Padres interest in Geoff Jenkins

[Klements Bratwurst]

This whole Mench/Jenkins platoon thing sounds great on paper, but don't we have concerns of these two players won't like being part of a platoon because they believe they are full time players?

 

It is like you would have to tell them, "don't worry, you will get your AB's" but realistically, can they get enough to make them happy in Brewer Blue???

 

Then Gross could maybe due what Jenkins can for cheaper. I still think Jenkins goes, and it becomes a Gross/Mench platoon.

 

Although as stated before I wouldn't be against keeping Jenks around if for sure he never sees the pitchers right shoulder when the pitcher is looking in for the sign (probably a slider down and in) against him. If that doesn't happen, then Yost has done it right......

[brewerfan82]

Quote:

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This whole Mench/Jenkins platoon thing sounds great on paper, but don't we have concerns of these two players won't like being part of a platoon because they believe they are full time players?

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No concerns here. I don't view either as long-term solutions for this club, so I'm not looking to get on their good sides for signing purposes. These guys have proven throughout their careers that they are only able to hit pitchers that throw with a certain arm. With the team's current makeup, this is the definition of doing what's best for the team.

[clancyphile]

Gabe Gross and his 2006 performance certainly are the biggest reason why I like the idea of moving Jenkins.

 

Gross provides above-average defense, an .800+ OPS, and for about $600,000 or thereabouts. The only question is whether he is a part-time player in a platoon, or if he plays full-time.

[Klements Bratwurst]

The following link is an article from the Pittsburgh newspaper. The author is suggesting that the Pirates are in need of another big bat and that they continue to focus on LaRoche. Jenkins' name is mentioned near the bottom of the article and it is obviously pure speculation, but what Pirate piece if any would satisfy you in a Brewer-Pirate trade?

 

www.post-gazette.com/pg/07016/754103-63.stm

[TooLiveBrew]

Victor Santos, and Victor Santos only

 

Really, I'd love either Salomon Torres or Damaso Marte, whose value is enhanced since he's a LHRP. So if that made him too 'pricey', I'd take Torres, and gladly pay up to half of Jenks's $7 mil.

[UWRyan428]

I'd want more than Damaso for Jenks, though if they tossed us Neil Walker, I'd listen. I know their hometown catcher has been quite a mediocre backstop as of late but he's quite young and still seems to be well-thought-of within the baseball community. Basically, however, outside of McCutcheon and their young guns, they're quite bare, much like the Padres.

[JohnBriggs12]

You can't trade Clark and save any real money because nobody wants him at $4 million per year.

 

Teams would ask for the Brewers to pay $2.5 million of Clarks salary before even discussing a deal.

 

They have similar problems with Turnbow though not quite as severe.

 

Forget the Pirates or the Cubs who would love Jenkins. Melvin would not deal Jenkins within the division especially as mostly a salary dump.

[RobertR]

I've never been against trading Jenkins if it makes the team better, rather than just saves them money. I don't care about the team's profit margin in a year when they can contend. If they're not contenders they probably can unload some contracts at the deadline, (Jenkins, Mench, Clark, Graffanino, Koskie, Cordero, Wise, and Miller) and still come in at or under budget.

 

I'd be willing to throw in someone like Iribarren if the Pirates would give up Mike Gonzalez. Capps would interest me too. I'm interested in getting a guy back for Jenkins that can make a large difference in the bullpen and a second LOOGY doesn't do much for me. Not when you don't know what you'll get out of Turnbow.

 

Robert

[brewerfan82]

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Forget the Pirates or the Cubs who would love Jenkins. Melvin would not deal Jenkins within the division especially as mostly a salary dump.

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I wouldn't trade Jenkins to the Cubs, since with all their additions this offseason, they may actually be contenders. But why not the Pirates? I don't think Pittsburgh will be competing with us for a playoff spot, so why does it matter if we give them Jenkins? Are you afraid of him, alone, taking a game away from the Brewers? Heck, maybe improving them ever so slightly will help us over the season as the Pirates take on the Cardinals, Astros, Cubs and Reds.

[RobertR]

To go along with that reasoning, who's more likely to be competing with the Brewers for a playoff spot. The Pirates or The Padres?

 

Robert

[TooLiveBrew]

Robert --

 

While I can respect your opinion on wanting more (or perhaps simply someone else) for Jenks, Damaso Marte is hardly a LOOGY. He threw 58.1 IP in 2006, with a 3.95 FIP, a K/BB ratio of 2.03, and an ERA+ of 121. Those are all very strong, and when you also consider his splits over the past 3 years:

 

v. LH -- .209/.309/.300/.609

 

v. RH -- .257/.358/.429/.787

 

 

IMO it's pretty clear that Marte is better than just a one-out guy, and additionally, he'd be that final piece that I believe our BP needs. (and another hard-thrower)

[RobertR]

Yeah, Marte is likely better than I've given him credit for. Certainly I wouldn't squawk too much if the Brewers signed him, although I think he benefits a bit from PNC being more favorable to lefty hitters than righties. Still, he would help the team.

 

That said, I'd like to aim higher if given a choice. And I'm certainly willing to dip into the prospect pool a bit in order to sweeten the pot for a return. Sometimes the best use of a prospect is in a trade.

 

Robert

[JohnBriggs12]

"I don't think Pittsburgh will be competing with us..."

 

From what I saw last year, it looked more like we weren't competing with Pittsburgh.

 

Here's a little interesting comparison to mull over.

 

Over the last 75 games of 2006:

 

Pittsburgh 38-37

 

Milwaukee 31-44

 

Pittsburgh is not a complete team right now, but they have two of the best players in the division in Bay and Sanchez and are solid in a few other spots. Duke, Snell and Maholm are three young starters who could blossom into winners real soon.

 

Jenkins would fill a huge hole in their lineup. Let's not help them out.

[TooLiveBrew]

Quote:

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Sometimes the best use of a prospect is in a trade.

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Good point, Robert, and one I hadn't really considered.

 

Our inability to acquire either Jon Lieber or Rodrigo Lopez using only one of Menchkins underscores to me (granted, that's my opinion - and I'm willing to admit the Lopez situation was equal parts lack of interest from us) that we would have to include prospects to get more than a reliever.

 

I don't, as I stated, feel comfortable with shipping off the two young SPs mentioned to try for more. Futher, I don't see a need we could fill via a deal where Mench or Jenks is central. That's why I like Marte, but I honestly think he may be a little more pricey bc he's a lefty.

[Ennder]

Sanchez isn't one of the top 10 players in the division and might not even make top 20 if you are including pitchers.

[JohnBriggs12]

"Sanchez isn't one of the top 10 in division"

 

.344 BA (led league), 53 doubles (led league), .388 BA with runners in scoring position, 200 hits (3rd in league), 85 runs scored, 85 rbi, just 10 errors. Berkman, Pujols, Bay had better years but I'm hard pressed to find anyone else in the Central that had a better year.

 

He may not be in your top 10 ender, but he was in mine at least for 2006 and he goes into 2007 still there.

[endaround]

At 3B alone Rolen and Ramirez had better years.

[Ennder]

Berkman, D. Lee, Ramirez, Rolen, Pujols, Bay, C. Lee, Soriano, Hall are all players I'd put on my team before Sanchez. So he probably has a chance at #10 and thats assuming Dunn's bat doesn't rebound, Fielder doesn't improve etc. Next year when his average regresses to the lower .300's (he won't have a .370 BABIP again next year) he's going to put up Casey type numbers which just don't excite me.

[Weirdos19]

Sanchez has done it for one year. If he hits .300 next year, I'll listen.

 

Watching Pods hit .300 for one year has made me think a hitter needs to do it two years before you are considered a .300 hitter.

 

Personally, I think Pujols, Bay, and Berkman are the cream of the crop. The rest are also rans.

 

 

I'd pay half of Jenks salary to get Linebrink. Maybe even throw in a prospet. Not a top ten prospect. Since they traded Barfield, they may have interest in Iribarren.

[endaround]

Ender- you forgot Barrett.

[pitchleague]

weirdos, you forgot Brady Clark in your .300 hitters.

[Ennder]

Yeah I thought about Barrett but its just hard for me to compare catchers to other players with the reduced playtime.

 

The fact is sanchez brings BA and a good glove and thats about it and I'm just not a believer that he can sustain that BA. He's going to be a .300 hitter but he's Overbay with less power playing 2B. A solid player but not a spectacular one.

 

I'm also not as big on Bay as others are. He had a great May and they walked him a lot since there weren't any other threats in the lineup but overall last year he took a step back in production and I don't see anymore serious growth out of him. I think of him as the 2nd tier star not the top tier 1. I'd put Pujols, Berkman and potentially D. Lee in that 1st tier.

[TooLiveBrew]

For what it's worth, from Bucco Blog's interview with stats guru Bill James:

Quote:

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I believe that he can. I think Freddy [sanchez] is a very legitimate .330 hitter, and I wouldn't bet at all that he has had his best year.

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Just thought that might add a little pep to the discussion....

 

buccoblog.mlblogs.com/my_weblog/2007/01/bill_james_answ.html

[dadofandrew]

That's odd, considering how rarely Freddy walks. I'd say '06 is very likely to be his best season.

[TooLiveBrew]

Ok, I hear you on the BBs, but this guy is entering his 3d full-time campaign, and improved on a .736 OPS, jumping in 2006 to .851.

 

While I can buy that he may never surpass that, sustaining a career OPS of appx. .800 is more than just decent.

 

FWIW, Sanchez's minor league career yeilded an OPS of .819. The Brewers are lucky to have Weeks, Hardy, (& Hall) as INFs, who probably project higher than just an .825 career OPS. But I'd be willing to bet that just about any GM in MLB would take Sanchez as a long-term fix in the INF. In addition to his hitting, his D seems solid. Range factors are solidly above league average, and errors are low.

 

He seems to be a similar offensive player to Estrada, but Sanchez hits for a higher BA. Your lineup sometimes needs the contact, low/no K guys. I know we tend to aim for 1-8 of good OPS guys, but sometimes the Sanchez style can be very useful.