LaTroy Hawkins signs with Milwaukee Brewers
Free-agent setup man LaTroy Hawkins signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract Wednesday with the Milwaukee Brewers — Hawkins agency, Reynolds Sports Management, confirmed via Twitter.
Hawkins, 36, was 1-4 with a 2.13 ERA, including 11 saves in 65 appearances last season with the Houston Astros.
After intense negotiations with the Astros and a handful of other teams — believed to be the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays — Hawkins and his agent, Larry Reynolds, were disappointed that Astros general manager Ed Wade and the organization wouldn’t offer more than a one-year deal.
In the end, Hawkins believed Milwaukee presented him with the best opportunity.
Despite being a Type A free agent, the Brewers don’t have to surrender draft picks for signing Hawkins, since the Astros didn’t offer the right-handed reliever arbitration Dec. 1.
