Brewers Strengthen Bullpen With Saito

After improving its starting rotation with the acquisitions of Shaun Marcum and Zack Greinke, the Brewers have moved onto other aspects of team building. On offense the team appears set, as they’re returning seven of the eight starters who contributed to the team’s 110 wRC+ last season, which ranked third in the majors. Where the team could use some fortification is in the bullpen. It has addressed this by signing Takashi Saito to a one-year contract. While Saito, who will turn 41 as spring training commences, has dominated opposing hitters since coming stateside in 2006, he represents a significant health risk. You might remember the story of how he pitched in the 2008 NLDS despite suffering a mid-July elbow injury that normally would have required Tommy John surgery. Saito instead had Dr. Neal ElAttrache inject platelet-rich plasma into his elbow, which helped spur the healing process. Saito was remarkably bad in that NLDS, allowing a hit to each of the three batters ...