The Milwaukee Brewers officially signed free agent starter Braden Looper on Thursday, February 12, 2009.  The deal is for one year and $4.75 million, with a mutual option for the 2010 season.  Looper has been a reliever and closer for most of his career, but for the past two years in a Cardinals uniform, he has made the transition to starter.  In 2007, he went 12-12 with a 4.94 ERA and in 2008, he finished with a 12-14 record, but a much-improved 4.16 ERA.  He will add much needed quality depth to the Milwaukee pitching staff, most likely allowing Seth McClung to move back to the pen.  His 199 innings logged last season would have been first among Brewers starting pitchers in 2008.