Brewers Sign Avisail Garcia; Braun To Play First Base Part-Time

MILWAUKEE, WI — Milwaukee has bolstered its outfield depth, announcing the signing of slugging outfielder Avisail Garcia to a two-year deal on Tuesday. Club officials said the deal includes a third-year buyout that can transform into a mutual option if Garcia reaches a certain number of at-bats.

The 28-year-old Garcia hit .282 with 20 home runs and 72 runs batted in for the Tampa Bay Rays in 125 games in 2019. He's primarily a right fielder and occasional center fielder, though he's expected to play a lot in left field.

According to an MLB Trade Rumors report, Garcia will earn a $500,000 signing bonus, a $7 million salary in 2020, a $10.5 million salary in 2021 and a $12 million club option in 2022 with a $2 million buyout should the Brewers wish to part ways with him. That third year becomes a mutual option if Garcia bats 550 times in 2021 or accumulates 1,050 at-bats over the first two years in Milwaukee.

Tuesday's signing means Milwaukee will now have four starting-caliber outfielders on the big-league roster in 2020. In right field, the Brewers will have perennial MVP candidate Christian Yelich, who has been recovering from a fractured kneecap that he suffered late last season. In center, Milwaukee runs out 33-year-old Lorenzo Cain, who won his first Gold Glove of his career during the 2019 season.

And of course, there's Ryan Braun, who is expected to play left field as well as some first base for the Brewers. Braun, it should be noted, came up as a third baseman and played the hot corner in his rookie year before he was switched to the outfield for defensive purposes. Braun will earn $17 million in 2020, and has a $15 million mutual option in 2021 with a $4 million buyout.

Milwaukee's outfield quartet of Garcia, Braun, Cain and Yelich figure to be around for a few years. Cain is signed through the 2022 season. Yelich is signed through 2021, and has a $15 million team option in 2022 with a $1.25 million contract buyout. It's a safe bet, Milwaukee will want to hang on to their star player through at least 2022.

Here's what Milwaukee General Manager David Stearns said about his team's latest acquisition: Avisail provides an impactful right-handed hitting force in our lineup,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a press release. “Adding him to our current group of outfielders strengthens what was already one of the strongest outfields in baseball.”