Riske signs with Brewers

by roguejim on Dec 5, 2007 8:29 AM CST in News Comment 20 comments

I know some folks were beginning to question whether the Brewers' deal with free agent reliever David Riske actually was going to happen but it became official this morning when the sides officially agreed to a three-year deal that guarantees him $13 million.

The 31-year-old right-hander has incentives in the deal, many based on whether he becomes the closer, that could take it as high as $20 million over the three years. There also is a club option for a fourth year at approximately $4.75 million, depending on escalators.

3 years, $13 million? That sounds awfully familiar.

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From the official site:

A baseball source said Tuesday that the Brewers had also called the A's to inquire about the availability of closer Huston Street. But Oakland GM Billy Beane plans to meet with Street's agent before the end of the Winter Meetings to discuss a contract extension.

Melvin said the Brewers will probably pass on selecting a player during Thursday's Rule 5 Draft, but they apparently were considering John Baker, a catcher in the Marlins system.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Dec 5, 2007 10:16 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure

if I'm reading it right, but it looks like Baker had trouble reaching an .800 OPS in 3+ years of the hitter-friendly PCL. Not so good.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Dec 5, 2007 10:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess if we're going to go OBP but no SLG at C

We might as well go all the way with Kendall and a similar hitting backup, right? :)

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Dec 5, 2007 3:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In case you needed another one!

I think we know who would have Nix'ed the Riske deal!

Nashville - The Brewers made room on their 40-man roster for newly signed reliever David Riske by designating outfielder Laynce Nix for assignment.

by 80badger on Dec 5, 2007 10:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

well done.

Weird, but not weird.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 5, 2007 10:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

HMMMMM?!

Not exactly a ringing endorsement from the Stache in the Brewers press release:

"David has proven that he can pitch effectively at the back end of the bullpen," said Melvin. "His durability and consistency will be a great asset to our ballclub."

by 80badger on Dec 5, 2007 1:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Assuming

that we don't sign a "proven" closer

cough
Eddie GUardado
cough

I don't think Turnbow makes it out of April as our primary closer.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Dec 5, 2007 1:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Perhaps you missed

VVV The Prophecy VVV

You heard it here first: Turnbow will win the 2008 NL Cy Young.

by stevie ray Braun on Dec 5, 2007 2:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, but...

You forget, there's only a difference of one syllable between "The Prophecy" and "The Fallacy." :)

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Dec 5, 2007 2:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh great.......

now you're making phallic references. HA!:)

If A-Rod hits A-Bombs, does Fielder hit F-Bombs? It's dumb I know....

by Adam P on Dec 5, 2007 3:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well sure

According to Ned, Turnbow was an Imaginary All-Star last season. This year, he can be an Imaginary Cy Young Award winner.

I think in 2009 he wants to be an astronaut.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Dec 5, 2007 3:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Astronaut is 2010

2009 he's going to break the career homerun record.

You heard it here first: Turnbow will win the 2008 NL Cy Young.

by stevie ray Braun on Dec 5, 2007 3:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

riske vs. linebrink

it looks like they're roughly similar pitchers, statistically. I think Linebrink got 19m/4yrs, and we gave Riske 13m/3yrs. I'm happy taking the Riske, but the whole thing is a little curious. So here are some questions: 1) Given the contracts, is Riske the better deal?, 2) Are these offers pretty similar except for the 4th year?, 3) Did the Brewers have private reasons for wanting Riske/not wanting Linebrink, or did we just lose Linebrink, and luck out with Riske?

Anyone have answers/opinions?

by keephopealive on Dec 5, 2007 3:26 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

opinion

Three years is better than four especially with a relief pitcher. Plus, when the White Sox signed Linebrink we got draft picks. Win-Win

by sheeter on Dec 5, 2007 3:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

Linebrink carries with him some question marks. He was not anywhere near his career level of goodness in 2007, and much of the problem was HRs, especially in Petco. That's a red flag. If you're going to spend the dough on a middle reliever, might as well try for some semblance of predictability, even if Linebrink at his best is probably better than Riske at his best.

And yeah, the draft picks.

And, maybe I'm making this up, but I remember murmurs that Linebrink wasn't crazy about Milwaukee. Maybe he didn't want to stay.

Weird, but not weird.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 5, 2007 6:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

but he didn't go too far geographically

So I guess he wasn't yearning for SoCal weather. And, he has to pitch outdoors in Chicago in the spring. Lucky him!

by oaklandbrewerfan on Dec 5, 2007 7:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

But people won't boo him as much because they're too in shock at whatever Ozzie Guillen's already done that day by the time he gets in.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Dec 5, 2007 7:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

riske :)

I agree on all fronts, but I think we just got lucky. I don't think Melvin had a master plan.

by keephopealive on Dec 5, 2007 8:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

linebrink

he never wanted to leave san diego in the first place and was really upset when they traded him(didn't his wife give birth the same week?). so already he doesn't want to be in milwaukee and then the fans started booing him and he whined in the media about it. i believe his quote was something along the lines of, "it's great the fans come out, now hopefully they'll start cheering for us." which only agitated fans even more. there was no way he was staying in milwaukee.

YoGanna win with Gallardo on the mound.

by Griswald on Dec 5, 2007 10:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ya

im glad he's gone. that was a TERRIBLE trade. brining him back would only remind me of that every day (one tear in my beer).

Jamie is a Softball Champion!

by Jamie in LA on Dec 6, 2007 2:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

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