Sparky's Midday Madness: 6/26 topic- Fuentes

[recte44]

Sparky is advocating trading prospects for Fuentes rather than Sabathia right now, to have Fuentes be the 8th inning guy.

 

Thoughts?

[Oldcity]

What are your thoughts?

 

It's better than going after Sabathia because he'll demand much less in return, but he'll still be a Type A after this year. Could be similar to the Linebrink trade, except Fuentes is actually having a good year.

[Invader3K]

Well, to be fair, Linebrink was having a pretty decent year before we traded for him last season, though nowhere near as good as Fuentes seems to be doing.

 

I don't know...it almost seems like we're overloaded with relievers right now. Gagne is coming back soon, and Torres is doing quite well in the closer role. We already have Riske, Mota, etc. I think down the stretch another proven starter would be more valuable than another reliever. The upside with Fuentes is that he doesn't have a huge contract...we'd only have to pay him a couple million or so this year, if I understand correctly. Also, as was pointed out, the Brewers could maybe extend him with a relatively modest contract.

[Nader Raider Tim]

I would like to fully endorse the acquisition of Brian Fuentes. If for no other reason than the draft picks he would bring at the end of the year. This years draft was an absurd amount of fun to pay attention to with all the extra picks.

 

Realistically though I don't know if the Brewers would be able to come up with an offer that would be enough to entice Colorado. No way would I want to include the one of the big four from Huntsville for Fuentes. I beleive foxsports.com or rotoworld.com were saying that the Rockies might be hesitant to off Fuentes arbitration at the end of the year so that should lower his value.

 

Gwynn Jr., Gillespie, and one of the highish ceiling A pitchers?

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't think Fuentes either greatly enhances playoff chances and certainly does not make the Brewers much more formidable in postseason.

 

Sabathia does both.

[bjkrautk]

Fuentes is probably an upgrade to Stetter as the 2nd lefty / non-LOOGY in the pen (though Stetter doesn't really have enough IP to answer definitively), and I like the idea of getting 2 extra picks out of him.

The Rockies made their WS run largely on having a glut of former closers in their 'pen, and Fuentes not only fits the mold, he was part of it.

 

It's really a question of what level of player the Brewers would have to give up; guys like Gillespie and the 10+ -type guys in the Power 50 could be replaced with the draft picks, while adding a quality player in the long run (and leaving the big-name guys still in the system for a Sabathia-level acquisition). If the Rockies ask for more than that, there are other options out there.

[PeaveyFury]

I echo a ton of what Ben said- he'd certainly be an upgrade, and we'd probably be able to use the picks to fill any holes in the system. But if it gets into a situation where they'd want one of our top guys, forget it. A package centering around Gillespie might do the trick.

[And That]

I've been a big fan of Fuentes' for awhile now and while it would be nice to get picks for him, I wouldn't be averse to trying to get an extension signed with him either.

 

Colorado needs pitching more than bats, so I'd see if they were interested in maybe Pena and Brae Wright as a starting point.

 

And Briggs, acquiring Fuentes wouldn't preclude the Brewers from trading for Sabathia (or Greinke or Bedard).

[dadofandrew]

Fuentes is a nice pitcher, but I sure wouldn't give up a whole lot for him. However, Gillespie is not a "whole lot", and neither is Pena. I think others need him more, and will give more.

[TheCrew07]

How does aquring a reliever for 35 innings at this point, maybe 25 innings around the trading deadline make this team significantly better? I could see giving up 2 second tier prospects because of the 2 draft picks, but I wouldn't give up much more than that. The only reason I tolerate the Linebrink deal is because of the drafts, and I'm not all that thrilled about Cutter. If we'd give up a Pena and a guy like Hand or Anundsen I could live with it.

 

I just have a real hard time getting behind all these rental player deals people keep suggesting, why does 2008 "have" to be the year for so many people? Because the team was so close last year? The Brewer's rise over the last 2 seasons reminds me of the Packers in 93-95 gradually building towards the ultimate success. I see much better days with a much deeper team on the horizon, I'm not down with this "win now" philosphy that many fans and Mark A. seem to have, to me that seems like the surest way to keep the window duration as short as possible. Patience, my friends, patience.

[colbyjack]

Fuentes is one of those guys I try to figure out a way to propose to get him each and every offseason. It's funny, because people talk about him as an upgrade to Stetter, but people don't seem to get that he has been one of the best closers in baseball the past 3-4 years. Just look at his numbers, he's far from a lefty specialist, as he has been nearly as equally dominant against RH hitters as he has against LH hitters. You don't get this guy just to complement the team, you get this guy to get an integral cog of the team's success.

 

Since the team gave up a pretty hefty package for Linebrink (even if I wasn't a fan of that trade), I would replace Linebrink's name with Fuentes' without blinking if a similar proposition was offered.

 

Oh yeah, and he's been doing it in Colorado. Seriously, the guy is one of the most underrated relievers in baseball.

[recte44]

For me, I don't think you're going to get him with the kind of Class B-/C prospects named in this thread. I know the Yankees, for one, have been sniffing after him. The Rockies hold all the cards here.

 

We talk about getting picks for him, don't you think the Rockies realize that, too and thus would want full value for 2 #1's or 2 #2's depending on his FA classification?

 

We aren't getting Fuentes for Gillespie, or Pena, or Hand, or any of these other mid range specs. You'll have to give up someone in our Top 10 like Inman was last season. And I really don't care for that right now for a reliever.

[endaround]

But draft picks aren't going to help the Rockies next year, Pena could. I also think people tend to view draft picks as free when in fact they are rather costly. So the Rockies can hold onto Fuentes pay him $2.5 million for the rest of this year, get two draft picks and pay them signing bonuses in the $1.5-2 million range or they can save $4 million or so and get players ready to contribute sooner.

[Postseason2006]

Well, to be fair, Linebrink was having a pretty decent year before we traded for him last season, though nowhere near as good as Fuentes seems to be doing.

What's your definition of decent? The guy was struggling when the Brewers got him last year. Hopefully, we won't see another horrible trade again like that one.

[Oldcity]

Well, to be fair, Linebrink was having a pretty decent year before we traded for him last season, though nowhere near as good as Fuentes seems to be doing.

What's your definition of decent? The guy was struggling when the Brewers got him last year. Hopefully, we won't see another horrible trade again like that one.

Can't call it a horrible trade til you see how Inman does compared to how the Brewers supplemental picks turn out. That's for another thread though.

 

[Invader3K]

Well, clearly Linebrink didn't perform all that well for the Brewers. I was in favor of the trade at the time, but in retrospect, I think it would have been better to not bother and take a flyer on '07, the way things went. That's total hindsight being 20/20, though. The logistics of the trade also kind of sucked...it seemed like Linebrink didn't even want to come to Milwaukee, and was in the midst of his wife having a baby. Now of course he's in Chicago and performing quite well.

[LouisEly]

Had Linebrink had a 1.41 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, .183 BAA, and .521 OPSA for Milwaukee last year (or resigned and had those numbers this year) like he is having for a certain team about 90 miles south of Milwaukee this year, I don't think people would be calling that a "horrible" trade. And if Melvin hadn't done anything he would have been crucified for standing pat during a playoff run.

 

As for Fuentes... he would be an upgrade over Mota, Gagne, DiFelice, and probably Stetter so I wouldn't mind. COL could use a 1B to eventually succeed Helton who is getting long in the tooth and very expensive for his production, so a deal for Pena (or Stetter), Errecart (or Nelson), and Wright might be a good starting point for discussions.

[sheetskout]

Fuentes is a nice pitcher, but I sure wouldn't give up a whole lot for him. However, Gillespie is not a "whole lot", and neither is Pena. I think others need him more, and will give more.

I would also be open to dealing a second-tier OF or two for Fuentes. I don't see anything wrong with Gillespie and another for a proven Major League reliever who would be moving away from Coors.

 

 

 

 

[rousieboy]

Fuentes...what a great idea...I wish I'd of thought of that...oh wait.... http://forum.brewerfan.net/search.php?keywords=367179#reply-367179

 

What a difference (less than) a month makes...

 

Having another great arm that happens to be a lefty moves the GMotas of the world down a notch so they are not having to be pivotal 6 months after being given away for Estrada...the draft picks are gravy and it would make another exciting year of 6 picks in the top 70something if/when Sheets goes.

[silversurferr]

Problem is that some other team is gonna give up way more than Fuentes is worth. If you disliked the Linebrink trade, you'll really hate it if they give up good prospects for 3 months of Fuentes.