Earlier in the week, we heard that if Trevor Hoffman plays in 2011, he'd likely look for a situation where he has a chance to close, meaning his time in Milwaukee could be nearing an end. Hoffman said as much to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today, when asked about the possibility of the Brewers retaining him for next season.
"[John Axford] is their future," said Hoffman. "That’s just the way it is. It’s nothing bad, no ill feelings or anything. They have their future and it’s time for me to move on if I’m going to continue doing this at a certain capacity. If I’m going to continue playing, I don’t want to continue in this capacity. I’d like to see what’s out there, if there’s option to close somewhere."
The one-year contract that the 42-year-old signed with Milwaukee last October includes a $7MM mutual option ($750K buyout) for 2011. Even Hoffman knows that the Brewers won't exercise the option though, asking rhetorically: "Why would they pay $7 million for me to pitch in this role?"
After an extremely successful first year with the Brewers in 2009 (1.83 ERA, 37 saves), Hoffman struggled this season, losing the closer's job to Axford and recording a 5.89 ERA. However, most of the right-hander's disastrous outings came in the season's first two months; since June 3rd, he has posted a 2.67 ERA in 32 appearances. Those numbers could be enough for a team to take a flier on Hoffman next year, but even if he receives offers, the all-time saves leader doesn't know whether he'll be back.
"I might not get to that stage (of fielding offers)," Hoffman said. "I might make my decision before I ever get to that. It would have to be a fit like this. I don’t know how many fits are out there like this."
Hoffman’s goatee is nowhere near as dominating as Axford’s stash anyway.
I say he signs with the Indians on a 1 year 1 Mil deal and closes a couple of times a week with Chris Perez as the main closer.
What about going back to San Diego for a year if they end up trading Heath Bell?
No thank you.
As much as I love Hoffman, I think it’s time for him to call it a career. He can do it on his own terms coming off a great and emotional finish to the 2010 campaign. The all time saves leader with 601 spanning 18 years. Fantastic career.
I agree. I just don’t think he has that much left in the tank. I would hate to see him go somewhere else and pitch like he did at the start of this season.
Hoffman wouldn’t be the first to have his career end not on his terms, and I can’t fault him for playing another year if a team is willing to give him a chance. If he starts as bad as this year though I would hope that he’d retire similar to Griffey this year.
With the right team, in the right park I think he can still be reasonably effective. Just a matter of how much he’d want and who he’d block.
Too bad that If he retires right now, Rivera will retire until he is ahead of him. Maybe sticking for a couple of more years until Rivera starts wiping out wouldn’t be a bad idea.
no chance hoffman will get enough chances or have the performance to outlast mariano
I say he ends his career where he started..as a Marlin! Good ballpark for him to pitch in as well.
I say maybe one more year, then call it quits… provided he is on the right team. Could the Cards be that team?
Trev – sign a 1 day deal to retire as a Padre – in November, after the World Series parade.