MLB Free Agent Rumors: Thankfully, Kyle Lohse To Pittsburgh Pirates Is Big Longshot

Bob Nutting has some work to do this offseason.

Looking around the free agent pitching market is something we have been doing for a while now.  The latest pitcher to be coming on the market appears to be St. Louis Cardinals workhorse Kyle Lohse.  The Cards brass said it would be unlikely for Lohse to return in 2013 despite going 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA in the final year of a four-year contract with St. Louis

Immediately the warning alarm sounds.  Lohse is 34.    The right hander is the oldest pitcher on the market.

A similar deal was done last year when Mark Buehrle was signed to a four-year, $58 million dollar contract with the Miami Marlins and he was 33 when he signed the deal.    Interestingly, Buerhle is scheduled to make about $15.5 million for putting together a solid career.  Buehrle was solid again this year for Miami, throwing over 200 innings while posting a 106 ERA+.

Lohse has been good since he signed with the Cardinals, but not so much before.    Lohse might get a three-year deal, probably two years, but it should be near $14 or $15 million especially after such a great year this season.  Sorry, that number is out of Bob Nutting’s wallet.

Today, Scott Miller took a look at Lohse and called the Pirates a longshot.   Miller lists the Dodgers, Jays, Twins, and Royals as possible suitors.  The Cubs and Indians join the lists of longshots.

Look, it’s not my cash, but signing Lohse looks like a big risk.  One I think the Bucs stay away from this offseason.

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A few weeks ago, we took a look at some of the pitchers available in the free agent market this offseason.  We took a look at Shaun Marcum and the risks associated with the right hander in this post.   We also saw a pitcher, like Lohse, that is about to get paid and thus, scratched off the Buccos list.   The pitcher  we found most interesting was left hander Francisco Liriano.