Wolf to Sign, Hawkins, Vargas

Word on the street is that the Brewers have agreed to terms with lefty Randy Wolf on a three year deal worth just under $30 million. After submitting the offer a few days ago it was apparently being shopped around by Wolf's agent Arn Tellum. However it seems that the Brewers wanted a decision today, and nobody wanted to surpass numbers like that. Wouldn't be surprised if it contains an option for a forth year with a $1-2 million buyout, meaning the value per year is about $9 million or so.

This along with news that the Brewers plan to tender right handed started Dave Bush a contract brings the rotation more into focus. Melvin also said that the only two guaranteed to be in the rotation are Gallardo and Parra. Maybe with the Wolf signing Bush won't be tendered a contract, as he will make more than $4 million next year...

Now we are looking at:
Wolf
Gallardo
Parra

on the cusp:
Bush
Suppan

AAA depth:
Narveson
Burns

I'm sure the Brewers are still interested in somebody like Mark Mulder. Most of the money available has gone into this deal, especially with word that the Crew is looking to add a back of the bullpen kind of arm, I don't see there being enough to sign another starter. Even somebody with injury history like Bedard or Sheets is probably too much. Unless there is some kind of trade that happens, above is what I see the team starting next season with. Speaking of the bullpen...

It looks as if the Brewers are close to resigning reliever Claudio Vargas to a one year deal. Vargas started for the Brewers a few year back, and last season signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers, before being brought over in a trade. Between the two teams last year (which was his first exclusively out of the 'pen) Claudio put up a 1.74 ERA in 41.1 innings pitched. He had a WHIP of 0.97 and an opponents batting average of just .177. I see this signing in the $1-1.5 million range, probably with incentives for games pitched.

Bigger news, the Brewers are apparently front runners to sign reliever LaTroy Hawkins, with one source saying that a deal may get done as soon as today. Hawkins is 37 years old but is showing little sign of age. He is coming off one of his better seasons during which he put up a 2.13 ERA in 65 games for the Astros. Hawkins also has experience closing, with 11 saves last season and 87 for his career. LaTroy made $3.5 million last season and will likely be getting a raise, however, being as old as he is may still only require a one year contract to sign, again probably with an option.

Fun stuff, let you know when the bullpen stuff goes down. Brew Up.


***UPDATE****
Haha, Tom Haurdicourt just came in that there is indeed a club option for a fourth year and the total value is just under $30 million. Apparently GM Doug Melvin and owner Mark Attanasio had lunch with Wolf last week in LA (where both Randy and Mark live). The kinda scary comparison is that the Brewers did this three years ago to bring in Suppan, let's hope there are different results. Also, props to Melvin for keeping this so close to his chest, in contact for over a week and nobody noticed until Monday, well done.