Former Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress signs free-agent deal with Chicago Cubs

Tom Haudricourt
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jeremy Jeffress posted a 5.02 ERA over 48 appearances with only one save for the Brewers last season before being released Sept. 1.

The Milwaukee Brewers apparently have not seen the last of Jeremy Jeffress.

The veteran reliever, a huge part of the stout bullpen that allowed the Brewers to blow past Chicago in September 2018 and win the National League Central crown, crossed over and signed a free-agent deal with the Cubs on Tuesday.

According to several reports, Jeffress signed a major-league deal for $850,000 with an additional $200,000 available in games-pitched incentives, pending the requisite physical examination.

Jeffress, 32, had three tours of duty with the Brewers before they released him on Sept. 1 of last season. He did not pitch again in 2019 after that move.

A first-round draft pick of the Brewers in 2006 who was traded to Kansas City in December 2010 in the blockbuster Zack Greinke deal, Jeffress enjoyed the best season of his career in 2018, making the NL all-star team. He went 8-1 with a 1.29 ERA in a career-high 73 games with 15 saves and 0.991 WHIP.

Jeffress ran out of gas in the postseason, posting a 5.40 ERA in three appearances in the NL Division Series against Colorado and 7.71 ERA in five outings against Los Angeles in the NL Championship Series, including a crucial blown save in Game 2.

Jeffress experienced shoulder weakness last spring and began the 2019 season on the injured list. He never fully caught up, posting a 5.02 ERA over 48 appearances with only one save before being released with a month remaining. 

After the trade to Kansas City, Jeffress found his way back to Milwaukee, signing as a free agent in April 2014 after being cut by Toronto. He took over as the Brewers' closer in 2016, posting a 2.22 ERA over 47 appearances with 27 saves before being dealt to Texas with catcher Jonathan Lucroy before the trade deadline. 

Jeffress joined the Brewers once again when Texas sent him back to them at the trade deadline in 2017. 

Jeffress joins utility player Hernán Pérez as former Brewers who signed free-agent deals with the rival Cubs this off-season.