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SUNDAY: Marc Lancaster has a conflicting report on the Shouse deal. He says it's a one-year deal with an option, not a two-year deal. Says Lancaster, "ESPN.com first reported the deal, calling it a two-year contract, but our information is that only 2009 is guaranteed, with a team option for 2010." Shouse's agent, Slade Mead, was quoted saying, "He will get a two-year deal."
SATURDAY 3:37pm: The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to a two-year deal with Brian Shouse, reports Buster Olney.
The deal is pending a physical, which is reportedly scheduled for Thursday.
The 40-year-old lefty went 5-1 with a 2.81 ERA in 51.3 innings with the Brewers in 2008. He held lefties to a .180/.196/.290 line in 104 plate appearances. Since Shouse declined the Brewers' offer of arbitration in December, Milwaukee will receive a supplemental pick.
Ken Rosenthal believes that the deal would likely be for somewhere between $1-2MM per season.
Two years is a bit much, but he had a nice season, him and Howell should lock down lefties. I think think they need to upgrade at the closer position. Maybe this season they will be big players at the deadline, they have plenty of pieces.
Posted by: chicubs25 | January 31, 2009 at 03:41 PM
He really wanted two years (and who can blame him for wanting stability at age 40). If he had settled for one year, I think he could have signed with a number of teams already.
I'm a friend of Brian's brother. Brian is a great story in perseverance - toiling forever in the minors with barely a cup of coffee. Playing in Japan at one point, and then having a pitching coach change his release point and become much more effective.
Because of his limited IP, he may be able to stay healthier than a lot of 40 year olds.
Posted by: kosmo99 | January 31, 2009 at 04:00 PM
Rays bullpen looks pretty deep.
Posted by: Chris W. | January 31, 2009 at 04:17 PM
Can we please cut Percival? Please? And we should trade Hammell also
RH Jeff Niemann
LH Brian Shouse
RH Joe Nelson
RH Chad Bradford
LH J.P Howell
RH Dan Wheeler
RH Grant Balfour
7 arms that I like, don't know who would get the ball in the 9th, Wheeler or Balfour probably.
Posted by: RaysFan | January 31, 2009 at 04:21 PM
Rats
Thought the headline read "Rays and Sheets..."
Got all excited
But alas.....
Posted by: pskip13 | January 31, 2009 at 04:44 PM
RaysFan,
Percival was 28 for 32 and only lost 1 game. That is 87.5% in save situations. Take it from a Cardinals fan: Quit your whining! If Percival goes down, then you have Balfour and Howell. That is a beastly combination. Wheeler has never really shown to be that impressive in part-time duties in the 9th. The Rays bullpen is one of much envy. If the Cards had that bullpen, I don't even wanna think about how many wins they would have had in 2008. I wish the Rays good luck in 2009. I love the idea of the Rays taking out the Red Sox and Yankees for the next few years.
Posted by: JBCardsFan | January 31, 2009 at 04:56 PM
Do people REALLY still evaluate relievers based on saves, losses, and save %?
Back problems
Age
Terrible strikeout-to-walk ratio
Luck on balls in play
Climbing walk rate
Declining strikeout rate
I'd focus more on those.
Posted by: vtadave | January 31, 2009 at 05:07 PM
Relievers have a different evaluation then starters yes, but a few of your stat categories vtadave are ones I wouldn't worry about.
Age as a reliever is not really important as they tend to not throw more then 20 pitches an appearance.
K to BB ratio may not be a good category either seeing as some may only be used in spot situations, which most lefties are.
Luck on balls in play (I'm assuming you mean BABIP) is actually probably one of the best with relievers. That's a huge stat with most pitchers.
With most relievers I'd look more at HRs allowed per innings pitched, gb to FB ratio and as you mentioned K/9 and ERA. Those are still pretty big IMHO.
Posted by: Sox Shoe Man | January 31, 2009 at 05:17 PM
The two years throws me off.
I want to see the monetary terms before judging though.
Posted by: melonis rex | January 31, 2009 at 06:05 PM
Yeah I'm not really sure how Shouse had the leverage to land a two year deal at this point.
It'll be interesting to see if this has any bearing on the Joe Beimel talks.
Posted by: scribbletone | January 31, 2009 at 06:59 PM
I loved shouse as a brewer he can be more than a situational lefty!!
Posted by: BREWERS FAN 4 EVER | January 31, 2009 at 08:34 PM
Welcome to baseballs best division at age 40, lol.
Posted by: slashieboy | January 31, 2009 at 08:53 PM
The Rays are all kinds of crazy good!
Posted by: tomahawk368 | January 31, 2009 at 09:08 PM
Nice to see Shouse get 2 years. For him I can see him wanting some certainty that he will be on a MLB roster for to more seasons. It would be a dream for anyone, he hasn't been in the big leagues much, despite age 40.
If Maddon keeps him to LH matchups, Shouse will provide 40 quality high leverage innings, if Maddon gets him in there to face RH pitchers, watch out.
Posted by: BeanoCook | January 31, 2009 at 09:10 PM
1 year deal with 2010 option, just like we did with Miller, awesome.
And, might as well post this here.....Rays are finally breaking their rules and trying to sign Navarro and Aybar to multi year deals
Posted by: RaysFan | January 31, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Age is important in any position, including relievers. Degree of importance? Now you may have an argument when talking about relievers vs. other positions.
I was merely responding to the Cards fan pointing out Percival's save conversion rate. It's meaningless. Percy is cooked.
Posted by: vtadave | January 31, 2009 at 10:03 PM
I too am interested to see how this deal affects Joe Beimel. It's painfully obvious that we are true hot stove geeks, because we find Shouse and Beimel interesting.
Posted by: Tim Dierkes | January 31, 2009 at 10:16 PM
"If Maddon keeps him to LH matchups, Shouse will provide 40 quality high leverage innings, if Maddon gets him in there to face RH pitchers, watch out."
Yeah. Shouse is allergic to righties and is not allowed to come within 60 feet, 60 inches of them :)
Posted by: kosmo99 | January 31, 2009 at 11:22 PM