Trade Koskie

[endaround]

The Twins want a better option at 3B. They already have the perfect right handed side of the platoon. Koskie fits in the Twins budget. Hall can move from CF to 3B. Gross gets playing time during his peak years.

[brettac1]

I'd be for it, just because they wouldn't be putting Hall in the OF and they'd actually be playing Gross. I'm as big of a Koskie fan as there is, but it makes a lot of sense.

[BrewCrewKid]

Maybe if they planned on moving Braun to the OF, or else we'd just be delaying moving Hall to the OF by a year. Since everyone is speculating that Braun will be up sometime this year, then what? Move Hall to the OF then? They've already told Hall that he'd have a permanent position this year. Why prolong his OF growing pains by a year.

[twobrewers]

Hall is going to be our CF. We can argue that all we want. Those seems to be the facts.

 

Braun is going to be a 3B. It might make sense that Hall plays third (since he already can) and Braun plays outfield - but just as they stuck with Weeks at second, the Brewers seem determined to keep this as well.

 

IF (big IF) Koskie is fully healthy and has some trade value, it might be a good time to move him. Braun will be in the bigs sooner than later - though his defense will hurt. And Graffy can hold down 3B in the meantime.

 

Best bet - Koskie gets trade midseason.

[dadofandrew]

Koskie is a solid 3B who is only making $2M from us. He also has no trade value until at least mid-March, if he proves he can play everyday.

[endaround]

So Koskie is good and cheap but has no trade value? And at this point, who really cares? Its not like Mench(a RH Ben Grieve) or Jenkins are going to be bringing in anything.

[Katuluu]

One problem, Gardenhire loves Punto and has no plans on benching him.

[MNBrew]

Katuluu is right. For every reason that would seem from the outside to make the Brewers & Twins a match in the Koskie department, the Twins see Punto as their everyday 3B.

 

Melvin, Yost, & Co. also noted repeatedly throughout the 2nd half that Koskie's absence from the lineup made the Brewers a lesser team in ways that stood out to them far more than his stats would make it seem like was the case.

 

It seems like part of the reason Koskie was brought in is because he's a respectable offensive player and a stellar defensive player at an uber-discounted salary, which makes him the perfect guy at 3B for a couple years until Braun is ML-ready. Oh, and he's a great team-first guy, too.

[danzig6767]

If the Brewers truely intend to keep Braun at thirdbase,keeping Koskie is pretty much ideal.Koskie is a cheap and solid player to bridge the gap for this year while Braun matures as a player.

 

It will be interesting to see what the team does if Koskie has yet another fairly significant injury and Braun is raking in AAA,but still struggling defensively.Given Koskie's long injury history,him going down at some point should almost be expected.

[mothershipconnection]

So Koskie is good and cheap but has no trade value?

I'd bet he has some value now, but nowhere near what he'll have when he can physically demonstrate that he's able to play at his usual level again.

[Big Reed]

the ideal situation would be to bring braun up in mid season and trade koskie at the trade deadline. if koskie is healthy and productive through july, he will have some trade value. I believe koskie also has a very big option for 2007 that kicks in with 450 plate appearances. i know the brewers will not want koskie to reach that goal as they could not afford to pay him that salary next year.

[Invader3K]

Anyone have any idea what Koskie's physical condition is right now? A concussion can be a pretty tough thing to come back from sometimes. It also probably reduces his trade value, at least somewhat.

 

I'm not against trying to trade him, but it would all depend on what the Twins, or any other team, would be willing to give up, obviously.

[Team Canada]

Last I remember he was fairly close to being able to begin workouts.

[1992casey]

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I believe koskie also has a very big option for 2007 that kicks in with 450 plate appearances.

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Corey's $6.5 million 2008 option will vest if he has 507 plate appearances in 2007.

 

His contract calls for the option to vest if he reaches a total of 1,200 Plate Appearances 2005-07 or 600 Plate Appearances in 2006 or 2007. With 693 PA over the past two seasons, the 600 PA part would now be moot.

 

Additionally, if his team really decides it wants him, the option is also a team option.

[DHonks]

Additionally, if his team really decides it wants him, the option is also a team option.

 

so let me get this right. If he is durable, there is a team option, likely with a buyout if declined. If he isn't durable, there likely is no payment to let him walk? Is that what you are saying here?

[1992casey]

The team option can be exercised by Koskie's team no matter what happens during the 2007 season. If the option is declined, there's a $500,000 buyout.

 

The option automatically kicks in if Corey reaches 507 plate appearances in 2007.

[reillymcshane]

Quote:

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so let me get this right. If he is durable, there is a team option, likely with a buyout if declined. If he isn't durable, there likely is no payment to let him walk? Is that what you are saying here?

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I think it's a team option that automatically kicks in if Koskie reaches the 507 plate appearances. If he doesn't reach the number, the team can, if it wants, pick up the option.

[dadofandrew]

He'll only platoon, so there's no chance he reaches 507 PA's.

[Big Reed]

I like koskie, but i believe if he approaches those 500 atbats, he'll be traded just like bell was traded to the brewers last year. I doubt very highly teh brewers will allow koskie to reach his option totals.

[Brian the Automator]

[ I like koskie, but i believe if he approaches those 500 atbats, he'll be traded just like bell was traded to the brewers last year. I doubt very highly teh brewers will allow koskie to reach his option totals. ]

 

I would doubt that would happen. Teams when making trades are fully aware of incentive clauses, and would shy away from that deal unless the Brewers picked up some money for 2008.

[1992casey]

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I like koskie, but i believe if he approaches those 500 atbats, he'll be traded just like bell was traded to the brewers last year. I doubt very highly teh brewers will allow koskie to reach his option totals.

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I agree with Al that Corey probably won't reach 507 plate appearances. But I don't want it to happen because the Brewers are intentionally trying to limit his AB totals. If it somehow turns out that it's best for the team that he plays, so be it. A manager shouldn't be put into the position of having to determine playing time based on incentive clauses.

 

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I would doubt that would happen. Teams when making trades are fully aware of incentive clauses, and would shy away from that deal unless the Brewers picked up some money for 2008.

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Given the contracts handed out this winter, if things go well for Corey this season, he could very well be worth the money his option calls for.

[thefutureishere2006]

would you trade koskie for rillo and one of there prospects (not in there top 15) . nither koskie or cirillo have huge futures here if any after 07 anyways. maybe we could get cirillo back?

[KCBrewerfan34]

Those options are a no win situation, if the Brew does not play Koskie everyday if healthy, his agent will cry foul and they can file a grievance etc...

 

Just don't negotiate that stuff into contracts ( I know the Brew didn't do the contract), that being said Koskie is a HUGE bargain if he can stay healthy, however, thats a big IF

[1992casey]

I don't see a no-win situation at all.

 

Nobody whined last year when Corey was platooned.

 

Given the state of contracts this winter, if he earns 507 plate appearances, he deserves the guaranteed 2008 money.

 

The only way Corey's team loses is if he plays poorly, yet defaults into vesting the option because platoon options are injured or fail.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Casey the problem will be the Brew won't want Koskie back in 2008 at $6.5 million, that probably also hurts his trade value. There is almost no chance Braun won't be up by then.

 

 

 

Hope that clarifies.