Brewers Sign Jake Petricka

[JDBrewCrew]

Robert Murray

Verified account

@ByRobertMurray

18m18 minutes ago

More

#Brewers in agreement with free-agent reliever Jake Petricka, pending physical, sources tell The Athletic.

 

Robert Murray

Verified account

@ByRobertMurray

More Robert Murray Retweeted Robert Murray

It’s a split deal, sources tell The Athletic. Petricka has one minor-league option remaining.

 

https://www.mlb.com/player/jake-petricka-502593

[adambr2]

This year's version of JJ Hoover.

[long ball]

I don’t know much about him. I wonder if he’s worked on a new pitch or something that makes him attractive other than a minor league option. On the surface his peripherals aren’t very exciting. He does have mid 90s velocity though.

 

40 man roster is filling up.

[SRB]

Petricka had great results back in 2014 and was a part-time closer for the White Sox (14 SV).

 

Probably just a depth move though, never hurts to have too many relievers with MLB experience in the system.

[ougiqbxy]

Another groundball pitcher who could be aided by the Brewers shifts. ....and behold the power of a remaining option.

[sveumrules]

I don’t know much about him. I wonder if he’s worked on a new pitch or something that makes him attractive other than a minor league option. On the surface his peripherals aren’t very exciting. He does have mid 90s velocity though.

 

40 man roster is filling up.

 

After throwing 31.7% sliders as a rookie in 2013, his slider % declined every year from 12.3 in 2014 to 7.1 in 2017.

 

In 2018 his slider % jumped back up to 25.8. He talks about it a little bit here...

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/david-cone-j-a-happ-and-jake-petricka-on-developing-their-sliders/

[Eye Black]

The Brewers are really into former White Sox relievers (Swarzak, Soria, Albers, Jennings, Cedeño, and now Petricka)... it’s a little creepy.

[NievesNoNO]

I don’t know much about him. I wonder if he’s worked on a new pitch or something that makes him attractive other than a minor league option. On the surface his peripherals aren’t very exciting. He does have mid 90s velocity though.

 

40 man roster is filling up.

 

After throwing 31.7% sliders as a rookie in 2013, his slider % declined every year from 12.3 in 2014 to 7.1 in 2017.

 

In 2018 his slider % jumped back up to 25.8. He talks about it a little bit here...

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/david-cone-j-a-happ-and-jake-petricka-on-developing-their-sliders/

 

I know this move could very well be worth nothing, but when I see these smaller moves all with very seemingly calculated reasons for happening I'm always super encouraged. Probably a pretty similar pitcher to Barnes if you believe the changes made last season are permanent. You could do a lot worse for the back end of the bullpen or a shuttle/depth/backup type.

[bork]

Are the Brewers petitioning airlines to add a direct flight between Milwaukee and San Antonio? Looks like there are going to be a handful of guys racking up frequent flyer miles again.

[MNBrew]

For lack of any other "bigger" action (upper-level SP or starting 2B), I'll take moves like this. Risk is low and cost is within reason, and the fact that he could be sent to AAA is a beautiful safety net whether for performance or needed roster space.

[wntrtxn21]

I don't see this as anything but a pure fishing expedition. Petricka was horrible in 2016, 2017, and 2018! He spent most of the time in the minors in 2016. In 2017 he had a 7.01 ERA, 1.75 WHIP. Allowed a whopping 39 hits in only 25.2 IPs and 6 HRs in that span. In 2018 he stunk too. 1.64 WHIP, with 59 hits in only 45 IPs. Petricka would be a desperation move if he ever again sniffs the majors.

[Lathund]

BABIP of .398 and .379 the last two years. HR/FB rates of 25% and 17%. Also gone from a 60-65% GB rate in the past to ~50% the last two years. xFIP has been a respectable 3.60 and 4.05 the last two years. So the underlying numbers haven't been bad, and there's a decent argument to be made that the same pitching will see better results going forward. But I also would imagine that they see something to tweak, something that they believe can see a return to those GB numbers which would work well with thise defense.

 

Anyway, just a move for some bullpen depth with little risk and cost. We'll see how it goes.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I'm really surprised it took an Major League deal to get him. His recent stats scream minors deal with an invite to Spring Training and one of those out clauses. Of course, perhaps that last option led to the deal being structured this way s they don't run into the same situation they did with Choi last year.

[StearnsFTW]

The Brewers are really into former White Sox relievers (Swarzak, Soria, Albers, Jennings, Cedeño, and now Petricka)... it’s a little creepy.

 

Should find out what Bobby Thigpen is up to imo.

[wildcat2237]

Dude hasnt been good since 2015. Lets hope Stearns and his staff see something we dont.

[djoctagone]

Robert Murray

 

It’s a split deal, sources tell The Athletic. Petricka has one minor-league option remaining.

 

https://www.mlb.com/player/jake-petricka-502593

i count two remaining. he was optioned in 2018 and in 2014, but in 2014, he spent less than 20 days optioned and therefore, did not burn it.

 

petricka was outrighted to the minor leagues this offseason, so if the brewers wish to remove him from the 40-man and keep him in the organization, petricka has the right to refuse the minor league assignment (voiding his contract) and declare free agency.

[Outlander]

From our very own And That on Twitter:

 

Re: Jake Petricka, #Brewers newest reliever, he has 2 options remaining but needs only 15 days on the MLB roster to reach 5 years of service time, at which point he gains the right to refuse optional assignment. That prolly works against him making club out of spring training.

1:03 PM - 10 Jan 2019

 

[CheezWizHed]

Dude hasnt been good since 2015. Lets hope Stearns and his staff see something we dont.

 

Looking at his peripherals, he wasn't all that good then either. ERA was nice, but BB rate and WHIP have always been high. Ironically, he improved BB and K rates the last two years, but has been hit harder, keeping his WHIP about the same.

[long ball]

Did we ever hear how much he signed for? I know it's a split deal, but I can't find any other details.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

I still have not been able to find out what his contract details are. COTs just lists that he signed a 1yr deal. Seems pretty odd no details have been released yet.

 

I would not expect it will be for much. Maybe the Major league portion will be in the $1M range.

[djoctagone]

From our very own And That on Twitter:

 

Re: Jake Petricka, #Brewers newest reliever, he has 2 options remaining but needs only 15 days on the MLB roster to reach 5 years of service time, at which point he gains the right to refuse optional assignment. That prolly works against him making club out of spring training.

1:03 PM - 10 Jan 2019

 

2019 brewers media guide confirms two options remaining for petricka.

[BrewFan130]

USA Today has Petricka’s salary listed at $900,000 for 2019.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/sports/mlb/brewers/salaries/all/player/all/

[Met_Man]

USA Today has Petricka’s salary listed at $900,000 for 2019.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/sports/mlb/brewers/salaries/all/player/all/

 

Great deal. I don't see a problem.