Contract Details Made Official For Latest Cubs Free Agent Signing

Cubs fans started to get a little worried over the reported signing of right-handed reliever Brad Brach. The news of the agreement first broke nearly three weeks ago, but the team hadn't made the signing official. Until today. The deal was officially announced Monday afternoon, as the Cubs get ready for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training.

When the deal was first reported by Ken Rosenthal, Brach was set to earn a guarantee of $4.35 million and as much as $9.5 million with a club and player option for the 2020 season.

However, the Associated Press cleared up the contract details on Monday. Via the AP.

Brach gets a $1.65 million salary this year and could earn $1.35 million in bonuses for days on the active major league roster: $350,000 for one, and $500,000 each for 120 and 150. Chicago has a $5 million team option for 2020 under the deal announced Monday. If the Cubs decline, Brach has a $1.35 million player option with a $100,000 buyout.

Brach is guaranteed $1.65 million for 2019, and will get another $1.35 million if he's on the active roster for 150 days. Then, for 2020, there's a $5 million team option. If the Cubs decline that, then Brach has a $1.35 million player option that the Cubs could also buyout for $100,000. So, best case scenario for Brach is $8 million over two years with the Cubs. If things go poorly in 2019, the Cubs can cut him loose for $100,000, making the deal worth at least $3.1 million guaranteed. In 2018, Brach started his fifth season with the Orioles. The right-hander was eventually traded to the Braves and pitched well. Brach had a 1.52 ERA in 23.2 innings for Atlanta. Brach has a career 3.08 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 456 innings all as a reliever.

The Cubs have signed several relief pitchers this offseason, but Brach is the first to have a guaranteed MLB contract who's expected to pitch in 2019. (whoops, forgot about Tony Barnette) Brach will be 33-years-old on April 12, as he'll be in his ninth MLB season.