Backup OF options?

[CheezWizHed]

Seems like the backup OF is now are weakest postion on the team. I posted in another thread that I expect (hope?) the Brewers will use their BP depth in a trade to bring in a backup OF sometime during ST. (Normally, there's that guy that pitches well, but isn't going to make the team...)

 

I think the ideal person would be a Gabe-like OF (either Kapler or Gross), where they can handle center defensively if needed, but their bat is good enough to play in the corner OF also (for limited time). And of course, cheap is always a bonus. Not sure if we could take on another $2-3million player (unless we gave that up in a RP - Riske?)

 

Anyone have any ideas who might be available to fit the bill? Or do you think our current BUOF (Gwynn, Nixon, Nelson, Duffy) is going to be it?

[Tbadder]

I think they'll go with Gwynn. They'll let him play himself out of the majors, and halfway through the season pick up a real bat. Who that will be I don't know. Some grizzled veteran to provide a spark.

[piccione88]

Jim Edmonds is the only appealing option in free agency that I can see. The only problem is whether or not he would be willing to be a part time player. If he is willing to do that, he would be a perfect fit for this team. He is left handed, and gets on base at a very good clip(.377 over his 16 seasons). If we cannot sign Edmonds, I do not think that Brady Clark, or Shannon Stewart would be a better option than Duffy, or Gwynn.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I think Gwynn could possibly fill a valuable roll as a pinch runner/late inning defensive replacement. Really, with the possibility of Counsell, Nelson, Irabarren and whoever isn't playing 3B that given day (Hall or Lamb) all available for pinch hit duty, the all-purpose backup OF role probably isn't a huge deal. I doubt Edmonds would want to come here to sit, when he could probably find a platoon role somewhere else.

[brewerfan82]

I would love to see us pick up Edmonds for the 4th outfielder spot. Being a lefthanded bat in an all-righthanded starting outfield, I think he could easily find his way into the starting lineup a couple times per week.

 

I don't have much faith in either Gwynn or Duffy, so having Edmonds would allow Nixon and Nelson to duke it out for the final spot, but without Edmonds, it's hard to not have one of Gwynn/Duffy on the roster unless Nixon can adequately play centerfield.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I think you'd see Hart slide over to CF and Nixon in RF before Trot played CF. I don't think he was ever a great fielder, and his skills have probably eroded some since his prime of 5-6 years ago.

[brewerfan82]

For what it's worth, here are the splits among our outfielders and our potential backups over the past 3 years:

 

 <font size="3"><span style="font-family: monospace; font-weight: bold;">Po Player vs. Right vs. Left</span><br style="font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-family: monospace;">LF Ryan Braun .283/.327/.546/.873 .351/.412/.702/1.114</span><br style="font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-family: monospace;">CF Mike Cameron .243/.321/.449/.770 .277/.389/.503/.892</span><br style="font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-family: monospace;">RF Corey Hart .270/.306/.476/.782 .305/.368/.525/.893</span><br style="font-family: monospace;"><br style="font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-family: monospace;">OF Jim Edmonds .270/.367/.493/.860 .169/.233/.293/.526</span><br style="font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-family: monospace;">OF Trot Nixon .267/.365/.379/.744 .210/.322/.301/.623</span></font> 

 

Edmonds would compliment that group very nicely, offensively and defensively.

[razzzorsharp]

Wow, I am very content and happy with what Melvin has done this offseason but adding Edmonds would be huge.

[CheezWizHed]

Edmonds would be an idea pickup, but I'm guessing salary would preclude us from doing this. Anyone similar with a smaller salary we could pick up in a trade? There has to be a team out there with a deep OF and can't keep them all (as our BP is currently) and needs an RP.

[piccione88]

I think that Edmonds contract will probably be somewhere along the lines of the incentive laden 1 year, 2 million dollar deal Griffey just signed with the Mariners, maybe less because of Griffeys star power. Edmonds is going to be 39 next june, he cannot play everyday anymore, he has slowed down, and has had very rough stretches at the plate the last two seasons.

 

I am not saying that he will have a poor season, but with middle aged players, you are taking a risk. That is the reason that you do not see 40 year old players getting 10, or even 5 million dollar guarenteed deals very often.

[Brian the Automator]

Does Edmonds have typhoid or something?... I know that platoon OFers wouldn't necessarily have the highest market value this offseason, but a team needing another OFer would be ridiculous not to take advantage of these prices. I'd love for the Brewers to pick him up for insurance.

[bensheeps]

Since Griffey signed with Seattle, do the Mariners have an extra outfielder available? What would Jack Z. be looking for?

Endy Chavez? Left-handed bat with ability to play some CF. I think owed $2.05 million this year.

 

Is this type of backup OF better than what we have now?

 

 

Heard rumors that Luke Scott of Baltimore might be available, but assume he would cost too much.

[yoshii8]

Why trade for a guy like Endy Chavez when you could probably get Edmonds for less money, and w/out having to give up a player.

[brewerfan82]

Over the past 3 years:

 

 <font size="3"><span style="font-family: monospace; font-weight: bold;">Po Player vs. Right vs. Left</span><br style="font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-family: monospace;">RF Endy Chavez .289/.333/.394/.727 .287/.315/.350/.665</span><br style="font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-family: monospace;">LF Luke Scott .281/.365/.537/.902 .236/.340/.421/.761</span></font> 

I'd pass on Chavez, and while I love Luke Scott, he'd be competing with Nixon and Nelson for backup corner duty and would still leave Gwynn/Duffy as the most likely candidates for the other spot.

[madrx]

What about one of the Angel's backup outfielders? They have a huge surplus after signing Abreu and bringing back Juan Rivera. Reggie Willits is similar to Gwynn and Duffy as a light-hitting center field type, but other than a poor year last year he has always put up good OBP in limited action (.411 2006, .391 in 2007). He is also a switch hitter which might provide some extra versatility off of the bench. The Angels would still have Gary Matthews to back up Hunter in CF, so they might look to move Willits.

[brosto1]

Wily Mo Pena, Kearns, or Willingham should be available. I would love to have a bat like Willingham on the bench, but my guess is he would be the least likely of the three to be dealt.

[Invader3K]

I'm guessing the issue is that Edmonds is holding out hope some team will need a starting OF. I bet he doesn't want to just be a backup at this point.

[yoyomayoma]

Sounds like he'll be let go if Andruw makes the team. He'd be my choice.

[JumpinMacFlash]

Catalanatto? Is this 2000? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

He's signed at $4M this year with a $2M buyout for 2010. Now, I'm a little unclear about this. If he's waved, the team that selects him is responsible for the remainder of his salary, right? If he clears waivers and is simply released, would Texas be on the hook for the salary? Because, I can't see any team claiming him at that price.

[bensheeps]

I believe Catalanatto is a past favorite of many on the board.

 

Is he now strictly an option for LF/1B? If so, that leaves only PH appearances and as JumpinMacFlash said $4M is too much for that role.

[CheezWizHed]

Why trade for a guy like Endy Chavez when you could probably get Edmonds for less money, and w/out having to give up a player.

Actually, the 40-man roster is full, so someone has to go.

 

My guess is at least one of Coffey/Julio will be released (due to lack of BP spots) and if you are upgrading Tony Gwynn's spot, he has no options either. So if you give up an RP and Gwynn for a better OF, you've given up essentially nothing. Now that may not be enough to upgrade the OF, but that was my intent on the trade idea.

[monty57]

Can Nelson play corner OF? I know he's listed there and played some in the minors, but would he be able to man a corner OF spot if someone were to be injured? An injury to one of our starters will leave us with a huge hole. Either the lead footed Nelson or the past-his-prime Nixon will be playing corner OF or the feather-bat Gwynn will be playing CF.

 

I agree with CWH that we should trade from the position we have excess players (bullpen) to shore up our weakest position (OF). As brosto pointed out, the Nats seem like a good trading partner, as Pena, Willingham or Kearns would all be superior to our current backups. Plus, although I'm not a big fan of Hart in center, we do know he is able to play there, and Braun-Hart-Pena/Kearns makes me feel a lot better than Braun-Gwynn-Hart or Braun-Cameron-Nelson/Nixon.

 

Edmonds would be ideal, but as others have said, he may not sign with us because (A) we have three full-time OFs and (B) we don't have a lot of salary flexibilty and may not be able to afford him. If he did sign, however, he would be great insurance against injury or Hart falling back into his late-season doldrums. A platoon of Edmonds/Hart in RF would have looked pretty good at the end of last season.