The Brewers have avoided arbitration with Chris Capuano and Claudio Vargas in the past week by giving Capuano $3.75 mil and Vargas $3.6 mil. That gives Capuano a $500k raise and Vargas a $1.1 mil raise. As far as my knowledge goes, this sounds like the proper raise for both considering their year. This leaves JJ Hardy and Dave Bush as the only two Brewers left unsigned, both of whom are likely to go to arbitration.
I think people have some misconceptions about arbitration. It's not an insult to players. For some it is if the two numbers are significantly far apart, but more often than not it's the agents wanting more money and GMs pitching numbers that reflect the norm based on the player's position and numbers. Expect a significant raise for Bush and Hardy, probably more for Bush because of his durability the last couple of years.
This is just a reminder to all of us that the deals this winter and spring are not over. We have to unload two of these guys. Thankfully we don't have to waste our time hoping for Gerald Laird and Hank Blalock. Haudricourt has officially debunked that rumor. I really would just prefer a high level catching prospect and some left handed pitching. I wish we had Joe Thatcher back.
2 comments:
You dropped a painful bomb at the end of your post...Joe Thatcher.
He was dealt along with Inman in the Linebrink trade...right? Do you think the Brewers acquired Linebrink knowing they would not sign him the following year and earn some future compensation draft pick?
It would make some sense considering Jack Z's genius...I remember talking to someone about this and they suggested that both Thatcher and Inman were not considered major league level by the Brewers...They comparred their unable to pitch at the MLB level to Dana Eveland..I've never seen the two pitch and only vaguely remember Eveland whose numbers were poor in Milwaukee.
However, San Diego baseball people already include Thatcher and Inman as possible members of the 2008 roster....and Eveland I believe was dealt to oakland in the haren tade, so he will no doubt get a long look in the desert.
Then there's Jorge De La Rosa who put a nice stretch together last year in KC. He, too will probably earn a spot in their rotation which by the way doesn't look that bad. Meche seems to still be tansitioning into a pitcher from a thrower..Bannister who I think used to be a Met threw nice last year...composed and smart.
Anyway, you're right about another lefty. It's frustrasting to see Thatcher, Eveland, and De La Rosa making strides in a uniform other than the Brewers.
Sure would like a left bat off the bench also....How much would Bonds cost? Milwaukee fans would never go for it....Management might...They completely overlooked substance matters with Gagne, Torres, and Cameroooon....Milwaukee looks like a forgiving destination to the Players Union and future free agents...How about we top the 4 million mark in attendance this year, buy lots of Brewer jersies, and sign Santana next winter?
Ha, we can only dream of a high profile free agent like Santana and a 4 million attendance. I'll be attending another 40 games this years, so i'm doing my part.
As for Thatcher and Inman. I heard the same thing about Inman, but not about Thatcher. The beef with Thatcher was his age. The thing is, he was major league ready. His AAA numbers revealed that. He was that farm lefty I found myself rooting for when I looked at Nashville box scores every day.
Joe ended up pitching in 22 games last year for San Diego, pitching 21 innings, compiling a 2-2 record, a 1.29 ERA, 16 SOs, 6 BB and a 0.90 WHIP. In Nashville he pitched in 32 innings amassing a 1.78 ERA with 44 SOs, 8 BBs and a 1.22 WHIP. In Huntsville he pitch 16 innings with a 0.55 ERA and 20 SOs to 2 BBs.
This guy was ready and I was livid when we made that trade. It was a bit sweet to get a win off him the final week of baseball, but it seems like this kids has come around. This might have been one of the few big blemishes on Melvin's record.
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