Brewers sign reliever Ernesto Frieri to minor-league deal; Wei-Chung Wang headed to Korea

Veteran right-hander Ernesto Frieri, once a dominant reliever in the majors who fell on hard times in recent years, has signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers with an invitation to spring training, according to Mark Feinsand of mlb.com.

Frieri, 32, had some big years with San Diego from 2010-'12 (2.33 ERA in 105 games) and saved 37 games for the Los Angeles Angels in 2013. But he didn't pitch in 2016 after getting released by Philadelphia in spring training and appeared in only six games in the majors last season with Texas (5.14 ERA).

Frieri spent most of 2017 pitching at the Class AAA level for three organizations – the Yankees, Rangers and Mariners – posting a 3.43 ERA in 31 games, with seven saves. He signed in March with New York, was released and signed in June with Texas, then was sold (reportedly for $1) to Seattle in August. 

In eight seasons in the majors, Frieri has posted an 11-14 record with a 3.59 ERA and 73 saves. In 303 1/3 innings, he has accumulated 387 strikeouts with a 1.236 WHIP. 

Wang headed to Korea: A report out of South Korea indicated left-hander Wei-Chung Wang would be leaving the Brewers to play for the NC Dinos, the team for which first baseman Eric Thames spent three seasons before returning to the U.S. in 2017:

The Brewers had no official comment on that report but a source indicated it was true. Once it becomes official, Wang will be removed from the Brewers' 40-man roster and the club will receive financial compensation.

Wang, 25, was originally acquired from Pittsburgh in December 2013 in the Rule 5 draft and spent the next season in the Brewers' bullpen, being rarely used (10.90 ERA in 14 games). He then went into the farm system and was later removed from the 40-man roster. He was reinstated after a strong showing in 2016 (6-5, 3.52 in 19 starts at Biloxi; 2-3, 4.85 in five starts at Class AAA Colorado Springs).

Moved to relief duty, Wang pitched well in 2017 at Colorado Springs, going 6-2 with a 2.05 ERA in 47 appearances. He had one outing for the Brewers in late July and was called back up in September and made seven appearances but for only a total of 1 1/3 innings (four hits, two runs, two strikeouts).

Jeffress case settled: Reliever Jeremy Jeffress pleaded guilty Tuesday in Dallas to a DWI charge stemming from an arrest on Aug. 26, 2016, when he was pitching for the Texas Rangers. Jeffress was sentenced to time served in jail – three days after his arrest – finally settling the case. 

Jeffress, 30, who has a history of substance abuse, went into a treatment program after that arrest and returned to action with the Rangers. He was traded back to the Brewers, his original club, on July 31 of last season and went 4-0 with a 3.65 ERA in 22 games.

In early December, Jeffress signed a one-year deal with the Brewers with two club options.