Brewers sign LHP Tommy Milone to big league deal

[And That]

 

The #Brewers have signed free agent LHP Tommy Milone to a 1-year contract. With his addition, the 40-man roster returns to capacity.

[MrTPlush]

Well probably not good for the Suter fans.

[pacopete4]

This has to mean a starter is on the move... right?

[bork]

I think his numbers point to him being a reliever, and Hader and Suter are the only lefties on the 40 man.

[patrickgpe]

This has to mean a starter is on the move... right?

Not necessarily I could see Peralta or Garza starting in the pen or DFA'd in the spring

[And That]

According to Haudricourt, the contract is not fully guaranteed. Even if it was guaranteed, don't think this was a signal they are trading a starter but with it non-guaranteed, pretty much confirms he's here to compete for a spot with everyone else.

[jerichoholicninja]

Unless he's going to the bullpen this seems pointless. Garza is the only current starter who isn't young and if they're moving him to the pen they might as well release him. Rotation depth maybe you typically don't sign rotation depth to a major league contract.

[bork]

you typically don't sign rotation depth to a major league contract.

 

You do when your AAA affiliate is Colorado Springs.

[And That]

you typically don't sign rotation depth to a major league contract.

Except it's not guaranteed. It's like a reverse minor league contract w/spring invite. It's a major league contract that gives the Brewers the right to dis-invite him.

[BrewCrewForever]

If they trade Guerra or Garza I guess he would be in the rotation, otherwise a long man out of the pen. I'm okay with it.

[AKCheesehead]

You never know what can happen in ST, too. Not to jinx, but anyone can sustain any type of injury. For that reason alone, this is a nice move in my opinion. Non-guaranteed contract, so a pretty minimal sacrifice made for at least a hedge.

[brewcrewdue80]

Looking at his stats and game log last season. Apparent terrible starter. Pitched out of the bullpen the last 2months. I'll say his signing is on the bullpen side. Should he be successful enough to make the team after ST. Though even then Im concerned with HR rate. Competition for Suter/Hader? Keep them down in AAA for team control?

 

Wow, I looked his splits and hes not even a Lefty vs. Lefty specialist type. So Im not sure what the thinking is here, accept "tank" signing. Pretty amaizing he can fetch 4.5mil. Scooter seems lightyears better. I wouldnt have given more than 1million with 2.5mil incentives.

[Lee16]

Good sign for Tommy that his Brewer tenure has already eclipsed that of Caleb Smith.

[Ennder]

He's averaged over 1 WAR per full season. Signing that to a minor league deal almost can't be a bad thing. Hope he shows that last year was a fluke and potentially trade him mid season or he fills in for an injury or a traded player. Nice little pickup.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm okay with Milone, though I'd have preferred Travis Wood. Wood is reportedly looking for a team that will give him a chance to start again, but he's already proven he can be effective both starting and relieving. Plus Wood is such a good hitter, he actually gives you an extra bench bat.

[A Swing and A Drive]

Love this guy.

 

Little known fact:

 

Tommy Milone hit a 3-run Home Run on the first pitch of his first MLB at bat!

 

[StearnsFTW]

I'm okay with Milone, though I'd have preferred Travis Wood. Wood is reportedly looking for a team that will give him a chance to start again, but he's already proven he can be effective both starting and relieving. Plus Wood is such a good hitter, he actually gives you an extra bench bat.

 

I would've strongly preferred Wood as well. He's going to get substantial guaranteed money though. He is a guy who could be valuable at the deadline given the right circumstances, but I bet he gets 3 years at $6MM per, or more. Don't see the Brewers ponying up that kind of dough.

[NievesNoNO]

This is one where it's kind of hard to have a strong opinion one way or another. If he get's his BB/9 back in the low 2 range he cold have a nice bounce back season. The 20% hr rate seems a bit unlucky, although he's not really moving to a park where it will help him in that regard. The GB% also moved in a positive direction.

 

Don't underestimate the power of the crafty lefty

[JDBrewCrew]

Jerry Crasnick ‏@jcrasnick 43s44 seconds ago

Tommy Milone gets a $1.25M base salary plus incentives in his deal with the #Brewers.

[JohnBriggs12]

Jerry Crasnick ‏@jcrasnick 43s44 seconds ago

Tommy Milone gets a $1.25M base salary plus incentives in his deal with the #Brewers.

 

That's all well and good and indicates they can simply release him if he doesn't win a job in Arizona, but that's the problem. Evaluating pitchers in Arizona is pointless. Say the 5th spot in the rotation comes down to Milone and Chase Anderson. Do you give the edge to Milone because he's a lefty or to Anderson who for all his troubles just getting through 5 innings much less 6, was actually very good the 2nd half with a 3.02 ERA over 14 games (13 starts). Can't keep all those guys and there aren't enough bullpen slots either.

 

Maybe they'll deal one or even two starters, and it will be clarified, with hopefully Garza being one, but right now they have a lot of guys that look about the same.

[FVBrewerFan]

That's what AAA is for. You need a full rotation in Milwaukee and CS, and at least a couple of those guys in CS need to be AAAA type guys who can come up to help when necessary. I see no over-abundance of starting pitching yet.

[And That]

Evaluating pitchers in Arizona is pointless.

Maybe not entirely.

[torts]

interesting signing if only for the fact that the brewers are not competing in 2017 and it gives the opportunity to allows the front office from burning a year from any young MiLB arm

[Austin Tatious]

I hope the signing of Milone is used as depth to allow for trades of Guerra (for a good return) or others (e,g., Nelson).

[djoctagone]

you typically don't sign rotation depth to a major league contract.

Except it's not guaranteed. It's like a reverse minor league contract w/spring invite. It's a major league contract that gives the Brewers the right to dis-invite him.

i'm trying to remember the last time a brewer on a non-guaranteed contract was released from the 40-man roster before opening day. has there been anyone since first baseman juan francisco was released from his non-guaranteed contract in 2014 spring training?