Melvin wants 2 starters

[twobrewers]

I do like a number of other guys like Duchsherer, Sheets, Bedard, Big Unit, Smoltz, Escobar and Harden.

Toss in Myers, Lowry and Garland to that mix. Sign two of them (short term) and I can head into the 2010 season pretty content.

 

He's probably done - but I'd also add in Jason Schmidt on a minor league contract. With his injury history, maybe he is interested in working with Peterson.

[Ennder]

Garland is a younger Davis/Washburn. A #4 type guy who would be a small upgrade over Looper at least. I'd be ok with him if it is cheap.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Garland better be WAY cheap. He's a slightly better version of Looper. Low k's, high WHIP. He was good 4 years ago.

 

If he costs anything CLOSE to Cameron, then what was the point? Replace a well above average CFer's salary with a decidedly average starter?

[splitterpfj]

We'll hear more about Atlanta's willingness to deal a pitcher, it seems as though they'd prefer it to be Kawakami or Lowe.

 

If it comes down to these two pitchers - some thoughts on Lowe...

 

He's already 36

He's signed for 3 more years at 15M per

He's coming off a season in which his walks were up, his Ks were down, he led the NL in hits allowed, and he averaged less than 6 IP per start.

 

He still took the ball 34 times, and he finished with 15 wins....but he scares me...too many years for too much money at his age.

[MNBrew]

The pros & cons of Harden have been well-discussed here, but I wonder if having a chance to work with his original ML pitching coach again (Peterson) might not be some sort of enticement.

 

- Sign Harden. That's 1 of Melvin's 2.

- Trade for Vazquez. That's the 2nd of Melvin's 2.

- Sign Sheets (if possible) and Mulder to make-good, low-risk deals that would provide great depth if the moves would work out.

 

Aiming high is hugely important.

[jjfanec]

If we get a Harden or Bedard, I want someone who is solid and proven durable. I would love Vazquez and one of those two. That gives us good potential. I like your plan MNBrew

[pingman]

Lowe is healthy & still brings his normal velocity....his problem last season was he couldn't locate his sinker.... there's no reason he shouldn't return to his normal form.....and his sinkerball style is perfect for the hitters-biased Miller Park

[DHonks]

mlbtraderumors speculates the Brewers sign Doug Davis and Jarrod Washburn. I'd be fine with that, as we could probably land both for the money saved by Hardy and Cameron. However, it'd be nice to also bring back Ben Sheets.

 

A rotation of Gallardo, Parra, Davis, Bush, and Washburn would be a big upgrade. It would likely give us Mark Mulder and Capuano in AAA as alternatives. Signing Sheets would allow the Crew to either deal Bush or make him a swing man.

[Invader3K]

Have their been any recent updates on Capuano's status?

 

I'm not sure if the "bridge is still burned" with Sheets or not. Signing him would be nice, as it could provide some depth. I would just caution that we don't know what kind of pitcher he will be at this point...after being gone a full season, and now a year older, he could have lost some of his velocity and "stuff." Hopefully not, but you never know with pitchers.

[bklynbrewcrew]

I expect Melvin to sign at least one of Davis and Washburn and if that happens color me unimpressed. Ive had enough with a staff full of soft tossers with no upside but that is what Melvin likes and thats what I expect. After this first move of the offseason I am really frightened by what is coming next.

[GoudaBrew]

Why not Penny? I can't imagine he'd cost very much. I like his chances of posting a sub 4.0 ERA this year. I'd give him around $7M with an option on a 2nd year.

 

Mulder, Penny and taking a chance on a guy like Sheets/Harden/Bedard would be great (assuming we could get all that at the right price)

[Invader3K]

Wasn't Penny pretty bad this past season? I remember the Red Sox fans seemed more than happy to dump him for next to nothing.

 

Looking at his stats, he doesn't seem like he'd be much of an upgrade over what we have now.

[GoudaBrew]

He was really bad with the Sox, but had a 2.59 ERA in SanFran. The overall "bad season" he had should keep him priced relatively low and could be a good value signing (really not sure how much he should get on the market to be honest). He posted FIPs between 3.56-3.92 from 2003-2007.

 

Not sure what happened in 2008, but I'm thinking he must have been hurt at some point. His fastball averaged 94 MPH this year - the highest of his career so I think he still "has it".

[pingman]

Bush would be an awfully expensive swingman.....IMHO he's either in the rotation or non-tendered

[Invader3K]

Sad thing is that other than when he was injured last year, Bush was basically our second best starter. It's clear to me that the two spots that desperately need to be upgraded belong to Suppan and Looper. Suppan should be moved to the pen, and Looper should not be renewed. If that is not clear to Melvin at this point, I'll be very disappointed.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'd like for the Brewers to look into Sheets, but if I had to guess where he winds up, I'd pick Boston.

 

 

mlbtraderumors speculates the Brewers sign Doug Davis and Jarrod Washburn.

 

I don't know if there was any work put into that thought than, 'He used to play for Melvin, and this guy's from WI'. I can't bring myself to believe that Melvin will fail so badly on acquiring SPing. I'd have to guess the team will take nice long looks at Sheets, Harden, and Bedard as far as FA arms go. I know each has his injury concerns, but I wouldn't be surprised to see one of those three signed.

[ILuvDaBush]

What about Smoltz? Supposedly this market is going to be characterized by players taking the first offer that they deem adequate. If the market is slow to develop for Smoltz, could anyone see us being the team to sign him? He pitched limitedly in the division and he would have Trevor Hoffman as his closer.

[yoshii8]

I would love for the Brewers to get Smoltz, I know they went after him last off-season. I hope the two guys we sign are Smoltz and Randy Wolf. I think they are going to be the two biggest starting pitching values on the FA market.

[rousieboy]

First off, another trade has to be made...this time for pitching. Gamel or someone with a nice trail of low minors players behind him need to be moved for an inning eating player with some upside (Chris Young type, but not him specifically). After that is done we can consentrate on the rest of the staff....and a catcher.

 

But I cannot believe that people are actually considering Washburn as an option after living through the Jeff Suppan era. Lowe's current contract and Looper's current stats will be what you get a diet of for 3 or 4 years. WOW! He is from Wisconsin...who cares. This team cannot eat the contracts of Suppan and Bill Hall only to turn around and throw it away on a flyball pitcher that benefitted from having 3 CFs behind him in Safeco.

 

Gagne was a mistake...but he was a one year mistake. I would rather re-up Looper and get the Scarpetta/Rogers/Anundsen/Peralta/Rivas/Periard/Butlers of the world a shot in a year. Pocket the money now...take on another pitcher around the break if we are close and not cram money we don't have into the pockets of a pitcher we will grow to loathe.

[TooLiveBrew]

Gamel or someone with a nice trail of low minors players behind him need to be moved for an inning eating player with some upside (Chris Young type, but not him specifically). After that is done we can consentrate on the rest of the staff....and a catcher.

 

I agree with the rest of your post, but if Gamel is traded for anything other than a young or prime-aged SP with stud ability, I think it will have been a waste.

[brewmann04]

mulder and wolf are my bet

[dlk9s]

Well, Hudson is off the list. Back with the Braves:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4647417

 

But, as ESPN.com speculates, the Braves could look to trade Vasquez, so you never know what may happen.

[NievesNoNO]

mulder and wolf are my bet

I actually think that would be O.K. Hopefully Mulder isn't someone we count on in the initial starting rotation though. Throw in a trade for Edwin Jackson and I'd be happy going forward.

 

Gallardo

Wolf

Jackson

Bush

Parra

 

with Mulder starting in the pen for depth. I'd be interested in Wang as well, not sure what he would cost.

[TooLiveBrew]

Well, Hudson is off the list. Back with the Braves:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4647417

 

But, as ESPN.com speculates, the Braves could look to trade Vasquez, so you never know what may happen.

Vazquez is just an ideal target imo this offseason. His age & contract should help drive the asking price down somewhat, and his talent & production are exactly what the rotation needs. Would he really take more than an offer of McGehee+Hart?

[Hate those Rodents]

TLB - I am hesitant to offer both. If he'd sign an extension with us, I guess I'd be willing to do it, but there goes basically every trading chip we have, save our minor league prospects.