Chances of trading Jeff Suppan this offseason?

[RyDogg66]

Is this a possibility at all? I know it would be rough to lose 3/5 of our starting rotation (Sheets, Sabathia, Suppan) but we'd have Gallardo, Parra and Bush for sure and perhaps if we moved Suppan we could resign Sheets.

 

Lets just assume that Suppan pitches his career averages the last 3 months...any chance another team could take him?

[And That]

He's owed at least $27 mil over the next two years... I know pitcher contracts are getting out of hand, but if we do trade him, it'll probably be for another mediocre player making a lot of money.

[Oldcity]

If he pitches his career average the rest of the season, they could probably do it, but they might have to pay some cash. If the Brewers make the playoffs and Suppan again has success, they could trade him easily I'd think.

[kramnoj]

I don't think Suppan's money is going to keep the Brewers from signing Sheets. I think Sheets injury history is going to scare the team from making a long term commitment (otherwise they should have tried to sign an extension this past offseason). IMO, if Suppan is expected to be one of the top 5 SP for the Brewers, than he needs to be kept. I don't think that they will be able to find another FA pitcher better than Suppan for the same or less money.

[hauser42]

This is being hashed over and over. Why would he trade Suppan when we are going to have to pay for a SP that will cost more and might be not as good. Suppan has been exactly what he was signed to do. Right now the rotation next year has these names. Yo, Suppan, Parra, Bush, and McClung that is not really great so I dont see Suppan being moved.

[igor67]

Suppan has done exactly what he was signed to do so far, but my concern about the deal was always next year and the year after when the money went way up and he got up to those kind of ages when all of a sudden it ain't there anymore. I'd much rather take the risk on Sheets for 5 years than Suppan for two. On that note looking for players that might be somewhat off setting, Adrian Beltre as a possibility? I'm sure any deal would be more complicated.

[TheCrew07]

Doesn't he still have a limited no trade? I thought the first 2 years were no trade, then the next 2 a limited no trade?

[endaround]

Yep he can block 8 teams

[RyDogg66]

I say trade him because I dont believe in signing players of his caliber. Instead of 12 million for Suppan followed by guys like Bush, McClung and Parra, I say pay another 6 million to get a guy like Sabathia or Sheets. The difference between Sheets and Suppan is so huge that the extra 6 million is more than worth it. One unltra expensive guy followed by couple arby year guys and a couple pre-arby guys is what I think they should do. Spending money on the likes of Suppan, and to a lesser extent Jeffrey Hammonds is just wasting it in my opinion.

[Trowekamp]

I don't think it is a question of whether we should trade him or not.. at this point it is yes to free up money to make a run at Sheets.. the question more likely can we without basically taking a large salary in return.

 

I can only see a scenario where we package him to dump him on somebody else. For example if Weeks or Hall pull a Hardy and go on fire the last half to increase their value that we can package them to another team.

 

So I think it is pretty safe to say we will be in the soup for a couple of years.

[kramnoj]

I say trade him because I dont believe in signing players of his caliber. Instead of 12 million for Suppan followed by guys like Bush, McClung and Parra, I say pay another 6 million to get a guy like Sabathia or Sheets.

 

It's a good idea to save money for the true stars, but there's no guarantee that the stars will sign with the Brewers. I wouldn't be surprised if the Dodgers or Yankees threw 6/$120 million at CC this offseason. If you can't sign the stars, but you can sign players that will improve your team for market value, I think that's a good deal to make. I don't think the Suppan deal will prevent the team from making any other move they want to make.

[Tbadder]

I just can't believe Suppan has much value at all. That contract is just awful. Maybe we can exchange a bad one year contract for some hopeless player for two years of a bad contract with a good guy that just doesn't have the best ability but will spin a few gems. A kind of NBA type trade.

[endaround]

Sure we could get Andruw Jones....

 

I was hoping Suppan would just keep giving up unearned runs so people didn't notice he was giving up over 5 runs a game. Hopefully he comes back rattles off some nice starts and get his ERA at around 4.5. At that I think a team would be willing to take him on.

[kramnoj]

I just can't believe Suppan has much value at all. That contract is just awful.

 

Awful compared to what? His deal was market value. And he was a better pitcher than the team had available to them from the farm sytem. He made the team better, and will probably still do so next year.

[RockCoCougars]

Packaged with Prince to the one of the big market teams... maybe?

[hauser42]

I just can't believe Suppan has much value at all. That contract is just awful. Maybe we can exchange a bad one year contract for some hopeless player for two years of a bad contract with a good guy that just doesn't have the best ability but will spin a few gems. A kind of NBA type trade.

For those of you bashing this contract please why is so bad. In the free agency year he was signed it was the same of the pitchers with his talent. Now two years later the price of those type of pitchers has gone up. IMO people rip on this contract because he is being paid more than Sheets. Yes Sheets has more talent but he took the home town discount his first time around for free agency. Sheets will get his chance this year to make the big money.

[DonMoney4Mgr]

There is a reason why suppan was around as long as he was the year that he signed. Similar to lohse this year. It's not that difficult to find guys to have an ERA around 4.5/5 and eat up some innings. (see McClung, Lohse, bush, and a bunch of others). We just paid too much for it. Nobody will take soup with that contract. Too bad the soup nazi didn't tell Melvin, "NO SOUP FOR YOU"

[Invader3K]

Didn't we just have this thread like two or three weeks ago? I won't dig for it right now. I just think people are undervaluing Suppan's durability (regardless of his latest DL stint).

[davego]

Agreed. Soup's contract was the going rate at that time. If the 'Crew is going to move him and want to go with a cheaper replacement, let's have one ready first; not sure whom that would be.

[Fatter than Joey]

Awful compared to what? His deal was market value.

 

I have always felt that Suppan's deal was over-priced to some degree because of his success in the post-season with the Cardinals.

 

Lets just assume that Suppan pitches his career averages the last 3 months...any chance another team could take him?

 

I think there is a chance he could be traded -- but I think the crux of your question is, "is it possible to trade Suppan to keep Sheets?" -- I don't think we will be able to trade

Suppan without paying his salary, or some other salary of an overpriced vet.

 

I suppose we could trade Suppan+Gamel to someone -- or something like that. More than likely we hang onto Suppan.

[endaround]

I think the Brewers can trade Suppan and his entire salary because the free agent market this year isn't really deep. After Sheets and Sabathia you next have Oliver Perez, Burnett, and John Garland and then you have the oft injured Randy Wolf and the 36 year old Derek Lowe. Given Suppan is only signed for two years they might rather have him then say signing Brandon Looper to a 4 year/$40m deal.

[paulmolitor4]

I think the Dodgers could be a possible trading partner in dealing Suppan. Especially if they are unable to land one of the big guns in free agency. Suppan is from L.A. and I'm sure he would like to play there. I also think Suppan's abilities would be better served in a pitcher's park.

[Invader3K]

Also, what happens if Sheets and Sabathia both walk in free agency? Do you still want to trade Suppan then? Say the Brewers can't land any ace level pitchers in free agency...your rotation is then Gallardo/Parra/McClung/Bush/Villanueva, I guess. Doesn't really inspire too much confidence, personally.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think the Dodgers could be a possible trading partner in dealing Suppan. Especially if they are unable to land one of the big guns in free agency. Suppan is from L.A. and I'm sure he would like to play there. I also think Suppan's abilities would be better served in a pitcher's park.

 

That's the one place he could be dealt. Not only is he from LA, they have the bad contracts (Pierre or Jones) they might be willing to exchange for another.

[endaround]

Pierre and Jones are not just bad contracts they are horrible contracts and deadweight. Suppan can at least pitch and has some value. Jones and Pierre have none.