Riske to be a Brewer??

[Mario-Rijo]

Just caught this on ESPiN,


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3134072

Source: Reliever Riske close to agreeing to multiyear deal with Brewers
By Buster Olney
Updated: November 29, 2007, 6:46 PM ET

David Riske, the veteran relief pitcher who compiled a 2.45 ERA in 65 games for the Kansas City Royals last season, is on the verge of agreeing to a multiyear deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to a club source.


David Riske

Relief Pitcher
Kansas City Royals

Profile

2007 Season Stats
GM W L BB K ERA
65 1 4 27 52 2.45
Riske could help the Brewers fill in the hole created by the departure of relievers Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink.

Riske, 31, pitched in six seasons for the Cleveland Indians before going to Boston in the deal for Coco Crisp and splitting the 2006 season with the Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. Riske rebounded strongly in 2007, allowing just 27 walks and striking out 52 in 69 2/3 innings while working in middle relief for the Royals.

The Royals had been offered Riske a two-year deal for about $6 million at the start of this offseason, but the market price for middle relievers has climbed upward again, driven in part by the four-year, $19 million deal signed by Linebrink with the White Sox.

[blumj]

I don't get why no one ever seems to want to keep this guy. There must be something about him, other than his pitching. The Red Sox had a pretty lousy pen in '06, but it was like they couldn't get rid of him fast enough.

[PuffyPig]

Originally Posted by blumj

I don't get why no one ever seems to want to keep this guy. There must be something about him, other than his pitching. The Red Sox had a pretty lousy pen in '06, but it was like they couldn't get rid of him fast enough.

It's his pitching.

He's OK, but his DIPS ERA is generally in the mid to high 4's, including last year.

When he has a better ERA, he's been lucky.

[Bill]

Wedge lost faith in Riske in tight games.

Still a nice signing if the price was right. I was thinking the Reds should give him a look for the 6-7th inning.

[redsmetz]

Here's a blurb from the Milwaukee paper

Riske would be Plan B to Turnbow
By Tom Haudricourt
Thursday, Nov 29 2007, 10:01 PM

If the Brewers consider erratic Derrick Turnbow their best internal option to replace departed closer Francisco Cordero, it makes sense to target free agent reliever David Riske.

And, conversely, Riske realizes a possible chance to close when he sees one.

Add it all up and you see why the Brewers and Riske are on the verge of an agreement on a three-year deal. The 31-year-old free-agent right-hander was given the full court press by general manager Doug Melvin after Cordero bolted to Cincinnati at Thanksgiving.

Riske has some closing experience but is primarily considered a set-up man. However, Turnbow often becomes less effective under a heavy workload, so the more, the merrier at the end of the bullpen, as far as Melvin is concerned.

Riske provides another option, along with recently acquired Guillermo Mota, and whoever else Melvin is able to add by spring training.

Melvin already expressed concern about the injury histories and contract demands of the established closers on the free-agent market, such as Eric Gagne and Octavio Dotel. And he's not interested in surrendering young position players to trade for a closer, such as Minnesota's Joe Nathan.

But Melvin can sign Riske at a palatable price (probably close to $4 million a year) and not surrender a player or draft pick. Riske is a Class B free agent, so the Brewers won't surrender a draft pick to Kansas City.

Look for an announcement of the deal on Friday.

[REDREAD]

Originally Posted by Bill

Wedge lost faith in Riske in tight games.

Still a nice signing if the price was right. I was thinking the Reds should give him a look for the 6-7th inning.

I think the Indians were justified in that

Riske always seemed to be not quite good enough to close, but too good to be a middle guy. Some days he seems dominating, other days you are scared to death when he comes in.