Cards Sign Looper to 3-year Deal

[E.J.]

Cardinals' Press Release

 

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals announced today they have signed right-handed pitcher Braden Looper to a three-year contract.

 

"We are glad to have Braden back in our system, and he's glad to be back," stated Senior Vice President/General Manager Walt Jocketty. "He will be a quality set-up pitcher in our bullpen and be able to close for us on days when Jason (Isringhausen) is not available."

[treebird]

BRADEN LOOPER 2005

 

59.1 ip

27k

22bb

 

good luck with that, cardinals

[Diffusion]

Oops.

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

"We are glad to have Braden back in our system, and he's glad to be back," stated Senior Vice President/General Manager Walt Jocketty. "He will be a quality set-up pitcher in our bullpen and be able to close for us on days when Jason (Isringhausen) is not available."

 

 

translation: "Jason is hurt 60% of the time, so we got this guy....."

[CardsFanInChiTown]

BRADEN LOOPER 2005

 

59.1 ip

27k

22bb

 

good luck with that, cardinals

 

That pretty much says it. Maybe he was injured or something...

[E.J.]

BRADEN LOOPER 2005

 

59.1 ip

27k

22bb

 

good luck with that, cardinals

 

That pretty much says it. Maybe he was injured or something...

 

From the link above:

 

The reliever underwent arthroscopic surgery October 3 of this year to clean out the AC joint in his right shoulder and has cleared a physical with the Cardinals medical staff. His complete pitching record follows

[Rob]

On a side note...

 

Does anybody else find it odd that the link points to the Atlanta Braves site on MLB.com?

[E.J.]

From Rotoworld:

 

Braden Looper - R - Cardinals

 

 

Cardinals signed RHP Braden Looper, who had been with the Mets, to a three-year, $13.5 million contract.

He'll earn $3.5 million in 2006, $4.5 million in 2007 and $5.5 million in 2008. Included are up to $1 million in bonuses, some of them based on games finished in case he becomes the closer. Dec. 15 - 8:44 pm et

[Ding Dong Johnson]

From Rotoworld:

 

Braden Looper - R - Cardinals

 

 

Cardinals signed RHP Braden Looper, who had been with the Mets, to a three-year, $13.5 million contract.

He'll earn $3.5 million in 2006, $4.5 million in 2007 and $5.5 million in 2008. Included are up to $1 million in bonuses, some of them based on games finished in case he becomes the closer. Dec. 15 - 8:44 pm et

 

That settles it -- WHIP of .79, ERA at 1.06, Izzy goes down & Looper steps in to save 51, Cy Young sure to follow

[Rooftop Bum]

Looper will now become a superstar since he's with the Cardinals. It's a given.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

From Rotoworld:

 

Braden Looper - R - Cardinals

 

 

Cardinals signed RHP Braden Looper, who had been with the Mets, to a three-year, $13.5 million contract.

He'll earn $3.5 million in 2006, $4.5 million in 2007 and $5.5 million in 2008. Included are up to $1 million in bonuses, some of them based on games finished in case he becomes the closer. Dec. 15 - 8:44 pm et

 

That settles it -- WHIP of .79, ERA at 1.06, Izzy goes down & Looper steps in to save 51, Cy Young sure to follow

 

Bring back that hot chick avatar you use to have, it brightened my day.

[Rob]

I sincerely doubt this is anything good for the cardinals.

 

His strikeout rate when healthy isn't anything to write home about... about 5 k/9. And his walk rate was only especially good in 04... still averaging slightly under 3 most of his other years.

 

He can put up league-average numbers... especially with that defense behind him. But he wont do anything to earn the kind of money he's getting.

[ThePenguin11]

This is a very good move for the Cards. He didn't exactly stink the last 5 years. He's awesome against righties and pitiful against lefties (which won't matter against the Cubs). He ERA was in the 2.00's two years ago and I expect him to be in the low to mid 3.00's with Duncan's help.

 

Meanwhile at 1060 West Addison...

 

 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :?:

[Wheelimus]

If the Eyre and Howry contracts set the market...you're welcome Cards! :lol:

[weitliz]

Bring back that hot chick avatar you use to have, it brightened my day.

 

:P :twisted:

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Sucks for them!

[Andy]

Looper will either be hurt too often to hurt the Cardinals or, much more likely, fill that set-up man slot ridiculously well and have a (name any White Sox reliever)-esque year.

[Jehrico]

On a side note...

 

Does anybody else find it odd that the link points to the Atlanta Braves site on MLB.com?

 

replace the atlanta.braves with stlouis.cardinals, and you get the same page. I think you could substitute any mlb team and get the same page. How he got the Atlanta link I don't know.

 

13.5 mil for 3 years of a surgically repaired reliever coming off of a horrible year...I don't know if that's a great move, but Looper's been solid other than last year, where something obviously was wrong with him. If this turns out to be a recurring problem, dumb move for the cards. If the surgery fixed whatever was wrong and his problems are behind him, a solid pickup.

[PieOnMyHands]

I kind of like this signing. I prefer him to Julian Tavarez, whose 5.13 post-ASB ERA will not be missed.

 

Looper was hurt last year... hence, he had surgery. Somebody summarized a radio interview he had today, and they noted how he mentioned how he "enjoyed" grinding it out and pitching hurt this year. The reason I mention this is because, yes, he was hurt, and that's why his numbers don't look like that of a player making as much as Braden is.

 

Now, that said... I do like the signing. I feel that with out defense, he's going to be successful. Clearly, based on so few strikeouts, hitters put the ball in play against him... an improved defense is only going to help him.

 

With less pressure (closer to set-up man), I'm going to predict his numbers improve. While he won't be what he was in 2004 (2.70 ERA), I do think he's going to be a solid addition to the bullpen.

[YearofDaCubs]

This isn't a bad signing for the Cardinals. I'm not a fan of Looper but he should be above AVG pitcher in the pen.

[badger1679666666]

Man if hendry would have made this signing, he would have been hung already. That's all I'm gonna say.

[treebird]

I really hate the argument that so-and-so will pitch better in front of team x's defense, so this is a good signing. If the defense is great and every pitcher will be great in front of it, why not just sign crappy guys for the minimum?

[stitchface]

meh

[badger1679666666]

Mets fans are ecstatic that he's gone, so maybe Jocketty will end up not being God.

 

Then again his suckiness will probably metamorphesize into 2005 Neil Cotts like Numbers.

 

One such funny thread title from Mets fans was:

 

"Braden Loopers Dad should have pulled out"

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Edited December 16, 2005 by badger

[Transmogrified Tiger]

3/13.5? haha, at least Howry and Eyre were coming off of good years. Jocketty's working on a truly terrible offseason right now.