Aaron Ashby Signed to Extension Through 2029, Jace Peterson to 10-Day IL

The Brewers announced today they have agreed to terms to LHP Aaron Ashby, extending him through the 2027 season with team options for 2028 and 2029.

Reports are coming in that only $20,500,000 is guaranteed through his free agency years with escalators and options bringing the potential amount to $46,000,000. For a pitcher with the upside of Ashby, it’s hard to view this as anything but a great deal for the Brewers with very little assumed risk by the club.

Ashby has spent the 2022 season in a flex role for the Brewers, making 12 starts and 18 total appearances. While the 24-year-old's 4.57 ERA looks unimpressive, he has swing-and-miss stuff but has been held back by control issues early in his MLB career. Never considered an elite prospect, Ashby moved through the organization in a very Brewers-esque way, displaying flashes of potential before breaking out post-Covid in AAA Nashville, posting an elite 14.2 K/9 rate in the 2021 season and later earning himself a promotion to Milwaukee.

In 100.2 career MLB innings pitched, Ashby has a pedestrian 4.56 ERA - which translates to a 91 ERA+ - but has a much better-looking 3.83 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), which bodes well for his future. There is obviously talent in that left arm for the Brewers to develop at the major league level, now Ashby just needs to take the next step and solidify himself in the Milwaukee rotation, which will need to make some difficult decisions this offseason with Corbin Burnes and his pending free agency after the 2024 season.

Peterson to the 10-Day Injured List
In less-good news, the Brewers announced that Jace Peterson has been placed on the 10-Day Injured List with a left elbow strain, retroactive to July 20th. 

Peterson has been instrumental to the Brewers first-place status this season, playing all over the field competently while posting his best offensive season with a 115 OPS+ and and 112 wRC+. Hopefully, this is a minor setback and due to the All-Star break, Peterson may only lose a week of play before being eligible to return to the Milwaukee lineup.