Dotel, Gagne, Riske, Percival, no closer trades likely

[TooLiveBrew]

While I understand that any player is likely available for the right price, iirc the Braves have said that Soriano is their guy for 2008. It'd take quite a bit to pry him away, but he's obviously a good target if possible.

[SoCalBrewfan]

Once upon a time, all it took to get Soriano was the absolutely execrable Horacio Ramirez. Now he'd be very expensive to acquire. Which makes me think that the really smart thing to do is make a deal with Seattle while Bavasi is in charge.

[Manty1]

According to ESPN Cubs are willing to deal Mark Prior. I don't know when he would be able to pitch but the article says in 2008. But then I don't know if I would risk it with his injury history.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3129805

[crewcrazy]

Apparently the Yankees are "reaching out" to David Riske: http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1196142348126760.xml&coll=1

 

There he goes, I guess. I can't see Melvin trying to compete with the Yankees for a relief pitcher.

[aracko]

I believe that the offer Melvin has out there is to Matt Herges. I dont know too much about the guy - I do know though that he used to throw in the mid 90s with a pretty decent curve, but as he has aged, I believe he has become more reliant on his changeup, becoming a similar pitcher to matty wise.

 

I guess my question is who knows alot about Herges? What does he bring to the table that matt wise does not? He does have experience in a setup role as well as a closer role, but does anyone know anything more?

 

Shoudl we Add Herges to the Current Pen, and hopefully also getting Dotel in will make for in my opinion a pretty big improvement along with Mota.

[crewcrazy]

I think it'd be much more likely for Herges to post a 4.00+ ERA next year than duplicate his sub-3.00 ERA from last year, just by skimming through his career numbers. I'd be worried about giving him any substantial amount of years considering he was 38 last season and hasn't been much more than an average bullpen guy for most of his career. I'd much rather have Riske than Herges, even if Riske does end up being a little more expensive.

[Ennder]

Herges is a 4ish ERA RP, not exactly what we need to pick up as we have plenty of those types. He might be a small upgrade but we need someone better than him for setup or closer. The only reason his stats looked good last year is because he had a .211 BABIP against, when that goes back to his normal level he'll go back to a 3.90-4.00 ERA and if the Brewers defense is anything like last year it will probably go over 4.00.

[dpapo]

It's not Herges,

 

Melvin said closers on the market such as Eric Gagne, Octavio Dotel and Troy Percival all want multi-year deals, which is scary because of their injury past. He did say he is waiting for an answer to an offer he made to one free-agent reliever.

Melvin would identify the player but did deny one report that said the Brewers were after Colorado free agent Matt Herges. It wouldn't surprise me if he's after Kansas City free agent David Riske, who had a 2.45 ERA in 65 appearances last year. The bidding is probably pretty stepp on Riske, though.

"We're still prusuing a bullpen arm," said Melvin. "A few of them are going off the boards. I'd like to know if we have one before the winter meetings (next week) but I'm not going to panic over it or get crazy about it."

http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2007/11/28/don-t-believe-those-rumors.aspx

[aracko]

So in other words, its Herges.

[fondybrewfan]

The Devil Rays are reportedly close to signing Troy Percival

[Crew2323]

It's not Herges,

 

Melvin said closers on the market such as Eric Gagne, Octavio Dotel and Troy Percival all want multi-year deals, which is scary because of their injury past. He did say he is waiting for an answer to an offer he made to one free-agent reliever.

Melvin would identify the player but did deny one report that said the Brewers were after Colorado free agent Matt Herges. It wouldn't surprise me if he's after Kansas City free agent David Riske, who had a 2.45 ERA in 65 appearances last year. The bidding is probably pretty stepp on Riske, though.

"We're still prusuing a bullpen arm," said Melvin. "A few of them are going off the boards. I'd like to know if we have one before the winter meetings (next week) but I'm not going to panic over it or get crazy about it."

http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2007/11/28/don-t-believe-those-rumors.aspx

In that bold line, I've got to believe Tom H. had a misprint. He must have meant to say "Melvin wouldn't identify the player." Otherwise if he did, Tom H. would have let us know who that player is, right? Must be a misprint.

 

[MJLiverock]

I don't see Herges as being any improvement to the bullpen. He wasn't very good in 2004, was bad/hurt in 2005, not very good in 2006 and rebounded for 48 decent innings in 2007.

 

His numbers for 2004-2007 are 214 innings, 253 hits, 114 K's and 76 walks for a 1.54 WHIP and 1.5 K/BB ratio.

 

He will be 38 on April 1st. During his 2007 campaign he looked good for pitches 1-15, servicable for 16-30 but not much beyond that. It looks like he was Colorado's guy for the 6th inning if the starter got knocked out early or was used in a mop up role when down late or in extra innings. I don't think I would count on him for much more than that, but that seems to be what the entire Brewer bullpen looks like.

[aracko]

Believe me Herges isnt isnt the guy I want, but I truely believe he is the guy we will have.

[splitterpfj]

"Rockies could announce the signings of Torrealba and Herges as soon as Thursday, both were in town for physicals on Wednesday." -Denver Post

[PeaveyFury]

Per Rosenthal, the Brewers are pursuing Riske for the 8th inning role.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7500538?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49

[brettac1]

Well, that's better than Herges, I suppose. How much, I'm not sure, though.

[TooLiveBrew]

So Herges will be the next RP chip to fall, then either Riske or Percival. I'd be alright with getting Riske - he'd be a whole lot like Linebrink imho. We'd still need to add at least one more really good RP for me to even begin to feel comfortable with the 'pen.

[Schlitz001]

Well, Riske 6 years younger with better numbers and less injuries in the past. But if we're competing against the Yankees for Riske, I can't see the Brewers coming out on top. I'd be happy with Riske or Fuentes if DM can make it happen without overpaying.

[PeaveyFury]

Riske has actually been very good for the last 5 years, Herges has been good for the last 1. There's no question that Riske would be a very good acquisition.

[TooLiveBrew]

I don't know about "very good for the last 5 years." I can agree completely with "solid for the last 5 years," though.

[PeaveyFury]

ERAs of:

 

2.29 in 74 innings

3.72 in 77 innings

3.10 in 72 innings

3.89 in 44 innings

and 2.46 in 69 innings.

 

All in the AL. Never allowing more hits than IP, and never higher than a .747 OPS against.

 

He has been very good, IMO. I'm not really sure how he can even be mentioned in the same breath as Herges, honestly.

[TooLiveBrew]

ERA for a RP? Doesn't 'do it' for me. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif His FIP numbers haven't been much better than average outside of 2003 with Cleveland, and they've pretty much been in line (or better) than his xFIP #s. He does a nice job of keeping his BBs low, which is obviously good. As for the ERAs...

 

2003 - 2.29 ERA, 86.5% (LOB%)

2007 - 2.45 ERA, 90.0%

 

Don't get me wrong, I like Riske, I just think he's had some misleading work. Yes, he's a good RP, and I want the Crew to add him. I just don't like him as much as others, that's all. I think we might just be arguing semantics, though, so let's just agree to hope DM inks him.

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Klements Bratwurst]

Riske during 2007 gave up 8 runs in April of last season and during the remainder of the season only gave up 11 runs the rest of the way.

 

Earned Runs Allowed

April: 8

May: 0

June: 2

July: 2

August: 4

September: 3

 

I concur that Riske would be a solid addition not only based on these numbers but his steady 5-year track record that the others have mentioned.

[TheBrewer]

Per Rotoworld

Troy Percival is close to signing a multiyear deal with the Rays, ESPN's Buster Olney reports.

 

It'd be no surprise if the Rays got about as much from Percival as the Tigers did when they signed him to a two-year, $12 million contract, but Tampa Bay wants to play with the big boys for once and that means going multiple years in this case. Percival likely will close for the team.

 

 

Jez, the Rays got him ahead of us. While I'm not upset that he goes to the rays for 12 million, I still am a little dissapointed. Melvin needs to add 2 arms to the pen, not just find 1 closer or 1 RP. Minus him it looks like. 6 million is a little pricey ouch though.

[MNBrew]

Per the Denver paper and the Rockies' website, both Herges & Torrealba re-signed with Colorado. Whether or not things with Percival are final is uncertain, but at least this answers the question that Herges is off the market. And I don't mind that he's not a Brewer.