The Milwaukee Brewers signed Chase Anderson to a two-year contract extension with club options for 2020 and 2021, the team announced on Thursday, an agreement that is mutually beneficial for both sides after the best big-league season of the starting pitcher’s career.

According to MLB.com, the two-year extension is fully guaranteed for $11.75 million, and the contract could be worth as much as $31.35 million with incentives over the four seasons, if both options are picked up. Anderson, who was eligible for arbitration, went 12-4 with a 2.75 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 25 starts last year. The right-hander, who turns 30 on Nov. 30, had 13 quality starts in 2017 and took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of a game against Arizona on May 29.

"Signing Chase to a multi-year contract furthers our strategy to acquire, develop and retain talent throughout our organization," General Manager David Stearns said in a statement. "Chase's 2017 performance elevated his stature in the game and demonstrated that he has the capability to lead a rotation.

"Since he arrived in Milwaukee, Chase has been a model contributor to our community both on and off the field. We are happy for him and his family and look forward to Chase's contributions for years to come."

The Brewers acquired Anderson, along with infielder Aaron Hill and minor-leaguer Isan Diaz, from the Diamondbacks last year in a trade that sent shortstop Jean Segura and pitcher Tyler Wagner to Arizona. Milwaukee later flipped Hill to Boston for two prospects, starter Aaron Wilkerson and infielder Wendell Rijo, and Diaz was named the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year last season.

Anderson made $2.45 million in 2017, but with improved command, increased velocity and a new cut fastball, the veteran had a career year.  He averaged 94 mph on his four-seam fastball last season, according to FanGraphs, with a much more effective curveball and changeup. Anderson spent seven weeks on the disable list in July and August with a left oblique strain, which limited him to 141.1 innings.

From the Brewers’ perspective, they retain a key member of their starting rotation – and the ability to buy out at least one year of free agency – on a relatively inexpensive contract for the next two seasons, as they continue to try and build into a contender. For Anderson, even if 2017 was his apex, he gets a significant pay raise for the two guaranteed years, and the chance to earn much more if he continues pitching well.

"I'm very thankful to be in these shoes, because a lot of people don't get to this point," Anderson told MLB.com. "It means my family is taken care of and I can just focus on baseball and we can win a World Series.

"The timing for me was right, being in the middle of arbitration. I'm not a guy that likes to truly go year to year. It's a gamble. When a team offers you an extension and it's guaranteed money, it's hard to turn it down. It's security for your family. I'm a person who wants my family to be taken care of no matter what happens."

In 104 career games, Anderson is 36-28 with a 3.87 ERA over 560 innings.

Along with Anderson, in its 2018 rotation the Brewers will return right-handers Zach Davies and Jimmy Nelson, although the latter is likely to miss the beginning of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. The Brewers have a team option on disappointing veteran Matt Garza, but they are not expected to exercise it. Brandon Woodruff, Brent Suter and Junior Guerra, as well as internal prospects and possible outside acquisitions, are in the mix for starting spots.

Milwaukee now has eight players eligible for arbitration this offseason: pitchers Nelson, Jared Hughes, Jeremy Jeffress, Corey Knebel and Carlos Torres, and position players Hernan Perez, Jonathan Villar and Stephen Vogt.

Sogard signed

The Brewers also announced on Thursday that they'd signed infielder Eric Sogard to a one-year contract.

Sogard, 31, batted .273 with three home runs and 18 RBI in 94 games during his first season with Milwaukee after missing all of 2016 with a left knee injury. He made 60 starts at four positions (37 games at second base, 20 at shortstop, two at third base, one in left field) and posted a .393 on-base percentage, which would have led the team if he had enough plate appearances, with 45 walks and just 37 strikeouts.

"Eric brings to the team a veteran presence who possesses the ability to play multiple positions and reach base at a high rate," Stearns said. "We are pleased to welcome Eric and his family back to Milwaukee for the 2018 season."

Sogard, who was eligible to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2017 postseason, was originally signed last December as a non-roster invitee to spring training. He owns a career batting average of .245 with 11 homers and 123 RBI during seven major league seasons with Oakland (2010-15) and Milwaukee (2017).