Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal sports writer Tom Haudricourt, on his blog, is reporting that the Milwaukee Brewers are very close to signing Eric Gagne to a one-year deal. If, or when, Gagne is signed, the Brewers will have both the most revamped bullpen in the majors, as well as the one with the greatest potential. Gagne would bring the “virtual locks” for the 2008 Brewers’ bullpen up to at least 4–Gagne, Mota, Torres, and Riske–as, I think, that Brian Shouse and Derrick Turnbow are now in play for trading…and the chances of Chris Capuano, David Bush, or Claudio Vargas making it to the bullpen seem very slim at this point. I gotta believe Matt Wise is certainly gone, too, if teams did indeed express interest in him late last year. Greg Aquino and Seth McClung have MLB experience, too, and have some value. How can Ned Yost and Bill Castro gauge this talent? Certainly both will look at videos, what types of pitches they throw, their K/9, WHIP, etc…. But the real evaluation can’t take place until they’re in Maryvale…even then, the games against other teams will count more than intrasquad; but if the Brewers bring 10-15 relievers to Arizona, each pitcher will likely only get an inning or two every other day to prove himself. But Melvin has certainly put a lot of arrows in Castro’s quiver.
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