Brewers Rumors

Odds and Ends: Giles, Chacon, Durbin

By Tim Dierkes | December 19, 2007 at 2:17pm CDT

Here are today’s random rumor tidbits.

The Rox are interested in Marcus Giles for their second base opening. Giles was awful last year, they should just try something internal. Other Rockies notes: contracts with Kip Wells and Luis Vizcaino aren’t quite finalized, and they may ink Victor Zambrano to a minor league deal. UPDATE: Wells, plus Mark Redman, are done deals.
The Pirates still have their eye on Shawn Chacon and Chad Durbin. That”ll put butts in the seats. Also, Jake of Bucco Blog weighs in on a new Pirates hire.
Speaking of Durbin, did he comment on this blog and suggest he’s headed to the NL? I’m not sure.
Drays Bay talked to Gerry Hunsicker. Seth Speaks talked to Pat Neshek.
New prize added to our Hot Stove Hysteria contest – three months free of Scout.com access.
Things are mostly quiet with the Brewers, but this Tom Haudricourt blog post notes tepid discussions for Scott Rolen, Hank Blalock, and Andre Ethier.

Odds and Ends: Johan, Hudson, A-Rod, Dallas

By Tim Dierkes | December 17, 2007 at 2:55pm CDT

Collection o’ links…

LENIII has a Johan Santana update…nothing groundbreaking going on, pretty much looks like the Yanks and Red Sox are still both involved.
The Brewers were apparently pretty deep in discussions for Miguel Tejada during the Winter Meetings.
After a year out of baseball Javy Lopez is back with the Braves on a minor-league deal. Remember when he slugged .687 with 43 home runs in 457 ABs? Good times.
Nick Piecoro has some chatter about Orlando Hudson, who hits free agency after the ’08 season. The most interesting part is that Hudson refers to Bob Melvin as "Bo-Mel." It’s the same story with Hudson – he’d like an extension, the D’Backs are noncommittal. You never know – I certainly didn’t expect them to re-up Eric Byrnes. But as of right now it seems like Hudson will walk.
Alex Rodriguez is not on speaking terms with Scott Boras…let’s all hope they reconcile, they were a great couple.
Barry Jackson says the Marlins have their eye on Dallas McPherson. The Giants are known to be interested as well.
Mike Sweeney’s agent has been in touch with the Royals as well as two other clubs. I think he might have to accept a bench role this year.

Luis Vizcaino Signs With Rockies

By Tim Dierkes | December 14, 2007 at 10:16pm CDT

UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 10:16pm: Tracy Ringolsby reported (several hours ago actually) that the Rockies have an agreement with the Viz.

UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 9:41pm: Here we go…MLB.com’s Thomas Harding says Vizcaino is close with the Rox.

UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 3:21pm: Definitely not the Brewers, we know that much.

UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 2:30pm: Readers are emailing in that WFAN is reporting the Rockies signed Vizcaino.

FROM 12-14-07 at 2:11pm:

Per Peter Abraham, Luis Vizcaino signed somewhere in the NL. Brewers, Rockies? Not sure yet. The URL string, though, says Milwaukee. The deal was for two years and $7MM despite the talk about Vizcaino looking for Linebrink money.

Wise DFA’d, Brewers Look At Blalock

By Tim Dierkes | December 11, 2007 at 1:57pm CDT

UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 1:56pm: It’s official, Wise has been DFA’d. If the Brewers aren’t able to trade him then he’ll hook on somewhere as a free agent.

FROM 12-10-07 at 10:20pm:

Tom Haudricourt has some quality stuff tonight, aside from the aforementioned return of Salomon.

32 year-old reliever Matt Wise is looking like a non-tender candidate for Wednesday. Eric Gagne took his uniform number. Wise hasn’t been too bad while eating up relief innings the past few years. He only made a million bucks in ’07. The Brewers tended to use him in low-leverage situations in 2007.
Some other non-tender candidates are listed here.
Haudricourt is "starting to get some vibes" that the Brewers have their eye on Hank Blalock. The 27 year-old third baseman hit .293/.358/.543 in limited duty this year. He’s locked up affordably – $5.95MM in ’08 and a $6.2MM club option for ’09. Would Dave Bush and a decent pitching prospect cut it?

Odds and Ends: Inge, Greene, Pavano

By Tim Dierkes | December 11, 2007 at 11:03am CDT

A few tidbits this morning as we wait to hear more on Fukudome…

The Tigers and Pirates have had talks about Brandon Inge. Not sure how he fits in with that club, but OK.
Yesterday Barry Svrluga wrote of a failed Padres-Nats trade worth noting. The Nats would’ve sent Jon Rauch or Chad Cordero plus Felipe Lopez to the Padres for Khalil Greene. The talks fizzled; it never sounded like something the Padres would be interested in. They usually grow their own relievers. Tom Krasovic over at the San Diego Union-Tribune elaborates a little more on Jim Bowden’s love for Greene.
Carl Pavano, the American Idle, is deciding whether to take a minor league contract with the Yanks. Peter Abraham says the Yankees are offering this to make sure they can collect on insurance.
Xavier Nady will be tendered a contract, officially putting the rumors to rest.
The Brewers inked Eric Munson to be their possible backup catcher.

Brewers Acquire Torres

By Tim Dierkes | December 10, 2007 at 10:09pm CDT

UPDATE, 12-10-07 at 10:08pm: No more Torres drama…he’ll join the Brewers for the 2008 season.

UPDATE, 12-8-07 at 12:06pm: Seems this story isn’t over. Torres is contemplating retirement, in which case the Brewers would probably lose the two prospects for nothing. Torres will talk it over with his family and take a few days to decide.

FROM 12-7-07 at 2:16pm:

According to Tom Haudricourt, the Brewers have acquired reliever Salomon Torres for minor league relievers Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts.

Torres turns 36 in March. He threw a monstrous 280 innings in relief over 2004-2006, so it’s no surprise his elbow started barking in 2007. His strikeout rate in ’07 was actually a career high, but his groundball rate decreased and he allowed a lot more home runs and hits than usual. Torres makes $3.2MM in ’08 and has a $3.75MM club option for ’09.

Haudricourt actually wrote the Brewers’ top ten prospect list for Baseball America, so believe him when he says Salas and Roberts are good arms.

Will the Pirates keep dealing? It’s known that relievers Damaso Marte and John Grabow are on the block.

Kevin Mench DFA’d

By Tim Dierkes | December 10, 2007 at 12:05pm CDT

The Brewers designated Kevin Mench for assignment today to create room on the roster for Salomon Torres. They’ve now got ten days to trade, release, or place him on waivers. Tom Haudricourt says the Brewers tried to trade Mench at the Meetings but no one was interested.

Mench turns 30 in January. He hit .267/.305/.441 for the Brewers in 288 ABs this year, at least showing some power. He’s a lefty-killer, with a .924 career OPS against them. He’d be a nice match with Shawn Green or Kenny Lofton in a platoon.

More Odds And Ends: Hawkins, Hernandez, Brewers

By Tim Dierkes | December 9, 2007 at 10:23am CDT

The one good thing about Sundays is that you always find a ton of little tidbits, even if there isn’t anything big in the works.

Patrick Saunders expects reliever LaTroy Hawkins to sign a one-year deal as early as today. It’s basically come down to the Rockies and the Yankees.
Tom Haudricourt wonders why there weren’t many inquiries into the Brewers surplus of pitching. We all know how quickly a pitching surplus can turn into a deficit (hello, Phillies), so the Brewers would do well to hang onto their arms, if they’re so inclined.
Jack Magruder notes that Livan Hernandez has declined arbitration. Magruder says it signifies the end of Hernandez’s tenure in Arizona, though technically the D’backs could still work out a deal with him.

–Joe

Brewers Near Deal With Gagne

By Tim Dierkes | December 9, 2007 at 12:32am CDT

UPDATE, 12-9-07 at 12:31am: The AP agrees Gagne will get $10MM, plus another mil in incentives.

UPDATE, 12-8-07 at 8:51pm: Tom Haudricourt has heard the deal might be around $10MM for one year.

FROM 12-8-07 at 1:06pm:

According to Yahoo’s Tim Brown, the Brewers are nearing an agreement with free agent Eric Gagne. It’ll probably be a one-year deal, which jives with what Doug Melvin has said. The move pushes newly acquired David Riske to the eighth inning, while Derrick Turnbow, Salomon Torres, and Guillermo Mota can split sixth and seventh inning duty.

As far as I can tell, Gagne earned $8.5MM in 2007 ($6MM base plus $2.5MM in performance bonuses guaranteed for waiving his no-trade rights). We’ll have to wait to see the terms, but my guess is that this turns out to be a shrewd signing by Melvin. Gagne will be in his comfort zone – National League, closer role.

Heyman’s Latest: Santana, Gagne, Kuroda

By Tim Dierkes | December 6, 2007 at 3:18pm CDT

SI.com’s Jon Heyman has penned (or typed I guess) a new column with some hot stove banter.

The Mets are offering Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, and others for Santana. Joel Sherman thinks the offer is at least viable, and that Aaron Heilman may interest Minnesota.. The Yankees offered Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and Jeff Marquez. The Red Sox proposed Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson. The Mariners have offered Adam Jones and Brandon Morrow. Seems to me the Red Sox still have the advantage, at least slightly.
Heyman says the Brewers and Astros are in the mix for Eric Gagne (if he doesn’t accept arbitration). Regarding the Brewers, though, Doug Melvin said today that they already have a closer in Derrick Turnbow.
Heyman says offers for Hiroki Kuroda are expected to approach $15MM per year. Damn, for him?

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