Brewers Acquire Torres
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
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
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
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
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?
ESPN’s Latest: Barrett, Ensberg, Mahay
Who said the Meetings are over? ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, and Jerry Crasnick are still running down rumors.
- The Rays want Michael Barrett, according to Gammons.
- Looks like Kevin Mench will be non-tendered.
- Crasnick says the Marlins may go after Morgan Ensberg, who is also likely to be non-tendered. The Phillies aren’t much interested in him.
- Gammons says Ron Mahay is down to the Yanks or Royals.
- He also says the Padres’ Milton Bradley signing won’t get in the way of their Kosuke Fukudome pursuit.
- Olney backs up the rumor about the Giants’ interest in Hideki Matsui.
Brewers, Dodgers Didn’t Talk Sheets
Tom Haudricourt debunks a USA Today report (see sidebar) that the Brewers and Dodgers have discussed swapping Ben Sheets and Bill Hall for Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Dylan Hernandez reported the Hall inquiry yesterday. (Thanks to Jason L. for the USA Today link).
Haudricourt was able to verify that the two clubs did not discuss Sheets, but he does think there might something to the Crew’s interest in Kemp and Ethier. You may also recall that the Brewers have talked about Andy LaRoche at least internally.
Cardinals Rumors: Rolen, Bedard, Tejada
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 8:46pm: Tony La Russa had some choice words concerning Rolen tonight. Maybe they can’t coexist, after all.
FROM 12-5-07 at 8:26pm:
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently appeared on the radio. Colleague Bernie Miklasz transcribed it.
- Strauss suggests the chances of Scott Rolen being traded are around 20%. Tony La Russa might be able to co-exist with him, even if they don’t like each other. Still, the Milwaukee talks may be revisited.
- Strauss believes the Cards are sniffing around on Erik Bedard. MLB.com’s Jim Molony spoke of their interest yesterday.
- The Cardinals are revisiting Miguel Tejada.
- The Cards have their eye on a free agent outfielder and a free agent starter and are heightening interest.
Brewers Rumors: Street, Iguchi, Riske
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 7:52pm: Not so fast – Doug Melvin isn’t at the offer stage with Iguchi.
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 2:54pm: Iguchi’s agent expects a two-year offer from the Brewers sometime today. Iguchi is willing to play third base and is looking for a two-year deal with an option.
FROM 12-4-07 at 10:59pm:
MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy runs down the Brewers’ day.
- As you know, the Brewers are out of the running for Scott Rolen. This is due to a number of factors. McCalvy quotes an ESPN rumor of Chris Capuano and Bill Hall for Rolen, which I somehow missed. I thought it was just Capuano.
- Earlier today we wrote about many other third base options the Brewers are considering. Add Tadahito Iguchi to that list, since he’s declared he’s willing to play third base. The Giants, Rockies, Padres, and Phillies also like Iguchi.
- David Riske took a physical in Milwaukee today, though his agent says other teams are still in play.
- The Brewers apparently called the A’s to discuss Huston Street‘s availability.
Brewers Inquire On Valverde
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 2:22pm: I was just speculating below, but it turns out the Brewers actually did talk to the D’Backs about Valverde. However the teams don’t seem to match up.
FROM 12-4-07 at 10:52pm:
According to ESPN’s Enrique Rojas, the Diamondbacks are listening to offers for closer Jose Valverde. They feel they’ve got the bullpen depth to cover his loss. This trade possibility is nothing new to MLBTR readers, as it was first mentioned on November 6th. Valverde figures to get a $3MM raise for ’08, to about $5MM.
No mention of possible suitors, but maybe the Brewers and Astros would be interested?