Is Eric Byrnes our best last hope for dealing Suppan?

[Ennder]

But most of that isn't quality depth for 2010, it is more depth for 2011 or 2012. Narveson is the only guy i could really see being effective in the rotation in 2010 and I have my doubts about it.

[thebruce44]

Ennder is right on. I wouldn't count of Villy to provide much over Soup at this point either.

[nate82]

But most of that isn't quality depth for 2010, it is more depth for 2011 or 2012. Narveson is the only guy i could really see being effective in the rotation in 2010 and I have my doubts about it.

I would put Butler in the same spot as Narveson. Though as a #5 pitcher you are not looking for a guy that is going to be putting up a ERA below 4.50. I believe Narveson and Butler could give the Brewers replacement level value which is what Suppan will more than likely be giving to the Brewers this next season.

[RockCoCougars]

Suppan has negative value. Let's face it, if he was making 1.2 million next year instead of ten times that, he'd be cut in spring training. If he can't be traded, they should just fake another injury for him, but make it season ending this time. This would allow the team to save face somewhat and also save Jeff from embarrassing himself further.

I disagree with this 100%. If Suppan were a FA he would sign for more than $1.2M with some team. He isn't a good pitcher but his value isn't negative either and the idea that they faked an injury has pretty much no merit either imo.

I'm absolutely convinced that Suppan would be out of baseball in 2010 if not for his contract. The guy is positively brutal out there on the mound. Last year, in 160 innings he actually walked more guys than he struck out- with a WHIP approaching 1.7. Those numbers suggest negative value to me. His 88 MPH fastball, straight as a string, isn't fooling anyone (that is when he's able to throw strikes). The Brewers need to cut and run with this guy. They simply can't afford to go into another season with him in the starting rotation, giving him 10 starts hoping that he gets by with smoke and mirrors or has found the fountain of youth or something (even though he wasn't very good when he was young either).

 

By all accounts he is a great guy, so I think a lot of people put the blinders on when looking at him. Jim Abbott was a good dude too, but the Brewers only gave him about half a season before they let him go. Keep in mind this was when the team absolutely stunk, but Abbott was on a low money one year deal. Let's not fool ourselves and pretend that there is any reason beside money that Suppan will be on the roster and likely in the rotation next year.

[Roderick]

If Suppan were a FA he would sign for more than $1.2M with some team. He isn't a good pitcher but his value isn't negative either

I agree that he could probably pull that type of contract. But that doesn't mean he hasn't been a negative value for the Brewers last year and would probably be a negative value this year. But some GM would gamble at that cost to get one last decent 'lightning in a bottle' year out of him. Hopefully that is the case in 2010, because it sure seems to me he that Melvin is prepared to see him in the rotation again.

[naivin]

If you are going to overpay anyone, overpay a SP, not an OF.

[Ennder]

Last year, in 160 innings he actually walked more guys than he struck out- with a WHIP approaching 1.7. Those numbers suggest negative value to me

 

He had 80 K and 74 BB. If you do something as simplistic as ignoring the first 2 starts of the year he had an ERA of 4.91 with 78 K and basically the same peripherals as the previous 2 seasons. Suppan isn't a good pitcher but he wouldn't be out of baseball if he had no contract. Heck, in the middle of the season he had a 25 start stretch of 4.32 ERA though my guess would be it was a lucky 4.32.

 

I'd gladly dump Suppan if we had any type of pitching depth but we do not so I think we sit through another season of him.

[dadofandrew]

He'd get a deal for $2M, maybe more if a team was convinced an injury played a part.