FA Relief Pitchers who could start

[EbbaStClaire]

Are there any free agent relief pitchers who could be developed into starters? The FA starters are not particularly interesting so maybe the Brewers should look at their starting pitching problems from a different perspective.

[Invader3K]

Here's ESPN's list of free agent relievers.

 

I don't know, but I'm not seeing anyone really jumping out as a potential starter. Part of the problem is you would want someone younger if they're still going to make that kind of transition, and Jesse Crain at 29 is the youngest on that list.

[JohnBriggs12]

Brewers already have relievers who could start.

 

One is Kameron Loe who has 46 major league starts, and was quite effective in 10 starts last year for Nashville. As a sinker baller, he'd be unique on the Brewer staff too.

 

Another is Villanueva. He's got 4 pitches which he uses in any count. Generally guys like that are better suited to starting. He had some success starting early in his career, but Brewers showed almost no patience with him after that despite his being at the time a very young guy. Contrast that to the chances given Parra and to a lesser extend Bush who were given full seasons to work through tough stretches.

 

Then there's Tim Dillard who's alternated between starting and relieving his entire career. He was close to lights out after being switched back to starting late last year with Nashville.

[Oldcity]

The Brewers absolutely can't go into the season with one of those three in their starting rotation. They should be viewed as emergency starters only.

[Invader3K]

Agreed. I really don't want them to mess with Loe, who was very successful out of the bullpen last year, and try to convert him into a starter. Villanueva is fine as a spot starter or emergency option. I really can't see Dillard being a successful starter, personally.

[dadofandrew]

Kam Loe gets hit hard by LH hitters, always has. His success in the bullpen depends on being used properly. He's as bad a choice to be a SP as DiFelice was the year before. You can't ignore splits.

 

CV does have an option, and I'd love it if we had enough depth to start him in the Nashville rotation. He was so-so at best, and has not really improved a bit since he was brought up from AA. He doesn't seem to pitch as well as his stuff would allow him to.

[twobrewers]

The fifth guy on that list would make a pretty good starter!

The only one I would think about is Balfour.

[804Sox]

Duchscherer would be a good target for the Brewers if he can demonstrate good health to team doctors. He's another guy that's swung back and forth between the rotation and the pen.

[Polish Falcons]

Any thoughts on bringing back Jorge De La Rosa? Is that a good idea and what would it take to get him?

 

I would like to see him in there as the #3 followed by Rogers, although I know there are cons to rushing Rogers up.

[dlk9s]

The fifth guy on that list would make a pretty good starter!

The only one I would think about is Balfour.

Balfour? His three pitches are fastball, fastball, and fastball. I don't see how he could be a starter when all he's used to doing is going in for an inning (sometimes two) and throwing as hard as he can.

[804Sox]

The fifth guy on that list would make a pretty good starter!

The only one I would think about is Balfour.

Balfour? His three pitches are fastball, fastball, and fastball. I don't see how he could be a starter when all he's used to doing is going in for an inning (sometimes two) and throwing as hard as he can.

Also, like Benoit, he's been wildly inconsistent over his career and is likely to command far more money than he's worth. He's exactly the type of player I'd stay away from, especially with reliable (though lower ceiling) options like Crain and Guerrier likely to come much cheaper.

[And That]

Aaron Heilman wants to be a starting pitcher.

 

I wouldn't give him much money to do it, but another option is another option.

[dadofandrew]

He does get lefties out almost as well as righties. He's a guy that's just never put it together like most thought he would.