The Milwaukee Brewers are leaving no stone unturned as they head into the 2011 baseball season. They already addressed their starting rotation in a major way when they acquired both Shaun Marcum and Zack Greinke via trades.
Now, they are addressing their bullpen.
Saito will help the Brewer bullpen
The Brewers signed RHP Takashi Saito to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Saito can earn $3.2 million in 2011 based on roster and appearance bonuses.
This is yet another good acquisition by GM Doug Melvin.
Since Saito arrived from Japan in 2006, he has been one of the top relievers in baseball. In his five years in the Major Leagues, Saito has a 2.19 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 11 K/9, and 2.8 BB/9 in 299.1. The guy just knows how to pitch.
Saito will be 41 in February and shows no signs of slowing down. Last year with the Atlanta Braves, Saito had a 2.83 ERA and struck out 11.5 batters per nine innings in 54 innings.
The former Brave, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodger will join John Axford and Zach Braddock in the back end of the Brewers’ bullpen. Saito will certainly help a bullpen that was one of the worst in baseball last season.
If there is one issue with Saito, it’s that he battled some shoulder tendinitis at the end of last season. However, Saito did pass his physical with the Brewers, so I will assume those issues are behind him.
As for the Brewer fan already dreaming about April, picture this scenario. Greinke for seven, Saito for the eighth and Axford comes in to close things out.
Brewers win and George Webb frozen cheese curds for everyone!!!
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