Kyle Lohse has reportedly agreed terms with the Brewers – three years and #33 million Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Multiple sources report that Kyle Lohse has agreed terms with the Milwaukee Brewers. Lohse provides stability and innings to the Brewers rotation and makes the NL Central a bit more interesting.

As I suggested Lohse and super Agent Scott Boras had to back off $14-15M target and four to five year contract talk. Bob Nightengale of USA today says the contract is three years and $33M.  That’s an AAV of $11M and about right for Kyle Lohse based on his career.

The Brewers, according to official, will guarantee Lohse $33 million for three years

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 25, 2013

For Boras this is another not great deal. Like Lohse, Michael Bourn signed a four year $12M deal late after asking for five years and $15M a year immediately after last season. Perhaps the Boras hypnosis of GMs and owners is wearing thin as luxury tax starts to bite a bit or perhaps he just misread the market. In either case any way you spin this, for these two clients, Boras misjudged things badly.

Kyle Lohse during spring training for the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium. He’s now throwing simulated games waiting for a BIG payday. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Two days ago I explained that the new CBA rules on draft picks and slot money were not the reason Kyle Lohse was still without a job, but that his contract and salary demands are simply too high for a number three/four starter.  This morning Buster Olney – @Buster_ESPN – confirmed that with this tweet.

Club officials say Scott Boras continues to ask for $14 million-$15 million a year from those interested in FA pitcher Kyle Lohse.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 24, 2013

A quick look around the leagues shows that his requested salary is the same as Jake Peavy and more than C.J. Wilson,  Anibal Sanchez, Dan Haren, and Ryan Dempster. Dan Haren is particularly interesting because in the past three years he’s been about the same but slightly better pitcher.

Haren is 32, Lohse 34.  Haren compiled his numbers in the AL West without a pitcher in the opposing lineup while Lohse was in the weaker hitting NL Central. At the end of last season the Angels let Haren walk without a qualifying offer.  Lohse turned down a better contract than the $13M Haren eventually received; a $13.5M qualifying offer from St Louis.

All Lohse has to do to get a job is accept a reasonable salary and contract length for his age based on his career.  His agent should  stop whining that “The integrity of the game is very damaged. . .” by the new CBA when it’s only the future of his personal fortune that’s affected. No one believes it and right now Kyle Lohse is unemployed because of it.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Matsuzaka, 32, had some terrible numbers a year ago with Boston (1-7, 8.28 ERA, 1.71 WHIP), but it’s unfair to judge him based solely on those numbers. Unnoticed is the fact that he posted the lowest walk rate since his rookie season (3.9), struck out nearly a batter an inning, and got extremely unlucky on batted balls in play (.336).

Furthermore, only 57.9 percent of his runners were left stranded on base, an incredible number considering the average rate is at about 72 percent. Dice-K pitched far, far better than his numbers indicate in 2012, and the Indians may well have a pleasant surprise with this signing.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

September 20, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (58) delivers a pitch during the first inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported that if Liriano’s option year vests at $5 mil or $6 mil, he can earn the difference between that and the full $8 mil based on games started in 2014. Not a bad deal for an injury prone pitcher, but a pitcher that used to have some of the nastiest stuff we have ever seen. Luckily for Liriano, the injury he had was to his right arm (non throwing) and not his left.

Liriano split his 2012 season between the Twins and White Sox as Minnesota traded him to the divisional rival White Sox shortly before the trade deadline. He put up a 5.34 ERA with 9.6 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 in 156 2/3 innings. It was the second consecutive season in which he posted an ERA greater than 5.

The former top prospect will join a nice rotation featuring A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez and James McDonald for a very young and talented Pittsburgh team that plays in a very winnable NL Central. SP, Vin Mazzaro was outrighted to AAA Inidnapolis to make room for Liriano on the active roster.

Releiver Brandon Lyon agreed to terms with New York Mets on a one year deal Thursday. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Lyon went 4-2 with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP  in 61.0 IP split between the Astros and Blue Jays in 2012. After being traded to the Jays, Lyon pitched particularly well, going 4-0 with a 1.12 WHIP in 25.0 innings. Lyon averaged over a strikeout per inning in 2012 for the first time in his career.

Lyon and the recently signed LaTroy Hawkins will join holdovers Frank Francisco and Bobby Parnell in Sandy Alderson’s reworked pen. Hard throwing Jeurys Familia and Jenrry Mejia will also challenge for roles in spring training. Newly signed, but familiar face Pedro Feliciano will battle Tim Byrdak and Josh Edgin to be the primary lefty reliever.

Lyon has some experience closing, he saved 26 games for Arizona in 2008 and 20 for Houston in 2010. Since Bobby Parnell has faltered when given a chance to close, Terry Collins may feel more comfortable turning to Lyon if (more likely when) Frank Francisco hits a rough patch. Lyon and Francisco have similar career ratios, so Collins is not exactly choosing between Dennis Eckersley and Mariano Rivera.

Alderson has done nice job rebuilding the Mets bullpen. Hawkins and Lyon are dependable, if not spectacular, set up options. Along with veterans like Hawkins, there is a good mix of youth with hopefuls Edgin, Familia and Mejia. What the Mets really need is for Bobby Parnell to harness his fastball and nerve and transfer his eighth inning success to the closer role.

New Mariner Joe Saunders has topped 174 innings in each of the past five seasons. (Image Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports)

The Seattle Mariners have agreed to terms on a one year contract with left-hander Joe Saunders, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. The deal will be finalized once Saunders passes a physical. Financial details are not yet known.

Multiple teams – including the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, and Minnesota Twins – were linked to the 31 year old this offseason. He reportedly was hoping for a three year deal somewhere and while there were rumors of two year offers on the table at various points, it would appear as though Saunders settled for a one year deal to join the Mariners rotation. With a solid season at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field he could re-enter the free agent market next winter. Saunders could slide into the middle of the Mariners rotation, a spot Jason Vargas occupied last season before being dealt to the Los Angeles Angels.

Saunders spent the 2012 season between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Baltimore Orioles, making 28 starts on the year. He was 9-13 on the year, with a 4.07 ERA and 1.340 WHIP over 174.2 IP. He’s topped that innings mark in each of the last five seasons and should help pitch some innings for the Mariners this season. Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma will likely lead the staff, with Erasmo Ramirez and Blake Beaven the favorites for the final two spots in the rotation. The team also has Hector Noesi to provide depth until either Danny Hultzen or James Paxton are ready for a promotion to the Major Leagues.

After seeing his 2012 season cut short to injury, Alex Gonzalez will return to Milwaukee on another one year deal. (Image Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)

The soon-to-be 36 year old Gonzalez missed most of the 2012 season after tearing his ACL in early May. He appeared in just 24 games prior to the injury, batting .259/.326/.457 with 4 HR in 89 PA after signing with the Brewers last offseason for $4.25 Million. Known mostly for his work defensively, Gonzalez holds a career line of .247/.292/.399 over his 14 year career.

Milwaukee is expected to head into the season with Jean Segura, the key piece in last summer’s trade sending Zack Greinke to Los Angeles, as the team’s starting shortstop but Gonzalez will serve as a strong backup option if the young Segura should falter. In 163 PA after being acquired by the Brewers, Segura, who’ll turn 23 in mid-March, hit .264/.321/.331. He made the jump from Double-A – where he’d hit .304/.358/.413 in 451 PA – to the Major Leagues last year and still could likely use some added seasoning, perhaps suggesting that Gonzalez could see a fair amount of playing time with Milwaukee.

Gonzalez didn’t draw much interest on the open market this winter, only briefly being linked to the Boston Red Sox in late November.

Travis Hafner will reportedly bring his left hand power bat to Yankee Stadium in 2013. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

While the recent headlines about Rodriguez have dominated the national and New York baseball headlines, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has made signings that address areas of need for the Bronx Bombers.

Hafner’s signing gives the Yanks a power bat in the DH role. With Ichiro Suzuki and Brett Gardner projected starters in the Yankee outfield, Joe Girardi needed a viable power threat to replace the departed Raul Ibanez. Cashman reportedly signed Hafner to a $2 million contract that could be worth more with incentives.  Over the past two years, Hafner’s OPS has been higher than Ibanez, albeit in fewer games. Hafner is five years younger than Ibanez but has battled a slew of injuries in recent years.

Another moves of note this offseason include the signing of third baseman Kevin Youkilis to a $12 million contract and Ichiro to a two year, $13 million contract. Youkilis will give the Yankees a legitimate presence at third base who has never been distracted by Australian bikini models during the postseason (at least that I am aware of). Ichiro provides the Yankees an added dimension of speed and defense in right field at a fraction of the cost of Nick Swisher.

Yankee fans who are disgruntled over the loss of steady producer and postseason hero Ibanez should be comforted by the Yankees tremendous success in the late 1990’s with aging sluggers who produced well in part time roles. Chili Davis, Cecil Fielder, Darryl Strawberry, Jose Canseco and David Justice all contributed to Yankee titles in platoon roles, as DH’s and as pinch hitters.

Cashman still has work to do, as the Yankees are in need of a right handed power bat to platoon with Hafner and to pinch hit. Or perhaps the Steinbrenners, Cashman and Girardi are planning to pencil in #13 in that role when he returns after the All-Star break from hip surgery.

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The former Rockie, Cub, Tiger, and Brave is a career .266/.316/.428 hitter over eight seasons in the majors, and while he isn’t starting material, he can be productive if utilized properly off the bench, as in seasons like 2009 and 2010 when he was was worth 1.4 WAR and 1.1 WAR respectively.

Baker also has experience at several positions, including second base (his main spot on the field traditionally), first base, third base, and the corner outfield spots. When batting against southpaws, he’s a whole different hitter — as evidenced by his career .362 wOBA against them compared to just .288 when facing fellow righties. This is nothing more than a depth signing, but the Ranger’s home stadium is cozy and plays nicely for power hitters, and Baker has a chance to contribute positively.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

Shaun Marcum appears headed to New York to join the Mets rotation. (Image Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)

Marcum made 21 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers this past season, going 7-4 with a 3.70 ERA, 7.9 K/9, and 3.0 BB/9 across 124.0 innings before being shutdown due to tightness in his elbow. Marcum underwent Tommy John surgery back in 2009 but has been an innings eater since his return, throwing 395.1 innings over the subsequent two seasons.

Early on there appeared to be some speculation that he could land a multi-year deal somewhere, but a market never seemed to develop for Marcum this winter. There was plenty of rumored interest but little news regarding contract terms. New York may have jumped in with a steal by getting him on just a one year deal. Presumably it will be a modest base salary with possible performance incentives. Marcum will round out the Mets rotation heading into the season alongside Johan Santana, Jonathan Niese, Matt Harvey, and Dillon Gee. His ability to go deep into games will benefit and lengthen the team’s pitching staff, especially where Harvey (heading into his first full season in the Majors) and Gee (a health concern ended his 2012 season prematurely) may be on some sort of innings limit over the course of the season.

The addition also lets the Mets keep Jenrry Mejia and Zack Wheeler at Triple-A to start the year, instead of in the team’s rotation. Both are highly likely to see time in New York before season’s end.