Brewers Sign Randy Choate; 40-Man Roster Now At 35

[patrickgpe]

i am on the fence on this one. I doubt he is anything more than insurance or AAA fodder. I just don't like using a post on a 40 man roster on camp fodder.

[Mass Haas]

Adam McCalvy notes:

 

Choate signed a split contract that calls for a $500,000 base salary while he's in the Majors and $75,000 in the Minors.

 

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071114&content_id=2300418&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil

[Baldkin]

So does this mean they may not bring back Shouse?

 

A lefty sidearmer... perhaps Billy Castro and Maddux can work some magic with this guy as well

[dadofandrew]

To me, the fact he signed a split deal means he may well just be signed to be AAA depth.

[Fatter than Joey]

So does this mean they may not bring back Shouse?

 

I doubt it -- they may not bring back Shouse, but signing Choate, I don't think has anything to do with it.

[PeaveyFury]

I agree with Al here- with a 75k salary in the minors, we're essentially just out a 40-man spot when we have plenty of them to spare anyways.

 

Decent insurance if someone gets injured, nothing more.

[mothershipconnection]

Great signing when you consider the split salary. If he sucks, he only costs you $75K.

 

There's no way Shouse is gone because of this - more like Ray King I'd imagine. I can't see Shouse not being here unless somebody really wants a good Loogy in a trade.

[PlayerHader]

I never thought I was naive, but this funny about his name is going completely over my head. If choke isn't the word, then what's so funny?

[mothershipconnection]

If choke isn't the word, then what's so funny?

 

Perineum

[PlayerHader]

I don't know that word either, and I'm an English major!!! I'll have to look it up.

[PlayerHader]

Oh I see. Have to be an anatomy major. I guess I go by taint or gooch. LOL This is funny.

 

I thought the name was pronounced like coat rather than Mota.

[JJHardy7]

Not a bad signing given the MLB vs. Minor splits. If Shouse is on the team, I'm guessing it'll be Stetter and Choate battling for the next LOOGY spot. I don't see them having the three on the 25 man (I could be wrong). If nothing else, this gives us some depth at AAA...or we could still have Thatcher.

[kgbaseball]

Stupid to sign him to a Major League deal when he could easily be signed to a minor league deal.

[PeaveyFury]

I'd say the fact that he signed a major league deal suggests that other teams wanted to sign him to a minor league deal.

[iluvlamp]

/Butthead

 

Huh Huh Huh, Choate.

 

/Butthead

[BCZF]

Such is the brave world of relief pitching..

[endaround]

Choate is bad enough, but then his parents rationally chose Randy....

[JenksFan5]

Choate is bad enough, but then his parents rationally chose Randy....

 

It could have been Richard http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[bacon06]

Choate struck out six of the seven Brewers he faced on April 22, 2004 -- Doug remembers

 

This isn't part of that plan to find everyone who does well against the Brewers and then sign them is it?

[Tbadder]

I think this is a nice pick-up, cheap, under the radar, you-never-know-kinda-thing. I wonder if Shouse has some value after this year, and DM is looking to deal him ala Scotty Po?

[MNBrew]

So does this mean they may not bring back Shouse?

 

I doubt it -- they may not bring back Shouse, but signing Choate, I don't think has anything to do with it.

Didn't they sign Shouse to a 2-yr. contract before last season? If I'm remembering that correctly, he's already signed -- I think for about $1.5M for '08.

So he's already back -- no "bringing" involved. He's only NOT coming back if he gets traded or released in Spring Training.

[tigerbrew]

Love the BBQ acronym too. His numbers against AAA lefties are pretty good, worth an inexpensive gamble.

Here's to hoping that BBQ Choate's performance in 2008 is well done instead of half cooked.

[Mass Haas]

Didn't they sign Shouse to a 2-yr. contract before last season? If I'm remembering that correctly, he's already signed -- I think for about $1.5M for '08.

No, Shouse made $975,000 last year and is arbitration-eligible for 2008.

[aracko]

He will be a nice guy to have on our AAA roster until rosters expand in September. Then instead of trading for a "Ray Kingish" guy we can just go and make a call to Choate.

 

Its good job of thinking ahead. I am pretty positive that woudl be the plan with this guy.

[Fatter than Joey]

Didn't they sign Shouse to a 2-yr. contract before last season? If I'm remembering that correctly, he's already signed -- I think for about $1.5M for '08.

 

As MH points out Shouse is arby eligible.

 

My point was though signing Choate is probably independent of they will end up doing with Shouse one way or the other.