019 World Series championship team. In that year’s Fall Classic, he started Game 5 in place of an injured Max Scherzer. He lasted seven innings in that game, but ultimately took the loss. For his career, the 30-year-old Ross has a record of 26-28 with a 4.26 ERA and 403 strikeouts in 443 1/3 innings pitched. While he has spent most of his career as a starter, he has worked out of the bullpen before, especially in 2019. Ross could fit into either role with the Brewers depending on how the rest of the staff shakes out.