Suppan is no longer an option: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2707975 Updated: Dec. 24, 2006, 6:59 PM ET Suppan agrees to four-year deal with BrewersAssociated Press MILWAUKEE -- NL Championship Series MVP Jeff Suppan reached a preliminary agreement Sunday on a $42 million, four-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Jeff Suppan Starting Pitcher Milwaukee Brewers Profile 2006 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L BB K ERA 32 12 7 69 104 4.12 Suppan must pass a physical for the deal to be finalized, the Brewers said in a rare Christmas Eve announcement. His contract includes a team option for 2011 with a $2 million buyout. "He gives us a big-game pitcher. He's shown that last year," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said during a telephone conference call. A 31-year-old right-hander, Suppan went 12-7 with a 4.12 ERA for St. Louis this year -- including a 6-2 mark with a 2.39 ERA in 15 starts after the All-Star break. He was 1-1 in four postseason starts, including a win in Game 3 and seven solid innings in Game 7 of the NLCS against the New York Mets. He is 44-26 with a 3.95 ERA over the last three regular seasons, tied for ninth in the major leagues in wins. Suppan met Tuesday with Brewers officials, and the team made an offer the following day, when Suppan met with New York Mets executives. Melvin said Suppan's durability was an attraction for the Brewers, who struggled last season when Ben Sheets and Tom Ohka got hurt. Suppan has made 31 or more starts in eight straight seasons, throwing 180 or more innings each time. "This obviously will be the largest improvement, adding a pitcher of this stature," Melvin said. Milwaukee needed a durable starting pitcher after trading Doug Davis to Arizona for Claudio Vargas, catcher Johnny Estrada and pitcher Greg Aquino. Suppan has pitched for Boston (1995-97, 2003), Arizona (1998), Kansas City (1998-2002), Pittsburgh (2003) and St. Louis (2004-06). He has reached double figures in wins seven times, and has a career record of 106-101 with a 4.60 ERA. Milwaukee, coming off a 75-87 record and fourth-place finish in the NL Central, has a projected rotation that includes left-hander Chris Capuano and right-handers Ben Sheets, Dave Bush, Vargas and Suppan. In the NLCS, Suppan pitched eight shutout innings for the victory in Game 3, then allowed one run over seven innings in Game 7, which the Cardinals went on to win 3-1 on Yadier Molina's two-run homer in the ninth. St. Louis then went on to beat Detroit in five games for the World Series title. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said that kind of performance was important to him as he tries to make the Brewers a "perennially competitive" team. "What you want to do is add a winner," Attanasio said. Suppan's agent, Scott Leventhal, said the pitcher saw the Brewers as a team with potential. "I think he feels like it's a team that has tremendous talent -- it's got a mix of young guys and veterans, all with talent," he said. Leventhal said Suppan was at a Christmas Eve Mass and could not be reached for comment. Suppan generated some controversy during the World Series when he appeared in a television commercial and a print ad opposing a Missouri amendment to permit embryonic stem cell research. The amendment passed by a narrow margin. Attanasio invited the pitcher and his agent to dinner at his home last week. "It was a very relaxed evening," Attanasio said. "There was a lot of give and take. I got to know Jeff. I came away impressed."
Eh... Suppan wasn't worth what he got (he's not better than he was 3 years ago), and Mulder is washed up. They can still move Wainright into the rotation, they still have Anthony Reyes (who was big for them in the playoffs), and they can still re-sign Weaver. Like the Astros with Roy... they've got Carpenter. As long as the other pieces are somewhat functional (which they are... for both teams)... things will turn out okay. Both teams need to beware of the Cubs... Lou Pinella, while he may quit on them after 1 year, is still a manager who lights a fire under any player who may not be giving it his all.
I really don't think Reyes has what it takes to be anything more than a 4/5 from all the times I've seen him pitch. Sure, he came up big sometimes...but as we well know, that isn't always indicative of long-term performance. Mulder is a pretty substantial risk for whoever grabs him at a high price, so I feel like the Cards will be outbid. But if they let him go, they better hope they get the playoff-magic Weaver that pitches more like his brother instead of the confused guy that was all over the place last season.
Well, first of all... Reyes was dominant in the minor leagues. Jason Hirsh-type dominant. Second of all, he is a similiar pitcher to Hirsh... with a better high fastball. Unfortunately, as we saw first-hand, high fastballs get CRUSHED in the big leagues (unless you're throwing 99 mph with movement), so Dave Duncan and TLR have tried to convert him to a pitcher who keeps the ball down, and relies more on location/movement. He struggled with that concept initially... as did Marquis and even Carpenter when they first came to the Cardinals... but he did put it together in time to throw the 8 inning, 2ER performance in game 1 of the series. I think he can be a reliable 3... with the possibility of being their #2 guy by the end of the season. He's only 25 years old, and has a good body size and decent enough mechanics (and the best pitching coach in the majors) to get better.
i'm thinking the cards rotation isn't close to the astros. maybe i'm overrating woody and jennings. but i'm guessing the cards would kill to have those guys as 2 and 3 in their rotation over what they will likely have this season.
Possibly... but then again, that's been the case the last three years (us having better pitching 1-5)... and the gap between us is closer now. I do like Jennings over any of their 2-5 right now (even if they re-sign Weaver, and move Wainright into the rotation). Cardinals fans were definitely clamoring that Walt make a move to get him, Jennings since it was pretty clear that they weren't going after Suppan. They also know first-hand what a pitcher who keeps the ball down can do, if they get him out of Coors Field (Kile). Also, they offered Pettite 3 years $45 million... that's a sign of a team that knows they could have major pitching trouble (but also has a guy who works wonders in Dave Duncan).
I'd still like to take a flyer on Weaver if the Cards don't want him for big money. I'd offer him something like $12 mill for 2 years with a player option on the 3rd year or something like that. He does have great stuff.
But he's got a 10 cent head... and he needed a stern taskmaster like Larussa, and a perfectionist like Duncan to get the best out of him. Remember, this is a guy who the Anaheim Angels (who were a playoff contending team who needed pitching!) were trying to give away for basically nothing.
Weaver sucks. I'd rather see us sign Tomo Ohka. The guy is pretty solid and we could get him fairly cheap.
agree--i've always liked Ohka on the backside of a rotation. Is he available? I didn't realize that..
Yep. He's an unrestricted free-agent. I know the Nationals made him an offer. Don't know why there hasn't been any talk about the Astros looking into him. He would be an above average number 3 or 4 guy for us.
What about Tony Armas Jr? I know he hasnt been the healthiest guy but maybe he could be a nice 4 also...and maybe come at a good price. Also was thinking about Eddie Guardardo...another lefty for the pen
Armas is solid, but like you said..can't remember him ever staying healthy. Sometimes pitches through injuries, too...but isn't that good when he does. I don't think he'd be worth it. It'd be like Astacio a few years ago.. you just KNOW he'll break down eventually. I'd rather develop some of our young guys in the majors than deal with that eventuality.
I'd love to have Weaver. He sucked in NY, but a lot of people do. He was money in Detroit, and was fine in St. Louis. As a #4 pitcher here? I think that rotation would be sick. And if Clemens comes back even better. Oswalt Jennings Williams Weaver
