Padres sign LHP Drew Pomeranz to four-year contract

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres have signed left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz to a four-year contract, Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller announced today. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Padres designated RHP Pedro Avila for assignment.

In 46 appearances (18 starts) between the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers last season, Pomeranz posted a 4.85 ERA (56 ER, 104.0 IP) with 137 strikeouts against 44 walks. The veteran left-hander went 2-9 in 21 appearances (17 starts) for the Giants to begin the season before being acquired by the Brewers on July 31. In 25 appearances (one start) with Milwaukee, he owned a 2.39 ERA (7 ER, 26.1 IP), struck out 45 batters against eight walks, posted a .176 opponents average and owned the highest strikeout rate (45 percent) of any NL reliever from August 1 through the end of the season (min. 20 IP). He held opponents scoreless in 18 of his final 20 outings of the year, posting the second-best ERA (1.33) in the majors from August 17 through the end of the season (min. 20 appearances). The Collierville, Tenn. native made one appearance in the 2019 postseason, pitching 2.0 perfect innings in the National League Wild Card game against the eventual World Series Champion Washington Nationals.

Originally selected by the Cleveland Indians in the first round (5th overall) of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Mississippi, the 6-foot-5, 240-pound southpaw owns a career 4.04 ERA (365 ER, 814.0 IP) with 824 strikeouts in 242 appearances (140 starts) across parts of nine Major League seasons. Pomeranz earned National League All-Star honors in 2016 with the Padres, representing the Friars in the 2016 Midsummer Classic at Petco Park. In 2016 with San Diego, he went 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA (28 ER, 102.0 IP) and 115 strikeouts against 41 walks over 17 starts before being acquired by the Boston Red Sox on July 14 in exchange for right-hander Anderson Espinoza. Among Padre pitchers who have tossed 100.0+ innings in a single campaign, the 31-year-old ranks 1st in club history in opponents average (.184), 3rd in SO/9 (10.15), T-8th in WHIP (1.06) and 9th in ERA (2.47).