The Brewers have announced the signing of righty J.J. Hoover to a minor-league deal. It includes an invitation to participate in MLB Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. He can earn $1.1MM in the majors with another $1.65MM available through incentives, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter).
Hoover, 30, spent the 2017 season with the Diamondbacks. Over 41 1/3 innings, he racked up a solid 11.8 K/9 on a 12.0% swinging-strike rate, though he also surrendered 5.7 walks and 1.52 home runs per regulation affair. Hoover ended up with a 3.92 ERA on the year, representing a nice bounce back after a disappointing 2016 season.
For Milwaukee, Hoover will join a camp competition to build out the bullpen. The club has already pursued cost efficiency in its early winter relief moves, including striking a multi-year deal with Jeremy Jeffress and bringing in Boone Logan via free agency.
brewcrew08
I’m honestly surprised Hoover didn’t get an MLB deal somewhere. For 1.1M if he makes the big league club that’s a great deal. What am I missing?
Dobber
Presumably that they don’t have to make a move on the 40-man roster for minor league invites?
embalmer
Maybe that he’s crap for a pitcher? Never amounted to anything in his time with the Reds
brewcrew08
And it’s a minor league deal. He had two dominant seasons with the reds by the way.
bigjonliljon
Seems like the “M” in MLB Rumors stands for minor league baseball. Stove oh so cold still.
scottstots
Great minor league signing. I hope he crushes in the spring and makes the team… definitely better than Torres.
Brewblaz
The Brewers are quietly making some under the radar signings adding much needed pitching depth…..Chacin,Gallarado,Logan and now Hoover.
mikeyst13
Decent depth moves, but still waiting for a splash… Cobb, Archer, Fulmer, etc. Seems less and less likely as the days go by though.
mlb1225
Hoover has been really inconsistent from season to season in his career. In his first full season, he produced a 2.86 ERA, next year he had a 4.88 ERA. In 2015 he looked really good with a 2.94 ERA, then he was supposed to be the closer when Chapman was traded in 2016, but his era skyrocketed to 13.50 in 18 2/3 innings. Last year, he had a 3.92 ERA with The D-Backs.
BaseballRebel
Darvish to Angels rumor has it
Brewers39
ERA can be so misleading for relievers. Some guys will usually let all the inherited runners score, but get out of the inning before their own do. (Nothing charged to them, but they still suck). On the other hand, one bad inning can inflate a reliever’s ERA. (9 scoreless innings plus an outing with a GS HR makes the ERA 4.00). Unless you look at every outing individually, ERA doesn’t mean a lot. (Unless it’s ridiculously low)
embalmer
He was known as Mr Home Run here in Cincinnati
nentwigs
According to unnamed sources, this signing could mark a major shift in the philosophy behind the acquisition of players.. The acquisition of Hoover lends credence to the Brewers reported interest in signing Jarrod Dyson as well as the rumors to their interest in acquiring Jeff (Shark) Samardzija.. Additional free agents of interest to the Brewers are said to be: Thad Bissell, Rick Oreck, Sam Mele, Michael Eureka and Fred Electrolux. Here’s hoping this new strategy doesn’t result in a team that sucks. (It’s humor guys, see the common thread?)
stevewpants
Perhaps they should inquire with the Padres about acquiring their affiliate the Tri City Dust Devil’s?
davbee
Let us decide what’s humor. But in the meantime you’d better keep your day job.
nentwigs
Last time I posted something akin to this, the humorless folks on this site actually swallowed the story and I had to comment back that it was my ATTEMPT at humor. Get a life – funny is funny. Thanks for appreciating it,stevewpants.
largeunit
I’ve wracked my brain in an attempt to further this rather extensive sucky pun, but came up short due to the fact that you didn’t leave any material to work with. You could say that you really cleaned house as far as this one goes, nentwigs. Well done.
hiflew
This guy is the perfect example of why strikeouts are overrated. Sure he might strike out the side, but he also probably walked two guys and gave up a homer in between them.
brewcrew08
That’s why he pitched to a 3.92 ERA? By giving up 3 Run HR’s every inning?
jobusrum9
I don’t think that’s exactly what he said. It is very possible the Hr came b4 1 or both of the walks.