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Milwaukee Brewers Inside Pitch

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Updated Dec 11, 2009 6:01 AM ET
     
 
It was no secret throughout baseball circles that the Brewers desperately needed pitching help. They did something to ease the crisis at the winter meetings in Indianapolis.

The Brewers signed the starting pitcher they targeted from the outset when they agreed with free agent left-hander Randy Wolf on a three-year deal with a club option for a fourth year. The deal guarantees $29.75 million to the 33-year-old Wolf.

The Brewers then made another splash by agreeing to a two-year, $7.5 million deal with reliever LaTroy Hawkins. The veteran right-hander, who will be 37 later in the month, will serve as one of the setup men for closer Trevor Hoffman.

The Brewers did not announce either agreement because the pitchers have to pass physical examinations to make them official. General manager Doug Melvin couldn't address either pitcher specifically but admitted to "a sense of accomplishment" by acquiring both a starter and reliever.

"We came (to Indianapolis), hoping to fill one of our starting roles and add pitching, looking to add a power arm in the bullpen to be with Todd Coffey in the back end," said Melvin. "We wanted to get some certainty to our pitching, as opposed to waiting."

The signings committed most of the money the Brewers cleared by making other roster decisions earlier in the offseason. Melvin still would like to add another starter but said he'll take a "step back" now and assess the market as well as his team's situation.

"We still have some flexibility to do some things, but less flexibility," said Melvin. "That's why we wanted to be able to put two pegs in the holes right now.

"Now, we can take a bigger, wider view of what's out there and not feel like you're pressured into making a deal you didn't want to make. We stepped forward in these cases. Now we can maybe step back and let the market come to us and review it."

Wolf made 34 starts last season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 11-7 with a 3.23 earned run average. In 214 1/3 innings, he allowed 178 hits and 58 walks, with 160 strikeouts.

Melvin showed Wolf and Tellem how serious the Brewers were about doing a deal by traveling to Los Angeles last week to have lunch with them and team owner Mark Attanasio. Wolf said that move left a big impression.

"It was really nice," he said. "From Day 1, they told my agent and then relayed it to me that I was their top priority this offseason. That's a good feeling that they feel that way about you.

"They really believe they can win, and I believe them. They're in it to win. They have a good, young nucleus and a lot of exciting players."

Tagged: Brewers

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