Milwaukee Brewers to rely on the in-house young pitchers – MLB News
Being unfazed is questionable. But being wary is not.
The Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, Dec. 14, were informed of the development that they were probably not expecting: Ryan Dempster being signed for two-year contract by the Boston Red Sox.
It was Milwaukee Brewers who had actually extended an offer to the veteran pitcher with a plan to complement the right hander Yovani Gallardo. That the Milwaukee Brewers had made the offer was confirmed on Thursday by the general manager Doug Melvin.
Pending physical, Ryan Dempster would earn $26.5 million for two years. The Brewers, on the other hand, will now have to rely on in-house options. This reliance on the youngsters was inevitable – so it seems.
The Brewers, to be fair, do not see it as the unavoidable outcome of failing to secure Dempster. A cursory glance at the statement of Melvin brings to fore the conclusion that the Brewers were already considering using the young lot given the lack of options.
"I've said that all along, that we want to give an opportunity to our younger pitchers," Melvin said. "We haven't done that."
The Brewers had to make careful expenditure given the price parity. From the onset of offseason, there is no big name that the Milwaukee Brewers have acquired so far. Ryan Dempster was an undeniably good option. However, since the Brewers could not make
deal, it is youngsters who have to get the opportunity now.
"Our young pitchers earned an opportunity last year, with the way they pitched, that they should at least be given a chance," Melvin said. "Dempster was one guy that we did think we had a chance on. We liked his character, we liked his experience of pitching
in this division. Beyond him, I don't see the next level of starters that we're going to get involved with.”
When Melvin was specifically asked if his club was intending to go for free agents, his was an unambiguous answer to address the question.
"We have some names there [in the system]. We're not going to get caught up in this frenzy of free agency.”
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