Braden Looper signed: 1 year w/mutual option, worth between $5.5 mil and $12.25 mil; Rottino DFA'd (replies #150/151), will report as long as he isn't claimed (reply #181)

[JJHardy7]

The point is though Darnell, is that Suppan is a guy who almost every year throws for 200 innings. He is probably better conditioned to starting than McClung is, and thus won't have as many short starts. McClung, as many of the stats people have posted, is clearly better coming out of relief.

So even if Suppan would be slightly worse than McClung, which is a big "if". He is better served as an innings eating 5th starter. We have no idea how he'd do in the pen, he may be horrible for all we know.

I believe I've noted this in the past, but Seth did have major arm surgery, which in turn led to some bad habits regarding his conditioning. He did lose quite a bit of weight last off-season and I've heard he'll report in better shape this year. I do have the feeling that not having a 'role' will upset Seth a bit. I'm not saying he'll blow up or that...that's not Seth's style. I think we at times fail to forget the differences in conditioning if one is a starter or a relief pitcher -- and it's even more important with Seth. If he's starting he needs to build up his stamina, but if he's a relief pitcher he needs to focus on his velocity (while also not walking players). I'm not trying to say Seth is a Cy Young pitcher or anywhere near that. I just think it's fair to let Seth know what his role is. The Tommy John surgery is further in the past and I think he'll not only be an important pitcher on the Brewers, but an important player. Seth has all the makings to be an above average pitcher in this league and if it all falls together the right way he could be one of the better pitchers on the Brewers. You cannot teach velocity and if Seth reports in the shape I think he will 2009 could be a very good year for him.

[Brewcrewin07]

Done deal according to TH's blog......

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/39341787.html

[PrimeTime955]

Looper deal done at 7:47 per Tom H.

[danzig6767]

Hard for me to see any negative to this signing given the likely dollar amounts being thrown around, especially if the option isn't strictly a player option which doesn't seem likely.

[razzzorsharp]

I love it. I understand we are not a big market team that can go ahead and buy 10 million dollar pitchers but Melvin and company realize with this offense and a number of decent SPs we got a shot.

[BrewCrewForever]

Can't complain at all with this signing of Looper. Guy that can give you 200 innings, had an ERA under 4.20, won 12 games last year and had improved both years he has been a starter. Hopefully he improves once again for us as a Brewer. This gives us more depth and allows us to put McClung back in the pen where he really came on last season.

[And That]

According to that blog, the deal is one year with an option for a second year. He should make around $5 mil this season.

[razzzorsharp]

Crazy how one year makes a difference. 2008, 10 million gets you Gagne. 2009, 11+ million gets you Looper and Hoffman.

[Ennder]

Crazy how one year makes a difference. 2008, 10 million gets you Gagne. 2009, 11+ million gets you Looper and Hoffman.

And in 2006 42 million gets you suppan!

[Tbadder]

I still think the issue is the pressure that the starters are going to put on the relief corp. Without CC and Sheets the bullpen is gonna have to cover extra innings. That's the most important reason to get McClung out of the rotation. Looper will definitely help in this regard. And as pointed out earlier in the thread, Macha needs to make McClung into one of those guys who gets 10 three inning saves over the course of the year. This is a good sign. They weren't going to get better.

[DHonks]

I assume DiFelice gets the ax from the 40-man. Either that or its Coffey

[logan82]

I would guess Gwynn or Rottino get the ax before any pitcher.

[danzig6767]

I would guess Gwynn or Rottino get the ax before any pitcher.

I sure hope so, i sure see a better chance that say DiFelice could really help the Brewers next year more than Rottino.

[fallingleaves]

I like this deal. I find Looper's stats from his years as a closer intriguing . Lets trade Gwynn to the Padres, god knows they could use the marketing ploy.

[Yeti73]

I hope Yeti isn't too dismayed about being bumped from the rotation into an undefined role. It really isn't fair to assume that he is the odd man out when there is a possibility that the Soup has completely lost it (looking at the last six months of the season). Then again, we're paying him $12.5 mil so it is hard to see him getting moved to the long relief mode. Is there any chance that Looper has considered going back into the pen?

 

Any one else think that Mrs. Looper looks a lot like Trennie?

[Invader3K]

If the Padres actually wanted Gwynn, they probably would have done that trade by now.

[PeaveyFury]

If the Padres actually wanted Gwynn, they probably would have done that trade by now.

 

I think you could probably do a Gwynn for a low A ball guy with little ceiling deal and have both sides be fairly happy about it.

[strawbossisevil]

Andersoc. The season was only 6 months long. In May he put up an ERA of 2.56, in August he put up an ERA of 3.00. He struggled in some months too. July, right before he went down with his injury he had an ERA over 9. And as many have pointed out, his last few starts in September didn´t go well.

 

If you are talking about his last 6 starts, yeah, he had a rough go to finish the season. Although, I don´t think it is unheard of for any average type starter to have a run of bad starts, especially if he was struggling with that injury again. I don´t buy it, that he may have "lost it". Despite struggling with his injury in July (and possibly down the stretch run too), he still managed to put up an ERA under 5.

 

I get the hate for Suppan based on his contract. I totally wish he wasn´t on our team because of that too. But I don´t think there is any evidence to the fact that he won´t be a solid 4/5 starter this next season. (It´s just too bad his contract pays him like a #2/3).

[Tisko]

Melvin can do what the Cubs did with Bako, sign him, but do not make it official for awhile so that they can clear a 40-man spot.

[RobDeer 45]

Does anyone know if Soup and Loop have a good relationship? Is that part of the reason Looper is coming here? Just curioius.

[CheezWizHed]

Lets cut Rottino! Rotten traitor playing for the Italian WBC team... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Fatter than Joey]

I hope Yeti isn't too dismayed about being bumped from the rotation into an undefined role.

 

Suppan/Yo/Parra etc. are inevitably going to miss some starts -- McClung will get some starts. Plus I don't think it was ever in the plans to have McClung in the rotation -- I don't think he got "bumped" -- I think he was always destined to be the spot starter, BP long guy.

[JonnyLungs]

I don´t buy it, that he may have "lost it". Despite struggling with his injury in July (and possibly down the stretch run too), he still managed to put up an ERA under 5.

 

I get the hate for Suppan based on his contract. I totally wish he wasn´t on our team because of that too. But I don´t think there is any evidence to the fact that he won´t be a solid 4/5 starter this next season. (It´s just too bad his contract pays him like a #2/3).

I wouldn't be willing to make a call either way. It wouldn't be the first time that a 34 year old starter fell off a cliff. When I look at Suppan's stats from last year, I see a declining strikeout rate and and a HR allowed rate that increased dramatically. For a pitcher entering his age 34 year that didn't have overpowering stuff to begin with, I'm more than slightly concerned. Then again, I am an outsider that doesn't really know what is going on medically with him.

 

I'd still pencil Soup into the rotation until he proves he can't handle it. But if he comes out throwing 83-84 MPH, it'll definitely make me wonder. He didn't have much stuff to lose to begin with. A permanent loss of stuff for Soup due to age and/or injury could easily be the end of him as a viable major league pitcher. But like I said, I'm not going to throw him out of the rotation before spring training starts.

[Fatter than Joey]

But like I said, I'm not going to throw him out of the rotation before spring training starts.

 

Barring injury, Suppan is assured a starting spot in the rotation until at least the AS-Break, probably regardless of his performance. Realistically the Brewers do not have a superior option to Suppan, and DM is going to try and get as much of the $$$ out of Suppan that he can.

[Ennder]

Suppan gave up a lot of HR after his injury, other than that he was more or less the same pitcher he has always been. I really wouldn't worry about him falling off a cliff. Now being worried about his body physically breaking down would make some sense to me.