The Brewers declined their 2011 options for Gregg Zaun, Trevor Hoffman and Doug Davis, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Milwaukee paid a total of $2MM in buyouts. Zaun got $250K instead of a $2.25MM salary; Hoffman got $750K instead of a $7MM salary and Davis got $1MM instead of a $6.5MM salary. All three moves were expected.
Zaun, who tore the labrum in his right shoulder this summer, has said he would like to play in 2011, but it probably won't be in Milwaukee. The Brewers have Jonathan Lucroy, George Kottaras and Mike Rivera behind the plate. Davis made just eight starts in 2010 because of injuries.
Hoffman picked up his 600th career save this year, but struggled early in the season, lost the closer's job to John Axford and pitched to a 5.89 ERA overall. In the highly unlikely event that the Brewers offer arbitration and Hoffman turns it down to sign elsewhere, the team would obtain a compensatory pick in next year's draft for losing a Type B free agent.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mariners pursue the switch hitting catcher Gregg Zaun again this off-season. They need a veteran back-up who can provide leadership for their young catcher Adam Moore. And as a M’s fan, I really don’t want to see Rob Johnson on the 25-man roster.
That would be a good move. Zaun is a very steady back up, calls a good game and won’t cost much.
Gregg Zaun was Toronto’s studio playoff guy and is really suited for a career in the broadcast booth. He’s 100x more natural than Buck Martinez.
So would the Padres re-sign Hoffman for a swan song as a mop-up guy? That would seem to be popular move with the fan base and perhaps even a sound baseball move if they decided to deal Heath Bell and let Mike Adams and/or Luke Gregerson act as closer, as Hoffman would stand to be a good mentor for the new closer(s). The potential problem would be that if Hoffman stunk up the joint like he did during the first half of 2010, then the Padres would find themselves in a pickle where they might have to release one of their franchise’s icons. Let’s at least hope that if the Padres farewell tour scenario comes to pass the Petco Park PA guys don’t resort to playing “Hell’s Bells” in the 5th inning or thereabouts.
Thats exactly what I was thinking
It’s interesting that Hoffman still wants to pitch and that Billy Wagner is retiring. Wagner is still at the top of his game and Hoffman seems to have little left.
Maybe Hoffman wants to keep closing until Mariano Rivera retires. That way he could keep the all-time saves record.
Guy should call Farve and get some advice.
More like: Guy should call Favre and get some advice, and then do the opposite of what Favre suggests.
LOL!
Wagner did the honorable thing and left at the top of his game. Hoffman just can’t do it anymore.