Major League Baseball

Lefty Cotts, Brewers agree to 1-year, $3 million contract

Published Jan. 30, 2015 11:39 a.m. ET

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Reliever Neal Cotts and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract.

The 34-year-old left-hander was 2-9 with a 4.32 ERA and two saves in a career-high 73 relief appearances for Texas last season, a year after going 8-3 with a 1.11 ERA in 58 games with the Rangers. Cotts has held opponents to a .223 average during the past two seasons with 128 strikeouts in 123 2/3 innings.

Cotts is 20-24 with a 4.05 ERA and four saves in 410 relief appearances and five starts for the White Sox (2003-06), Cubs (2007-09) and Texas. He appeared in all four games of the 2005 World Series and got the win in Game 2 against Houston.

He had Tommy John surgery in July 2009, did not pitch in 2010 and `11 because of arm and hip injuries, then spent 2012 in the Rangers' minor league system. He made his debut for Texas on May 31, 2013, his first big league appearance since May 25, 2009.

To make room for Cotts on the 40-man roster, infielder/outfielder Elian Herrera was designated for assignment Friday.