The Milwaukee Brewers freed up salary space on Monday by trading right-hander Chase Anderson to the Toronto Blue Jays and declining the 2020 option on first baseman Eric Thames.
In exchange for Anderson, who is scheduled to be paid a base salary of $8.5 million in 2020, the Brewers received minor league infielder Chad Spanberger from Toronto. Spanberger, 24, will be assigned to Double-A Biloxi, the team announced.
The Brewers paid Thames a $1 million buyout instead of exercising his option, which was worth $7.5 million.
The Brewers also picked up the 2020 option of catcher Manny Pina, worth $1.85 million.
Anderson, who turns 32 later this month, was second in innnings pitched for the Brewers last season, finishing with 139. He was 8-4 with a 4.21 ERA. Overall, he is 53-40 with a 3.94 ERA in six major league seasons.
Thames hit 25 home runs for Milwaukee last season and hit .247 with 61 RBIs in 149 games. The 32-year-old veteran has 93 career home runs in five major league seasons.