Consider trading Gamel?

[silversurferr]

I agree. But when you look through these boards, Abreu is referred to as the type of player we should have signed in the offseason. However, an Abreu type is only useful as the last piece of the puzzle, after we have the pitching staff in place. But to spend on pitching, we need to save money on position players. Escobar, Gamel, Weeks, McGeehee, and Hart are relatively cheap AND TALENTED. Trading them leaves gaps that have to be filled with bad players or expensive players. (Or bad, expensive players.)

[nate82]

I agree. But when you look through these boards, Abreu is referred to as the type of player we should have signed in the offseason. However, an Abreu type is only useful as the last piece of the puzzle, after we have the pitching staff in place. But to spend on pitching, we need to save money on position players. Escobar, Gamel, Weeks, McGeehee, and Hart are relatively cheap AND TALENTED. Trading them leaves gaps that have to be filled with bad players or expensive players. (Or bad, expensive players.)

If you trade someone like McGehee or Hart for some pitching you can easily replace them with some cheap players or expensive players. Abreu is probably out of the question the Angels want to bring him back for another year so the Brewers would have to really overpay to get him. Damon could be a fit with the Brewers to play a corner OF spot but I would rather just bring Cameron back to play CF than pay Damon to play a corner OF spot.

 

If you can trade a Gamel for a good pitcher with 1 year or lower service time with a lot of talent you do it. Pitching is the most expensive thing in the game to acquire and if you can trade a Gamel, McGehee, Hart, or Hardy for some really good pitching you better do that as a GM because pitching is at a premium and you need every single bit of pitching you can get.

 

There are options out there to replace McGehee and Hart. They will be cheaper than going out and signing a free agent pitcher or two. The Brewers should stay away from starting pitchers in free agency and focus on bats and bullpen arms in free agency. Damon, Hideki Matsui (mostly a DH now), Cliff Floyd, Reed Johnson, and Marlon Byrd. Of those free agents Byrd, Johnson, and Floyd would come cheaply. Floyd maybe an interesting platoon option out in a corner OF spot.

[Invader3K]

Well, someone will have to be traded to get any decent pitching, like I said earlier. Not sure who people think we can give up if it's none of the guys you mentioned. I guess Hardy, but that will only get us a #3 pitcher at best (I'm guessing). I think we need more than that if this team is going to get serious about making the playoffs in 2010.

[silversurferr]

We will not get a good pitcher for McGehee or Hart. (Because of his low OBP and long swing, Hart has developed into a solidly mediocre player.) It is apparent that Escobar is our shortstop next year. JJ in a package deal might bring a three or four starter type. The question is who the Brews could get for Gamel. Alone, he is not worth a one or two starter. So you trade one of our best prospects for a three starter? Why not keep him on the cheap and see if he develops into a star? Bottom line, nobody is going to trade a top line starter for what we have to offer.

[Never Outhustled]

We will not get a good pitcher for McGehee or Hart.

I guess Hardy, but that will only get us a #3 pitcher at best (I'm guessing

When acquiring young pitching, its difficult to know what your getting, but some teams have made awesome moves acquiring young pitching without giving up major talent.

 

The Tigers traded OF Matt Joyce for Edwin Jackson this past offseason. A couple of years ago the Braves traded Edgar Renteria for Jair Juhhjens. We could get some outstanding pitching, but we'll need to scout well.

[Hate those Rodents]

Check out Taylor Green's BA in AA. I don't know why people are thinking he's going to solidify 3B in two years for certain. I know he was hurt and is better than his numbers, but let's not pencil him in anywhere until he does well at the higher levels.

[silversurferr]

Most of the stuff I've seen indicates that Green is a mediocre prospect. Smallish, maybe injury prone, some power, decent to good in the field, third baseman. A weaker hitting Jeff Cirillo.

[Bombers]

I agree. You need to trade either Mat Gamel or Casey McGehee this off season. Both are worth a lot right now in a trade. If the one we keep flops, we have Taylor Green coming up behind him. Which gives us some security. What we would net in the trade is worth more than keeping Gamel in AAA for another year or putting McGehee on the bench again.

[pete]

... has the athletic ability to be a next-level defender at 3B.

 

TooLive, I agree with everything else you said and I think that Gamel can stick at 3rd defensively. Is that what you mean by that quote?

[TooLiveBrew]

Sort of. Sorry for being ambiguous. I not only think he can & will stick at 3B, I think his athleticism & arm give him the opportunity to be an elite defender at 3B.

[The Truth]

you keep Mat Gamel. He becomes tradeable only if Prince is signed longterm which is highly unlikely

[CheezWizHed]

I don't think anyone on the team is untouchable. Gallardo (young cheap pitching) and Braun (signed long term and affordable) are the closest to that. Prince is a half step behind only because of contract.

 

But we need to improve, so I don't think we can be closed to anything.

 

The real debate comes when you do trade player X, was it worth the return? Not should we trade player X.

[Invader3K]

I'm agreeing with that more and more, CheezWizHed. That's why I'm leaning towards the "trade Prince now" camp, though I would hate to see it. But, if we're going to trade Prince, you either have to get a 1B type in return, or probably keep Gamel and McGehee and move one to first base.

[RockCoCougars]

If Gamel can be flipped for Halliday, you have to do it. Gratned, it's a huge risk/reward situation. McGahee can play third, and Prince is here for two more years. My guess is that you'd have to add some more players as well to get the Jays to bite.

[edod]

I think that the Brewers window is Prince Fielder. They either get some top pitching talent here this winter to make a run at the playoff's in 2010 or they they should ship him off for the mother-load. I don't think it makes a lot of sense to talk about trading Gamel for prospects that won't hit the Majors until late 2010, he's either a trading piece or Fielder's replacement.

 

It makes me a little sick, but unless Mark A or Fielder loses their mind, the best thing the team can do is deal Fielder's two years and Hardy this winter and build around Yo, Braun, Escobar, MeGehee, Gamel, Weeks (fingers crossed) and whatever youth can be brought in.

[piccione88]

Not to change this thread to a discussion about Fielder, but I really doubt that whatever extra return we would get for trading Fielder this year as opposed to next off-season would be worth more than Fielders 2010 season is worth. Teams will still be fighting to get Fielder after the 2010 season, so I do not see the hurry.

 

As for trading Gamel I agree with CheezWizHead, that no player is untouchable. That doesn't mean that the front office should activley pursue trading him. If someone offered up a really good young arm though, I would hope that Melvin would consider it.

[NievesNoNO]

Yes I would trade Gamel and or Escobar. The Brewers absolutely need pitching. No matter how good some of their positional propects might become we've seen what a good offense and 0 pitching produces. I'd say they have two options this off-season; trade Fielder or trade Gamel and Escobar for pitching. I'd much rather keep Fielder, but what ever brings us more I'm game for at this point.

 

Hart has become an average OF, so to think that we'll just move him for some decent pitching this off-season and then sign an "Abreu type" is a little wishfull. I guess I don't see why the potential trade partner wouldn't just sign the Abreu type player instead of trading for Hart.