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Gregg Zaun signs one plus one with Brewers for $2.15 million guaranteed.

Better OBP than Kendall, worlds better SLG than Kendall, but not as scrappy.

This mean Rivera is gone? Z hits lefties pretty well, and Kottaras hits righties, so this might be a match made in heaven (as neither hit well vs. the other hand).

Contract

Veteran catcher Gregg Zaun has agreed to a one-year, $1.9 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The deal includes a $2.25 million option for 2011 with a $250,000 buyout, meaning Zaun is guaranteed $2.15 million.

Zaun, who made $1.5 million last year as a backup for the Rays, was offered arbitration by Tampa Bay.

He's a cheaper version of Kendall. A stop gap to mentor the kids. No problem if Rivera goes. He's nothing but a career backup at best, up for Arby and no future.

Now we have ZAUNBIE NATION to contend with!!!!!

http://www.greggzaun.com/principal.htm Sound on.

Who will be the X4 leader of his fan club??

Gotta like a guy who has a website with Rush's "Limelight" blaring in the background.

Surprised by this. The leader in clubhouse from I had been reading was the Mariners.

I like the signing. I had mentioned Schneider for 1.5-1.75M in another thread, but for the extra half million I would prefer Zaun. He has had six straight seasons with an OBP north of .340, which helps offset Gomez' poor OBP. He also has some pop.

Not to side track the signing, but what ticks me off is that TB was smart enough to offer arbitration to a guy in demand and Type B designation so they get a comp pick(not from the Brewers though). Too bad Melvin didn't think Lopez will have enough demand to not offer arbitration, especially when the alternative in accepting arbitration would have resulted in less AB for Lopez while playing behing Weeks.

I see the Crew also signed Dave Nilsson Trent Oeltjen to a minor league deal.

The 26-year-old spent most of 2009 at Triple-A Reno, where he batted .303 with 10 home runs and 64 RBIs in 114 games. He then made his Major League debut with Arizona and batted .243 with three homers and four RBIs in 24 games. He became a free agent on Nov. 4 when the D-backs outrighted Oeltjen from their 40-man roster.


LH depth.

Anyone eagerly anticipating the auctioning off of the Gregg Zaun game used hockey mask or any other of his memorabilia?

Good signing. One would have to figure that the minor league catchers are probably out of the picture for the big leagues in 2010. My big question is if Lucroy and Salome will both be in AAA and if they will split time, or if Lucroy will stay in AA or if Salome will get bumped down to AA? I wouldn't be very suprised if Salome gets traded in the near future, as the Brewers seem to prefer Lucroy. The one-year deal to Zaun is perfect because that will give Lucroy another full season of minor league ball (preferably in AAA), and then he should be major league ready in 2011.

Need to do a payroll and roster update with this signing:

In millions

Current contracts:
Jeff Suppan = 12.5
Prince Fielder = 10.5
Trevor Hoffman = 7.5
David Riske = 4.5
Gregg Zaun = 1.9
Ryan Braun = 1.05
---------------------------------
Bill Hall = 7.15 (dead money)
Braden Looper = 1.0 (buyout)
David Weathers = 0.4 (buyout)

Arbitration (all estimates):
Dave Bush = 4.75
Corey Hart = 4.25
Rickey Weeks = 3.25
Jody Gerut = 2.25
Carlos Gomez = 2.00
Seth McClung = 2.00
Todd Coffey = 2.00
Carlos Villanueva = 1.25
Mike Rivera = 1.0

Pre-arbitration (all estimates):
Yovani Gallardo = 0.7
Manny Parra = 0.6
Mitch Stetter = 0.5
Mark DiFelice = 0.5
Casey McGehee = 0.5
Alcides Escobar = 0.5

Total of above = 72.55 million
Assuming an 82 million dollar payroll limit it gives them approximately 9.45 million of room.

Roster as it shapes up:
Catcher = Gregg Zaun, Mike Rivera
Infielders = Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Alcides Escobar, Casey McGehee
Outfielders = Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez, Corey Hart, Jody Gerut
Starting pitchers = Yovani Gallardo, Dave Bush, Manny Parra, Jeff Suppan
Relief pitchers = Trevor Hoffman, Todd Coffey, Mitch Stetter, Carlos Villanueva, Mark DiFelice, Seth McClung, David Riske

25.55 million to make us worse.

You forgot about Counsell and Halama.

Counsell has signed? News to me.

Halama signed a minor league deal. I did not include him for that reason. Same with Capuano and Oeltjen.

You're right Joe. He hasn't signed, ...yet.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/78515847.html

He said his focus remains on acquiring starting pitching help but said he also plans to make a contract proposal there in hopes of keeping veteran utility infielder Craig Counsell, a free agent.

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Why did #Brewers sign Gregg Zaun? Source said Jason Kendall was seeking $5 million to come back for another year

I don't know who the author is, but that is priceless

I like this pickup because it fills a need and gives us some time to develop a young player. Nice move by Melvin.

I've heard Rivera is up for arby and it is estimated he will get a bump to a mil or so. I suspect they will let him walk and go with Zaun and GK (cheaper).

It looks that way. I read someplace that they don't want to tie themselves down with a player by going to arbitration and then end up having to give a guy a raise they don't really want.

Great!!!!!!! An over-the-hill catcher who can't do crap. Why don't the Brewers go with the young guys they have? I think they're better options.

Looks like Kendall may be a Royal. WTF are they doing?

Pudge just signed for 6 million and 2 years.

we got a great deal if that is the bar

Kendall signing for 2 year, near 6 million.

We seem to have gotten a steal for our new catcher

I wouldn't have wanted Kendall for two years. I think Melvin has done the right thing here by signing a band-aid and keeping the catcher position open for 2011. Hopefully by that point Lucroy (or Salome) will have advanced where he can catch 100+ MLB games.

Mike Rivera cut after the Yanks sign Chad Moeller