Garza headed to Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Garza and the Milwaukee Brewers finally have an agreement in place.

Speaking at a Brewers fan event on Sunday, owner Mark Attanasio said a four- year deal with the free agent pitcher needed only final approval from Major League Baseball and the players association. The team shortly after announced the deal on its Twitter feed.

Reports on Thursday indicated the two sides had agreed to a $52 million control, but the team later released a statement that said negotiations were still ongoing.

"We've been in contact with the Brewers for quite some time," Garza said in a conference call. "It was just kind of the right fit. It wasn't a surprise. I was expecting an open market and that's what I got. I'm really happy that I'm a Milwaukee Brewer."

The top starting pitcher left on the market after Masahiro Tanaka signed with the New York Yankees on Wednesday, Garza was 10-6 with a 3.82 ERA and 136 strikeouts over 155 1/3 innings in 24 combined starts between the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers last season.

Garza opened the year with the Cubs before being dealt to the Rangers near the July 31 deadline.

"Matt is an established top-of-the-rotation pitcher who provides our staff with experience and quality depth," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said.

The 30-year-old right-hander, who made only 18 starts in 2012 and has spent time on the disabled list in each of the last three seasons, will join a Milwaukee rotation that includes Yovani Gallardo, Kyle Lohse, Marco Estrada and Wily Peralta.

Originally a first-round pick of the Minnesota Twins, Garza is 67-67 lifetime with a 3.84 ERA over eight seasons with the Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, Cubs and Rangers.