Hall and Cappy to be offered multi-year deals?

[brewcrew82]

Some promising news coming from Doug Melvin regarding arbitration eligible players Billy Hall and Chris Capuano.

Here are some interesting points from the article:

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano and shortstop-turned-outfielder Bill Hall take the first step today toward significant pay increases when they exchange proposed salary figures for 2007 with the club.

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Hall and Capuano bring some solid numbers to arbitration. In 146 games in 2005, Hall batted .291 with 17 homers and 62 RBI. Last season, playing mostly at shortstop in place of injured J.J. Hardy, the 27-year-old Hall played in 148 games and batted .270 while leading the team with 35 homers and 85 RBI.

Capuano, 28, was a mainstay in the starting rotation the past two years, compiling a 29-24 record and 4.01 earned run average over that period. He didn't miss a start either year, pitching 440 1/3 innings with 350 strikeouts and 138 walks. Capuano made the National League all-star staff in 2006 before a second-half skid (1-8, 5.17) saddled him with an 11-12 record.

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At some point, Melvin said he might consider making multi-year offers to Capuano and Hall to buy out some of their arbitration years. Melvin has done that in the past with players such as Matt Wise, Derrick Turnbow and Brady Clark.

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The Brewers have 13 players on their 40-man roster signed for 2007 at a total cost of $45.54 million. They expect their payroll to exceed $60 million for the upcoming season.

To read the whole article (which gives an explaination of the arbitration process and who has already signed this off season), click here (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=552987).

[brewcrew82]

Cappy and the Crew have avoided arbitration signing a one year, $3.25 million deal.

I don't understand how Mench got more for his deal, but that's just the way things go I guess. :confused:

[BeerBatter]

Yeah, I don't agree on the Mench deal. I think he could have been easily "let go".

Cappy, on the other hand, is such an asset to the crew. He's dependable, a good pitcher, and brings more to the team than just his delivery to the plate. He holds runners, if not picking them off, as good as any other pitcher. He can field well and is okay at the plate. Well worth the $ IMO.

[brewcrew82]

It's still looking like the team are trying to sign Bill Hall long term. Here (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=560180) is the latest:

When Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin considers offering a multi-year contract to a player, he goes through a mental checklist of three primary items.

"You want a guy who has been injury free, though you never know. That can change," said Melvin. "You also want a guy with a good work ethic. But most of all, you look at the performance areas."

The way Melvin sees it, Bill Hall meets each of those qualifications, which is why discussions have been ongoing that could lead to a deal stretching as long as four years.

***SNIP***

Before settling on a one-year deal, however, the sides are exploring the possibility of a multi-year contract. Melvin declined to specify the term being discussed, but the Brewers are believed to be interested in buying out all three of Hall's arbitration years and possibly a year of free agency.

"We've had some conversations about that, but I don't want to get into the details of it," said Melvin, who spoke Wednesday with Hall's agent, Gregg Clifton. "I'd like to keep that quiet."

There is more to te article but it just goes into the details about his arbitration numbers and his shift to the OF.

[CPatt44]

I firmly believe Hall should be signed long term. He is too valuable to let go on both sides of the ball. Last I heard on MLB on XM is Milwaukee offered $3mil and Hall asked for $4.1mil for just next year.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what Melvin thinks of Hall.

[brewcrew82]

I'd like to see the team sign Hall (obviously) and I think they will be successful and have him for about another four years but I honestly don't think he'll be a career brewer (or even a player that has all his sucess in Milwaukee). I feel after this next contract he's gone.

Now it's time for Melvin et al to prove me wrong!

[brewcrew82]

UPDATE!

Billy Hall has signed a four year deal (with a club option fifth year), worth $24 million guaranteed (and $32.75 million max).