I don’t know why I even try to keep up with the Brewers’ relievers situation. The Brewers’ acquired Pirates closer Salomen Torres via trade on Friday, shipping out relievers Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts. According to Adam McCalvy’s write-up:
Torres is signed through 2008 under a two-year, $6.5 million contract that pays $3.2 million this season and has a $3.75 club option for 2009.
Ryne Crabb of MVN’s The Transaction Guy has a great write-up on the deal. My take: Melvin does not have the confidence in Derrick Turnbow as a closer, and thinks Salas is a few years away from being a major leaguer. The Pirates could very easily groom Salas in AAA this year, and have a solid relief pitcher for 3+ years. This is clearly a case of one team sacrificing the future to win now (the Brewers) and another still in the process of rebuilding (the Pirates). In referencing my post from Thursday, the Brewers, it would seem, now have 5 relievers as a lock for the 2008 season, and now have just 2-3 slots open (assuming a 12-man staff, with 4 regular starters and a 5th starter used as a reliever when needed) for the 16 remaining candidates. Even if 8 of those 16 end up in Nashville, with 3 in Milwaukee, Melvin is going to have at least 5 extra relievers that he can deal. I have to admit, too, that I think Doug Melvin is spending way too much time on the bullpen. It was the starters that were the brunt of the problem last year, not being able to last 6 innings, with 3 of the 5 having ERA’s over 5. But the rotation seems to be solidifying; the Brewers still need an outfielder for left field…hopefully Melvin can deal some of the extra arms for an outfielder (like Cody Ross…).
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