In the News (2/12)

Brewers News

- Braden Looper’s deal is for one year at $4.75 million and it might have some incentives that could boost it higher. It has a mutual option for 2010. It’s not known what the option year salary would be. The Brewers are expected to announce the signing today, pending Looper passing a physical. Someone will have to be cut from the 40-man roster to make room for Looper. More HERE and HERE.

- Brew Crew Ball says 22 guys will be competing for four spots on the Brewers roster in Spring Training. There will be some tough decisions, but injuries usually make some of the decisions a little easier (unfortunately).

- The updated PECOTA projections following the Braden Looper signing have the Brewers finishing with 85 wins, 10 short of the Cubs and five short of the Wild Card. Anything can happen over the course of a season, but it’s encouraging to see that the Brewers talent appears good enough to contend for at least a Wild Card spot again.

- McCalvy has a Spring Training preview on the team.

- Brewers Bar continues to ask questions that will be answered in Maryvale during Spring Training.

- Corey Hart has one of the worst outfield arms in baseball, according to Beyond the Boxscore.

- The Brewers rank 33rd among all MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL teams in terms of in-market status and popularity, including sixth among baseball teams. I’ll be honest. I’m not exactly sure what that Turnkey 2008 Team Brand Index thing means or how they came up with that, but I guess it’s a good thing. We’re apparently loyal fans.

- Vegas doesn’t think the NL Central will be much of a race this year. Sportsbook.com has the Cubs at 7:1 to win the World Series with the next best team in the NL Central at 30:1 (the Cardinals). The Brewers are at 35:1.

- The Brewers signed pitchers Eduardo Morlan and Cody Scarpetta to deals for 2009.

- Former pitcher Jim Abbott, who was a Brewer in 1999, will have his jersey retired by Michigan, where he attended college.

Minor Leagues

- The Nashville Sounds come in at #2 on the Brewer Advent Calendar at Brew Crew Ball.

NL Central

- Fukudome is reportedly a new man and will come out on fire in 2009. Yeah, so is every other hack right now that had a crappy ‘08. And, according to the article, Fukudome apparently did not know he could ask to take some extra swings to straighten himself out last year…

Other News

- Adam Dunn signed with the Washington Nationals for 2 years and $20 million. I’d have loved to see him in Milwaukee, but at least he didn’t end up back in the NL Central. I will continue having a man crush on the Big Donkey.

- Speaking of baseball man crushes, Ichiro Suzuki is about as opposite as you can get from Dunn, but he’s also one of my favorite players. He’s reportedly been working out as a pitcher preparing for the World Baseball Classic and tossing as hard as 92 mph. Awesome. I can’t imagine the Mariners are too happy about this, but it makes me appreciate that freak of a baseball player even more.

- There will be a Sonic opening in Milwaukee on Miller Park Way on Feb. 24. In related news, Tyler no longer will need to drive to Iowa to get fast food.