Results tagged ‘ Chris Capuano ’
Counsell, Green, Saito contract details
For those keeping track of the Brewers’ payroll obligations for 2011, here are some updated figures on recent free agent signings:
– Infielder Craig Counsell’s one-year deal to return to the Brewers pays him a $1.4 million base salary with a chance to earn an additional $450,000 in incentives for games and starts. He’ll get $50,000 each for 50 and 70 games played, $75,000 for 85 and 100 games played, and $100,000 each for 50 and 70 starts.
– Reliever Sean Green gets a non-guaranteed $875,000 base salary, as I reported when he signed just before Christmas, with a chance to boost his pay to an even $1 million with incentives. Green gets $25,000 for 50 appearances, $50,000 for 60 appearances and another $50,000 for 70 appearances.
– The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported this morning that reliever Takashi Saito’s one-year contract pays a $1.75 million base salary with $1.5 million available in performance bonuses. According to the newspaper, Saito would get $50,000 each for 15, 20, 25 and 30 appearances; $100,000 each for 35, 40 and 50 appearances; $150,000 for 50 and 55 appearances; and $200,000 for 60 appearances. He’ll also benefit from staying off the disabled list. Saito can earn $100,000 each for 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days on the active roster.
I thought some Brewers fans may also be interested in the deal Chris Capuano signed with the Mets. Milwaukee made him an offer to return early in the offseason, but the sides broke off talks after the Zack Greinke trade essentially completed the Brewers’ rotation.
I’m not sure what kind of offer the Brewers extended, but here’s what Capuano ended up getting in New York: A $1.5 million base salary with a slew of incentives that kick-in whether he ends up as a starter or a reliever. He’ll get $125,000 for 15 starts, $150,000 for 20 starts, $75,000 each 21-31 starts, $100,000 for 32 starts and/or $100,000 each for 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 relief appearances. Here’s the key: He can earn a maximum of $1.2 million for starts and relief appearance bonuses combined.
Capuano will also get $50,000 for 90 innings; $100,000 each for 100, 110, 120 and 130 innings; $125,000 for 140 innings; $175,000 each for 150 and 160 innings; $200,000 each for 170 and 180 innings; $225,000 for 190 innings; $250,000 for 200 innings.
So, assuming I can add, if Capuano has a magical season and makes all of his starts and tops 200 innings (like he did in 2005 and 2006), he’ll earn $4.5 million. Math people — help me out if you get a different figure.
He’ll also get $50,000 for being an All Star and $150,000 for winning Comeback Player of the Year.
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Melvin still on hunt for pitching
The Brewers’ talks with the agent for second baseman Rickie Weeks might have been the big news on Day 2 of the Winter Meetings, but Milwaukee officials also continued the search for another starter. It could lead in any number of different directions, but general manager Doug Melvin indicated Tuesday that he was not ready to dip into the pool of players looking to bounce back from injury.
That list includes some known names like Jeff Francis, Brandon Webb, Chris Young, Rich Harden and Brad Penny.
The Brewers have been linked to Francis this winter, but on Tuesday Melvin said, “I haven’t even called his guy.” Ditto for Webb, though the Brewers scouted Webb in the instructional league.
“I think some of those guys have a chance of bouncing back, but how many of them have?” Melvin asked. “There may be a point where we get involved later on. … I’m not saying we won’t go back that path, but we’re not focusing on it now.”
Melvin would prefer a pitcher without the immediate injury past, and didn’t rule out looking at his unproven, in-house options. He’d like prospects Mark Rogers, Wily Peralta and Amaury Rivas to report to Spring Training aiming for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. Jeremy Jeffress is more likely ticketed for relief.
The Brewers plan to meet Wednesday or Thursday with Michael Moye, the agent for left-hander Chris Capuano. The Brewers have already extended Capuano an offer to return in 2011.
But Melvin is also looking at trades. The Brewers have had contact this week with two teams in a position to trade young pitchers — Atlanta and Baltimore — but Melvin downplayed those talks. The Orioles have already traded away two pitching prospects to get third baseman Mark Reynolds from Arizona, lessening the chances of a deal with Milwaukee. Talks between the Brewers and Braves have not gone very far.
“We’ve had talks with them, but it doesn’t seem to be a fit for us,” Melvin said. “I’m not sure they have guys that they’re really pushing to move, other than the Japanese guy [Kenshin Kawakami].”
The Braves are willing to assume a large part of the $6.67 million owed Kawakami next season in the final year of his contract. Melvin said he “couldn’t say” whether he was interested in the right-hander.
“We don’t have anything ongoing with” the Braves, Melvin said.
The Chicago Tribune cited sources in reporting the Brewers had asked the Rays about right-hander Matt Garza, who earned $3.35 million during a 2010 season that included 15 wins, a 3.91 ERA and a July 26 no-hitter against the Tigers. He’s arbitration-eligible for three more seasons.
Garza would fetch a high price, but that’s nothing new for Melvin this winter. He’s not surprised that other teams are hanging tightly to their pitching.
“Teams aren’t motivated to move the pitchers,” Melvin said. “For them to move them, I have to overwhelm them with something. Teams don’t have excess pitching.”
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Three Brewers hit the market; three more coming
The celebration was still raging inside the Giants’ clubhouse in Arlington and outside in the streets of San Francisco on Monday night when baseball’s offseason business began. Before midnight, the Major League Baseball Players Association fired up the hot stove by releasing the names of 142 free agents, including three Brewers.
Per new rules made public just last month, Milwaukee pitchers Dave Bush and Chris Capuano and infielder Craig Counsell were declared free agents immediately after the Giants clinched the World Series. Three more — pitchers Doug Davis and Trevor Hoffman and catcher Gregg Zaun — are expected to join the free agent pool when the Brewers decline their 2011 options.
The new rules dictate that options must be resolved within three days of the end of the World Series, Milwaukee assistant general manager Gord Ash said. That would make Thursday at midnight ET the deadline.
The rules also shorten the period of exclusive negotiation between teams and their own free agents from 15 days after the World Series to five. That window closes at midnight ET on Saturday. Beginning Sunday, free agents can negotiate with any team.
Players typically exercise their right to test the open market, but the Brewers may show some interest in bringing back Capuano or Counsell. With Capuano, the question could be whether the team is willing to take on risk — the left-hander returned in 2010 from his second career Tommy John surgery but pitched well, posting a 3.95 ERA in 24 appearances including a 2.91 ERA in six September starts. With Counsell, the question could be whether he views the Brewers as a legitimate contender — he batted .250 as a useful bench option and could draw interest from teams looking for a versatile defender.
The three players with options, meanwhile, will probably move on.
The highest profile of those players belongs to 43-year-old Hoffman, who notched his 600th career save amid a trying 2010 but was replaced as closer by rookie right-hander John Axford. Hoffman’s contract includes a $7 million mutual option for 2011 that the club will decline. The price of his buyout increased from $500,000 to $750,000 when Hoffman finished his 35th game of the season on Sept. 26.
Davis’ deal includes a $6.5 million option with a $1 million buyout. His 2010 season was a bust because of health issues.
Zaun’s contract includes a $2.25 million club option for next season, but he is still recovering from shoulder surgery and will almost certainly get a $250,000 buyout instead. Zaun said in August that he intends to play in 2011, but considering the Brewers have Jonathan Lucroy and George Kottaras on the 40-man roster and Mike Rivera signed to a Minor League contract, it’s difficult to envision Zaun returning.
Of the Brewers’ free agents, only Hoffman qualified for compensation in the Elias rankings. Hoffman made the cut as Type B, meaning the Brewers would reap an extra pick between the first and second round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, but only if they offer Hoffman arbitration and he declines and then signs elsewhere.
It’s a moot point, because the Brewers would not risk Hoffman accepting an arbitration offer. That means the Brewers will not have any extra Draft picks for the second straight year.
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Recapping a busy home finale
The Brewers beat the Marlins in a 7-1 rout in Sunday’s home finale, but the result was secondary on an emotional afternoon at Miller Park. For those who have yet to sift through the links on Brewers.com, here’s a bit of a recap:
– Their 2010 season was a dud, so Brewers fans instead made the team’s home finale a celebration of individual milestones and sendoffs for players who are likely moving on. They turned a win over the Marlins into a series of standing ovations and almost made everyone forget that the team still has a week to play.
Ryan Braun came from behind to win the Brewers’ three-man race to 100 RBIs, Prince Fielder homered in what could be his final home game with the Brewers and Trevor Hoffman made one last entrance to AC/DC’s “Hells Bells.” All three players were showered with love from the 29,059 fans, who pushed the Brewers’ season attendance over 2.75 million.
– On more note on Hoffman: Sunday marked his 35th game finished, a milestone that pushed the cost of the buyout of his 2011 club option from $500,000 to $750,000. That financial boost aside, Hoffman once more thanked his supporters for never giving up on him.
“I can’t begin to say thanks enough,” Hoffman said. “For a guy sitting on a six-ERA and part of a big problem, to get treated like I did by the fans here — I appreciate their support.”
– Hoffman was offered a standing ovation and so was Fielder, who might just have played his final home game for the Brewers. Fielder commented before the game to me and after the game to me and 30 of my closest microphone-wielding friends about his uncertain future.
He didn’t offer much in the way of insight, saying that he’s under contract for 2011 and planning to be back. Whether he departs this winter, Fielder said, “is not up to me,” once again glossing over the point that he reportedly turned down a significant contract offer earlier this year.
– The only blemish of the Brewers’ win over the Marlins came in the seventh inning, when starter Chris Capuano exited with a groin injury. He downplayed its significance and talked instead about his inspiring comeback season from a second Tommy John surgery, and touched briefly on his own uncertain future. Capuano is a free agent for the first time.
– Staying on the “uncertain future” theme, manager Ken Macha made sure to get Craig Counsell into the lineup for Sunday’s finale. Counsell, too, is a free agent, and said he’s going to take the best available offer this winter. He’s earned that right.
– Then there’s Macha himself, who was asked by reporters after the game about his own contract status. Here are Doug Melvin’s brief comments on that situation, saying that the team will wait until after the season to announce any personnel decisions.
And while we’re at it, here are a couple of other links you may have missed over the weekend:
– Mark DiFelice is coming back to the Brewers in 2011. I learned subsequently that catchers Patrick Arlis and Anderson Delarosa, infielder Anderson Machado and left-hander Chase Wright have also already signed Minor League deals for next season.
– Our report about the Brewers’ Minor League player and pitcher of the year includes video of both Erik Komatsu and Jake Odorizzi, not to mention amateur scouting director Bruce Seid.
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Capuano returns to rotation
Brewers lefty Chris Capuano takes his place in the starting rotation tonight with a return engagement against the Pirates, the team he beat in his most recent start on July 19. He’ll get a series of starts in a very important final five-plus weeks of the season. For Capuano, it’s a chance to showcase his ability heading into free agency. For the Brewers, it’s a chance to see whether he’s worth continuing to invest in.
The lineup is pretty standard. Still no Carlos Gomez:
Rickie Weeks 2B
Corey Hart RF
Ryan Braun LF
Prince Fielder 1B
Casey McGehee 3B
Lorenzo Cain CF
Alcides Escobar SS
Jonathan Lucroy C
Chris Capuano LHP
Chris Capuano LHP
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Capuano replaces Parra in rotation
For the third straight season, the Brewers are removing left-hander Manny Parra from the starting rotation.
The team bumped Parra to the bullpen beginning Wednesday night, and fellow lefty Chris Capuano will assume Parra’s spot in the rotation starting Saturday against the Pirates. Capuano, who made a comeback this season from his second Tommy John elbow surgery, had been pitching in relief since a July 19 start — and win — against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
“He deserves a chance to get out there and get a few starts in him,” manager Ken Macha said. “We’ll see how he’s coming along with his track back to being a starting pitcher.
“Manny, he’s had his problems a little later in the game for the most part. That’s just a hurdle he’s going to have to get over if he’s going to be a starting pitcher.”
Asked whether he still viewed Parra’s future as a starting pitcher, Macha said, “We’ll see how he does out of the bullpen.”
Both pitchers face offseason question marks. Capuano is a free agent and has made it clear he’d like to be a starter. Parra is eligible for arbitration for the first time.
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Capuano returns to rotation
Filling-in for the injured Doug Davis, Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano will make his second start of the season tonight as the Crew begins a four-game series in Pittsburgh. Here’s how they’ll line up behind him:
Rickie Weeks 2B
Corey Hart RF
Ryan Braun LF
Prince Fielder 1B
Casey McGehee 3B
Jim Edmonds CF
Jonathan Lucroy C
Alcides Escobar SS
Chris Capuano LHP
Look out for Braun, who is 6-for-13 in his career against Pirates starter Jeff Karstens with two home runs. Braun has hit safely in six of his last seven games.
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Capuano to start Thursday
Left-hander Chris Capuano will officially reach the end of his long road back to the Brewers on Thursday, when he’s scheduled to start the finale of a four-game series against the Marlins.
Brewers manager Ken Macha made that announcement on Monday and said fellow left-hander Manny Parra would shift back to a bullpen role. It will be Capuano’s first Major League appearance since Sept. 28, 2007. He missed the following season and most of 2009 after undergoing his second Tommy John elbow surgery.
“The opinion of our people that have worked with him, they feel like you’re going to get the most out of him by putting him in the rotation,” Macha said. “They were extremely complimentary of his preparation, of the routine he went through to get ready for every start.
“As an organization, we have put a lot of energy into getting him back. He’s done the same thing on his side, probably more so from his side. I think it’s worth everybody’s while to go out and see how he does.”
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Capuano's called up, to join Brewers Saturday
MILWAUKEE — Nearly 30 months since his last Major League appearance, lefty Chris Capuano will rejoin the Brewers on Saturday at Miller Park.
Capuano — whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Nashville — hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since his last start of the 2007 season and has been rehabbing the second Tommy John surgery of his career. After seven Minor League starts, Capuano has finally made it back to the Majors.
Brewers officials announced the move after Friday’s 2-0 victory over the Mets. However, a corresponding roster move was not announced at the time.
With Capuano not being on the Brewers’ 40-man roster, the move will mean more than simply sending someone from the 25-man roster down to the Minors.
– Jordan Schelling, MLB.com
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Report: Loe's 'out' date is June 5
Triple-A Nashville starter Kameron Loe has a June 5 opt-out clause that would allow him to elect free agency, FoxSports.com reported on Tuesday. When Loe signed with the Brewers in December, I was told that the date was June 1.
Loe, who signed a Minor League contract with Milwaukee in December, is 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA entering his scheduled start Thursday at Sacramento. Another Nashville starter, lefty Chris Capuano, has a May 29 opt-out that comes the day after Capuano’s scheduled start at home against the Iowa Cubs.
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