MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers have declined 2021 options on infielders Jedd Gyorko and Eric Sogard as well as outfielder Ben Gamel.
Gyorko and Sogard each had $4.5 million options and now instead become eligible for free agency.
Gyorko, a former University High and WVU standout, gets a $1 million buyout.
“Both of them were complete professionals and contributed a great deal to our culture this year,” Brewers general manager David Stearns said Friday. “Eric probably didn’t have the year he was hoping for. Jedd performed very well for us. And we all agreed to keep the lines of communication open and see how the offseason goes. I do think depending on how the offseason plays out, there could be interest in either or both returning.”
Gyorko signed as a free agent with the Brewers this season, his fourth team over his eight-year career.
He batted .248 with the Brewers with nine home runs and 17 RBIs in 42 games.
He batted mostly against left-handers at the beginning of the season, but had become Milwaukee’s primary first baseman by the end of the season.
His .838 OPS was the highest of any Brewer with at least 60 at-bats.
“I think there’s a recognition that flexibility is important right now, and we don’t know what the next couple of months are going to look like,” Stearns said. “We don’t know what the environment is going to be as we do plan for a spring training in the 2021 season. So we have to remain flexible. And that desire for flexibility has likely contributed to some of the decisions we’ve seen throughout the industry over the last couple of days.”
Gyorko began his career with San Diego in 2013 and finished sixth in the balloting for National League Rookie of the Year that season.
Over his eight years, Gyroko is batting .245 with 121 home runs and 370 RBIs. He hit a career-high 30 home runs for St. Louis in 2016.
