MLB Rumors: Snubbed By Red Sox, Super Utility Player Joins Brewers

KEY POINTS

Holt never envisioned himself playing baseball for another team
Holt thought he would be a Red Sox forever
Brewers giving Holt golden opportunity

For Brock Holt, finishing his career with the Boston Red Sox was on his mind. Only 31, he expressed the desire to return to Boston but the Red Sox opted to sign Jose Peraza instead. Having worn the Red Sox uniform for so long, the 31-year-old utility player seemed to have a hard time realizing that he just got a new lease with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Hold inked a one-year deal with the Brewers which includes a club option for the 2021 MLB season. Details on two-time World Series champion were shared by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic on Twitter. He will earn $3.25 in one year and will get a $750,000 buyout guarantee if the team does not exercise the club option for 2021. Aside from that, Holt will get a $250,000 (each) bonus for 400, 425 and 450 plate appearances.

On the decision to get Peraza over him, Masslive.com reports that it may have been because Holt's asking price was higher than what Boston was willing to give. The Red Sox are still trying to manage their payroll to get under the competitive balance tax threshold.

After arriving at the Brewers camp, Holt explained how he never expected to go anywhere else in his MLB career. After spending the 2012 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the All-Star utility spent the rest of the way with the Red Sox before he became a free agent back in October.

"I loved it there. I loved playing at Fenway, I loved the fans, I loved the city. I was a huge part of the community so it was tough for me to come to the fact that I wasn't going back," Holt said in a video from Scott Grodsky. "But like I said, everything happens for a reason. I'm excited to be here."

It turns out that former Red Sox teammate Travis Shaw had a hand in Holt's move to Milwaukee. Currently with the Toronto Blue Jays, Shaw played for the Brewers from 2017 to 2019. Shaw shared his conversation with Holt on The Wisconsin Sports Zone.

"He was just asking about how the organization was and I gave him nothing but positive things," Shaw said.

Holt is expected to suit up for the Brewers when they play a three-game series over at Fenway Park from June 5 to 7.