Milwaukee, Wisconsin – The Milwaukee Brewers are close to finalizing a deal with free agent pitcher Jakob Junis, adding depth to their rotation after the departure of Corbin Burnes.
Junis, 31, is expected to sign a one-year, $7 million contract pending a physical, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. He will earn $4 million this season and has a $3 million buyout on a mutual option. With the potential to start, Junis will offer the Brewers an additional option for their pitching staff.
The recent trade of Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles has left the Brewers with a rotation led by Freddy Peralta and Wade Miley. Re-signed free agent Colin Rea, new addition Joe Ross, and DL Hall, acquired in the Burnes deal, also are in contention for a starting role.
Junis made only four starts in 40 appearances for the San Francisco Giants last season. In those starts, he did not concede any earned runs in 12 2/3 innings and limited opponents to a .114 batting average and .352 OPS. As a reliever, he had a 4.54 ERA in 73 1/3 innings.
Before spending the past two seasons with the Giants, Junis was with the Kansas City Royals from 2017 to 2021. He was primarily used as a starter in his first three seasons, achieving an adjusted ERA slightly below league average in 61 combined starts in 2018 and 2019.
The Giants utilized Junis primarily as a starter in the 2022 season before transitioning him to a relief role in 2023.
ESPN was the first to report the agreement between the Brewers and Junis.