Eric Gagne Signs with Brewers

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The Milwaukee Brewers may be close to adding another arm to the bullpen.

According to multiple Internet reports, the Brewers are close to a contract agreement with reliever Eric Gagne.

A Brewers spokesman would only confirm that the team had talked about Gagne, but said Saturday that there was nothing to report.

The Brewers are looking for closer options after Francisco Cordero signed a four-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds and Scott Linebrink opted to sign with the Chicago White Sox.

Milwaukee did sign David Riske, who has 20 career saves, to a three-year deal and traded for Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Salomon Torres on Friday. Another possibility is Derrick Turnbow, who saved 39 games in 2005, then lost the closer job in '06 and was used as a setup pitcher last season.

Gagne posted seasons of 52, 55 and 45 saves for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2002-04, but injuries to his elbow and back limited him to 15 innings over 16 games the next two seasons. Last year, he was a combined 4-2 with 16 saves in 20 opportunities and a 3.81 ERA with Texas and Boston.

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What a pickup this would be after losing Cordero to the Reds! Gagne is electric, but struggled a little bit last season with the injury and all. However, if he stays injury free and plays to his ability the Brewers got one heck of a closer.

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Gagne is guaranteed $10 million - Brewers Blog

The free-agent contract the Brewers have agreed to with reliever Eric Gagne guarantees him $10 million in salary in 2008 with performance bonuses that could add another $1 million.

I got those numbers confirmed with a source familiar with the contract details, which don't become final until Gagne passes a physical examination. Gagne probably will take that physical by the middle of the week, at the latest.

And let's make one thing perfectly clear. There has been speculation as to whether there will be an open competition for the closer's role, including holdover Derrick Turnbow. Well, you don't pay a pitcher $10 million to be a set-up man, that's all I will say.

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JS Online: Gagne must spell relief

You don't pay a relief pitcher $10 million a season to be a set-up man.

The contract the Milwaukee Brewers are giving free agent Eric Gagne all but guarantees they expect him to be their closer in 2008. The sides agreed Saturday to a one-year deal that pays the big right-hander $10 million, with incentives that could add another $1 million.

The agreement isn't official until Gagne passes a physical exam. But general manager Doug Melvin would not have agreed to a $10 million salary if he had any doubts about the health of Gagne, who has experienced serious elbow and back injuries in the past.

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Gagne passes physical; deal is official - Brewers Blog

The Brewers' $10 million deal with free agent reliever Eric Gagne is official. He has passed his physical exam today and the Brewers are officially introducing him to the media at Miller Park at 6:30 p.m.

In the formal release, general manager Doug Melvin had this to say: "Eric's saves numbers speak for themselves. This signing provides a proven closer who will be an integral part of our rebuilt bullpen. We are very pleased to add Eric to our ballclub."

Gagne, who will be 32 in January, has a career record of 29-23 with a 3.31 ERA and 177 saves in 352 appearances, including 48 starts. He has held opponents to a .216 batting average (.185 as a reliever) and .290 on-base percentage (.249 as a reliever).

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Audio: Eric Gagne press conference

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Money was there for Gagne - Brewers Blog

A look at the salaries the Brewers have shed since the start of the 2008 season and added this winter show why they were able to commit $10 million for one year to sign free agent closer Eric Gagne.

The Brewers' Opening Day payroll last season was $68 million. Since then, they have shed $31.21 million in salaries:

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JS Online: Notes: Exit strategy is key to deal

Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin realizes the $10 million contract he gave free-agent closer Eric Gagne raised some eyebrows within the industry.

After all, Melvin never envisioned going that high, either.

"That's what it took to do a one-year deal," Melvin said. "All we wanted to go is one year."

In other words, even if Gagne proves to be a disappointment, he'll be off the books after 2008. Cincinnati doesn't have that luxury if Francisco Cordero goes belly-up, not after paying the veteran closer $46 million over four years to bolt Milwaukee.

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Brian Anderson's House of Blogs: "I Am 100% Healthy"

Eric Gagne


It had been eight years since I last saw Eric Gagne in person. He spent the end of 1998 and all of '99 with the Double-A San Antonio Missions, where I spent my minor league broadcasting days. Back then, Gagne spoke with a thick French-Canadian accent. He was a straight shooting, blue collar, tough as nails student of the game who was loved by his teammates and was easily the baddest hombre in the Texas League (1999 Pitcher of the Year). Eight years later, with a Cy Young Award (2003), three All-Star selections, and some impressive Major League records on his resume, it did not take long to find out that Eric Gagne is still the same fascinating character I knew in Double-A.