Milwaukee Brewers: Boone Logan Contract Official

The Milwaukee Brewers reported signing of lefty Boone Logan is now official.

Last week, we reported that the Brewers had agreed to a contract with Boone Logan, but the details of the contract were unknown. Adam McCalvy and Jon Heyman has provided those previously unknown details.

Logan gets slightly less than $2 million this year with the potential to reach over $5 million with all of his incentives covering innings and appearances. The club option for next year is big. His salary guarantee increases to more than $4 million with the chance to make over $7 million with all the incentives.

He signed a similar deal in Cleveland last year, guaranteeing him $5.5 million for 2017 with a club option at $7 million with a $1 million buyout for 2018. The Indians took the buyout, making Logan a free agent.

He didn’t look that great in 2017, pitching to a 4.71 ERA in an injury shortened season. But his strikeout numbers were up and his FIP shows he was extremely unlucky that year. Logan’s been one of the best lefty relievers in the game for several years and another fully healthy season can restore his career.

Given the prices on the relief market lately, this is a great deal for David Stearns and the Milwaukee Brewers. We’ve believed Logan would make a good fit for Milwaukee for quite a while.

Logan provides a left handed option that this bullpen hasn’t had in a while. For the most part, he’s a strict lefty specialist. He occasionally pitches for a full inning but he’s more likely to be a LOOGY for the Crew.

A 40 man roster spot will have to be made for Logan following his signing. As for who will be sent off the roster, that information is unknown at this time. But with the official signing of Boone Logan, the Brewers bullpen adds necessary depth. The fact that he throws with his left hand is even better.

Now that Logan is officially on board, we have now seen three pitchers added to this staff this winter. The new southpaw joins Yovani Gallardo and Jhoulys Chacin. Logan would take Jared Hughes spot in the bullpen most likely but there’s still the issue of filling Anthony Swarzak’s old role. Logan is not going to take over the 8th inning job but there are still some other good options on the market.

Next: Roundtable: The Brewers Outfield Future

The one year option gives the Milwaukee Brewers the opportunity to keep Logan at a relatively low price if he’s able to stay healthy and succeed in Milwaukee. But if he doesn’t work out, the $625k buyout won’t prevent the Crew from cutting ties.