Free-agent relief pitcher Matt Albers signs 2-year deal with Milwaukee Brewers

MILWAUKEE -- Free-agent relief pitcher Matt Albers has signed a 2-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. It is a deal reportedly worth $5 million.

According to the Milwaukee Brewers, Albers, 35, is coming off his best Major League season after going 7-2 with a 1.62 ERA and 2 saves in a career-high 63 relief appearances with Washington. He surrendered only 35 hits and produced 63 strikeouts in 61.0 innings pitched. Albers ranked among National League relievers last season in WHIP (2nd, 0.85), opponent batting average (3rd, .166), ERA (3rd, 1.62) and wins (T3rd, 7).

Albers has pitched 12 seasons in the Major Leagues with Houston (2006-07 and 2014), Baltimore (2008-10), Boston (2011-12), Arizona (2012), Cleveland (2013), Chicago-AL (2015-16) and Washington (2017). He has made 515 career appearances, all but 24 of them coming in relief.