Jim did a great job of breaking down the Hoffman signing over at Bernie's Crew. While I agree with his basic assessment that this is well advised signing, here is the way I break it down:

• Good: His WHIP last year (1.04) was right in line with his career number (1.05). As Jim pointed out, this is a product of a still low walk rate and allowing fewer than a hit per inning. That helps, given that....
  

• Bad: Though he allowed runners on at about the same rate, when they hit the ball, they're hitting it harder than ever before. If he doesn't find a way to cut down on the homers, he's going to have some rough outings for the Brewers.
  

• Good: It is only a one year commitment. If Eric Gagne's 10 million dollar fee to be hideous closing out games for the Brewers couldn't keep the team out of the playoffs, it's doubtful that Hoffman can do any real damage.

• Bad: The fact that he is the all-time saves leader and a future Hall of Famer may make it harder for the Brewers to hide Hoffman in low leverage situations should the need arise to do so. If things go as bad as they did with Gagne, they may just have to release him.

• Good: It gives them someone to call their closer, freeing them to leave any reliever that emerges in a high leverage, middle relief role for the time being. The Brewers have many potential setup men on the roster at the moment, and even a possible future closer or two in the minors. Hoffman allows them some space to sort all of this out without having to shove anyone into the high profile "closer" role to start the year.

• Bad: This may well be good enough for GM Doug Melvin in terms of setting the pitching staff for next season, save for a few upside plays. If that is the case, Seth McClung would be the 5th starter. That is a risky proposition considering his history and all the innings the Brewers are going to need him to eat to help make up from the loss of Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia.

As long as the Brewers are willing to not go down in flames with Hoffman should the bottom fall out on his production and they're still looking for an innings eater, this is a good move in that it gives the bullpen a focal point and take the pressure off of some of the younger guys for the time being. In that sense, we can't really evaluate this move until we see exactly what the intentions and parameters behind making were.