Brewers News: Crew Reunites with Free Agent P Wade Miley, Trades for P Bryse Wilson

In what has been an extremely quiet winter for them in terms of free agent spending, the Milwaukee Brewers finally made at least a little bit of noise in that sense on Wednesday while also trading for some additional pitching depth.

On Wednesday evening, it was announced that the Brewers would be reuniting with left-handed pitcher Wade Miley on a one-year deal with a second year option and incentives as reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Miley, now 36, spent the 2018 season with Milwaukee, starting 16 games and going 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA that season. Many fans may remember his appearance in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Dodgers that season when he infamously started, faced one batter, and was immediately lifted and replaced by Brandon Woodruff.

He has bounced around with a few clubs since then. In 2019, Miley signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros, did the same a year later with the Cincinnati Reds, that time signing a two-year deal, then after being waived by them after the 2021 season, was claimed by the Chicago Cubs where he spent the 2022 season.

Miley has battled some injuries over the last few years, including last season where he only pitched in nine games for the Cubs. His numbers have held up reasonably well, though, as in 76 games (73 starts), he went 28-18 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.336 WHIP.

The move is one that helps the Brewers in their offseason quest to add starting pitching depth. Though Milwaukee seems to have plenty of talent pitchers in their rotation already, the same was true last season as well. However, injuries had something to say about that and as starters went down, the lack of depth to temporarily backfill their spots became quite evident.

Miley now joins fellow depth pieces such as Janson Junk, received in the Hunter Renfroe trade, as well as another pitcher who joined the team earlier in the day.

Prior to signing free agent pitcher Wade Miley to a one-year deal, earlier in the day the Brewers traded for pitcher Bryse Wilson from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The addition of pitching depth started early on Wednesday when Milwaukee acquired Bryse Wilson from their divisional opponents. That move was confirmed by the Brewers themselves.

Wilson had recently been designated for assignment by Pittsburgh. He had been there for the last year and a half after being acquired by trade from the Atlanta Braves in the Richard Rodriguez deal during the 2021 season.

Wilson hasn't quite caught on as a major leaguer, having compiled just a 5.54 ERA over 56 career appearances, 43 of them starts. He is still only 25, though, so Milwaukee will see if they can be the ones to turn things around. That will have to happen at the major league level as he has no minor league options remaining.

Should he stick with the Crew, it could be as either a starter or a reliever, this according to Brewers GM Matt Arnold by way of MLB.com beat writer Adam McCalvy.

Miley's deal is still pending physical so no corresponding move has been announced. To make room for Wilson, the team designated pitcher Trevor Kelley for assignment. Kelley went 1-0 with a 6.08 ERA in 18 relief appearances last season.

The Brewers made it a point to add pitching depth across the board this offseason. Consider that box checked a couple more times after today's moves.