Brewers sign former Cubs starter Matt Garza

The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to sign free agent starter Matt Garza on a four-year, $52M deal, reports Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Garza, 30, joined the Chicago Cubs in January of 2011 in an eight-player deal. The Cubs shipped outfielder Sam Fuld, and prospects Christopher Archer, Robinson Chirinos, Brandon Guyer, and Hak-Ju Lee to the Tampa Bay Rays for Garza, outfielder Fernado Perez and minor league left-handed pitcher Zac Rosscup.

In two and half seasons with the Cubs, the right-hander went 21-18 with a 3.45 ERA, 335 strikeouts, 1.213 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 before being traded to the Texas Rangers in July of 2013 for third baseman Mike Olt and pitchers Justin Grimm, C.J. Edwards, and Neil Ramirez.

Last season with the Cubs and Rangers, Garza went 10-6 with a 3.82 ERA in 24 starts.

Garza is a CAA Sports client and will not cost the Brewers a draft pick compensation, unlike other top free agent starters Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez. He will receive one-third the guarantee money Mashairo Tanaka will receive from the New York Yankees.

Garza’s signing marks the first starting pitcher signing or trade since the Tanaka announcement, which should spark more news in the days to come with just three weeks before pitchers and catchers report.

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