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Corey Hart Hopes To Avoid Hearing

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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."

Mariners Claim Luis Pena, DFA Tug Hulett

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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."

Hart, Ethier Likely Headed To Arb Hearing

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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."

Sheets Undergoes Successful Surgery

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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.

Brewers Sign Braden Looper, DFA Rottino

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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.

Brewers Acquire Nick Green

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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."

Odds And Ends: Brewers, Roberts, Tejada

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A few links for Wednesday night…

Brewers To Sign Braden Looper

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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.

Sheets Not Welcome Back In Milwaukee

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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."

Cafardo’s Latest: Manny, Sheets, Glavine

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The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo shares some notes on Manny Ramirez and around the league. Let’s have a look, bullet-point style:

  • He cites an AL Exec who says, "I’ll be honest, I never thought Ramirez would walk away from… one year, $25 million. That’s better than the $20 million option he had torn up… If he has another great year, he gets another $25 million for one year? Or maybe a team then decides, ’OK, this guy has behaved himself for a while, continues to produce at a high level now, let’s commit for another two years to him.’ Unless a team like the Yankees comes in at the last minute and gets it done, I just don’t see where he’s going to make more than $25 million." Cafardo adds that "Brian Cashman insists it won’t happen."
  • A quote from Rich Hill on his being traded to the Orioles: "[Cubs general manager] Jim Hendry really took care of me. He wanted to create an opportunity for me that he told me probably didn’t exist in Chicago, so I’m grateful. I know Baltimore tried to deal for me last year and it didn’t work out, but this time they made it work." Hill also adds that he’s over his back injury and will rediscover his control.
  • Ben Sheets not signing anywhere until June hurts the Brewers two-fold: they may have to foot the bill for the surgery and won’t receive a first round draft pick for losing a Type-A free agent. Sheets has a torn flexor tendon, as revealed by an exam with the Texas Rangers. On the other hand, MLBTR has noted that in June, after his surgery, he won’t cost a draft pick to sign.
  • Andruw Jones on playing in Boston: "It’s too cold there. There’s too much stuff going on."
  • Bobby Abreu may have to settle for a one or two year deal at $3MM. Cafardo lists the Angels, Mets, Braves, Dodgers, and Mariners.
  • Expect an incentive-laden deal for one year between Tom Glavine and the Braves. As MLBTR has noted, their latest offer was between $1-2MM with no incentives.
  • Mark Mulder could be a useful back end starter and he’s almost ready to put himself on display to teams.
  • Shea Hillenbrand is 32 and receiving no interest. Cafardo wonders if he’s "being punished for past transgressions?"
  • Cubs, White Sox, and Dodgers are lined up for Orlando Hudson; however, the transfer of ownership may have temporarily tied the hands of Jim Hendry to do anything until Tom Ricketts takes over.
  • The A’s are continuously interested in Orlando Cabrera, Adam Dunn, and Abreu.
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