Pending a physical free-agent right-hander Kyle Lohse has finally found a home, agreeing to a three-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. The 34-year-old right-hander was 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA last season for the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching a career-high 211 innings.
After declining a qualifying offer from St. Louis, Lohse found teams unwilling to make an offer, with the new free-agent compensation system damaging his value.
“The integrity of the game has been compromised,” said agent Scott Boras. “I had four or five teams call me in November, and tell me they couldn’t sign (Lohse) because they don’t want to lose the draft dollars.” The Brewers will surrender their first round pick in the upcoming draft, number 17 overall, As well as the pool money that goes with it.
Lohse will $33 million over three years with the Brewers making him the team’s highest paid pitcher. Lohse was said to be looking for a four-year deal worth $15 million per year, and the Brewers reportedly wanted to a two-year deal for about 10 million a year. The two sides settled somewhere in between.
