Crew signs versatile lefty Alexander to 1-year deal

PHOENIX -- While other pitchers might obsess about roles, Tyler Alexander embraces life as a swingman.

¡°I love it,¡± said the 30-year-old, who reported to Brewers camp on Thursday after finalizing a one-year free agent contract the day before. ¡°For me, the ability to do both [starting and relieving] makes it exciting throughout the year. I think it¡¯s very valuable because there¡¯s not many swingmen who want to do it. If you¡¯re starting, you typically want to start all the time.

¡°I kind of pride myself on doing whatever the team needs. I think it¡¯s fun not knowing, the mystery of it all and being ready for anything.¡±

Alexander is a control specialist who has started 52 of his 143 Major League appearances for the Tigers and Rays over the past six seasons, with only 98 walks in 449 career innings. He was 6-5 with a 5.10 ERA in 23 games (nine starts) for Tampa Bay last season while setting a career high with 107 2/3 innings.

To make room for Alexander the Brewers placed left-hander Robert Gasser on the 60-day injured list. Gasser isn¡¯t expected to pitch until August at the earliest as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery.

¡°What I was looking for was as many innings as I can get,¡± Alexander said. ¡°My goal every year, because I¡¯ve done both starting and relieving, is to get to 100 innings. The situation here I thought was perfect with the need on the staff for a guy to fill in as a starter and move back and forth.¡±

Typically, Alexander builds up his pitch count during Spring Training so he breaks camp at the 3-4 inning mark per outing. That allows him to continue to build if he¡¯s needed in a starting role, or to back off if it looks like he¡¯ll pitch more 1-2 inning stints out of the bullpen.

The Brewers could use Alexander as either a starter or a reliever as they put together a pitching staff without All-Star closer Devin Williams (traded to the Yankees) and likely without starter Brandon Woodruff at the start of the season as he works back from shoulder surgery. Manager Pat Murphy also revealed Wednesday that left-hander DL Hall, a rotation candidate who could also fit in the bullpen, would remain shut down for several more weeks with a lat injury.

¡°I got a number of text messages from [Alexander¡¯s] former coaches and they rave about him,¡± Murphy said. ¡°He¡¯s got enough ¡®veteran-ness¡¯ to him and enough versatility that I think he¡¯s exciting as hell. He really seems like the right dude.¡±