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Turnbow signs extension!

By Jeff Sackmann

They got it done before Opening Day:

Milwaukee Brewers Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin on Sunday announced the signing of RHP Derrick Turnbow to a three-year contract through the 2008 season. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

I'm thrilled that Turnbow will have some security and won't be distracted as he tries to repeat his incredible 2005 season.  Depending on the dollars involved, I'm not sure I'm 100% behind this move, though.  Doug Melvin is a wizard at finding super relief arms on the cheap, and I would hate to see us fall into the trap of giving "proven closers" big bucks when we don't need to.  I would imagine we're safe this time: buying out his first two years of arbitration isn't exactly like signing Billy Wagner as a free agent.

But I don't want to spoil the party.  Just yet, anyway :).  Congratulations, Derrick: I hope you're pitching in the ninth inning tomorrow night!

Update [2006-4-2 18:18:19 by Jeff]: Total value on the deal is $6.5m, broken down as follows:

Turnbow had already signed a one-year, $488,000 contract for 2006, but that was folded into his new deal. The Brewers will pay a $512,000 signing bonus that essentially boosts Turnbow's 2006 salary to $1 million, and he will earn base salaries of $2.3 million in 2007 and $3.2 million in 2008.
I would imagine that, if T-bow keeps doing what he's doing, that $3.2m, especially, will be a steal compared to buying that production on the free-agent market.

Doug Davis may be next in line for an extension, as his deal only goes through this season. Apparently the club is already in contact with his agent. For some reason I was assuming we'd let him walk. I'd be sad, but I'd accept it. But I'm thinking like a tiny-market fan, and Attanasio is making it clear he is not thinking like a tiny-market owner. I like it.

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