Trevor Hoffman to the Brewers
You knew that Trevor Hoffman was going to land somewhere to close games, and that’s exactly what happened. Today he agreed to a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers (click here for an article from mlb.com), sliding right in to the back of the bullpen for a team looking to compete this season. It’s a good signing for them, as they got him for $6 million, with an extra $1.5 possible in incentives.
It’s a no-brainer for the Brewers, who had been sitting with guys like Jorge Julio, Carlos Villanueva or Todd Coffey in the bullpen. Would u really trust the ninth inning to any of those guys? No, it was clear something had to be done.
Hoffman is not the same type of closer that he once was. Let’s take a quick look:
- He posted his highest ERA since 1995 last season with a 3.77. Of course, that’s also the first time he’s been over 3.00 since 2001. I would expect that number to come down to the 3.25-2.50 range.
- The K/9 was the highest it’s been since 2003 (9.13), though I would think it is unlikely he maintains that.
- He doesn’t walk many (9 in 45.1 innings last season), meaning that he should continue to post a strong WHIP this season.
- He is playing for a team that is likely to be a winner, so 30 saves is pretty likely.
That all adds up to a closer that is certainly worth owning to fill out your closers spot. He’s in no risk of losing his job and while he’s not going to be among the elite, he’s certainly should be solid once again, like he has been throughout his career.
Picture courtesy of Icon Sports Media, Inc.
is it just me , or does the brewers offense look to be a bit anemic for 2009 ?
It’s not perfect, but it is very similar to last season. When you have Ryan Braun & Prince Fielder to go along with J.J. Hardy & Corey Hart, you should score some runs. Agreed, though, I would rank them among the best at this point. They have some holes, like Rickie Weeks and Jason Kendall.