The Brewers have reached a one-year deal worth $1.9 million with catcher Pedro Severino, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Sunday. The club has not confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical and, according to Passan, includes $400,000 in incentives.
Severino, 28, was outrighted by the Orioles earlier this offseason, with top prospect Adley Rutschman rocketing through the organization’s farm system and Severino projected to earn around $3 million in arbitration.
Severino hit .249/.315/.397 in three seasons with Baltimore after spending the first four years of his career with the Nationals, though his ability to hit left-handed pitching makes him a platoon candidate behind the plate with Brewers starting catcher Omar Narváez, who has struggled against southpaws. Last season, Severino hit .293/.342/.476 against lefties, whereas Narváez hit just .152/.222/.212.
Manny Piña had been the platoon option behind the plate for Milwaukee, but he signed a two-year deal with the Braves earlier this week after spending six seasons with the Brewers.