TUESDAY, 8:02pm: Tom Haudricourt, who’s done a great job staying on top of this whole saga, revealed today that Looper’s contract comes with a mutual option for 2010. His ’09 salary is thought to be $4.75MM.
MONDAY, 7:57pm: Haudricourt says the agreement is in place, pending a physical. It’s a one-year deal with an option of some kind for 2010.
2:55pm: Haudricourt talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who is "optimistic" about signing Looper1:56pm: Haudricourt keeps the updates coming. He’s "pretty sure" Looper has reached an agreement with the Brewers.
12:59pm: Haudricourt has now heard from two more sources and says the Brewers will sign Looper. Apparently Looper’s wife didn’t deny the signing when she was contacted.
11:36am: Haudricourt says, "Just got word from one more source that the Looper signing is going to happen."
11:00am: Taking a cautious approach with the scoop, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says the Brewers might sign Braden Looper:
I’m starting to hear that the Brewers have changed their minds about adding a starting pitcher prior to camp and might sign Looper. From what I hear, the sides could be working toward a deal at this very moment.
Haudricourt figures Looper wouldn’t require more than the $5MM guaranteed to Randy Wolf. Looper, 34, posted a 4.16 ERA in 199 innings for the Cardinals in ’08. He pitched to contact, but walked only 2.04 per nine innings.
