Braden Looper: Reports he's nearing deal with Brewers- Latest: Melvin confirms interest, but nothing imminent

[silversurferr]

I read a report that the Brewers are close to signing Looper. He ain't a season changer, but he adds depth as a fourth/fifth type. I like it, depending on the price. Hope they aren't thinking of him for the pen.

EDIT: Title -PF

[sbrylski]

Can you provide a link to the report?

[homer]

From Boston Globe:

http://www.boston.com/spo...offseason_of_hope/?page=4

[silversurferr]

MLBtraderumors.com; Andy Cafardo.

[silversurferr]

Nick Cafardo. Sorry.

[bklynbrewcrew]

I would really hope we would sign someone better than him. I wouldnt mind him as a 4th or 5th starter but we really need to do better than that. To count on Gallardo and Parra as our top two starters is really unwise. I really hope that Melvin doesnt plan on going this route to replace Sabathia and Sheets. Looper is no better than Dave Bush so we really should be aiming higher.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

*cough* Derek Lowe *cough*

[PeaveyFury]

Looper is no better than Dave Bush so we really should be aiming higher.

 

The nice thing about Looper is the flexibility he provides. He's either a decent 4th/5th starter, or can go back to being a really good reliever out of the pen as well. Depending on the money, this could be a nice signing, though not a blockbuster.

 

And this should probably be in the Rumors forum.

[Ennder]

We need another starter and he is a servicable one, I don't have a problem with it. A top end starter would be great but not signing any starter at all is a nightmare.

[Matt Breen]

As much as we want a premium FA pitcher, Looper is on the high end of what I expected from the Brewers this off season. They'll live with what they have and bring in someone to provide innings. Looper does have flexibility - can start or relieve - and hits well. And he's not a reclamation project (my prediction had been our 'big' starting pitcher signing would have been a bargain guy coming back from injury or someone who had a miserable year but still had potential).

 

The club is sitting around $70 million in salary after arbitration awards. I just don't see them spending $12-15 million on a starter.

 

The club would be banking on Parra and Gallardo stepping up, Bush being more consistent, and then 6 innings of mediocre ball from Looper and Suppan. McClung goes to the pen and there to start if there are injuries. Perhaps Capuano can come back in the second half of the season for depth. The critical element is improvement from the young players.

 

If we do sign Looper, I hope it's reasonable and no more than a couple of years.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Any thoughts on how much Looper would cost per season?

[Cracked Bat Collector]

He's won 24 games the last 2 years and pitched 375 innings combined in those years. He doesn't have the stuff of Sheets but he seems to eat a few more innings than Ben and has only 1 win less. I'll take him for sure.

[recte44]

He has closing experience, too.

[twobrewers]

As much as we want a premium FA pitcher, Looper is on the high end of what I expected from the Brewers this off season.

Completely agree.

 

Assuming the numbers are reasonable, Looper could be a great signing.

Looper is no better than Dave Bush so we really should be aiming higher.

But he is way better than some of our other options. I'll gladly take another Dave Bush.

[giffted1]

As long as he's relatively cheap, it would be a solid deal. We could really use some depth in the rotation. Looper provides that and the ability to pitch out of the pen as well.

[jwill535]

Dave Bush was probably the best pitcher on the staff outside of CC last year. I know I am omitting Gallardo, my reasoning being he didnt pitch 90% of the year.

[giffted1]

Dave Bush was probably the best pitcher on the staff outside of CC last year. I know I am omitting Gallardo, my reasoning being he didnt pitch 90% of the year.

Ben Sheets says hi.

[jwill535]

Never mind, your right I though Ben missed more games then he did.

[JohnBriggs12]

Looper does nothing for me. He's 34 (so it's likely he won't get better) and very hittable, much like Suppan. Let's hope they won't pay him more than say $8 million over 2 years. Bush is better.

 

His bat is his one plus.

[dpapo]

I guess my intial reaction will probably similar to what most people have already written here. It would an okay signing depending on the amount it was for. Looper is in that 3 tier group of free agent starting pitchers, Paul Byrd, Jon Garland, Randy Wolf, etc... Probably somewhere in the middle of that type of group. If they were to sign him, I would put him between Bush and Suppan, so I guess a number 4 starter in the current Brewers rotation. Gives them depth in the starting rotation and another possible bullpen arm if they wanted to use him there.

Also, Haudricourt is on vacation, but mentioned the report on his blog and is going to have Anthony Witrado look into it. So, we should know more about the accuracy of this report sometime later today or tomorrow.

[Invader3K]

I like it if it happens (assuming the price isn't insane). He's not a world beater, but a solid enough arm, and will give the Brewers a lot of flexibility as far as rotation and bullpen options.

[JoeHova]

Going by the Suppan and Gagne signings and what Looper has made in the past, I'll guess Melvin dishes out a 3 year/$27 million deal for Looper.

[joshjs]

Braden Looper wouldn't be an exciting signing for many people, but if you look at his numbers and compare him to some of the other names we've tossed around, perhaps he should be. I'm all for it.

[Ennder]

He is a better pitcher than Suppan most likely, fewer BBs and higher GB%. He probably is pretty close to Bush in talent which isnt' anything amazing but a rotation of guys like that still ends up being a league average rotation so it doesn't hurt adding another one.

 

I'm more than a little worried about Suppan's health since he was so horrible after coming back from the DL and Gallardo/Parra going more than 175 IP so we definitely NEED another SP. McClung needs to be the backup plan and not the 5th start to start the year.

[Invader3K]

I agree, Ennder. I'd rather have McClung in the pen (ditto Villy), with the option of putting him into the rotation if needed. Adding Looper gives the Brewers a lot of flexibility in that regard.