The Milwaukee Brewers signed reliever Neftali Feliz to a one-year contract Thursday, with the right-hander likely to take over the closer role in 2017.
"We are excited to add a pitcher with Neftalί's stuff to the back end of our bullpen," general manager David Stearns said. "Neftalί has a long pedigree of getting high-leverage outs, and we believe he has the capability to help anchor our young relief corps."
The one-year deal is for $5.35 million, and Feliz can earn an addition $1.5 million in incentives, according to multiple reports.
Feliz won AL Rookie of the Year serving as the closer for the Texas Rangers in 2010. However, he hasn't racked up more than 13 saves in a season since 2011. Injuries derailed him, but Feliz bounced back with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016, registering a 3.52 ERA in 62 games.
"He's certainly a candidate (to close)," Stearns said. "The fact that he has previous closing experience -- our other candidates do not at this point -- does give us confidence in him. But we're going to go into spring training with the same notion as last year. We have multiple guys we're going to think about in the context of that role."
Feliz has 99 saves with a 3.22 ERA and 326 strikeouts over 343 1/3 innings during his career.
