LaTroy Hawkins signs with Milwaukee Brewers
Free-agent setup man LaTroy Hawkins signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract Wednesday with the Milwaukee Brewers — Hawkins agency, Reynolds Sports Management, confirmed via Twitter.
Hawkins, 36, was 1-4 with a 2.13 ERA, including 11 saves in 65 appearances last season with the Houston Astros.
After intense negotiations with the Astros and a handful of other teams — believed to be the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays — Hawkins and his agent, Larry Reynolds, were disappointed that Astros general manager Ed Wade and the organization wouldn’t offer more than a one-year deal.
In the end, Hawkins believed Milwaukee presented him with the best opportunity.
Despite being a Type A free agent, the Brewers don’t have to surrender draft picks for signing Hawkins, since the Astros didn’t offer the right-handed reliever arbitration Dec. 1.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin made pitching a priority this offseason as he attempts to build Milwaukee into a legitimate NL Central contender. With future Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman re-signing in October, as well as the addition of Hawkins, manager Ken Macha has the luxury of utilizing the lethal duo late in ballgames.
Also, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that Milwaukee signed free-agent left-hander Randy Wolf to a three-year, $29 million contract.
At this point, the late-inning options on the market continues to dwindle with Billy Wagner, Takashi Saito and Rafael Soriano (accepted arbitration) already signing with the Atlanta Braves. With Jose Valverde unhappy with the Astros, he’ll likely land a multi-year deal with another team for roughly $10-12 million per season.
Basically, the remaining top bullpen options Wade can possibly target include Mike Gonzalez, Kevin Gregg, Fernando Rodney and J.J. Putz — unless Wade makes a trade to acquire a closer.
According to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, Wade continues to explore the possibility of acquiring Florida Marlins reliever Matt Lindstrom. It’s also been rumored that Wade participated in discussions Wednesday with Braves general manager Frank Wren about Soriano.
The 29-year-old Lindstrom was 2-1 with a 5.89 ERA, 15 saves and 39 strikeouts over 47 1/3 innings in 54 appearances in 2009.
Ultimately, when it comes to the Astros’ trio of Type A free-agents Valverde, Hawkins and Miguel Tejada this offseason, Wade has basically closed the door on Valverde and Tejada returning to Houston for the 2010 season, and Hawkins will be pitching for the divisional-rival Brewers.
However, if the Astros acquire Lindstrom, he’ll provided stability in the closer’s role.
Also, Wade could still target Gonzalez, Gregg, Putz or possibly Octavio Dotel to fill the eighth-inning void left by Hawkins.
