2009 Closer -- Hoffman to Brewers

[Oldcity]

Sweet. This would be a big help.

[MillerParkSouth]

i've been saying all off season that this is a no brainer. doesn't cost a draft pick, should come cheap-ish, experienced. i will cry tears of joy if we can get this done.

[jjfanec]

Hoffman solidifies our bullpen in my mind. Allow Carlos to be our Marmol type guy and you still have Riske, and McClung (if you sign a starting pitcher), along with Stetter, Julio, Coffey, and one of the young guys maybe. I would be on board with that bullpen. Hopefully it is a small enough deal that we have the flexibility to bring in a starter as well.

[GoudaBrew]

What's everyone thinking money-wise here? I would think $8-10 million over 2 years should get it done

[TooLiveBrew]

Would the Crew even have to go to 2 years? I hope we can ink him to a one-year deal, personally.

[jjfanec]

If Fuentes got 2 years 17.5 million. I would think 2 years at 10 should do it, but I have no idea.

I do agree a one year deal is a strong possibility or a 2 year with an option.

[Oldcity]

I'd guess one year for eight or two for 14. I'd do either one.

[homer]

Does anyone with mad photoshop skillz mind putting a Trevor Hoffman brewer jersey together? I have a friend I need to impress/mock/taunt

[And That]

Hoffman has always been talked about as a one year deal guy, and I'd certainly take him at one year, but two years, or two and an option, make more sense for the Brewers if he'd sign it. He is not an injury risk and he doesn't rely on velocity so his age at the end of a two or three year deal doesn't bother me one bit. Plus with the market the way it is, wouldn't you want to lock in a guy you might not ordinarily even be able to get to a deal that will maximize his unusual value to you?

 

I hope they sign him, but I hope it is for more than one year. I'd be thrilled with two years and an option.

 

If Hoffman signs, it must put to rest any interest the Brewers have in Juan Cruz. However, I'd still like to see them go after Brandon Lyon or re-sign Guillermo Mota at the very least. Hoffman+Lyon, coupled with the signing of a Looper or even Jon Garland (who I suspect might be starting to look at a one year deal) or Paul Byrd gives the staff enough depth for the time being.

[GoudaBrew]

Lyon is an interesting idea as well. I would feel much better about the bullpen with Hoffman and Lyon going into the season than I did with Gagne-Turnbow heading into last season.

 

I know Lyon wants a multi-year deal and I would assume he'd get a 2 year deal with a 3rd year option at least.

[B2k1121]

I am not going to get my hopes up about this. I swear.

[dpapo]

Haudricourt seems to believe that this thing will get settled one way or another pretty soon, maybe by the end of today. The Journal Sentinel has even put it as it's main headline story on it's website. At least at the time I am writing this.

I pretty much agree with what And That wrote. If the Brewers do sign Hoffman, I still would like to see them get Lyon. Sort of like they did last year with Gagne and Torres and to a certain extent, Mota and Riske. And they still would need to get a starter for the 5 man rotation and maybe another starter that could be signed to a minor league deal for added depth in case of injury.

But, the signing of Hoffman would take care of one of the big needs and I hope it gets done.

[brewmann04]

if they sign Hoffman to close for 1 year and sin Lyon to a multi year deal he could be a set up guy this season and closer the following.

[Oldcity]

And That, you really think they could afford Hoffman, Lyon and a starter? I am under the impression that they wouldn't be able to afford that. I could see Hoffman and Sheets or Hoffman and Looper/Garland, but I doubt they could afford all three.

 

I should add that I think the bullpen is in pretty good shape if they sign Hoffman. Not great, but I don't think it would be imperative to add another reliever. If they get Hoffman the focus should turn to a starter, as that would be a much bigger need.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

It's impressive that Hoffman saved 30 games last year for a poor Padres team in only 45 innings of work. The 1.037 WHIP is mighty impressive as well. He still gets a strikeout per inning so even at age 41, this seems like a great deal at 5 million per year for 1 or 2 years.

[Pudster13]

Don't forget that Brandon Lyon is a Type B free agent.

And what role is David Riske gonna play in our bullpen?

Since I think the Crew can only afford two key free agents (thanks Mike Cameron!), I'd prefer it be Hoffman and Sheets.

[Oldcity]

Lyon is a type B free agent, so the Brewers would not need to give up a pick for him. Arizona gets a sandwich pick, but that doesn't come from the Brewers.

[And That]

Lyon's Type B status means nothing to the Brewers. They don't have to give up anything.

 

I believe Cameron is still going to be traded to the Yankees, and I think that Hoffman and Lyon will be had (by someone) at pretty big discounts. So yes, I think they might be able to squeeze in Hoffman, Lyon and a starter. But you might be right about going after Hoffman and a better starter than the one they'd get if they signed Lyon too.

[Invader3K]

Maybe the Brewers could offer Hoffman a one year deal with a second year option that vests if he appears a certain number of times or something?

[colbyjack]

I feel yoshii's comments about the bullpen and adding Hoffman are dead-on:

 

Hoffman, McClung, Villanueva, Riske, Stetter, and two of Dillard, Coffey, Swindle, Julio, Defilice, Morlan would give us a lot of quality and depth.

 

And the team still may have a few other added members to the depth in Luis Pena and Omar Aguilar. I think adding Hoffman would be more than enough to solidify the 'pen, meaning guys like Cruz and Lyon aren't needed. If Hoffman is added, the focus really needs to be turned to the starting staff and hopefully finding an arm that could take a little pressue off of Gallardo having to serve as the staff ace.

 

Hopefully Haudricourt didn't get people's hopes up too much.

[Oldcity]

Yeah, valid point about Cameron. I suppose that trade could be revisited and would free up salary.

[And That]

I'd say the Brewers have plenty of depth if they sign Hoffman, but beyond Hoffman, Villanueva and Riske, I don't necessarily see the quality. They have a number of guys that could be good, but also might suck. To that end, I'm pretty confident Lyon would not suck, hence I think he would be a good addition. Given his "bad" year last year, I also think he might come a little more cheaply, something in the Riske range.

 

If/when the Brewers trade Cameron, they'll have enough money to make two good additions to the bullpen, and still add a starter. If they end up not trading him (which would surprise me, but also be fine with me), then yah, you sign Hoffman and a starter and then see if you have any money left for another bullpen guy.

[dpapo]

Haudricourt has updated his blog after talking with Hoffman's agent. Gets the feeling that Hoffman and his agent are looking for a 2 year deal.

Some quotes from the article:

"Thurman assured me that Hoffman has "mutual interest" in the Brewers..."

 

"Thurman and Hoffman apparently have been doing their due diligence on the Brewers, talking to folks in the organization to gauge the atmosphere, plans for 2009, etc. Hoffman went as far as talking to new manager Ken Macha.

This is not to say the Brewers are a lock to get Hoffman. Thurman said he is talking to other teams who are interested in the 41-year-old changeup specialist."

"...the sides discussed parameters of a deal yesterday. That's almost always the precursor to an actual offer, which the Brewers might make before the day is over."

"They definitely have interest and so does Trevor," said Thurman. "It's a possibility (to get a deal done)."

 

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/37151959.html

[StearnsFTW]

Hoffman has always been talked about as a one year deal guy, and I'd certainly take him at one year, but two years, or two and an option, make more sense for the Brewers if he'd sign it. He is not an injury risk and he doesn't rely on velocity so his age at the end of a two or three year deal doesn't bother me one bit. Plus with the market the way it is, wouldn't you want to lock in a guy you might not ordinarily even be able to get to a deal that will maximize his unusual value to you?

 

I hope they sign him, but I hope it is for more than one year. I'd be thrilled with two years and an option.

 

If Hoffman signs, it must put to rest any interest the Brewers have in Juan Cruz. However, I'd still like to see them go after Brandon Lyon or re-sign Guillermo Mota at the very least. Hoffman+Lyon, coupled with the signing of a Looper or even Jon Garland (who I suspect might be starting to look at a one year deal) or Paul Byrd gives the staff enough depth for the time being.

I agree with all of this except the Garland or Byrd part. I want no part of either one of those guys. If the Brewers could sign Hoffman, Lyon & Sheets, I'd be one happy camper. Cameron would probably have to go at that point, which would make me less happy, but I'd feel a heck of a lot better about the pitching. And, assuming Sheets is a 2 year deal, we would have no money committed long term, which is really the key for me.

[recte44]