Time to make a move for Bobby Abreu?

[JoeHova]

As many Brewer fans have noticed, one weakness of this year's edition is their collective on-base percentage. While several guys have ok OBP skills (Weeks, Fielder, Counsell, Gross, Gwynn), the rest of the team's skills at getting on are mediocre at best. JJ, Geoff, and Billy can only be counted on to be about average and Braun and Hart are pretty much the same kind of hitters as those guys at this point. Estrada and Mench are terrible at taking walks.

 

So, in my opinion, any large improvement in that area will have to come from outside the organization. That leads me to Bobby Abreu, currently stinking out the joint in Yankee Stadium's right field. Abreu's power is eroding and he is hitting poorly this year, but that actually works in a team like the Brewers' favor.

 

Abreu has the 38th highest on-base percentage in major league history at .409. That would look so good batting 2nd (or 1st) for the Brewers. Bobby still has that good speed that people like to see at the top of the order too.

 

I think the Brewers should try to get Abreu now while he is hitting poorly and people are ready to run him out of New York on a rail. I don't believe he's close to done, he's just in a slump. However, because of his slump, the Brewers may be able to get the Yankees to either pick up some of the money he is still owed this season or take a non-entity in return.

 

Abreu is making $15 million this season, and around $4 million of that has already been paid out by the Yanks this year, so he is owed around $11 million for the rest of the year. Then there is a team option for next year at $16 million or a $2 million buyout. I think Doug should be on the phone with Cashman trying to get Abreu while his value is this low. The Yankees may welcome a chance to shed Abreu's salary and/or get a couple prospects for their still weak farm system.

 

I think that getting Abreu could be the kind of move that would really solidify the Brewers as a contender. Yes, getting him wouldn't ease the outfield glut, but he is a huge upgrade over any of the guys the Brewers have now.

[sbrylski]

The Yankees aren't going to give Abreu away. Even if they would take just prospects, they would probably ask for Gallardo, or at least Inman plus others.

 

I don't see it happening at all.

[sheetswannabe]

Abreu for Vargas/Bush and a couple prospects?

[AJ Love]

He's got a .622 OPS this year in over 180 at bats which is no longer such a small sample. I'd be concerned about trading much for a 33 year old who is hitting like that despite his truely great past

[flosses like fossas]

thou shalt not deal with the yankees! especially if you'll be giving up pitching of any value.

[Tedaldtada]

no

[brettac1]

It'd be great to get him if the Yankees were going to sell low. I don't think they are stupid, though. He's one of the best OF's of the past decade - it's going to cost quite a bit to acquire him unless it's a salary dump (which is how the Yankees got him, but I don't think they really do that kind of thing).

[geothite]

If the Brewers really want Abreu I bet he could be had for Bush and Mench. Plus I bet the Yanks would make up the salary difference.

 

I actually agree, taking a chance on Abreu makes sense and Bush and Mench are players that I think can be replaced.

[UWRyan428]

Didn't the Yanks just give up a bunch of low-A prospects for the guy? I would imagine he could be had cheaply if Cashman decides to move him, but there isn't a glaring need to make a move for the Yanks, especially with the message it would send. Perhaps, if they fall further and further, they might become sellers at the deadline, and if so, Bobby will be like last year's Easter candy....discounted on clearance. But right now, I would think the Cash man would avoid any moves that might give him next year off.

[geothite]

The Yankees are in deep trouble.

THeir bullpen has been burned out and their starting pitching is a disaster area.

The notion that getting Clemens for 4 months is going to fix what ails the Yanks staff without them making some moves to add pitchiing is a joke.

[brettac1]

Didn't the Yanks just give up a bunch of low-A prospects for the guy? I would imagine he could be had cheaply if Cashman decides to move him

 

Like I said, they got him on a salary dump, but I don't recall the Yankees really doing that move themselves, especially not with a player of Abreu's caliber.

[JoeHova]

The reason I brought this up is because the Yankees did domething similar in 2002-2003.

 

In 2002, they got Raul Mondesi from Toronto in a salary dump. In 2003, he was doing ok, but they traded him to Arizona for David Dellucci (who is kind of useful, but really a spare part).

 

Now Mondesi was obviously not as good as Abreu, but he was still seen by some as a big time player. I think the situation is somewhat analogous.

[litesrn]

I'm not a stathead and don't follow every player, but given the way Abreu has played over the last season and a half or so, aren't we talking about trading for another Mench?

Just asking.

[brettac1]

He was pretty awesome last season, though. His HR production was down, but after he went to the Yankees last year he hit .330/.419/.507. Prior to that trade, he already had 91 BB in 339 AB.

 

This first month or so is the only time he has struggled in the past year and a half, so I wouldn't be worried about him that much. I think the Brewers theoretically would be acquiring him to hit 1st or 2nd, so there wouldn't be a massive need for him to go on a HR binge (though I think he still can). Heck, he even stole 30 bases last year (for a third year in a row).

 

His all-around skill-set wouldn't make me worry about him turning into Mench. There's so many things that Abreu does well that it's hard for him not to contribute something positive.

[endaround]

Keep in mid the last time the Yankees dumped a contract they actually got stuff for Sheffield. And the Tigers extended him at $13 million per...

[brettac1]

Good point, end, but I can't seem to find anything about Humberto Sanchez this year. Is he hurt, or did he have a name change or something?

[hauser42]

Good point, end, but I can't seem to find anything about Humberto Sanchez this year. Is he hurt, or did he have a name change or something?

 

I believe that his elbow finally gave out, that was a concern when it looked like he was going to be traded.

 

 

Abreau seems to have lost it, I would rather stay away from him unless the Yanks are going to pay a lot of the contract he has.

[Roscoe Chill]

Humberto Sanchez is out for the year.

[statman0007]

If we were actually able to get Abreu I would fall out of my chair. I don't care if he's off to a bad start, New York does things to people. It would basically be like reinserting Carlos Lee into the lineup with better defense.

[hauser42]

It would basically be like reinserting Carlos Lee into the lineup with better defense.

 

We are getting Bobby Abreau they guy that has struggled to hit since he won the home run contest. Last year he was not hitting in the Phillies band box, and is still struggling to hit. No way is he even close to Carlos Lee when it comes to hitting.

[endaround]

Abreu last year:

.297/.424/.462

 

Abreu has hit since the All Star game, he was huge for the Yankees last year. That said he has been terrible so far this season.

[hauser42]

Abreu has hit since the All Star game, he was huge for the Yankees last year. That said he has been terrible so far this season.

 

End he has hit but not with the power that he did prior. Funny that Yankee staduim should not have hurt him this much because he was a lefty.