The Brewers are turning back to a familiar face as Spring Training kicks off, bringing right-handed reliever Peter Strzelecki back into the fold. It’s a move that should resonate with fans who remember his promising 2022 debut.
That season, Strzelecki showed flashes of real potential, posting a 2.83 ERA across 30 appearances. He looked like a bullpen piece Milwaukee could count on.
But baseball rarely follows a straight line, and 2023 was a bumpier ride. Strzelecki’s ERA climbed to 4.38 over 37 outings, and the command that once made him so effective started to waver. The Brewers, looking to shake things up, dealt him at the trade deadline in a one-for-one swap with Arizona, acquiring veteran lefty Andrew Chafin in return.
At the time, it felt like a classic change-of-scenery move-two relievers trying to reset their seasons. Chafin came in with a 4.19 ERA and a 2-3 record, numbers that suggested he still had something left in the tank.
But the fresh start didn’t spark a turnaround. In fact, things only got worse.
Over 20 games with Milwaukee, Chafin’s ERA ballooned to 5.82. The Brewers let him walk in free agency at season’s end.
Since then, Chafin has taken the journeyman route, suiting up for the Tigers, Rangers, Nationals, and Angels over the past two seasons. And here’s the twist: he’s been pretty solid.
Across 104 appearances during that stretch, he’s posted a 3.10 ERA with a 5-4 record-reliable numbers for a lefty reliever in today’s game. He may not have been lighting up the radar gun or dominating headlines, but he was quietly getting outs.
Still, despite that track record, Chafin didn’t draw much attention on the open market this offseason. It wasn’t until after Spring Training had already begun that he found a home, signing a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins. The contract includes an invite to Major League camp-an opportunity for Chafin to prove he still belongs in a big-league bullpen.
And based on his recent body of work, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him crack the Opening Day roster. Now entering his 12th MLB season, Chafin brings experience and a career 3.35 ERA to a Twins team that could use another dependable left-handed option. His rocky 2023 campaign-with both the Diamondbacks and Brewers-looks more and more like an outlier in what’s otherwise been a steady, productive career.
For the Brewers, bringing back Strzelecki is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move. And for Chafin, the Twins offer a fresh shot at redemption. Both pitchers are looking to re-establish themselves this spring-and both know just how quickly the game can turn.