Brewers talking with Jeff Suppan

[dadofandrew]

Penny only makes about $7-8M, so he'd be cheaper...but of course, what are the players worth it would take to get him?

[Invader3K]

That's assuming Penny is even really available, too.

[TooLiveBrew]

From Rotoworld (Source - foxsports.com)

Quote:

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According to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, the Mets met with Jeff Suppan before returning home Wednesday from their visit with Barry Zito. Whether the Mets are truly interested or just want Zito to know they have alternatives, it was a good idea to meet with him. That said, we feel the Mets would be far better off spending $16 million-$17 million per year on Zito than $10 million-$11 million per year on Suppan.

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[TooLiveBrew]

I like the sound of this, and I was also encouraged to read earlier on the thread that someone mentioned Melvin's offer was 3 years at appx. $33 mil., with an option for a 4th (seems like it would have to be a club option, otherwise just give him 4 years straight up). Same poster said that the Pirates have made an offer, but it's not up to Suppan's desired AAV.

 

I like the sound of all this..... we might know by this weekend. NOW it's time for Melvin to be acting quickly, as you want to have a good offer ready to counter anything Soup will see from teams that view him as their fallback after Zito

[endaround]

Penny was win better than Suppan last year, will be 29 and costs less. Yes it depedns what teh Dodgers want, but he's clearly a better fit.

[AJAY]

More from the original FOX Sports article . . .

 

Left-hander Barry Zito wasn't the only free-agent pitcher that Mets' executives visited in southern California.

 

The Mets, perhaps lining up an alternative if Zito signs with another club, also met with free-agent right-hander Jeff Suppan, major-league sources tell FOXSports.com.

 

Suppan, 31, is the most accomplished starting pitcher after Zito remaining on the market. Mets' officials met with Zito and his agent Scott Boras, on Tuesday night, then spoke with Suppan and his agent, Scott Leventhal, on Wednesday morning before returning to New York.

 

Jeff Suppan looks to cash in after helping the Cardinals win the World Series. (Andrew Gombert / Getty Images)

 

Suppan also visited in California with Brewers owner Mark Attanasio and other team officials, sources said. He is believed to have received two four-year offers, one from the Brewers and one from an unidentified club.

 

The Giants and Pirates also remain interested in signing Suppan. The Pirates, however, are not expected to be competitive if Suppan's price rises to his desired level, which one interested general manager says is $44 million over four years.

[Foofty]

Brewers discuss adding Suppan

Club officials meet with pitcher's agent

By TOM HAUDRICOURT

thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Dec. 21, 2006

A source familiar with the negotiations confirmed Wednesday night that Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio and club officials met Tuesday in Los Angeles with Scott Leventhal, the representative for free agent pitcher Jeff Suppan.

 

Brewers/MLB

 

Jeff Suppan will likely command a salary in the range of $10 million a season.

 

Neither Attanasio, who lives and works in Los Angeles, nor general manager Doug Melvin was available for comment Wednesday night. Tyler Barnes, the club's vice president for communications, said he could not comment on whether the meeting took place.

 

Melvin, who originally stated his interest in Suppan last week, said on Monday he was contemplating putting an offer together for Suppan, a veteran right-hander who pitched the past three seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals.

 

The fact that Attanasio took part in the meeting with Leventhal indicates the Brewers are serious about signing Suppan. In all likelihood, the club made its initial offer at that meeting.

 

ESPN.com reported that Suppan has two four-year offers on the table - one from the Brewers and another from an undisclosed club. That club could be Pittsburgh, which has stated strong interest in Suppan, but the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals and New York Mets also are in the picture.

 

ESPN.com also reported that Levanthal met in Southern California with a front-office contingent from the Mets. That group included team president Jeff Wilpon and general manager Omar Minaya.

 

The Mets' contingent originally traveled to California to meet with Scott Boras, the representative for left-hander Barry Zito, considered the top free agent pitcher on the market. The Mets are making a strong push to sign Zito but apparently have interest in Suppan as Plan B.

 

Levanthal told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last week he didn't think Suppan would sign until Zito strikes a deal, leaving Suppan as the top pitcher on the free agent market.

 

Suppan, who will be 32 on Jan. 2, was 12-7 with a 4.12 ERA in 32 starts for the Cardinals last season. He allowed one run in 15 innings in two starts against the Mets in the NLCS, including the decisive Game 7, and was named most valuable player in that series.

 

Leventhal did not return telephone messages but is believed to be seeking a deal for at least four years for Suppan. Taking into account contracts signed by free agent pitchers Gil Meche (five years, $55 million with Kansas City) and Ted Lilly (four years, $40 million with the Chicago Cubs), Suppan probably will command a yearly salary in the neighborhood of $10 million.

 

The Brewers have an open spot in their starting rotation behind Ben Sheets, Chris Capuano, Dave Bush and Claudio Vargas. Suppan compiled a 44-26 record over the past three years and has averaged 203 innings per season since 1999.

 

Melvin said in his early discussions with Leventhal that Suppan was receptive to coming to Milwaukee.

 

www.jsonline.com/story/in...?id=544595

 

 

latest from Mke JS

 

EDIT: Remember to always add a link when posting a story, thanks. -PF

[Invader3K]

Well, definitely seems like things are looking up if Attanasio is directly involved in the meetings.

[Never Outhustled]

Penny was win better than Suppan last year, will be 29 and costs less. Yes it depedns what teh Dodgers want, but he's clearly a better fit.

 

Doesn't Penny's contract expire soon, which would cause him then to cost more?

[trwi7]

Quote:

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Doesn't Penny's contract expire soon, which would cause him then to cost more?

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I believe he is signed through 2008 with a club option for 2009. He's also going to cost us some useful players.

[RockCoCougars]

I'd be willing to part with some prospects for Penny, not a problem. He is a much better pitcher than Suppan, younger, and would come cheaper for less years. He would be a solid #3 starter for sure. That said, I really don't think that he's on the market.

[RockCoCougars]

One other thing that I was pondering.. Suppan appears a little overweight to me. Those guys tend to hit a wall and go downhill really quickly. I suppose that David Wells could be an exception, but he has been on and off the disabled list for the past several years.

[brewer1]

And now Melvin has confirmed they met with Suppan and made a 4 yr offer.

 

LINK

 

 

(fixed link -TC)

 

Thanks TC...someday I may learn how to do those things right.

 

Oh Oh I wrecked it again..I'll stay away.

[BREWCREW5]

wow....

[PeaveyFury]

From that link:

 

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin confirmed this morning that he made a four-year offer to free-agent pitcher Jeff Suppan during a meeting earlier in the week in Los Angeles with Suppan and his agent, Scott Leventhal.

 

That meeting was held at the home of Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, who took part in the discussion.

 

Bringing the player in to meet at the owner's house seems interesting. Probably can't hurt.

 

And they met for FIVE HOURS on Tuesday? What in the world do you talk about for five hours?

[Invader3K]

They probably discussed football and golf.

[trwi7]

Quote:

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What in the world do you talk about for five hours?

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The weather, it's always talked about. Even in Southern California.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[rluzinski]

High interest in Roberts and Pierre = Mark A.

 

Emphasis on veteran backups = Mark A.

 

High interest in Suppan = Mark A.?

 

Why doesn't Mark A. just fire Melvin and take on the GM position full time. He's been apparently making all the personnel decisions this off season anyway. If I were Melvin I'd be sick of owners meddling.

[Invader3K]

Where the hell do you come up with "Mark A. is making all the personnel decisions?"

[dadofandrew]

What in the world do you talk about for five hours?

 

I thought the same thing. Suffice it to say, I bet Yost and Melvin went over every player on the team, and for lack of a better word, it was a long, grown up version of a pep rally for Brewers' baseball. Mark A was likely there to add things like, "If we need another reliever in June or July, Doug will have the money he needs to go get him."

 

Another thing to consider about the depth I think is superb and others do not, I imagine Jeff Suppan is a lot more impressed with Miller, Counsell, and Graffy on the bench than he would be with Rivera, Barnwell, and someone we plan to pick up in late March.

[rluzinski]

Where the hell do you come up with "Mark A. is making all the personnel decisions?"

 

While I don't know the exact level of involvement from Mark A., it's pretty clear to me that it's been increasing over the last 6 months or so. I don't think it's a cooincidence that Melvin pursuing Pierre and Roberts cooincided with Mark A. making public statements about needing more team speed and less strikeouts (something to that effect, at least). Same goes for Mark A. wanting a better bench and Melvin aquiring Counsell.

 

IMO, if Mark A. does anything more than be a spokesman for the team with regard to personnel moves, his involvment is too great.

[JohnBriggs12]

Al,

 

Last year at this time the bench was Hall, Cirillo, Hart, Gross and Moeller. Rivera proved to be an upgrade over Moeller.

 

I'm a lot more impressed with that group than the current one.

 

The Barnwell reference is a non issue thrown in there by defenders of the Counsell signing. The guy played in 13 games and didn't affect anything (though he did score the tying run vs. Detroit in a win) other than prompting Melvin to get Graffanino.

[SenatorShriv]

Mark A. could just be publicly reiterating what Doug Melvin told him the team needed or was looking for. I'm happy that he wants to be involved in helping out when he can, I just hope that he is making the decisions about which individual players to pursue to Dougie.

 

I wasn't really jazzed about signing Suppan, but I would be all over it for four years at around $10 million per year. If possible I would try to frontload the contract pretty severely.

[RobertR]

I think it's obvious they were talking about the current season of House and comics artists.

 

Seriously, it's obvious that the Brewers are making a big push for Suppan and trying to sell him on the team. Money, the team's chances of contending, and the quality of life in Milwaukee were probably all subjects of the meeting. They probably had a nice lunch as well.

 

Robert

[Invader3K]

Well, just because Mark Attanasio was saying the obvious in public "We need a better bench" (after last year's faltered in the last two months of the season) doesn't mean he's dictating to Melvin which players to go after. Besides, it's not like the Brewers actually signed Roberts, or anyone else like that.