Rex

Brothers

Brothers inked a minor league contract with the Brewers last November after making 57 relief appearances last year with the Cubs. The 34-year-old southpaw has been cut loose after allowing nine runs on eight hits with a 6/8 K/BB ratio across 4 2/3 innings at Triple-A Nashville this season. He should be able to land another minor league deal somewhere else.

The latest batch of cuts from Brewers’ major-league spring training include a pair of Opening Day hopefuls in Dahl and Almonte, who might’ve had a shot at making the roster as reserve outfielders. They’ll open the 2022 campaign in the upper minors as valuable extra position player depth.

Brothers hit free agency after being outrighted off the Cubs’ 40-man roster earlier this month. The 33-year-old southpaw posted a 5.26 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 75/35 K/BB ratio across 53 innings with Chicago this season.

Brothers has refused an outright minor-league assignment after being removed from the Cubs’ 40-man roster last week. The 33-year-old lefty posted a serviceable 5.26 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 75/35 K/BB ratio across 53 innings (57 appearances) last season.

Cubs manager David Ross tried everyone but closer Craig Kimbrel in this one -- starting the inning with Andrew Chafin, who gave way to Ryan Tepera and then Brothers to record the final out. Brothers certainly didn’t make things easy. He came on with a runner on first and two outs and proceeded to allow a single to pinch-hitter Wilmer Difo and then drilled Todd Frazier to load the bases. Mercifully, he escaped by getting Bryan Reynolds on a fly ball to end the ballgame. Perhaps Ross will give word after the game as to why Kimbrel was not used.

Brothers earned a spot in the Cubs bullpen after striking out nine hitters across eight scoreless innings in Cactus League play The 33-year-old will settle into low-leverage middle relief but would easily find his way into a high-leverage situation given the lack of depth in Chicago.

Brothers made three appearances for the Cubs during the truncated 2020 season and allowed three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. He’ll return as organizational relief depth leading into the 2021 campaign.

Brothers was outrighted off the Cubs’ 40-man roster over the weekend. The 32-year-old made three appearances with the Cubs this past season and will likely have to settle for a spring training invite this winter.

The 32-year-old hurler only appeared in three games for the Cubs in 2020, posting an underwhelming 8.10 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 8/3 K/BB ratio over 3 1/3 innings. Assuming that he accepts the outright assignment, Brothers will continue to function as organizational bullpen depth for the Cubs in 2021.

This move clears a roster spot for Jose Quintana, who will return from the injured list to start Tuesday night’s game against the Pirates. Brothers has allowed three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings this year.