Randy Wolf- Latest: Multiple sources say done deal with Brewers

[Mr QL]

I really don't like the idea of giving Randy Wolf a 3 year deal. As for who else to go after in FA? Nobody. I don't want to tie up big contracts for average pitchers.

[Tbadder]

The only guy that would make the Crew real contenders would be Halladay and they'd have to give up their future for that. Please Melvin, stand pat.

 

This team is probably an 80-ish win team as it is now, so adding a couple of legitimate starters should get them towards 85-86 wins. Standing pat is a completely infeasible and ineffective strategy, and simply not going to happen. Nor should it.

 

I just can't agree. The Brewers are throwing money at a problem that won't go away. If they dole out two of these contracts they'll be doubly hamstrung for years to come. The Suppan contract was bad. It hurt the Brewers, so now lets give out another one for a guy who is only slightly better, but who also might go down in a heap as well given his hstory. No, standing pat is indefensible if only we want the brewers to conduct business as usual. This idea that we have to compete is debilitating. We try to force the issue by wasting money on one of the highest risk/low reward strategies that baseball offers. The offense has already been weakened significantly this off-season, so that 80ish win team is probably only high 70s win. No amount of crappy free agent pitching with ridiculous contracts is going to make the Brewers competitive. Just because we have three quality players doesn't mean we have to destroy our future forcing the issue. Wolf and say, Davis does not make them a playoff team. So while I believe we will continue making the same mistake, it doesn't make it right.

[TooLiveBrew]

Labeling this "The Suppan Contract" is a mistake. Wolf is a better pitcher than Suppan, the contract would be shorter, and for less money. There is no good comparison there.

[Ennder]

Pitching WAR is just not a very good stat. I wouldn't try to use that to judge players.

 

If you absolutely have to use it then check out Suppan's for the last 2 seasons and you wont 'want to group him with Wolf.

[JoeHova]

So, you actually think that Livan Hernandez is almost as good as Randy Wolf? Couldn't we afford Livan after we snag Wolf?

 

And BTW, you are comparing Wolf's numbers when he was injured to Suppan's at his peak.

It depends what you mean by almost as good. If I had to pick a guy to pitch one game, it would be Wolf. If I had to choose between $1 million on Livan and $9 million per year for Wolf, it would be Livan every time.

 

I know I'm comparing Wolf to Suppan from a couple years ago, I said I was doing that. My point is that Wolf is not so much more valuable than Suppan was when he was signed. The reported contract is smaller, which makes it better, but still not very good. Wolf is not a terrible player like Suppan currently is. Suppan shouldn't be the bar that has to be cleared to make somebody a good acquisition.

[sargennm]

Drew Olson on the D-List just said he got a text from someone in a position to know that Wolf to the Brewers IS a done deal to be confirmed shortly.

[TooLiveBrew]

Nice, thanks for that update, sarge. Now I just have to hope Melvin targets something like Harden+Bedard instead of giving Doug Davis a 2 or 3 year deal.

[saget]

Livan was even worse than Suppan last year... why would we want him? I think he clearly does not have much left in the tank.

[sargennm]

Well about that same time I heard that on the D-List TH posted a story that Wolf's agent is still shopping the offer, now reportedly 3 years $31 million. So who knows.

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/78794647.html

[sbrylski]

Well about that same time I heard that on the D-List TH posted a story that Wolf's agent is still shopping the offer, now reportedly 3 years $31 million. So who knows.

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/78794647.html

Is Macha at the meetings? I know he's obviously a big part of the decision making process, but it's very conceivable that he's minutes to hours behind the goings-on, and minutes could be all it takes.

 

Olsen's source could have been in the room with DM.

[JoeHova]

Livan was even worse than Suppan last year... why would we want him? I think he clearly does not have much left in the tank.

Livan is on his last legs but he was far better than Suppan last year. Again, Livan in particular is not the point, it's just that a pitcher only slightly worse than Wolf can be had for a fraction of the cost (and risk).

[TooLiveBrew]

So the point is that Livan Hernandez is only slightly worse than Randy Wolf?

[JoeHova]

So the point is that Livan Hernandez is only slightly worse than Randy Wolf?

yes. The difference is slighter than what the difference in their contracts will be. that will also likely be the case for many other pitchers signed this off-season. Paying a premium for mediocrity doesn't work.

[fondybrewfan]

I guess I have a hard time believing that Livan and Wolf are even remotely similar pitches. Livan has been more durable but he sucks at this point his career. Wolf threw over 200 innings 3.2 ERA ball last year with decent/good peripherals. I still think 3/31 is a solid deal for Wolf and is probably paying market value. Look how much the Cards gauranteed Penny next year for gosh sakes. Yeah it is only one year but that seems really high. Wolf at $10M looks like a bargain compared to that

[TooLiveBrew]

Yeah, my main problem is that Wolf isn't "mediocrity", JoeHova.

[logan82]

Just because Wolf is better than our worst pitchers last year doesn't mean we should be giving him a contract in the $10M+ a year range. this is giving me flashbacks of the Brewers signing of Suppan. We had terrible problems with pitching and overreacted by signing an "innings eater." All those innings Suppan ate made him dead weight. If they front-load the contract I would like it better. I am not sure they can do that though. I am sure he is better than Suppan right now, but will he be in 3 years. Even if he is average, is it worth $10M a year to improve your team from 80 wins to 82 wins? I don't think so. However, at this point it may be more important to improve the fan perception of the team than the team itself.

[JoeHova]

Yeah, my main problem is that Wolf isn't "mediocrity", JoeHova.

I disagree. I mean mediocre in the neutral sense, not the disparaging one.

[trwi7]

Just because Wolf is better than our worst pitchers last year doesn't mean we should be giving him a contract in the $10M+ a year range.

Yep. I think it's ridiculous to compare Wolf to Suppan and Hernandez right now, but 3 years $30 million is too much. Go after a guy like Smoltz who I think can be just as good as Wolf next year without the long term commitment.

[yoshii8]

I like the Smoltz idea trwi7, but I'm not sure if he would be interested in coming to Milwaukee.

[TooLiveBrew]

Smoltz will probably get around the ~$7.5M the Cards gave Penny for a one-year deal. I think Melvin must want to find an answer beyond just next season in terms of pitching. Even so, signing Wolf wouldn't necessarily stand in the way of bringing in someone like Smoltz.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

3 year 31 million is too much for a pitcher like Wolf, IMO. I hope the Brewers don't continue to up the ante and just say take it or leave it.

[Hate those Rodents]

Pretty sketchy rumor from a buddy I know, who is an absolute diehard claiming a source. But he says we offered Washburn two years and that we'll get him as long as the Twins don't offer three.

 

ETA this would be in addition to Wolf, not as the alternative TO Wolf.

[fondybrewfan]

Well if that were true I would feel pretty good with a rotation

 

Gallardo

Wolf

Washburn

Bush

Suppan/Parra

 

I would assume that if both Wolf and Washburn were acquired that Melvin would try desperately to get rid of Suppan. Take back a different bad contract that actually helps the club rather than a bad contract that is stuck as a long reliever. I still would like a Mulder type signing as depth. Parra might also be the odd man out if Melvin doesn't want 3 Lefties in the rotation.

 

That is still not an awesome rotation but still infinitely better than last year.

 

We'll see if that rumor has any legs at all. If we sign both of these guys I have to imagine our budget would be pretty well tapped out.

[brewmann04]

I hope Washburn does not get a 3 year deal.

[dadofandrew]

A bounceback season from Parra and Bush, with any pair of FA's makes the '10 rotation above average. Of course, will we get those bouncebacks? Will they stay healthy?

 

I don't see any problem with 3 lefties in the rotation. Good pitching is fine with either arm.

 

Those "what ifs" make Doug's job the challenge that it is.