Brewers land another reliever (1 Viewer)

[Mr.Pack]

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/arti...sp&c_id=mil

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers on Friday became the first club to turn the groundwork they laid in Nashville, Tenn., into a done deal.

Milwaukee acquired right-hander Salomon Torres from the Pittsburgh Pirates for relief prospects Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts. Torres, 35, ended a somewhat tumultuous tenure in Pittsburgh and gives Milwaukee another power bullpen arm should Derrick Turnbow falter in a return to the closer's role.

Torres ended 2006 and began 2007 as the Pirates closer, but lost the job last June after suffering his fourth blown save in 16 chances. He then missed parts of two months with inflammation of his right elbow and finished the year 2-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 56 games.

He has been a workhorse in the most recent years of a career that includes stops in San Francisco, Seattle, Montreal and Pittsburgh, and a five-year hiatus from 1997-2001, when Torres coached in the Expos system. Torres averaged 85 appearances from 2004-2006, including a career-high 94 games in '06.

The bullpen has been an area of focus for Brewers general manager Doug Melvin since the team lost right-handers Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink to free agency. Before acquiring Torres, Melvin picked up Guillermo Mota from the Mets in a trade and David Riske and Randy Choate via free agency.

Potential holdovers from 2007 include Turnbow, the likely closer, steady left-hander Brian Shouse, right-hander Seth McClung, who got a vote of confidence from manager Ned Yost during the Winter Meetings, and righty Matt Wise, who slumped at the end of the season but is a relatively affordable option given the pricey market for relief pitching. Left-hander Mitch Stetter will get a chance as well.

The Brewers also have an excess of starting pitching and could move those who don't win a spot in the rotation to the bullpen. Barring trades, those options include arbitration-eligibles Dave Bush, Chris Capuano and Claudio Vargas, or youngsters Manny Parra and Carlos Villanueva.

Melvin parted with a couple of future bullpen arms for one in the present. Salas, 26, is considered a potential future closer and split last season between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville, posting a combined 2.77 ERA and 17 saves in 51 games. The Brewers plucked him off waivers from the Orioles last year.

Hot Stove

Roberts is 23 and went 6-3 with a 3.44 ERA in 45 relief appearances for Class A Brevard County in 2007, then pitched 15 games in Hawaii Winter Baseball and posted a 4.82 ERA. He was the Brewers' fifth-round Draft pick in 2005.

Torres is signed through 2008 under a two-year, $6.5 million contract that pays $3.2 million this season and has a $3.75 club option for 2009.

He publicly feuded with the Pirates last season, alleging that former GM Dave Littlefield "tricked" Torres into signing a below-market contract with a promise to rent space at one of Torres' youth baseball facilities in the Dominican Republic. Then, just this week, new Pirates GM Neal Huntington publicly challenged Torres to improve his conditioning over the offseason.

In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Torres countered that he has been working out at PNC Park three or four times a week and said he has lost eight to 10 pounds since the end of the season.

"If the Pirates are talking about last year, they're right," he said, according to the newspaper. "I didn't do my best, and I got hurt playing catch up. That's not true now.

"I'm going to have a great year," he added, "and I'm getting ready for it."

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 

[Eephus]

Another good move by Melvin. As a Giants fan, I still have bad feelings about Torres from 1993. But he's hung around and had a decent career as a setup man. He wasn't healthy or very good last year but it's worth trading a couple of non-prospects to see if Torres can get back to his previous form.

Torres and Riske are still a downgrade from Cordero and Linebrink but are much cheaper. Between them, Mota, Wise Turnbow, Luis Pena, Aquino, they have some arms for Mike Maddux to build a halfway decent bullpen.

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

Another good move by Melvin. As a Giants fan, I still have bad feelings about Torres from 1993. But he's hung around and had a decent career as a setup man. He wasn't healthy or very good last year but it's worth trading a couple of non-prospects to see if Torres can get back to his previous form.Torres and Riske are still a downgrade from Cordero and Linebrink but are much cheaper. Between them, Mota, Wise Turnbow, Luis Pena, Aquino, they have some arms for Mike Maddux to build a halfway decent bullpen.

Why is there resentment for this guy? I had never heard this before but I just read up on it on wiki, what exactly went down? Thinking back upon first reading your post, I remember he did alright down the stretch?

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

Another good move by Melvin. As a Giants fan, I still have bad feelings about Torres from 1993. But he's hung around and had a decent career as a setup man. He wasn't healthy or very good last year but it's worth trading a couple of non-prospects to see if Torres can get back to his previous form.

Torres and Riske are still a downgrade from Cordero and Linebrink but are much cheaper. Between them, Mota, Wise Turnbow, Luis Pena, Aquino, they have some arms for Mike Maddux to build a halfway decent bullpen.

Why is there resentment for this guy? I had never heard this before but I just read up on it on wiki, what exactly went down? Thinking back upon first reading your post, I remember he did alright down the stretch?

PS LOL, look at his page dedication on baseball reference:http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/torresa01.shtml

 

[Eephus]

Another good move by Melvin. As a Giants fan, I still have bad feelings about Torres from 1993. But he's hung around and had a decent career as a setup man. He wasn't healthy or very good last year but it's worth trading a couple of non-prospects to see if Torres can get back to his previous form.

Torres and Riske are still a downgrade from Cordero and Linebrink but are much cheaper. Between them, Mota, Wise Turnbow, Luis Pena, Aquino, they have some arms for Mike Maddux to build a halfway decent bullpen.

Why is there resentment for this guy? I had never heard this before but I just read up on it on wiki, what exactly went down? Thinking back upon first reading your post, I remember he did alright down the stretch?

PS LOL, look at his page dedication on baseball reference:http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/torresa01.shtml

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1993/B10030LAN1993.htmTorres 3.1 IP / 5 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 5 BB / 1 SO

 

[commisholio]

Another good move by Melvin. As a Giants fan, I still have bad feelings about Torres from 1993. But he's hung around and had a decent career as a setup man. He wasn't healthy or very good last year but it's worth trading a couple of non-prospects to see if Torres can get back to his previous form.

Torres and Riske are still a downgrade from Cordero and Linebrink but are much cheaper. Between them, Mota, Wise Turnbow, Luis Pena, Aquino, they have some arms for Mike Maddux to build a halfway decent bullpen.

Why is there resentment for this guy? I had never heard this before but I just read up on it on wiki, what exactly went down? Thinking back upon first reading your post, I remember he did alright down the stretch?

PS LOL, look at his page dedication on baseball reference:http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/torresa01.shtml

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1993/B10030LAN1993.htmTorres 3.1 IP / 5 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 5 BB / 1 SO

#### the Braves. #### teh Padres, too, for giving them McGriff. ####.

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

Another good move by Melvin. As a Giants fan, I still have bad feelings about Torres from 1993. But he's hung around and had a decent career as a setup man. He wasn't healthy or very good last year but it's worth trading a couple of non-prospects to see if Torres can get back to his previous form.

Torres and Riske are still a downgrade from Cordero and Linebrink but are much cheaper. Between them, Mota, Wise Turnbow, Luis Pena, Aquino, they have some arms for Mike Maddux to build a halfway decent bullpen.

Why is there resentment for this guy? I had never heard this before but I just read up on it on wiki, what exactly went down? Thinking back upon first reading your post, I remember he did alright down the stretch?

PS LOL, look at his page dedication on baseball reference:http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/torresa01.shtml

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1993/B10030LAN1993.htmTorres 3.1 IP / 5 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 5 BB / 1 SO

But can you really crucify a 21 year old a month into his big league career? I mean, I get being upset at the time, but letting it linger 15 years later?

 

[commisholio]

Another good move by Melvin. As a Giants fan, I still have bad feelings about Torres from 1993. But he's hung around and had a decent career as a setup man. He wasn't healthy or very good last year but it's worth trading a couple of non-prospects to see if Torres can get back to his previous form.

Torres and Riske are still a downgrade from Cordero and Linebrink but are much cheaper. Between them, Mota, Wise Turnbow, Luis Pena, Aquino, they have some arms for Mike Maddux to build a halfway decent bullpen.

Why is there resentment for this guy? I had never heard this before but I just read up on it on wiki, what exactly went down? Thinking back upon first reading your post, I remember he did alright down the stretch?

PS LOL, look at his page dedication on baseball reference:http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/torresa01.shtml

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1993/B10030LAN1993.htmTorres 3.1 IP / 5 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 5 BB / 1 SO

But can you really crucify a 21 year old a month into his big league career? I mean, I get being upset at the time, but letting it linger 15 years later?

Pretty much sucks to win 103 games and miss the playoffs by losing on the last day of the season. I sure as #### remember it.

 

[dparker713]

His arm was about to fall off last year after a few years of overuse. Im not so sure he's going to bounce back at this late stage in his career. I certainly wouldnt want him as a front of the pen guy.

 

[Eephus]

Another good move by Melvin. As a Giants fan, I still have bad feelings about Torres from 1993. But he's hung around and had a decent career as a setup man. He wasn't healthy or very good last year but it's worth trading a couple of non-prospects to see if Torres can get back to his previous form.

Torres and Riske are still a downgrade from Cordero and Linebrink but are much cheaper. Between them, Mota, Wise Turnbow, Luis Pena, Aquino, they have some arms for Mike Maddux to build a halfway decent bullpen.

Why is there resentment for this guy? I had never heard this before but I just read up on it on wiki, what exactly went down? Thinking back upon first reading your post, I remember he did alright down the stretch?

PS LOL, look at his page dedication on baseball reference:http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/torresa01.shtml

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1993/B10030LAN1993.htmTorres 3.1 IP / 5 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 5 BB / 1 SO

But can you really crucify a 21 year old a month into his big league career? I mean, I get being upset at the time, but letting it linger 15 years later?

Pretty much sucks to win 103 games and miss the playoffs by losing on the last day of the season. I sure as #### remember it.

Yeah, it seems harsh in retrospect to run a top prospect out of town for giving up 3 runs, when the offense could only muster 1 run in the game. But nobody ever said baseball was fair.It makes more sense in the context of the 93 NL West race. The entire month of September was extremely tense, all building up to the final Sunday in LA. Torres was shaky from the get-go and was fortunate to only get charged with 3 runs. Somehow that spread to the rest of the team. They could have come back, 3 runs and 15 outs isn't insurmountable, but the air was already out of the balloon by the time Torres was taken out.

Now if the Brewers sign Felix Rodriguez, Tim Worrell and Bobby J. Jones to complete their bullpen, I'm going to jump off the ledge.

 

[Eephus]

His arm was about to fall off last year after a few years of overuse. Im not so sure he's going to bounce back at this late stage in his career. I certainly wouldnt want him as a front of the pen guy.

Torres has one year left at $3M with a team option. Both minor leaguers the Pirates got are just-a-guys. It's a reasonable risk for a team that lost their two top relievers to take.

 

[dparker713]

His arm was about to fall off last year after a few years of overuse. Im not so sure he's going to bounce back at this late stage in his career. I certainly wouldnt want him as a front of the pen guy.

Torres has one year left at $3M with a team option. Both minor leaguers the Pirates got are just-a-guys. It's a reasonable risk for a team that lost their two top relievers to take.

Not saying its a bad risk, I just dont think you're going to get much out of him this year. Given the team and their payroll restrictions, they've got quite a limited ability to replace those relievers. Atleast they play in the NL central, so they'll have a shot regardless.

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

Another good move by Melvin. As a Giants fan, I still have bad feelings about Torres from 1993. But he's hung around and had a decent career as a setup man. He wasn't healthy or very good last year but it's worth trading a couple of non-prospects to see if Torres can get back to his previous form.

Torres and Riske are still a downgrade from Cordero and Linebrink but are much cheaper. Between them, Mota, Wise Turnbow, Luis Pena, Aquino, they have some arms for Mike Maddux to build a halfway decent bullpen.

Why is there resentment for this guy? I had never heard this before but I just read up on it on wiki, what exactly went down? Thinking back upon first reading your post, I remember he did alright down the stretch?

PS LOL, look at his page dedication on baseball reference:http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/torresa01.shtml

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1993/B10030LAN1993.htmTorres 3.1 IP / 5 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 5 BB / 1 SO

But can you really crucify a 21 year old a month into his big league career? I mean, I get being upset at the time, but letting it linger 15 years later?

Pretty much sucks to win 103 games and miss the playoffs by losing on the last day of the season. I sure as #### remember it.

Yeah, it seems harsh in retrospect to run a top prospect out of town for giving up 3 runs, when the offense could only muster 1 run in the game. But nobody ever said baseball was fair.It makes more sense in the context of the 93 NL West race. The entire month of September was extremely tense, all building up to the final Sunday in LA. Torres was shaky from the get-go and was fortunate to only get charged with 3 runs. Somehow that spread to the rest of the team. They could have come back, 3 runs and 15 outs isn't insurmountable, but the air was already out of the balloon by the time Torres was taken out.

Now if the Brewers sign Felix Rodriguez, Tim Worrell and Bobby J. Jones to complete their bullpen, I'm going to jump off the ledge.

I understand this measure of fandom, heaven forbid Javy Vasquez or Kevin Brown show their worthless mugs at Yankee stadium again, but you've got to be fair. Doesn't Billy Swift deserve more blame, didn't he get hurt down the stretch? I know he was getting lots of work, and sometimes you've just got to tip your hat, it was the best race of the divisional baseball era.

 

[Mr.Pack]

I heard this morning he may retire rather than report to the Brewers.

 

[MrPhoenix]

I heard this morning he may retire rather than report to the Brewers.

What was his deal last year? Injured?

 

[Eephus]

I heard this morning he may retire rather than report to the Brewers.

What was his deal last year? Injured?

Torres was hurt in 2007. I understand he doesn't want to move his family from Pittsburgh to Milwaukee, but it's gotta be hard to walk away from $3.25M. Torres has been around a long time but never really was able to cash in. This is by far his biggest contract