2009 Closer -- Hoffman to Brewers

[rluzinski]

I wish we had an idea what he wants per year. If we are talking 2/$12, great. 2/$18.... no thanks. I starting pitcher is much more valuable than a closer.

[jjfanec]

I wish we had an idea what he wants per year. If we are talking 2/$12, great. 2/$18.... no thanks. I starting pitcher is much more valuable than a closer.

I don't see anyway he gets 2/18. That is more than Fuentes got and I don't see Hoffman getting more than Fuentes. I would guess it is somewhere 2/10 or 2/14 and I would do either especially of the second year was an option.

[reillymcshane]

The Dodgers should let Broxton close - the guy has earned the shot. I would hate to yank that carpet from under his feet (if possible, considering how big he is).

 

Plus, if the Dodgers do sign hoffman and give him the job - or make it a competition - you can bet there'll be yelling and screaming the first time either one blows a big game.

 

If I was the Crew I'd just say 'Hoff, the job is yours. We know you can do it. Take the ball. Stay healthy. Here's 2 years and $12 million. Thank you."

[dpapo]

Haudricourt has Melvin's latest comments about things,

"If (the other team) is LA, he lives out there," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin. "All we can do is give it our best shot."

 

"We got more direction at the kind of numbers we're looking at," said Melvin. "We're going to look at it. We exchanged numbers to a point. We agreed to talk again (today)."

 

"Melvin wouldn't say if he'd be willing to go to two years guaranteed."

 

"He's got three young boys, so he could go home a lot more if he signs with Los Angeles," said Melvin. "That's what free agency allows a player to do - pick where it's best suited for him to play.

"We'd like to have him. He'd be a good fit on our club and be a good influence on our young pitchers. If not, we'll move on."

 

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

[PeaveyFury]

This came out of nowhere this morning and over about 12 hours has gone to very optimistic, then very pessimistic with word of the Dodgers' involvement.

 

It really seems as though it's going to come down to being handed the closers' job vs. staying on the west coast, assuming money figures are in the same ballpark.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

I'd go 70% on us getting Hoffman right now. I can't see him taking an 8th inning reliever job with the Dodgers just to stay on the West Coast. When's the last time Hoffman wasn't a closer? He's going to want the ball in the 9th inning. Get it done, Melvin!

[logan82]

If Hoffman passes on us and Sheets signs somewhere else, I think we are back to "nobody wants to play in Milwaukee." There have been several free agents that signed deals that look like Melvin would have done.

[And That]

According to Tim Brown, the Dodgers have offered a 1 year+2010 team option deal to Hoffman. No word on the money, or any of the specifics of the Milwaukee offer.

 

I still think the Dodgers' "offer" is a bargaining ploy by Hoffman's agent, and if the Dodgers said Hoffman would be given a legitimate shot to win their closer's job, this deal would already be done IMO.

[PeaveyFury]

I still think the Dodgers' "offer" is a bargaining ploy by Hoffman's agent

 

If the word of the Dodgers' offer is true, it may simply be a ploy to get a guaranteed 2nd year from Milwaukee.

[BrewCrewForever]

Just give him the guaranteed 2nd year Doug. Might as well, I think Hoffman can still be effective for 2 years. Hope I'm right if he does sign.

[fondybrewfan]

rotoworld has the deal as 1 year which exceeds $4M. There is no word of an option. If the Crew were to offer a 2 year $10-11M deal I would think Hoffman would take it.

[JohnBriggs12]

If being "the closer" is so important to Hoffman, what if he does what Gagne did last year? To Gagne's credit, he didn't pout after being taken out of that role. I'm not liking the fact that the reason Hoffman chooses Milwaukee is because he's being handed the job. Would he accept a demotion if one was warranted?

 

I do still think he can do a decent job for one year, but once a guy gets into his 40's, it's a year to year deal, so I wouldn't go for a 2 year deal unless it's low money with incentives.

[dpapo]

According to the LA Times, the Dodgers plan to make Hoffman their closer as well.

 

"By signing Hoffman, the Dodgers would return Jonathan Broxton to a setup role and add a veteran arm to a bullpen that has lost Takashi Saito, Joe Beimel and Chan Ho Park."

 

So, if Hoffman can be the closer with both the Brewers and Dodgers, it's probably going to come down to money, length of contract and how strongly does Hoffman want to stay close to home.

I think that unless the Brewers offer a much better deal, he'll end up with the Dodgers. It might just come down to whether or not the Brewers are willing to guarantee two years or one year with an easily obtained option for a second year.

 

http://www.latimes.com/sp...0,7011387.story?track=rss

[jjfanec]

If Hoffman passes on us and Sheets signs somewhere else, I think we are back to "nobody wants to play in Milwaukee." There have been several free agents that signed deals that look like Melvin would have done.

How are the several free agents? Obviously, we are always going to struggle to get top end guys to come hear because of the money we can offer, our history of competitiveness, and our geographic location, but I do not remember many free agents who we tried to get but that did not seem to want to come.

[Chio151]

You guarantee Hoffman the closer role until he fails. He's a professional, he gets it.

 

Just offer him the second guaranteed year. I think he'll be running next year still.

[GoudaBrew]

Per MLBTR from the LA Times:

 

"By signing Hoffman, the Dodgers would return Jonathan Broxton to a setup role"

 

Link

 

So, going to LA would allow Hoffman to close, but its unclear if the Dodgers have offered a 2nd year option (only Brown has mentioned the option). It sounds like we'd definitely have to add a 2nd year to compete for Hoffman.

[MillerParkSouth]

well if LA would make him the closer, we have to offer a 2nd guaranteed year and perhaps an extra mil a year. I think he's worth it. It's not like he's a guy that relies on velocity to get people out. He was still very effective last year, I think he's definitely worth a 2 year deal. It's not like he's any old reliever either, he has a hall of fame track record.

[GoudaBrew]

I'm not even sure an extra million would do it. If there is an option for a 2nd year and the Dodgers are within $1-2 million I would bet he opts for the west coast. Both teams are contenders and he's got plenty of money. At this point in his career location may be the most important thing to him.

[milwaukeesportsfan]

I'm not going to get too excited until this deal is finalized. It would be great to have him aboard, but if not, I'm sure things will still work out fine for us. Closers are important, but if we don't get him, that just leaves us with more money to sign a starter, which I think we need more than a closer. I actually like the idea of letting CV take a shot at the closer's role. I guess I won't be too heartbroken if we don't sign him, but if we do, I'd be okay with that, too.

[jhpc12]

I think it is a deal that needs to be made. Probably 2/12 to 2/14 would get it done. The latest rumor this morning is that the Dodgers are only interest in a one year deal.

 

And besides having TREVOR coming out in the ninth inning to Hell's Bell's would make Miller park explode. The only other intro song that comes close is Rick Vaughn's Wild Thang.

[naivin]

If Hoffman passes on us and Sheets signs somewhere else, I think we are back to "nobody wants to play in Milwaukee." There have been several free agents that signed deals that look like Melvin would have done.

How do you figure? Hoffman who may prefer to stay on the West coast where he has been his whole life, and Sheets who the Brewers are clearly not interested in, are situations that clearly have little to do with a guy not wanting to play in Milwaukee. Outside of CC, Texiera, and Rodriguez which simply weren't going to happen, I can't think of many guys Melvin would have had much interest in.

[yoyomayoma]

From Rotoworld via hot stove blog:

 

The Brewers have joined a group of teams that will watch free agent Chad Cordero throw this Wednesday and Friday.

Cordero could be the Brewers' back-up plan if they lose out on Trevor Hoffman. The 26-year-old closer is hoping to prove that his shoulder is in good shape with these throwing sessions. He had major surgery this offseason but is expected to be ready by Opening Day. The Diamondbacks, Nationals and Tigers will also be in attendance.

 

I have a feeling that it's not the Dodgers being played but the Brewers to raise Hoffman's price to play for Dodgers. Hopefully we can work it out but I think Trevor will be a Dodger. Cordero scares me but if he returns to form, he's a steal.

[Patrick425]

If Hoffman passes on us and Sheets signs somewhere else, I think we are back to "nobody wants to play in Milwaukee." There have been several free agents that signed deals that look like Melvin would have done.

I agree with this. I'm not sure why people get so defensive about this. I have lived in Milwaukee my entire life, but I can understand that it's really not an ideal desitination for most ball players. This would be true even if the Brewers had a stronger tradition of winning. I love Milwaukee, but I also realize that it's the punchline of many jokes.

[Tbadder]

I couldn't agree more. If you were rich and 25 to 35 years of age, would you pick Milwaukee? Not many. It is a great place, but not for the demographic were talking about. I don't think it's any thing to get upset about. It's just the truth. That's why the emphasis has to be on player development; free agency will never be a truly viable option for the Brewers.

[naivin]

What examples are there of FA's the Brewers have seriously pursued that chose to sign elsewhere because they didn't want to play in Milwaukee? That's not being defensive, it is just looking at the facts. Had the Brewers made the same offers to CC, Texiera, Rodriguez instead of the Yankees/Mets, do you think for one second they wouldn't be playing here? Of course they would. Follow the money. It isn't about where, its about how much. Players don't want to play in Milwaukee for less than they can get elsewhere, but that is light years from players simply not wanting to play in Milwaukee. It wasn't that long ago nobody wanted to play in Green Bay. Then one day the Packers left a Brinks truck in Reggie White's driveway.

 

Braun, Cameron, Suppan, Gagne wanted to play in Milwaukee because of the contracts the Brewers offered them - better than the alternatives.

 

If someone can provide me some examples of players who turned down comparable offers to play somewhere else, you might be able to convince me. Cordero is the only one that comes to mind, but even in that case, there was a $ difference to the tune of several million.

 

As far as Hoffman goes, he's lived in CA his entire career and is looking toward retirement - bad example (not to mention if the Brewers offer an additional year, guess which one he'll probably choose). Sheets is another terrible example. By all accounts, the Brewers have absolutely no interest (like the rest of the league).