Brewers land starting pitcher Kyle Lohse

Free agent starting pitcher Kyle Lohse is no longer without a team. The Milwaukee Brewers have signed Kyle Lohse to a three-year deal, that's worth $33 million. Lohse had been a top free agent starting pitcher on the free agent market. But, teams were scared to sign Lohse, pretty much because of the MLB rules where a team would forfeit a draft pick in order to sign Lohse. Lohse had declined the Cardinals one-year deal for $13.3 million, when they made him qualifying offer before free agency started. Scott Boras, Lohse's agent wanted to get him a three-year deal, for $45 million. The Brewers will forfeit their 17th pick in the MLB draft, that goes to the Cardinals, but that will become pick no.28. Lohse had been working out in Arizona and throwing 90-pitch simulated games, in order to stay in shape and ready for a team to sign him.

Lohse was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1996 MLB draft, they picked him in the 29th round, and overall he was pick no.862. In 1999, Lohse would be traded by the Cubs to the Minnesota Twins, who he played for from 2001-2006. The Twins would end up trading Lohse to the Cincinnati Reds, on July 31, 2006. Lohse played for the Reds for the rest of 2006, until half of the 2007 season. In 2007, he was traded from the Red to the Philadelphia Phillies. Lohse started 11 games for the Phillies going 3-0 with an era of 4.72. The Phillies tried to bring Lohse back in free agency after the 2007 season, but he wanted more than what the Phillies were offering him. So, he stayed a free agent for along time and the Cardinals ended up signing him to a one-year deal, on March 14, 2008. Lohse found a home with the Cardinals and would end up staying a Cardinal from 2008-2012. Lohse got a World Series ring with the Cardinals in 2011.

Last season, Lohse started 33 games and went 16-3 with an era of 2.86. He also pitched 211 innings, that marked the third time in his career to reach 200 innings in his career. Lohse also lead the NL (National League) starting pitchers in winning percentage, that was .842. While, Lohse isn't known for strikeouts he also set a new career high in strikeouts with 143, and the last two seasons he has a record of 30-11.

So far in Lohse's twelve year career in the MLB, his career stats are: 118 wins, 109 losses, 1973 innings pitched, 1238 strikeouts, 331 starts, 335 games played, 4.45 era, and a whip of 1.369.

Does Lohse turn out to be a good pick up for the Brewers or does he turn out to be Jeff Suppan 2.0 for the Brewers? Suppan was also overpaid by the Brewers in a free agency years back by the Brewers, after leaving the Cardinals. Suppan pretty much became a big game pitcher in the playoffs for the Cardinals and turned his career around, but went down hill after going to the Brewers. I guess we'll find out soon, if Lohse turns out to be a good pick up for the Brewers or Jeff Suppan 2.0. Lohse is a good guy, and I wish him well, except for when he's pitching against the Cardinals.