Tom Gorzelanny has signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Brewers pending a physical exam, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Gorzelanny, who was non-tendered by the Nationals three weeks ago, isn’t expected in town to take the physical exam until tomorrow, so Haudricourt reports that the deal may not be officially announced for a bit.
It’s unclear which role Gorzelanny will fill in Milwaukee after spending this year in Washington’s bullpen, where he had good success with a 2.88 ERA and 62/30 K/BB ratio in 72 innings. However, the Brewers could also use rotation help and the 29-year-old left-hander has a 4.61 ERA in 111 career starts.
His control is spotty and his fastball tops out in the low-90s, but Gorzelanny has 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 46 starts dating back to 2009 and isn’t totally helpless against right-handed hitters. No word yet on the money, but he’s a solid fourth or fifth starter if the Brewers choose to put him in the rotation.
UPDATE: Haudricourt says the Brewers plan to use Gorzelanny as a reliever.