Brewers Sign Yovani Gallardo (Update, reply #198: Signs MLB deal w/CIN, 1 yr/$750K guaranteed)

[superfly]

 

Agreed on both points. Drafting 19th with the associated pool money does not help bring in those 60 grade players.

 

 

I'm getting really damn sick and tired of reading about people hoping to tank in 2018. Stop thinking like this team lost 100 games last season.

Well at some point you have to look to see what the Brewers have done to get better. Signing Gallardo as a single transaction isn't anything to get worked up about but considering they have not done anything else there is no indication they will be improving. If they stand pat, especially in the pitching department, they will most likely be worse just on the fact that Nelson won't be back for months if at all in 2018.

 

It's December 18th. Did spring training start and I missed it? I know it feels like Ted Thompson is running the Brewers but be patient. The signings/trades will come.

[dacbrewers]

There has to be somebody, anybody, more worth bringing in than Gallardo.

 

I'd rather sit through the torture of Willy Peralta starts because he at least has a great arm and there is maybe a 2-3% chance he figures out how to use that great arm.

 

Every stat is bad with Gallardo, from ERA/WHIP/BB9/K9/HR9/K-BB ratio/innings per start. And he was terrible the year prior, along with getting old.

 

Let any arm in our minors try starting up here instead, be it Lopez, Jungmann, or just anybody not named Gallardo.

 

It justs blocks someone at AAA that is better imo. They would rather have any type of veteran presence in the dugout or bullpen regardless of how well they pitch. Yo ho ho, great christmas present for the fans. What's the over/under on fans wearing Gallardo jersey on opening day?

[TURBO]

This is a confusing move...

 

If we are building a team to contend now, why Gallardo? He was one of if not the worst pitcher in MLB last season. What possible purpose does he serve on this team? (hopefull a long relief innings eater when the game is out of control)

 

If we are rebuilding a team to compete in the near future, say 2019 or 2020, why Gallardo? All he does is take up a spot that a young guy should be occupying.

 

I do not like this move.

[MadScientist]

ptching WOAH SOLVDD

[Boomer5]

I dunno on this signing bringing impact to the 25man. I'd guess bullpen/swingman job, but not a full time starting position in the rotation. If the signing is more than 2.5mil, this is a terrible move. Gallardo hasn't been good for awhile now. You knew he was going downhill before leaving Milwaukee. Hes shown what downhill is. In no way do I think a "guy" can tweak him and fix him to be a positive SP. Bullpen it has to be, or just some ticket selling in Spring for comeback home feel. Wasnt it Capuano a few years back?

 

At first I thought he would be put in the rotation for sure, but am now questioning that after taking a further look at the numbers.

 

Granted, extremely small sample size, but last year when used as a reliever Gallardo posted the following:

6 appearances, 16 innings pitched, 9 hits, 3 earned runs, 0 home runs allowed, 7 walks, 10 strikeouts, 1.00 WHIP, 1.69 ERA

Opposition slash line = .164/.258/.255/.513

 

Interesting thing is that the overall numbers don't indicate that Gallardo was successful early in starts and faded as he got deeper into games. When looking at all of his appearances, the opposition slash line for Gallardo during pitches 1-15 of an appearance (both as a starter and reliever) was .299/.374/.535/.909. So it's not like he was successful early in his starts and faded early, where he might represent a safer projection to a relief role.

 

Have to think that the small sample size during those relief appearances played a part in this signing. There are just no other numbers that indicate Gallardo should be getting a major league deal.

 

Good catch. I'd guess those weren't high leverage innings and his lack of command even when he was good doesn't profile as a reliever but these numbers are indeed interesting.

[coolhandluke121]

I'm getting really damn sick and tired of reading about people hoping to tank in 2018. Stop thinking like this team lost 100 games last season.

 

Don't you get it? If we play to win now, we may forfeit our chance to win in 2022. Also, never, even if you are in playoff contention and you have a definite need at a certain position, trade a player who may be a productive MLB player 4 years from now for a player who is currently a productive MLB player.

 

The important thing is that Stearns gets it, and we can be thankful for that. Even Mark A appears to get it now, too. I'm sure they won't object to being good again next year, but they're being patient and waiting for better opportunities, as they should.

[Mudville9]

I agree, this is pretty confusing. On the outside, while not quite waiving the white flag, it doesn't show a ton of confidence in this team this year. Maybe he will sign a couple old, crappy relievers as well just to keep prospects in the minors one year longer. For a small market team that isn't a horrible idea, but it certainly doesn't make much sense looking at how well the team played last year. YOGA=head scratcher

[ewitkows]

Maybe they saw something like he was tipping his pitches that they can fix and if you can pick up a 5th starter for a couple of Mil. 2 years ago he put up a 3.42 ERA and was +142 ERA+. Maybe he pitches like old Yo and we flip him at the deadline.

[FVBrewerFan]

If he pitches great in ST, Yo is a cheap arm to throw out there until Nelson and/or Burnes are ready. If he implodes in ST, DFA him. What's the downside?

[KeithStone53151]

If he pitches great in ST, Yo is a cheap arm to throw out there until Nelson and/or Burnes are ready. If he implodes in ST, DFA him. What's the downside?

 

I don't mind the deal if it's cheap and if it's of the mindset you've noted. Also I'd hope we could potentially shift him to a pen role if he pitches decent but someone in ST pitches better. A cheap deal for ST depth, creates additional competition.

[wallus]

I would have preferred a minor league deal but this is nothing to get worked up on. I honestly think some of you need to take a break from this off-season for a while as you are freaking out way too much.

[FVBrewerFan]

If he pitches great in ST, Yo is a cheap arm to throw out there until Nelson and/or Burnes are ready. If he implodes in ST, DFA him. What's the downside?

 

I don't mind the deal if it's cheap and if it's of the mindset you've noted. Also I'd hope we could potentially shift him to a pen role if he pitches decent but someone in ST pitches better. A cheap deal for ST depth, creates additional competition.

 

Yea, honestly I have note even seen anything official yet that it's a MLB contract. Until it is, for all we know it could be MiLB contract with invite to ST. I doubt it, but it's not like Stearns believes he found a key piece to a WS title here or something. There will be plenty more moved in the next couple months. Some very minor like this, some larger.

 

I just feel like some are trying to find some sort of deep meaning with this signing that isn't there.

[Humans Need Water]

The second half of the season very well could be Nelson, Chase, Davies, Woodruff, Burnes. We still have Suter, Guerra, Gallardo, Wilkerson, Jungmann who can eat up first half innings to get to this point.

 

That said, I wouldn't be shocked if the Brewers signed Gallardo as a much cheaper multi-inning pen arm than what the FA market is paying.

[Thurston Fluff]

This move more intrigues me because we get a more clear picture of the blueprint.

 

1. If it wasn’t already certain, we won’t be dabbling in the Cobb/Darvish/Lynn/Arrieta sweepstakes. The team has 4 known starters, Nelson, and a lot of swingmen. You don’t add another vet swingman if you were seriously considering someone from the above list.

 

2. There are now 2 paths:

 

Path A - 90% likely: theory listed above. Stearns is generally standing pat because the roster was a bit of a mirage. Could still sign Walker and a reliever at a bargain price, but nothing over 2 years at a bargain.

 

Path B - 10% likely: Gallardo was signed for cheap depth because some combination of Woodruff, Hader, Burnes, etc is involved in an Archer trade and we want mlb depth given that we’ve just emptied 2-3 of the 5 or 6 young guys that’ll factor in this year and/or next.

 

Path C - Stearns believes the talent on the team was legitimate and thinks the youth coming up is legit as well. Thus no need to spend big. I don't see why thinking young players improving and a healthy farm can't produce a contender. I might be the only person who would be happy without a major addition this off season. Fill in around the edges for depth, maybe kick the tires on a second baseman or work a deal to clear the glut of outfielders but beyond that I liked the direction our team was heading. So why change it with costly trades or expensive big name free agents?

 

They lost Nelson, Swarzak, and Walker and added Gallardo. If Plan C is the way he is really thinking, he is expecting a ton from the young guys coming up if the plan is to contend.

 

Yes he is. But why shouldn't he? The whole point of developing a good farm is to use it. I just don't think Swarzak or Walker's production would be all that hard to compensate for with the normal progression one would expect out of player like Arcia, Knebel, Santana and Shaw. Nelson's loss is huge. I would not mind if they addressed that but am not all the sure he can be replaced externally better than internally. If we were just looking at 2018 I would say go get someone. Looking at the larger picture I don't think getting an expensive player-either prospect or money wise- helps us more than hurts us.

[bill hAll Star]

Yes he is. But why shouldn't he? The whole point of developing a good farm is to use it. I just don't think Swarzak or Walker's production would be all that hard to compensate for with the normal progression one would expect out of player like Arcia, Knebel, Santana and Shaw. Nelson's loss is huge. I would not mind if they addressed that but am not all the sure he can be replaced externally better than internally. If we were just looking at 2018 I would say go get someone. Looking at the larger picture I don't think getting an expensive player-either prospect or money wise- helps us more than hurts us.

 

I agree with your main point on just letting this thing grow organically, but I do think it's dangerous to expect further growth from someone like Knebel. If he has a season better than the one he just had and it is repeatable beyond 2018, then he can start preparing his Hall of Fame speech.

[Thurston Fluff]

Yes he is. But why shouldn't he? The whole point of developing a good farm is to use it. I just don't think Swarzak or Walker's production would be all that hard to compensate for with the normal progression one would expect out of player like Arcia, Knebel, Santana and Shaw. Nelson's loss is huge. I would not mind if they addressed that but am not all the sure he can be replaced externally better than internally. If we were just looking at 2018 I would say go get someone. Looking at the larger picture I don't think getting an expensive player-either prospect or money wise- helps us more than hurts us.

 

I agree with your main point on just letting this thing grow organically, but I do think it's dangerous to expect further growth from someone like Knebel. If he has a season better than the one he just had and it is repeatable beyond 2018, then he can start preparing his Hall of Fame speech.

 

Typed Kenebel but meant Hader. If Knebel did get better how amazing would that be to watch though?

[JDBrewCrew]

Adam McCalvy‏

Verified account

@AdamMcCalvy

31s31 seconds ago

Could be a couple more days before Yovani Gallaro to Brewers is official. Still efforting exact terms, but I suspect fan angst about this one will abate once that info emerges. Think Tommy Milone, who inked a 1yr non-guaranteed deal last winter with a $1.25M base.

[Fear The Chorizo]

So what you're saying is we've turned what should be about a 5 post thread that ends with everyone thinking "meh, hopefully Yo finds a way to salvage his career with a good spring training - if not, who cares?" into 6 full pages of angst?

 

Yup, it's December...

[rickh150]

Stuff I've been hearing on mlbtv and other baseball sites.....

His fastball was at its best last season in terms of mph.

He still has an above average curveball.

He is only 31/32 years old.

[KeithStone53151]

Stuff I've been hearing on mlbtv and other baseball sites.....

His fastball was at its best last season in terms of mph.

He still has an above average curveball.

He is only 31/32 years old.

 

Gallardo is like the rb that gets 350 touches a year for 6 or 7 years starting at age 20/21. Sure he might only be 27/28 while 30 is generally the cutoff date when rb production takes a nose dive, but that's a lot of mileage.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Stuff I've been hearing on mlbtv and other baseball sites.....

His fastball was at its best last season in terms of mph.

He still has an above average curveball.

He is only 31/32 years old.

 

Was the fastball uptick legit or did it come from the change in how it's measured (I know that was a big talking point a while ago, but I don't know if I ever read how much it added on average).

 

The Milone deal makes some sense, given the need for big league arms, but I do worry a bit about 40-man space if they get a couple of more signings. I'd rather hang onto someone like Baker, who feels like a Rule 5 type without the Rule 5 restrictions, and give him a year to show that he should be in the 2019 plans before the Rule 5 crunch comes next year.

[FVBrewerFan]

As I've been saying, we don't know for a fact he will be on the 40 man. If he is, that's fine for ST. Need some options for the 5th-9th starters are needed throughout the year. Yo may be one, may not.

[Warning Track Power]

It is amazing how YOGA's K/9 fell off so early in his career. YOGA's K/9 during a majority of his Brewer career went:

 

2009 9.9

2010 9.7

2011 9.0

2012 9.0

2013 7.2

2014 6.8

 

That is a huge fall and all before the age of 30.

[3and2Fastball]

It was great having him in the 2008 playoffs

 

Bring back Roenicke, trade for Greinke, and hire Mark Kotsay as an Outfield coach

[TURBO]

It was great having him in the 2008 playoffs

 

Bring back Roenicke, trade for Greinke, and hire Mark Kotsay as an Outfield coach

 

Kotsay as an OF coach? Just bring him back to play CF as long as you are bringing RRR back.

 

*gag*