If Carl Pavano makes 30 starts… I won’t know what to say. Let’s just say I think the world has a better chance of ending in 2012 then Pavano making 30 starts in 2 straight seasons.

I personally don’t think the Brewers have an answer to competiveness in regards to their rotation. If they sign Pavano, get used to another minor league veteran (Probably Mike Burns version 1.5) getting 15-20 big league starts around June.

If I am Milwaukee, I look at cheap signings. Guys like Livan Hernandez, Rich Hill, Noah Lowry, Odalis Perez, Sidney Ponson, Horacio Ramirez, Brett Tomko, Todd Wellemeyer or Kip Wells.

Any of those guys sexy? No. Any of these guys riskier then Pavano? Yea, all of them. They will likely sign for a minor league deal with an invite to spring training though.

But, by making spring training a tryout for those guys above, 1 of them has to break through and be a solid starter for the league minimum. And, if not, then you can reallocate the money you would have spent on Pavano into your draft budget and try to keep improving.

Also, by doing something like this, the Brewers would be a player (at least salary wise) on some of those potential no options remaining type players (Mitch Talbot?)

I think Bedard is the bigger risk. Pavano threw more innings last year than Bedard ever has. Bedard is recovering from a torn labrum. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he doesn’t pitch at all in 2010.

The Brewers gave Braden Looper six million last season. It was the equivalent of giving six mil to a pitcher who was injured all season, because he was around replacement level anyway. At least with Pavano there’s upside of getting a number 2/3 starter for your money–a possibility that never existed with Looper.

This smells of a possible Erik Bedard like back-fire to me to the team that decides to sign him. He will go 15 starts and then go down with his back strain and be done for the year after having setbacks in his rehab.