Brewers Bullpen

        Francisco Cordero converted 44 saves in 51 chances in 2007 and had an ERA below three.   Cordero was one of the most touted relief pitchers in the league at the end of the 2007 season and he received offers from several teams.  Cordero decided to go for the money, signing a contract with the Cincinnati Reds.  The Milwaukee Brewers had offered a four year $42 million contract with an option for a fifth year.  Instead, Cordero packed his bags and moved to Cincinnati, taking their four year $46 million offer - also with an option for a fifth year. 

        So the Brewers, who were already looking for bullpen help, had to find a new closer via free agency or trades.  On November 20^th, the Brewers traded Johnny Estrada, who had been in a little yelling match with Ned Yost in the dugout during the previous season, to the Mets for Guillermo Mota, who had in 2006 a two year $5 million contract. Then, on December 5^th, the Brewers signed former Kansas City Royal David Riske to a three year deal worth $13 million with a year option.  Two days later the Brewers traded for Salomon Torres and sent two top pitching prospects to the Pittsburg Pirates. Torres is in the final year of his two year, $6.5 million dollar deal, with an option for a third year.  On December 9^th, the Brewers signed a one-year $10 million deal with former Dodger closer and Red Sox blunder, Eric Gage.  On January 9^th the Brewers re-signed lefty specialist Brian Shouse to a one-year $2 million dollar deal.  At the time, it seemed that Shouse would most likely be used in a closer by comity role. The Brewers also had Derrick Turnbow on their roster, who in 2006 had signed a three year $6.5 million contract.  Let’s not forget that Turnbow holds the record for the most saves by a Brewer in a season, 39, and was an All-Star in 2006. 

        So, on paper the Brewers looked like they had strengthened their bullpen dramatically and found several options for a closer.  When you add up all of the salaries, it totals $41 million.

        The Brewers started the season with Gagne as their closer.  Gagne came into the first game against the Chicago Cubs with a three run lead, and gave up a three-run homer to Chicago rookie Kusuke Fukudome. Luckily the Brewers won in extra innings.  Since then, the Brewers have had eight different pitchers presented with a combined total of 64 save opportunities, and a save percentage of 66. 

        With the Reds this season, Francisco Cordero has saved 25 games in 31 save opportunities, giving him an 81% success rate.  If you multiply the percent of games Cordero has saved this season with the Reds, 81%, times the number of save opportunities the Brewers have had this season, 64, you get about 52 saves.  That means that Francisco Cordero, had he stayed with the Brewers, might have had 52 saves, which would make him the major league leader in saves, ahead of Francisco Rodriquez, who currently has 50 saves.  Currently, Rodriquez is on pace to break Bobby Thigpen’s record of 57 saves in a season.

        If Cordero had stayed with the Brewers he could be in the same discussion as Rodriquez. So, in the end Cordero got $4 million more than the Brewers offered, but lost the chance to set a major league record and make a bigger name for himself.  The Brewers on the other hand, saved $5 million, but lost an important player, one who could have saved them games their bullpen has saved lost this season.