Scott Linebrink: Probably Not Gay

… because this guy’s team just signed him to a 4-year, $19-million contract. Also, more importantly, Linebrink probably is not worth that many years for that kind of money.  You long-time Loogy Lounge readers might remember Gnopple’s first post, which highlighted a good SI article by Tom Verducci.  Here’s what Tom had to say about Linebrink:

Towers, in the middle of a pennant race, traded off his own version of Romero: Scott Linebrink, who was about to turn 31, and headed for free agency, a big payday and a likely regression.

Towers had picked up Linebrink on waivers from Houston in 2003. Over the next three seasons the Padres used Linebrink 73 times each year and paid him a total of $2.6 million. Just as the mileage-to-salary ratio was about to get out of whack, Towers turned Linebrink into his next budget-friendly reliever, Joe Thatcher, who posted a 1.29 ERA after his trade from Milwaukee.

Indeed, Linebrink actually has already begun to regress:

• 2004:  2.14 ERA/181 ERA+/1.036 WHIP
• 2005:  1.83 ERA/210 ERA+/1.059 WHIP
• 2006:  3.57 ERA/113 ERA+/1.216 WHIP
• 2007:  3.71 ERA/113 ERA+/1.322 WHIP.

Look, Linebrink’s not a bad arm to have in the bullpen.  Even his 06′/07′ numbers are above average.  It’s difficult to imagine, however, that Linebrink — a 31-year-old reliever moving to the American League for the first time in his career — will regain his once-excellent form.  For that reason, 4 years at $19 million seems like a bit much.