buy low on Chad Cordero?

[yoyomayoma]

Became a free agent yesterday when he refused assignment. Sounds like he thinks he'll be ready to pitch by late spring training. What do you think he'd be looking for? I think he could be worth a flyer....

[BuckyTuba]

I think he's going to be going for a little more than expected. Yes, he's had a past peppered with injuries, but he was a closer for 4 seasons with the Nats. He made 6.8 million last year, and I would expect him to demand something in the area of 2 years, $14 million.

[yoshii8]

I think that the Brewers will probably look into it, I wouldn't give him too much because of the major surgery he had on his torn labrum, but I would give him an incentive type deal.

[MessiahRp]

I don't think his value will be in the $7 million/year range as suggested above. I think at $4-5 million for two years, even if he flames out he's not nearly the risk that Gagne was (since everyone saw Gagne falling apart in the second half of 2007 in Boston). We need an actual closer though this year so that Torres can be more useful eating other innings up, so unless he's ready to go by spring training I wouldn't want him.

 

Rp

[colbyjack]

I would be very surprised if he got a 2 year, $14M deal like BuckyTuba suggested. Who ever gives him that kind of deal is doomed to fail.

 

As yohii8 noted, a 1-year, incentive-laden deal would be very interesting. I'm not sure about the timing, as it may be a situation similar to the one Jon Lieber was in a few years ago in which he received a 2-year deal knowing that he wouldn't be able to contribute the first of those two years. I know the reports say Cordero is confident he'll be ready by spring training, but who else is confident that a pitcher who had surgery to repair a torn labrum is going to be ready to go come April?

 

A high-risk, high-reward type of deal. If he can be had and the price is right, I'm all for it, otherwise I'm guessing a team a little more desparate for bullpen help, and/or one that can make riskier moves without as much financial backlash, gets him in the fold.

[homer]

If Gagne got $10 million for one season.....

 

Not saying that's a starting point but if the Brewers were going to shell out that kind of dough on Gagne, they might certainly entertain the thought of doing something like 1 year $5 million plus incentives.

[ILuvDaBush]

It all depends on the velocity. At 85-88, I wouldn't give him $1mil, at 92-94 with his usual bit of movement, he's worth $7-10mil in this market.

[JohnBriggs12]

I wouldn't touch him. They're already have money invested in Riske who will be trying to recover physically. Risking more on Cordero doesn't make any sense. Look at a healthy guy like Cruz or consider internal options at closer.

 

Besides even when healthy, Cordero was more of a save accumulator that pitched in a spacious park than a dominant closer.

[Ennder]

Juan Cruz and healthy aren't words that go together too well.

 

In 2008 he had an oblique injury and a neck injury.

In 2007 he had shoulder problems that put him on the DL

In 2006 he had shoulder problems that put him on the DL

 

I'm not saying to avoid him but I certainly wouldn't give him more than 2 years.

[mothershipconnection]

I don't know if we have the existing talent to take on big injury risks in the bullpen unless we also acquire a solid workhorse or the price is so appealing that you have to take a chance.