Milwaukee Brewers exercise 2015 option on Yovani Gallardo

May 9, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo (49) reacts after giving up a 3-run home run to New York Yankees third baseman Yangervis Solarte (not pictured) in the fourth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo (49) reacts after giving up a 3-run home run to New York Yankees third baseman Yangervis Solarte (not pictured) in the fourth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Milwaukee Brewers plan to have Yovani Gallardo back for 2015, and will pick up his $13 million option for next season, rather than pay him a $600,000 buyout. The move is not a surprise, as Gallardo is still young (he will pitch all of 2015 at age 29), and it’s rare to find a starting pitcher of Gallardo’s quality on the free agent market for less than $13 million.

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The Brewers’ collapsed in the second half this season, choking away a playoff spot until the team was eliminated from postseason contention on Thursday. Gallardo pitched in Thursday’s loss, allowing five runs (three earned) in five innings, but the majority of the blame for the Brewers’ collapse falls on the team’s stagnant offense.

Still, Gallardo had a nice season overall year in 2014, pitching 192.1 innings, with an ERA of 3.51 and he was worth 1.7 fWAR.

Galldaro cut his walk rate this year (and his 2.53 BB/9 ratio is the best of his seven-year career), but saw a decline in his strikeout rate, which in 2012 was nine percent per nine innings, and in 2013 was still a decent 7.17 K/9 ratio, but in 2014 his K/9 ratio is still falling, at 6.83. He has 146 strikeouts on the year, but it’s not certain if the Brewers are overly concerned with the declining strikeout totals. In 32 starts this season, Gallardo has a record of 8-11.

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