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Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Brewers will have a scout on hand for Chad Cordero’s next throwing session.
"We have interest in him,” said GM Doug Melvin. "This will be his first workout off the mound. We’ll wait until we get the report."
Cordero, 27, missed most of the 2008 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. He has a 2.78 career ERA and 128 total saves in six MLB seasons. He’ll throw for several teams on Wednesday in California.
By Tim Dierkes | at
On Saturday, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel learned that a new offer was made to Corey Hart for ’09 and his agent turned it down. The sides remain $1.1MM apart ($3.8MM vs. $2.7MM) with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday. Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash thinks it will be difficult to avoid. Hart’s comparables are said to be Andre Ethier (Tuesday hearing) and Josh Willingham (Wednesday).
However, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy quoted Hart yesterday as saying:
"I think [a compromise] is going to happen. I’m trying to stay out of it as much as I can, but I think we’re all hoping that something is going to happen. Obviously, nobody wants a hearing and I love everything about Milwaukee from the owner on down. I have nothing to say to put them down because I’ve enjoyed it, and I think they know that."
By Steve Adams | at
5:14pm: John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that the Mariners have designated infielder Tug Hulett for assignment to make room for Pena on the 40-man roster.
2:15pm: Tom Haudricourt writes that the Mariners have claimed reliever Luis Pena off waivers.
Pena, 26, was designated for assignment when the Brewers claimed Nick Green from the Angels. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin explains:
"It’s like trading Pena for Green," said general manager Doug Melvin. "We needed starters. You hate to give up on a good arm but that was our need."
By Alex Walsh | at
2:19pm: Adam McCalvy at MLB.com mentions an interesting parallel to the arbitration situation with Corey Hart.
Andre Ethier is expected to go to an arbitration hearing on Tuesday, the day before Hart’s hearing is scheduled. The numbers in Ethier’s case are very similar, the outfielder having asked for $3.75 million while the Dodgers offered $2.65 million.
The outcome of the Ethier case may be indicative of what to expect for Hart.
11:15am: Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes the Brewers and Corey Hart will likely be headed to an arbitration hearing. Says assistant general manager Gord Ash, "We’re still where we were, with a case on Wednesday."
Haudricourt’s got the numbers, too: "In his first year of salary arbitration eligibility, Hart filed for $3.8 million. The club offered him $2.7 million. Hart made $444,000 last season."
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According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Ben Sheets underwent successful elbow surgery Tuesday. A source claims that "a return in the second half is realistic barring setbacks." Sheets is shooting for August.
Clubs already are inquiring about signing Sheets for the second half. If healthy, he will be extremely attractive to contenders, who at that point could sign the former Brewers’ ace without forfeiting a top draft pick, writes Rosenthal.
It doesn’t sound like a team is going to take a chance on him before the season starts.
By Tim Dierkes | at
THURSDAY, 6:18pm: Tom Haudricourt writes that the Brewers have designated Vinny Rottino for assignment to make room for Looper on the 40-man roster. Rottino, a 28-year-old catcher, was stuck behind Jason Kendall, Mike Rivera and Angel Salome on the organizational depth chart.
5:16pm: Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the deal is now official.
Looper’s 2010 option is worth $6MM and comes with a $750K buyout. That buyout increases to $1MM if he starts 30 games or 180 innings this season.
WEDNESDAY, 2:53pm: According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers’ signing of Braden Looper will be announced tomorrow (assuming he passes his physical). Looper will earn $4.75MM in ’09 and has a mutual option for ’10.
Looper fills a need for the Brewers: someone who can eat innings following the departues of C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets. The Brewers’ rotation will include Yovani Gallardo, Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, Looper, and Manny Parra. Seth McClung, Chase Wright, and Chris Capuano add additional depth.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer, the Angels removed pitcher Nick Green from the 40-man roster to make room for Bobby Abreu and Green was "promptly snapped up from waivers by the Brewers." The Brewers designated reliever Luis Pena for assignment to make room, says MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy.
Green, 24, posted a 5.32 ERA in 159 Triple A innings last year. He had issues with hits and home runs allowed. In their ’09 Handbook, Baseball America said Green has a strong changeup but "lacks a swing-and-miss pitch" and "projects as a #4 starter at best."
By Ben Nicholson-Smith | at
A few links for Wednesday night…
By Tim Dierkes | at
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.
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Brewers GM Doug Melvin said Tuesday that the club will not re-sign free agent Ben Sheets under any circumstances. Adam McCalvy has the report over at MLB.com.
"There’s probably logic to it, but it’s not going to happen," said Melvin.
Some readers have speculated that it would make sense for Sheets to return to Milwaukee since they’re already footing the bill for his shoulder surgery and rehabilitation. Melvin put a stop to those kind of ideas Tuesday, adding that Sheets should have "some other avenues."
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