According to Tom Haudricourt, the Brewers have released 29 year-old starter Claudio Vargas. It’s a very surprising move. The Brewers save $2.7MM with the move. Just like that, the Brewers’ starting pitching surplus is pretty much gone.
Even if the ERAs haven’t been there, you have to credit Vargas for good peripheral stats (6.43 K/9, 3.48 BB/9 for his career). To me he’s an affordable #4 starter with the chance to post 175 innings of 4.50 ball. All sorts of pitching-starved clubs should be vying for his services. Joel Sherman notes Omar Minaya’s history with Vargas.
