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Romine inks $4.15M 1-year deal with Tigers

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers and catcher Austin Romine agreed to a $4.15 million, one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced and was pending a successful physical.

The 31-year-old Romine has backed up Gary Sanchez for the New York Yankees the past four seasons. Praised mostly for his defense and management of the pitching staff, Romine has steadily improved as a hitter. He batted .281 with eight home runs and a .748 OPS in 72 games last season.

Romine made $1.8 million last season. He will likely become Detroit’s starter, with Grayson Greiner the primary backup.

Romine is the younger brother of Andrew Romine, who was a utility player for Detroit from 2014-17.

In 2017, Austin Romine and Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera were at the center of a nasty brawl between the Tigers and Yankees. Cabrera shoved Romine, and the two wrestled each other to the ground.

The Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a one-year contract for $5,125,000 with pitcher Corey Knebel, who is returning from Tommy John surgery.

A 28-year-old right-hander, Knebel hurt his elbow during spring training and had surgery April 3. He had been eligible for salary arbitration and will have the same salary as in 2019.

His deal includes a $50,000 bonus for comeback player of the year along with other award bonuses.

Knebel had 39 saves in 2017, when he was an All-Star, and 16 the following season.

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