Brewers: Ranking The 6 Best Contracts in Franchise History

Best Contract in Brewers History #5: Jhoulys Chacin

Before the infamous 2018 season and being a game away from the World Series, Milwaukee signed a starting pitcher that would be key to their season’s success.

Jhoulys Chacin inked a two-year, $15.5MM deal with the Brewers and would end his first season with a 3.50 ERA and 15-8 record. He set career highs in wins, strikeouts, and starts in 2018. For less than $8MM a year, the Brewers found a solid starting pitcher when one was needed, one who served as a de facto ace. Primarily a bullpen-oriented team in 2018, Chacin was the perfect pitcher at the perfect time.

Chacin was the starter for Game 163 that season against the Cubs, and he pitched a gem, going 5.2 IP, allowing just one run and putting the Brewers in position to win the NL Central for the first time since 2011.

In Game 2 of the NLDS against the Colorado Rockies, he pitched five shutout innings. In Game 3 of the NLCS, He pitched 5.1 shutout innings.

Jhoulys would be selected as the 2019 Opening Day starting pitcher. Besides picking up the win that day, he also hit his first career home run. Unfortunately, injuries would ruin his 2019 and did not have the greatest season. He would eventually be DFA’d in late August and end his Brewers career with a 5.79 ERA on the season.

Chacin is only 34-years-old and currently an active player on the Colorado Rockies. But his contributions and lower salary in 2018 helped the team reach new levels, and will always be considered a great signing for the team even if that second year didn’t go as planned.

Best Contract in Brewers History #4: Jonathan Lucroy

After making his debut in 2010 and having some impressive moments in the 2011 playoff run, Milwaukee locked up their catcher for the foreseeable future.

On March 27th, 2011, Jonathan Lucroy signed a five-year, $11MM extension with the Brewers. Any team that can sign a player with tremendous upside at an important position while still under arbitration/years of control is a great move.

Lucroy would be one of the faces of the team for the next almost five years. After Ryan Braun was suspended for 65 games, Lucroy could be seen on local TV spots and advertising materials. He would also appear in the All-Star Game for the Crew in 2014 and 2016. Paying $11MM for a catcher that would spend almost seven seasons with the team is a giant bargain, especially one with multiple All Star appearances.

In 2016, the Brewers were in basically full-on sell mode. After declining a trade to the Cleveland Indians, Lucroy was eventually traded to the Texas Rangers. The Brewers would receive three players in return, including Lewis Brinson. Brinson would be the centerpiece in the trade with the Miami Marlins that brought Christian Yelich to Milwaukee.

So not only is Lucroy beloved in Milwaukee and took a team-friendly deal, his trade helped bring in the future superstar of the Brewers.