“Nerd Power“ is back in Milwaukee, as one of the most popular players in recent years has come back to the Brew City.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Fox Sports reports that Eric Sogard is returning to the Brewers.
Free-agent infielder Eric Sogard in agreement with #Brewers, source tells The Athletic. Believed to be one-year deal with club option for 2021. Pending physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 18, 2019
The intriguing part of the story is that, as WTMJ sister station ESPN Chicago reporter Jesse Rogers says, the Chicago Cubs wanted him, but couldn’t add the additional salary.
Eric Sogard to the Brewers, as reported by @Ken_Rosenthal. Cubs looked at him last season and now, again, wanted him this off-season, but goes to Mil. Cubs just can’t add $$ until they subtract
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) December 18, 2019
Sogard, a Brewers utility player in 2017-18, hit .234 with a .669 OPA, three home runs and 20 RBI.
He left Milwaukee for 2019 and played with both the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays, with a combined .290 average, .810 OPS, 13 home runs and 40 RBI.
Click here for more stats from Baseball Reference.
Sogard was an unrestricted free agent this off-season after making $555,000 last year, per Sportrac.