What to do with the infield this offseason?

[paul253]

I realize this may be a little early but this off season something is going to have to be done with the infield. I won't include first base in the discussion since its Prince, but for three spots we have Hall, Hardy, Weeks, McGehee, Escobar, Gamel, Heether, and Irabarren. That's not even including Counsell whom I sure would resign in Milwaukee if offered a contract. Irabarren and Hall surely won't be in consideration for starting spots, but I hate just to give up on Irabarren. Same with Heether. Obviously a move or two has to be made, but what? I think no matter what happens, Hall needs to go. I realize that you'd have to eat his salary if he cut him, but its worth it. You allow Adam Heether to take that role. I think if he doesn't get a chance, Heether is leaving. No way do you let Heether walk without a chance so you can keep letting Bill Hall swing and miss until his contract runs out. Counsell, unfortunately, you can't bring back because theres no room. Maybe trade Hart and Hardy for pitching, which frees up shortstop for Escobar. Now what I'd like to see done then is move Gamel to the outfield and play McGehee full time at third. Weeks is at second with Heether and Irabarren playing backup roles.

 

Any ideas for something else?

[lcbj68c]

I'd personally prefer the clay become denser and not so sand based.

[lcbj68c]

On a serious note...I think you go with cheap youth wherever possible, minus 1 veteran, whether that be Counsell of another free agent utility specialist. I think the money needs to be spent on great top of the rotation pitching and you save money by having Escobar, Gamel, McGehee all playing. Your only other "big" contracts are Fielder, Braun, and the mistakes made with Suppan and Looper. Bill Hall can be your 25th man. Hardy and his arby raise can go bye bye. If these kids can hit as well as they are "touted", then spend on great pitching and try to win that way.

[paul253]

I definitely agree with the cheap youth. All season long I've been going back and forth about what to do with Fielder and Hardy. After watching the offense all year being so inconsistent, its become obvious to me that a) you need to keep your consistent performers i.e. Fielder. and fix your inconsistencies (OBP). I also think though you cant switch a players position every 3 years, so when Taylor Green comes up the year after next, I'd prefer to have Gamel in the outfield already. We have some very big contracts coming off the books soon and if we can avoid hefty raises to Hart, Hardy, and Weeks, that money could go a long way to finding some decent pitching.

[DHonks]

lcbj68c, Looper isn't under contract for next year. I'd hardly call him a mistake as well

[lcbj68c]

Great to hear on the Looper front. For some reason, I have it stuck in my brain that he has an option year. Anyhoo. Keep the bigger contracts of Fielder and Braun, let the kids come up and play in 2010. Get some front line pitching and go get it in 2011. Your big contracts of Braun, Fielder, and a great ace and a great #3 guy with a cheap Gallardo as your #2. The rest of the staff is filled out with the kids and maybe a pricer free agent as a closer.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

Great to hear on the Looper front. For some reason, I have it stuck in my brain that he has an option year. Anyhoo. Keep the bigger contracts of Fielder and Braun, let the kids come up and play in 2010. Get some front line pitching and go get it in 2011. Your big contracts of Braun, Fielder, and a great ace and a great #3 guy with a cheap Gallardo as your #2. The rest of the staff is filled out with the kids and maybe a pricer free agent as a closer.

 

Wait, doesn't he have a mutual option? He can opt out if he wants, but I doubt the Brewers wouldn't bring him back if they wanted him. Technically, not under contract, but an option is correct.

[lcbj68c]

To be honest, Looper hasn't been that bad. Just frustrating when you know what this team needed was an ace or another #2 and they got probably a #3 type pitcher. Frustrations bring out the overkill.

[trwi7]

It's a mutual option. Even if the Brewers exercise his 2010 option, he can opt out of it. If the Brewers decline it, he gets a $750,000 buyout that goes up to $1 million if he starts 30 games or throws 180 innings.

[PeaveyFury]

Really, I don't think we can answer this question until we see what happens before July 31st. I think it's becoming increasingly likely that we make a trade, and from the Halladay chatter, I think it's becoming increasingly likely it involves Gamel, Escobar, or Hardy. Obviously, we'll need to see who's still here when the dust settles to factor them in to 2010. Also, whomever we acquire in trade makes a huge difference as well- if we do acquire Halladay, we're going to be making a big push in 2010, and that makes it much more likely that you're going to see a similar infield next year to what we have now.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Is this McGehee for real or is a flash in the pan. Can he be an everyday 3b next year? The other positions seem to be pretty much set I would think

 

1b Fielder

2b Weeks

SS Hardy/Escobar

3b ?

 

Utility Counsell, if he wants to play

 

Not sure if catcher is in your question but the Brewers hopefully can upgrade this position, not much on the FA market though, although Victor Martinez would be a very nice acquisition.

[naivin]

Agreed that it way too soon the even speculate...so many variables. Who do they acquire? what FAs will be available? What do they plan to do with Prince? How good do they expect to be?

 

You cannot look at the infield as some sort of seperate unit. There is one payroll, and teh infirld is a part of it.

[DHonks]

I happen to really like Gamel's eye at the plate. He's so calm and has drawn a number of good walks. I don't know if we know if McGehee can keep it up. Just a few weeks ago, the stats folks were claiming he was the same player as Adam Heether.