Sports Illustrated's top 2009 free agents, Brewers related

[trwi7]

Sheets first deal was what? 4 at 48 million?

It was 4/38. It doesn't really matter what his first deal was anyways. When he signed that deal it only bought out one free agent deal.

[endaround]

I'm always told that Suppan at 4yrs/$44m is the price for a #3 starter but that Sheets is going to sign for 4yrs/ $55 million?

[nate82]

Hes been injured for long periods of time in the first 3 years of the deal. So 4-5 years at 50-55 million isnt that far-fetched.

Actually it is. Considering the Yankees who I think are the front runners for Ben Sheets will pay him around 5-6 years at $90-100 million. Remember Wang has gone down with an injury he may not be the same next year. Chamberlain will be just starting his first full year as a starter next year. Kennedy is a #4 starter at best who pitches a lot like Dave Bush. Hughes you could label as injury prone right now. Pettite and Mussina are probably not going to be coming back. That leaves a lot of holes in the Yankees rotation with no number three guy. Sheets is just a logical target for the Yankees in free agency. I believe they will go after Sheets and not Sabathia in the off season. The Yankees will put the price for Sheets over what the Brewers should pay to keep Sheets.

 

Another reason why Ben Sheets will be pitching for the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, or Red Sox is Sheets hatred of pitching in hot and humid cities. I believe awhile back there were some interviews with Ben Sheets on the Brewers website where Ben said he hated pitching in spring training because of the heat. I believe he also said at one time he didn't like pitching in Atlanta or Houston because of the heat and humidity if I remember correctly. I believe he said he can't grip his curveball correctly when pitching in those kind of situations.

[chuckiehacks]

Another reason why Ben Sheets will be pitching for the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, or Red Sox is Sheets hatred of pitching in hot and humid cities. I believe awhile back there were some interviews with Ben Sheets on the Brewers website where Ben said he hated pitching in spring training because of the heat. I believe he also said at one time he didn't like pitching in Atlanta or Houston because of the heat and humidity if I remember correctly. I believe he said he can't grip his curveball correctly when pitching in those kind of situations.

 

This makes no sense, NY is plenty humid in the summer. Also, if he hates spring training, its not from the humidity - there are few places less humid than Arizona.

 

Like every other member of the players' union, Sheets will be playing for the team that offers him the most money.

[nate82]

 

This makes no sense, NY is plenty humid in the summer. Also, if he hates spring training, its not from the humidity - there are few places less humid than Arizona.

 

Like every other member of the players' union, Sheets will be playing for the team that offers him the most money.

Yes but he can also turn down contracts you know right? If Sheets doesn't want to play at a certain city I doubt he will accept a contract there. I also said it was because spring training is hot not because it was humid. Yes NY is plenty humid in the summer and so is Wisconsin at times. These are things Sheets is probably looking for. I doubt Atlanta, Houston, or even Arizona are places Sheets would want to be pitching at because they are almost always hot or hot and humid places.

 

I really do see Sheets pitching for the Yankees in 09 and that is where he will sign and it won't be with Milwaukee because the Yankees and other east coast teams are going to out bid the Brewers for Sheets. To me Sheets signing with the Yankees is a very strong possibility.

[smetana34]

So the Yankees cant count on Hughes cuz hes injury prone, but they could count on Sheets? Sheets has a long list of injuries. When hes on, hes one of the best, but not many teams are looking to invest a bunch of years and money into a guy who will only play half the time, and its not like pitchers play a lot of games anyways. I dont believe hes gonna demand more then 60 million, but i could be wrong. we will just have to wait and see.

[nate82]

So the Yankees cant count on Hughes cuz hes injury prone, but they could count on Sheets? Sheets has a long list of injuries. When hes on, hes one of the best, but not many teams are looking to invest a bunch of years and money into a guy who will only play half the time, and its not like pitchers play a lot of games anyways. I dont believe hes gonna demand more then 60 million, but i could be wrong. we will just have to wait and see.

Hardly any of Sheets injuries have been pitching related. A few have been from pitching others have been freakish injuries or common injuries that pitchers get (blisters).

 

Bringing up Sheets injury issues is not the same as the ones Hughes is going through. Completely different things that have put Sheets on the DL compared to what has put Hughes on the DL.

 

Plus Sheets this year is healthy and has been pitching great. He will get that big contract if Carl Pavano can get a huge contract Ben Sheets will get one. $60 million is low balling Sheets. Sheets will get in the range of $90-100 million with 5-6 years on the contract.

[chuckiehacks]

Yes but he can also turn down contracts you know right? If Sheets doesn't want to play at a certain city I doubt he will accept a contract there. I also said it was because spring training is hot not because it was humid. Yes NY is plenty humid in the summer and so is Wisconsin at times. These are things Sheets is probably looking for. I doubt Atlanta, Houston, or even Arizona are places Sheets would want to be pitching at because they are almost always hot or hot and humid places.

 

I really do see Sheets pitching for the Yankees in 09 and that is where he will sign and it won't be with Milwaukee because the Yankees and other east coast teams are going to out bid the Brewers for Sheets. To me Sheets signing with the Yankees is a very strong possibility.

I'm aware he can turn down a contract, but when was the last time you heard of a player doing that? I'm sure many players have places they'd rather (or rather not) play. But the fact is the players union strongly discourages players taking any kind of discount. Remember when ARod signed with Texas? He said he didn't even want to play there, but had to because they offered so much money.

 

I think Sheets will wind up with the Yankees, but not because he likes the climate of New England. I mean, what cities are not hot and/or humid in the summer? I guess he could go to Minnesota and pitch in the dome for a couple of years. Maybe he could make the AC settings part of his contract.

[nate82]

I think Sheets will wind up with the Yankees, but not because he likes the climate of New England. I mean, what cities are not hot and/or humid in the summer? I guess he could go to Minnesota and pitch in the dome for a couple of years. Maybe he could make the AC settings part of his contract.

New York is where he will end up because it is not a year round thing he would have to deal with like in Houston and Atlanta. I believe Pettite was the last player to do this. Didn't the Yankees offer him a better contract than what the Astros did when they signed him.

 

[kramnoj]

I'm aware he can turn down a contract, but when was the last time you heard of a player doing that?

 

Bernie Williams signed with the Yankees for less than the Red Sox were offering. Not a tremendous amount, but it was lower.

 

Remember when ARod signed with Texas? He said he didn't even want to play there, but had to because they offered so much money.

 

I doubt he said that when he was taking their money. He may have said it afterwards, but he certainly had a choice. The union can't do anything to a player for taking a contract that is less than is offered elsewhere.

 

A lot of times players take the most money because it doesn't much matter where they work. Half of the time in the season they are on the road, and when they are home a lot of the prime family time is spent at the ballpark anyway.

[LouisEly]

This year Sheets, Gagne, Mota, and Capuano combined to make roughly $28M. The thought that they can afford neither Sheets nor Sabathia is ludicrous.

 

One will be back. And I wouldn't be surprised if it is not Sheets. 6/$120 plus a team option is a good starting point for CC, and I think he likes it here enough that he will take the Brewers deal even if it isn't the biggest one offered (as long as it is close to the biggest one offered).

 

If you think that's crazy... I'll answer with this: Fielder, Weeks, Hall, Cameron, TGJ. Players of similar cultures/ethnicities group together, especially "minorities". Milwaukee is a place that a lot of African American ballplayers feel comfortable playing right now.

[MNBrew]

This year Sheets, Gagne, Mota, and Capuano combined to make roughly $28M. The thought that they can afford neither Sheets nor Sabathia is ludicrous.

Don't forget Turnbow's $3.2M or so, too.

 

I totally agree, LouisEly. Granted, some of that difference will be gone to contract & arby-related (whether arby-ed or negotiated) increases. But it sure seems they've got the jing to sign at least one of the big two. And I'm right with you on Sabathia, much as I've loved Sheets over the years.

[endaround]

$20m per year won't get Sabathia.

[paul253]

$22 million might. Whats a extra $12 million over six years for one of the best pithers in the game? Don't forget after next season we will have Cameron's $10 million will come off, I think Kendall will be making $5 million, and Suppan will only have only one more year on his ridiculous contract. So i don't think it would be too risky to pay Sabathia what he's worth.

[Weirdos19]

Everybody thinks that Gamel is the heir apparent to Prince, because Mat's defense at third is not good. I say Mat will be an outfielder with Hart replacing Prince at first. Corey was drafted as a first baseman, and is 6'6".

 

I say offer CC 6 years and 130mil.

 

Let Sheets walk. The odds of 2 injury free seasons in a row are slim. Gallardo slides into the #2 slot easily.

 

CC

Yo

Manny

Suppan

Bush

[TheCrew07]

Everybody thinks that Gamel is the heir apparent to Prince, because Mat's defense at third is not good. I say Mat will be an outfielder with Hart replacing Prince at first. Corey was drafted as a first baseman, and is 6'6".

I for one hope he sticks at 3rd.

[paul253]

I'm kinda torn on where I want Gamel. It'd be nice to have to stick at third to finally solve that black hold we've had there, but the fact is at the very best his defense will be average to below average, and after witness the past few years what bad defense can do, I wouldnt mind seeing him move to first. I also wouldnt mind seeing Hart at first replacing Fielder after next season. That could leave the outfield to be Braun, Brantley, Gamel, Cain, and Gillespie with Hart at first, Weeks at second, Escobar and Hardy at short and third. Very young team in '10 but lots of talent. Hopefully Prince can be flipped for some good young pitching to go with Parra and Gallardo.

 

As far as '09 goes, I dont think CC is realistic, but i think Sheets is. Give him $64 million for 4 years. I guess pick up the option on Cameron, let Gagne and Counsell and Mota go, along with Turnbow obviously.

[twobrewers]

Everybody thinks that Gamel is the heir apparent to Prince, because Mat's defense at third is not good. I say Mat will be an outfielder with Hart replacing Prince at first. Corey was drafted as a first baseman, and is 6'6".

I am dumbfounded by the idea of taking a quality OF in Hart - and moving him to the easiest defensive position on the diamond. That make no sense.

 

Hart hasn't played in the infield in years. Gamel still plays in the in field and since many of his errors are throwing - would be a pretty big improvement from Prince defensively.

 

And Gamel isn't exactly short either - He looks around 6'2" or so.

[logan82]

I don't know why we would want to take a speedy guy and move him from the outfield where his speed is an asset to a position where his speed will mean nothing.

[bbrauch2000]

Why does everyone assume Cam wont be back? If he hadnt missed the first 25 games, he'd be top ten in the league in homers and is pulling our outfield defense together. I dont know where we are going to match his production at center this off season for that money

[pogokat]

Cameron absolutely needs to be back next year..

 

also. i would expect that Mark A will raise payroll, not cut it...and if the Brewers go deep into the postseason i would think they'll just dump money on CC...

 

They are going to have a lot of money to spend this offseason, ad i would bet they spend all of it..

[ILuvDaBush]

Yes, but Brewer money isn't the same as Yankee money. If Hank wants his own lefty ace to rival Johan, there is no way we can compete. He could make CC a $200mil pitcher. Mark A. is not as able. He can make Ben Sheets a $100mil man, but he cannot be the ceiling on CC.

[GAME05]

well, there's always the occasional player who just doesn't want to play in New York.

 

i can definitely see it both ways, that NY will absolutely be the top bidder for CC, but that Milwaukee will dump money on somebody if they get that extra money from making the playoffs--especially if they can get to the NLCS--we saw that with Detroit.

 

that's the thing, though. apart from a pitcher, it's hard to see that there's giant holes on the offensive side unless we were to replace Cameron with somebody. we can say "get a LH bat", but who are we replacing?

[Tbadder]

Yeah, money or no money the Big Teams are going to drop the bomb on the little teams this off season. With rumors of 3500 dollars a ticket for some Yankee seats next year at the new park--a 300 million dollar payroll is possible. The Brewers, like a lot of other teams, will be picking up the scraps. If the Cubs go all the way look for them to make a stand in free agency. I think the Crew will have to look within and overspend on a few less than desirable veterans. I'm guessing payroll does go up, but mainly through Arby. Could be wrong though.

[MNBrew]

While it doesn't become as much of a deciding factor as often as it seems it should -- money usually trumps -- I wonder what kind of a roster and what kind of team/clubhouse/playing atmoshpere the Yankees offer compared to the Brewers. You'd hope CC would consider that. Sure, there are huge names and huge contracts. But look at that team vs. the Brewers and what team offers a better scenario for team success over the life of the contract CC would be getting?

 

You'd think the Brewers would fare well in such a comparison. You hope it doesn't just come down to brightest lights, biggest city, and biggest contract. Often that formula also means biggest headaches and toughest work environment.