By: Big Rygg
Let me precede what I’m about to post with the following statement:
I know that the Brewer Nation is just a weblog (and a MySpace page with plenty of friends and a Facebook entity that you can become a fan of) and that a lot of the media out there consider blogs to be places where any Tom, Dick or Harry can come to spout off on whatever they want without official recourse for bogus “news” or postings.
Now, having said that, someone mentioned something to me that makes a lot of sense.
Salomon Torres supposedly told the Brewers as early as July that 2008 would be his last season in baseball before retiring again.
Let’s break that down.
First, we all know that when Doug Melvin traded for Torres prior to the 2008 season that Torres was seriously contemplating retiring so as to avoid uprooting his family after so many years in Pittsburgh. He decided to pitch and we all know how well he filled in as closer before his amount of work seemed to catch up to him.
Second, the Brewers hold a club option on Torres’ contract at a reported $3.75MM. That is quite inexpensive for a pitcher of Torres’ skill and track-record given today’s contracts. The Brewers have until November 15th to exercise that option to bring Torres back at that cost. So why would they wait unless they didn’t exactly want to pay a guaranteed $3.75MM to a retired player?
I believe my source to be not only credible (they most definitely could/would have knowledge of this situation) but also there is no real reason to believe that they would lie about the issue since Torres’ situation doesn’t necessarily affect any of their situations directly.
Now, if Torres had said that 2008 would be his last season for sure as early as July, the only reason I can see as to why he hasn’t already announced that decision is because 2008′s success and playoff appearance is making Torres at least think about reconsidering his position.
Bottom line is that if Torres wants to play in 2009 and the Brewers don’t exercise his option, I’ll question the decision all year. That being said, there is a deadline on Torres to make up his mind whether or not he wants to play next year if he continues to be the professional that he has shown himself to be. In other words, it’d be pretty shady for him to say he wants to retire so the Brewers don’t pick up his option only to turn around and sign with someone else for more money. I wouldn’t expect Salomon Torres to do something like that.
Time will ultimately tell on this situation as with all other off-season happenings, but this twist needed to be mentioned just in case it happens that way.
—
In other news, CC Sabathia has reportedly talked to Yankee Captain Derek Jeter about what it’s like to play in New York City for the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees, bankrolled by oodles of revenue from their new stadium along with so much money coming off of their payroll from last year, are expected to make an enormous contract offer to Sabathia as early as Friday (when the moratorium on exclusive free agent negotiating rights is lifted). Sabathia will have quite the decision to make, and is covering his proverbial bases like any smart man would.
I’m still hopeful, though I know how unlikely it is, that CC will decide to help Milwaukee keep their window open a little wider for a little longer. We’ll all find out what the Brew Crew is up against as far as dollars and cents in a few days.
