Chris Capuano and John Halama sign with the Crew

The Brewers have signed a pair of soutpaws on the comeback trail Chris Capuano and John Halama.  The former All-Star has signed a minor league contract that includes an invitation to Major League spring training.  Capuano is trying to comeback from a second Tommy John elbow surgery.  He had the first surgery in 2002 while in the Diamondbacks system.  Then he had another operation in May of 2008 and didn’t return to toe the slab until late last year.  He made a total of 6 appearances in two rookie leagues allowing 3 earned runs, on 8 hits, while striking out 8, in 9 innings of work.   

Capuano had success with the Crew winning 18 games in 2005 and earned a selection to the 2006 NL All-Star squad.  After the all-star break of 2006 and the complete 2007 were a disaster as his ERA ballooned into the 5.00’s.  I give him a lot of credit for trying to come back from a second injury.  Chad Fox is a pitcher that came back from multiple Tommy John procedures and hurt himself again with the Cubs last season.  It’s way too early to tell what the Brewers and Capuano have in store for spring training.  I think he still has a number of hurdles to overcome before he’d be able to help the Crew.  I’m definitely rooting for him to make it back.

John Halama hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2006, but is working in the Dominican League.  The 37 year-old is 4-2 with a 1.62 ERA is 7 starts. Earlier this decade he  was a serviceable starter with the Mariners.   His career took off after getting shipped to the Pacfic Northwest by the Astros along with Freddy Garcia and Carlos Guillen for Randy Johnson.  He won a career high 14 games with the Mariners back in 2000.  He was in their rotation for 3 consecutive playoff teams.  Halama pitched for the A’s in 2003 for Macha and Peterson and felt the Brewers were the best place to come back.  I don’t see a problem with bringing him on for spring training and would consider him another possible lefty in the bullpen.

Tags: Brewers, Chris Capuano, John Halama