If this continues, trade Fielder AND Hardy?

[paul253]

I know that its a loooooooong season and there is a looooooong way to go. However, the Brewers start has been just awful. The pitching has really been bad, both the starters and the relievers. I think everyone would be shocked if Fielder is here any long than his current contract, if that, and Hardy has so far really given no indication he is willing to play third base for Milwaukee. The top two prospects in the system, Gamel and Escobar, could slide right in to replace them. I realize they are both unproven, but they seem to be the two safest prospects right now. In return, you could ask for pitching pitching pitching. A team like S.F. that has a lot of pitching but seems to lack on offense would seem to be a good trade partner, although I understand one of their top prospects is a first basemen. I was thinking something along the lines of Madison Baumgartner and Matt Cain in return. Too much? Not enough? The amount of money saved would be substantial, especially with the contracts you'd be losing in Kendall, Cameron, and Hoffman and then the year after with Suppan and Hall. Hart, Gallardo, and Parra could be signed long term and you could "rebuild" around guys like Braun, Hart, Escobar, and Gamel, with a top three of Gallard, Cain, and Parra. slowly insert other prospects like Gillespie, Green, Cain, Lawrie, Salome, Lucroy, and Jeffress, and I think they could be competitive.

[sbrylski]

First, I don't think this will continue for the whole first half. I still expect us to find our way into a wildcard race, and if deemed a strong enough contender, Salome+ heads to a AL team for a Halladay type.

 

Second, I don't think they would trade both players; I expect us to get another season out of Prince Fielder. It doesn't appear the organization is near moving Gamel off of 3B, and I think they'll want to give him a year at 3B in the big leagues before they would move him, a la Braun. That would mean Prince would stay at 1B for one more season and be traded the following offseason.

 

As long as Escobar is hitting okay (mid-.700's OPS or better), I could see Hardy being traded.

[paul253]

That would mean Prince would stay at 1B for one more season and be traded the following offseason.

Do we still have control Fielder after his current two year contract is up? If so, I could see that, if not, I don't think there's any way we let him walk as a free agent.

[sbrylski]

That would mean Prince would stay at 1B for one more season and be traded the following offseason.

Do we still have control Fielder after his current two year contract is up? If so, I could see that, if not, I don't think there's any way we let him walk as a free agent.

This season is his 4th season in the big leagues. I'm proposing we keep him through next season, and trade him with one season left under team control.

[kramnoj]

Do we still have control Fielder after his current two year contract is up?

 

Yes, he is under team control through the end of the 2011 season. The idea of trading Prince seems to be entirely fan driven. I don't think there is any indication that the team is looking to move Fielder. If some team overwhelms him with an offer, I'm sure that Melvin would listen, but I believe Fielder will be here through 2010. The 2010 offseason could be quite active for the Brewers.

[mothershipconnection]

If some team overwhelms him with an offer, I'm sure that Melvin would listen, but I believe Fielder will be here through 2010.

/

I'm proposing we keep him through next season, and trade him with one season left under team control.

 

That's the only way he gets traded, IMO. I just don't see the point in trading him until he's nearing FA and we get talent to restock. Why not just keep the talent and dump it at the last minute unless we're gonna get way more now?

[Invader3K]

Yeah...I think a lot of people don't realize the Brewers have Fielder for one more arby year after his current two year contract expires.

 

I just don't see the point in trading him this year yet. Yeah, if some team offers one or two really good young pitchers for him, then maybe, but since that realistically isn't going to happen, may as well keep him and not worry about replacing all the offense he brings to the table.

[PeaveyFury]

I'm in agreement with most here that the best course of action with Fielder is probably to wait until his last season under our control to see where the team is at before making a move, unless we're made an offer we can't refuse.

 

Hardy is a heck of a lot more interesting, however. The team is getting to the point where they really need to figure out what the plan is going to be with Hardy and Escobar, especially if Weeks continues his pace so far and seems to have turned a corner (and ruling out 2B as an option for one of the above). They either need to start negotiating an extension or evaluating their trade options, probably starting this off season.

 

Of course a break-out year for Escobar at the plate would help give us some clarity as well...

[paul253]

I was under the impression that Fielder could walk after his current deal is up. That's my mistake.