2014 FA arms

[torts]

since last years FA arms thread hit 500 posts, figured it would be time to post a new one for 2014. Granted, it LOOKS like we have 5 or 6 internal options for the rotation, its always fun to see whose out there and think what-if's and all that jazz. also, could look at other bullpen options, but I think it'll be more interesting to see where some of these arms go, and for how much since The Freak got paid big time.

 

 

Starting pitchers

 

Alfredo Aceves (31)

Bronson Arroyo (37)

Scott Baker (32)

Erik Bedard (35)

A.J. Burnett (37)

Chris Capuano (35) - $8MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout

Chris Carpenter (39)

Bruce Chen (37)

Bartolo Colon (41)

Scott Feldman (30)

Gavin Floyd (31)

Jeff Francis (33)

Freddy Garcia (37)

Jon Garland (34)

Matt Garza (30)

Chad Gaudin (31)

Roy Halladay (37)

Jason Hammel (31)

Aaron Harang (36) - $7MM+ mutual option with a $2MM buyout

Dan Haren (33)

Roberto Hernandez (33)

Tim Hudson (38)

Phil Hughes (28)

Philip Humber (31)

Ubaldo Jimenez (30) - may void $8MM option for 2014

Josh Johnson (30)

Jeff Karstens (31)

Scott Kazmir (30)

Hiroki Kuroda (39)

John Lannan (29)

Wade LeBlanc (29)

Jon Lester (30) - $13MM club option with a $250K buyout

Colby Lewis (34)

Ted Lilly (38)

Paul Maholm (32)

Shaun Marcum (32)

Jason Marquis (35)

Daisuke Matsuzaka (33)

Randy Messenger (32)

Ricky Nolasco (31)

Sean O'Sullivan (26)

Roy Oswalt (35)

Mike Pelfrey (30)

Clayton Richard (30)

Wandy Rodriguez (35) - $13MM player option with a $2.5MM buyout

Ervin Santana (31)

Johan Santana (34) - $25MM club option with a $5.5MM buyout

Joe Saunders (33) - mutual option

James Shields (32) - $12MM club option with a $1MM buyout

Masahiro Tanaka (25) - right to sign will be acquired via posting system for Japanese players

Jason Vargas (31)

Ryan Vogelsong (36) - $6.5MM club option with a $300K buyout

Edinson Volquez (30)

Tsuyoshi Wada (33) - $5MM club option

P.J. Walters (29)

Jake Westbrook (36) -- $9.5MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout

Chien-Ming Wang (34)

Suk-Min Yoon (27)

Barry Zito (36) - $18MM club option with a $7MM buyout

 

Closers

 

Grant Balfour (36)

Joaquin Benoit (36)

Rafael Betancourt (39) - $4.25MM mutual option with a $250K buyout

Kevin Gregg (36)

Joel Hanrahan (32)

Casey Janssen (32) - $4MM club option

Ryan Madson (33)

Edward Mujica (30)

Joe Nathan (39) - $9MM club option with a $750K buyout, Nathan may void

Fernando Rodney (37)

Jose Veras (33) - $3.25MM club option with a $150K buyout

Brian Wilson (32)

 

Right-handed relievers

 

David Aardsma (32)

Matt Albers (31)

Hector Ambriz (30)

Luis Ayala (36)

Matt Belisle (34) - $4.25MM mutual option with a $250K buyout

Michael Bowden (27)

Shawn Camp (38)

Joba Chamberlain (28)

Jesse Crain (32)

Octavio Dotel (40)

Kyle Farnsworth (38)

Frank Francisco (34)

Matt Guerrier (35)

LaTroy Hawkins (39)

Phil Humber (30)

Matt Lindstrom (34) - $4MM club option

Kameron Loe (32)

Brandon Lyon (34)

Jeff Manship (29)

Carlos Marmol (31)

Nick Masset (32)

Zach Miner (32)

Peter Moylan (35)

Brett Myers (33) - club option

Juan Carlos Oviedo (30) - club option

Chad Qualls (35)

J.C. Ramirez (25)

Francisco Rodriguez (31)

Joe Smith (30)

Jose Valverde (36)

Jamey Wright (39)

 

Left-handed relievers

 

Scott Downs (38)

Mike Gonzalez (36)

Rich Hill (34)

J.P. Howell (31)

Boone Logan (29)

Javier Lopez (36)

Eric O'Flaherty (29)

Darren Oliver (43)

Manny Parra (31)

Oliver Perez (32)

David Purcey (32)

Matt Thornton (37) - $6MM club option with a $1MM buyout

[jerichoholicninja]

I was reading on Suk-Min Yoon. He seems like an intriguing pitcher. He is a free agent so there will be no posting fee. He had an injury last year that there have been very vague reports about. I don't see any of the big market teams getting involved with him. Maybe he could be had on a cheapish short term deal to build up some US value and then hit the free agent market at a still very young age.

[yoshii8]

I'd like to buy low on Josh Johnson or Scott Baker. They have both shown ability to be top of the rotation pitchers.

[LouisEly]

Remember when Oliver Perez was the next big thing back in 2004? Had one good season after that. He only cost $1.5M last year; a 2-year, $4M deal to fill a LH relief role sounds pretty reasonable. He'll walk some guys, but struck out 74 in 53 IP last year. A LH Jose Veras?

[TigerUppercut]

I wonder what a guy like Phil Hughes will get on the market. He's still young at 28 and the FB velocity is still solid and actually improved this year over the previous two. Getting a guy out of the NY spotlight has turned around other guy's careers, think I'd be OK with a 2 year flyer if the price was reasonable.

[trwi7]

Hughes' problems have nothing to do with the New York spotlight and everything to do with being an extreme fly ball pitcher. He would not be helped by Miller Park.

[brewmann04]

i would go after Hudson a proven winner.

[MNBrew]

In terms of reasonable short-term investments for the bullpen, I think LaTroy's still got it (undoing a past wrong, though not because of that, only b/c he's still good) and I still like J.P. Howell. Joe Nathan, too, but the price tag there could still be most unfavorable. K-Rod seems to have a comfort zone and reasonable expectations in MIL, factors which haven't been aligning so well for him elsewhere.

 

Hawk & K-Rod & perhaps Howell may not be the best FA 'pen options available, but my gut says price wouldn't be absurd, esp. not on Hawk. On the absolute flip side, would Balfour be a single major solidifying move?

 

I still believe the majority of the '14 bullpen will be guys currently on the roster or in the system. Esp. if Badenhop's not brought back, I could see the perceived need for adding a guy or two still reasonably capable of good results.

 

I like the Tim Hudson idea -- I like to think big -- but I think, short of a Lohse-esque deal falling in their laps, the rotation's not the place they most likely could afford to add if their budget for additions is as limited as most of us tend to think it is given the need at 1B and other dilemmas/weaknesses.

[TURBO]

I'd like to buy low on Josh Johnson or Scott Baker. They have both shown ability to be top of the rotation pitchers.

 

But why do you think their injuries will suddenly stop when signing with a new team?

 

I want nothing to do with these career injury guys, a waste of money and time.

[nate82]

I want nothing to do with these career injury guys, a waste of money and time.

 

Not really if the players come back and play good enough they can be traded for something the Brewers are missing which are good prospects. I would take the chance on Johnson and try to flip him for a prospect at the deadline. Johnson wouldn't be blocking anyone in the minors that would be deserving of a spot and he would more than likely be traded by the time he was actually blocking someone. Nelson will start out in AAA next year and that is the only prospect he would be blocking and that really isn't a problem as Nelson needs to work on his control more before he should be called up to the majors.

[phnxcrew]

I would be very interested in Hughes at the right price. He is still young enough to realize his potential which I would much rather see than Arroyo for 11 million a year. I'm just glad the cardinals have enough pitching or he would win 20 games and have a sub 2.5 era for them next year.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'd like to buy low on Josh Johnson or Scott Baker. They have both shown ability to be top of the rotation pitchers.

 

I'm with you on Baker. He'll be two years removed from TJS. Not so much with Johnson. Not sure what they'd be getting.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'd like to buy low on Josh Johnson or Scott Baker. They have both shown ability to be top of the rotation pitchers.

 

But why do you think their injuries will suddenly stop when signing with a new team?

 

I want nothing to do with these career injury guys, a waste of money and time.

 

Baker is less risky..and had TJS in early 2012. He looked good at the end of the year. I don't see him as that huge of a risk. Johnson on the other hand...has had issues throughout.

[JohnBriggs12]

K-Rod would add some needed veteran presence to the RH side of the pen. Key is to lock him up early enough to allow non-tendering of Badenhop. I like Javier Lopez as a much needed loogy.

[JohnBriggs12]

In a blatant example that some "experts" at MLB traderumors have very short memories and/or don't follow the Brewers all that closely, they project Paul Maholm (yes that Paul Maholm, Carlos) to the Brewers. Seriously!

[brwrsfan]

Would K-Rod really come back if we don't give him the closers role? Not sure what the plan there is, if Henderson is the guy or not, but I don't see K-Rod going anywhere that doesn't offer him a closers job - unless he has no offers I guess.

[JohnBriggs12]

Would K-Rod really come back if we don't give him the closers role? Not sure what the plan there is, if Henderson is the guy or not, but I don't see K-Rod going anywhere that doesn't offer him a closers job - unless he has no offers I guess.

 

The trend is for teams to go with young closers. K-Rod hasn't closed since he was dealt to the Brewers. That was in 2011. Maybe there's some team out there who'd like a veteran, but he's not alone in that market either. K-Rod has very good relationship with Roenicke.

[jerichoholicninja]

The trend is for teams to go with young closers. K-Rod hasn't closed since he was dealt to the Brewers. That was in 2011.

 

Except when he did last year...in 2013.

[brwrsfan]

Except for the stretch last year where he was perfect in saves and gave up one run in 25 or so innings....

 

And not everyone wants a young guy at closer. Contending teams might want someone with experience at the back of their bullpen.

[Kelbysdaddy]

I'd really like to see josh johnson a 1 year+ an option or 2.

[brewcrewdue80]

I'm not looking at the complete list just what I've seen but:

Ervin Santana, Hideki Kuroda, Ubaldo Jimenez!??...were extended QOs.

 

I would hope like the Mets of last season that an 11th pick(12th in our case) would warrant zero want to forfeit draft pick to get these players.

 

Not surprised with Yankees/Royals extending offer to Santana/Kuroda but to Ubaldo? Really? That poor guy won't sign all offseason if he doesn't accept it nor will he even get the 14mil from the offer from the Indians if he doesn't accept it after the deadline passes for him to accept it. I'd offer him 7mil. if I'm the Indians if he doesn't accept and never change my mind on the price. That compensation is worth more! And really, I think these Offers are a lottery choice with these clubs to maybe get a comped draft pick for 1 year of money.

[jerichoholicninja]

I'm not looking at the complete list just what I've seen but:

Ervin Santana, Hideki Kuroda, Ubaldo Jimenez!??...were extended QOs.

 

I would hope like the Mets of last season that an 11th pick(12th in our case) would warrant zero want to forfeit draft pick to get these players.

 

Not surprised with Yankees/Royals extending offer to Santana/Kuroda but to Ubaldo? Really? That poor guy won't sign all offseason if he doesn't accept it nor will he even get the 14mil from the offer from the Indians if he doesn't accept it after the deadline passes for him to accept it. I'd offer him 7mil. if I'm the Indians if he doesn't accept and never change my mind on the price. That compensation is worth more! And really, I think these Offers are a lottery choice with these clubs to maybe get a comped draft pick for 1 year of money.

 

Jimenez had a pretty darn good year last year. He had a 3.30 ERA on the year which is pretty good considering he had a 7.13 ERA in April and March. I don't think he'll get 14M a year but he should get at least 36/3. Plus he won't turn 30 until January.

[brewcrewdue80]

I'm not looking at the complete list just what I've seen but:

Ervin Santana, Hideki Kuroda, Ubaldo Jimenez!??...were extended QOs.

 

I would hope like the Mets of last season that an 11th pick(12th in our case) would warrant zero want to forfeit draft pick to get these players.

 

Not surprised with Yankees/Royals extending offer to Santana/Kuroda but to Ubaldo? Really? That poor guy won't sign all offseason if he doesn't accept it nor will he even get the 14mil from the offer from the Indians if he doesn't accept it after the deadline passes for him to accept it. I'd offer him 7mil. if I'm the Indians if he doesn't accept and never change my mind on the price. That compensation is worth more! And really, I think these Offers are a lottery choice with these clubs to maybe get a comped draft pick for 1 year of money.

 

Jimenez had a pretty darn good year last year. He had a 3.30 ERA on the year which is pretty good considering he had a 7.13 ERA in April and March. I don't think he'll get 14M a year but he should get at least 36/3. Plus he won't turn 30 until January.

 

Wow, I didn't follow him much past mid season. Talk about hella good timing to find your pitching groove in the final 10 starts before hitting FA....Not bad to face Min&ChW twice and Houston for half those starts. Yep he has the numbers to look QO worthy for last season, but his recent seasons I just can't see a team committing to losing their draft pick for him as well as that QO pretty much means 13mil or more per season to sign him with losing the pick. If Jimenez is QO worthy after being a 4.5ERA pitcher his first 20 starts then Gallardo is as well and definitely not a #5 in owners eyes like stated mid season....

 

Sounds like Milwaukee's guy right?

[fondybrewfan]

mlbtraderumors came out with their Top 50 FA's and for some reason predicted the Brewers would sign Paul Maholm. That move would make no sense to me.

 

(The only other FA they had us signing was Hart)

[torts]

mlbtraderumors came out with their Top 50 FA's and for some reason predicted the Brewers would sign Paul Maholm. That move would make no sense to me.

 

(The only other FA they had us signing was Hart)

 

it makes complete sense if the Brewers will only sign former NL Central starting pitchers.