The Milwaukee Brewers are quietly having a very nice little Hot Stove party this winter. We're getting into fanfest season and the Brewers were able to announce at theirs, the signing of perhaps the top pitcher on the FA market with MLB experience for a very reasonable price. The deal is 4 years/$50 M guaranteed with $1 M per season in incentives and a vesting option for a 5'th year at $13 M.
Garza has long been viewed as a pitcher with tremendous stuff who has been just a bit of an underachiever. He is a fiery competitor whose emotions cut both ways which may partially explain his underachieving. He averages a K/9 of about 8 and a BB/9 of about 2.5-3.0. He had a 4 year stretch where he started at least 30 games but has been limited by injuries his last 2 seasons. He finished 2013 apparently healthy, though. Over the course of his career, he has averaged 2.7 WAR per 30 starts, but got up to 4.9 in 2011 with the Cubs.
Garza comes without a draft pick penalty. He was not eligible for a QO due to being traded mid-season. He is currently 30 years old. He will join a rotation that includes Yovani Gallardo, Marco Estrada and Kyle Lohse. Wily Peralta, Tyler Thornburg, and Tom Gorzelanny will compete for the 5'th starter role.
Given that Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez have warts of their own and come with a draft pick penalty, and given the price the Yankees paid for Tanaka, and given the crazy inflation we've seen on the FA market this winter, I think the Brewers made a very solid deal here.
Last week, the BrewCrew also signed a minor league deal with Mark Reynolds. The Brewers have struggled to find an adequate replacement for Prince Fielder at 1B. Given that the only other 1B option on the roster is Hunter Morris who hit .245 in the minors, Reynolds has a good shot at winning the 1B job. Reynolds is a classic 3 true outcomes guy who gives you walks, dingers and K's. His WAR would be higher if he could play defense at 3B worth a lick, but he should be adequate at 1B. Very nice, cheap pickup for the Brewers here.
Combine the acquisition of Will Smith which gives them a left-handed force in the bullpen, the Brewers have really helped themselves this offseason for a very reasonable price.
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Would you prefer Hudson 2 yr for 23mil or Garza 4 yr for 50 mil with vesting option? I think Garza is really pretty good and would slot in really nicely with our starting staff, but would block future kids from a shot in the rotation in the next few years. Good sign by Brewers.
ReplyDeleteI'd say about equal. I think Garza has a higher ceiling than Huddy, but any time you can get approximately equal production for a shorter contract you are better off with the shorter deal. The Giants were obviously trying to avoid anything longer than 2 years because of the wave of pitching talent that is due to arrive over the next 3 years.
DeleteI'm not really worried about Huddy so much as Timmy and Vogey. It seems that both of those contracts were pretty gross overpays. The only reason I am OK with either of them is they are for just 1 and 2 years. I'm not so sure Garza's deal is not better than Timmy's $40 M deal and I'm not sure Timmy has any more upside than Garza at this point in his career.
Forgot to ask yesterday about getting the lefthander Huff - we let Mijares go, is it a wash between the two, except we gave $ to the Yankees?
DeleteHuff and Mijares are completely different pitchers with different roles. One has nothing to do with the other. Huff is a soft-tossing starter with better results against RH batters due to his great change up. Mijares is your classic hard throwing lefty specialist with a limited repertoire limiting him to facing mostly LH batters. Huff will not make this team as a reliever, mark my word! He will most likely start the season in Fresno's rotation if he sticks at all.
Deleteagreed, Garza would have looked good in the Giants rotation. I'm a little uncomfortable with the Giants having 2 starting pitchers approaching 40 years of age. But, I applaud the front office for giving short term contracts to vet pitchers so the kid pitchers are not blocked. It seems like the Giants are trying to win now. I've heard many baseball commentators say its tough for teams to win and develop young talent at the same time which is where the Giants will be at in the next 1-3 seasons with their starting pitching. Hopefully the Giants will be able to develop their young pitching but I do see bumps along the road..
DeleteLG
I guess they want more options more emergency starters.
DeleteAs for backing up Affeldt and Lopez, it will be Kickham (maybe), Escobar (again, maybe; both are starters), De Paula and Osich, and not much Huff who is better against righty bats.
Nice assessment of Garza, Doc. If he didn't come across as somewhat of a misogynistic douche, he would have been a great fit for the Giants rotation. When healthy, he's a very good power arm to have for cutting through lineups in the dog days of August. Who do you think gets Jimenez' power arm? I think the DBacks and Dodgers may be players. But I won't let that get my dauber down.
ReplyDeleteI don't see any team willing to give up a first round draft pick for Jimenez or Santana. Their options are down to teams that have already lost a draft pick. Jack Z's comments would seem to take the Mariners out of the running. I could see both of them waiting until June 1 or whenever the deadline is for no longer losing the draft pick.
DeleteAdd in teams that have protected first round draft picks into the mix for Jimenez and Santana.
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