The future of Jeremy Jeffress

[twobrewers]

Please correct me if I am wrong -

 

Jeremy Jeffress has never been on the 40 man roster. Therefore, he has been subject to the MiLB testing - which currently tests for "drugs of abuse". If he was added to the 40 man roster, I believe he would be subject to MLB testing - which does not test for "drugs of abuse".

 

If that is correct, surely the Brewers would add Jeffress to their 40 man roster to prevent a lifetime ban. (Even if it does set a poor presedent, they can always monitor him internally.) My point is, that Jeremy Jeffress would be very unlikely to ever receive a lifetime ban - meaning the only thing he has really lost thus far is development time.

 

I only bring this up because I am curious about his trade value. If I was another team, he would be a great "buy low" candidate. In the trade forum, I was told he had little or no value. I would think any team that acquires him at least has to recognize his potential to be a #1 pitcher.

 

In the trade forum, there is a suggestion that we target Brett Myers. Brett Myers is a known jerk and wife beater. Jeremy Jeffress is just a stupid kid who smokes weed. Jeffress couldn't be completely worthless at this point - could he?

[Invader3K]

I don't know if he's ever really been projected as a potential #1 pitcher. I could be wrong...someone more knowledgeable would be able to fill us in.

 

That said, I do know his development time is way behind. He's unlikely to be in MLB for a couple years, probably more like three years at the earliest.

[kramnoj]

I wouldn't put much stock into the comment that Jeffress has no trade value. Someone said that Butler was nothing last year. Some people would rather make wild exaggerations than take the time to make a more nuanced point.

 

While it would be hyperbole to say that Jeffress has no trade value, it certainly would be low right now. I don't know that it really makes too much sense to think of him as trade fodder right now, simply because he could be worth so much more to the Brewers at some point down the road.

[jackalope02ca]

7-Eleven worker, Walmart Host, I don't know but my guess is this is his future as based on the decisions he's made since he signed I would be very surprised if he invested his money wisely.

[dadofandrew]

I'm sure he's spent his signing bonus on supporting drug using friends and members of his entourage. His trade value is very minimal, as one more test and he's done, so no one is giving up more than a middling prospect. As I've said many times, he'll get every chance because of the money invested in him, but it's hard to believe someone that stupid could ever be intelligent enough to get major league hitters out.

[twobrewers]

So everyone is pretty much ignoring the most important part of my post?

 

Is he is added to the 40-man roster, I believe he will never be tested for pot again. There are plenty of NBA players who have admitted to smoking weed. While Jeffress may be dumb - it doesn't mean he can't be a legitimate prospect.

[bullox]

but it's hard to believe someone that stupid could ever be intelligent enough to get major league hitters out.

Contrary to what you may believe, it is possible to be lacking in common sense while still maintaining knowledge of baseball. It's not like he's setting trajectories for the space shuttle.

 

Remember Doc Ellis? He threw a no-hitter while tripping on acid.

[craigharmann]

Remember Doc Ellis?

Or Dwight Gooden.....or Darryl Strawberry......or Steve Howe......or......

[Invader3K]

There are plenty of NBA players who have admitted to smoking weed.

Yeah, but I don't think those guys are/were one positive test away from being suspsended for life?

 

I just don't know if the Brewers feel like wasting a 40 man spot on a guy who is so far away from the MLB club at this point. Maybe part of the thinking is that it would send a really bad message to their other players, putting a guy who was suspended basically the entire season in a protected spot.

[PeaveyFury]

I'm sure he's spent his signing bonus on supporting drug using friends and members of his entourage.

 

I don't think this is anything you can be even remotely sure of.

[kramnoj]

So everyone is pretty much ignoring the most important part of my post?

 

This has been covered previously. You are correct that if he is added to the 40 man he will be fine, and I don't think he can be suspended while already being suspended. So there will be no need to add him to the 40 man this winter, but the Brewers may decide it is neccessary to do so next spring. We don't really know.

[jackalope02ca]

I guess he could write a book as well titled "My career, Up in Smoke". Seriously why would anyone want to waste a 40 man roster spot on a guy who hasn't shown he deserves one and who was quickly becoming a mediocre prospect. I'd rather give the spot to someone who deserves it and has earned it. I realize they won't drop him because they have invested so much but it's really a shame they don't. One test =stupid. Jeffress is way past that stage.

 

From an organizational standpoint the best thing that could happen is another positive test and quickly. Then we could quit dumping money into this bottomless pit.

[kramnoj]

Then we could quit dumping money into this bottomless pit.

 

How much money do you think he is costing the Brewers right now? Is insurance paying for most of his rehab?

[And That]

From an organizational standpoint the best thing that could happen is another positive test and quickly.

I disagree. From an organizational standpoint, the best thing that could happen is he could have a Hall of Fame pitching career.

[twobrewers]

Seriously why would anyone want to waste a 40 man roster spot on a guy who hasn't shown he deserves one and who was quickly becoming a mediocre prospect. I'd rather give the spot to someone who deserves it and has earned it.

If you ignore that fact that Jeffress could be suspended for life (which can be avoided by adding to the 40 man roster), Jeffress is still a very high ceiling prospect. I doubt he will ever make it with Milwaukee - but for a team like Toronto that needs a pitcher in return for Roy Halladay, Jeffress is very legitimate trade bait.

 

Jeffress is very unlikely to be a major player in a trade - but he could be that "pitching prospect" that all of the other teams are searching for...

[sheetskout]

Wow.....I know Jeffress made some stupid decisions given his circumstances, but let's get real. Making rash generalizations about his intelligence level because he smoked some weed is simply ridiculous. Plenty of successful people, even pop icons have been caught smoking weed.

 

Aaron Sorkin was caught doing mushrooms. Although it did some damage to his reputation, no one denied that the guy was a genius screen-writer.

 

To this point he's lost development time and no, I am not ready to give up on Jeffress yet.

[sveumrules]

i'd put jeffress on the 40 man and try to fast track him as a reliever. i know many here believe he should be given every chance to succeed as starter (a theory i subscribe to for most pitchers) but given his unique circumstances/skillset it would seem to be the best way for the club to get any return on their investment in a timely fashion.

 

plus, the thought of him and braddock in the pen together kinda makes me feel like i'm climbing the rope in gym class.

[paul253]

Making rash generalizations about his intelligence level because he smoked some weed is simply ridiculous. Plenty of successful people, even pop icons have been caught smoking weed.

Aaron Sorkin was caught doing mushrooms. Although it did some damage to his reputation, no one denied that the guy was a genius screen-writer.

 

I think you are missing the point. Its not just that he's smoking weed. Its that he is literally jeopardizing his entire career and the potential of millions of dollars to do it. I have no idea who Aaron Sorkin is, but my guess is that he doesn't have a "three strikes and you can't be a screen writer anymore" rule. The reason people are bashing Jeffress is because the kid is acting selfish and immature. You get caught once, fine, it happens. But for him to let it happen again, thats just foolish. When Jeffress signed that contract with the Brewers, he made a commitment to them. He has shown, however, that he is more interested in smoking weed than honoring that commitment. That's why people are bashing him. And I agree.

[logan82]

I believe he has been caught 4 times now. I don't think you get punished the first time. He was caught once by the Brewers after his first suspension. So you would have caught once, no punishment. Caught a second time, 50-game suspension. Caught by the Brewers. Then caught again, 100-game suspension.

[jackalope02ca]

I disagree. From an organizational standpoint, the best thing that could happen is he could have a Hall of Fame pitching career.

 

True. However we all know that isn't going to happen. And while I'm not sure how it works I seriously doubt you can insure rehab for pro athletes.

[filthyfrog]

Jeffress absolutely should not be added to the 40 man roster until he earns it both on and off the field. If you add him now to protect him from a potential lifetime ban, you're enabling his habit and sending a message to Brewer prospects and youngsters in general that you don't have to worry about league rules because your club will bail you out.

 

Also, from a more pragmatic standpoint, his two most likely outcomes at this point are:

1. Lifetime ban

2. Finds success 5 or 6 years from now with a different organization.

 

If you add him to the 40 man roster before making him earn his way on, you only increase the likelihood of #2.

[southpaw121505]

Making rash generalizations about his intelligence level because he smoked some weed is simply ridiculous. Plenty of successful people, even pop icons have been caught smoking weed.

Aaron Sorkin was caught doing mushrooms. Although it did some damage to his reputation, no one denied that the guy was a genius screen-writer.

 

I think you are missing the point. Its not just that he's smoking weed. Its that he is literally jeopardizing his entire career and the potential of millions of dollars to do it.

Yeah, I second Paul's thoughts. The fact that he smokes pot doesn't even bother me, I think players that drink are hurting themselves more when you consider hangovers and added calories an athlete doesn't really need to keep his body working at an optimal level. The point is that it's against the rules and by doing it he risked getting caught, and he got caught, and he's missing valuable development because of it.

[twobrewers]

Jeffress absolutely should not be added to the 40 man roster until he earns it both on and off the field. If you add him now to protect him from a potential lifetime ban, you're enabling his habit and sending a message to Brewer prospects and youngsters in general that you don't have to worry about league rules because your club will bail you out.

That is ridiculous.

 

The Brewers can clearly monitor/test him internally without subjecting him to a lifetime ban. Adding him to the 40-man roster isn't a promotion. He would still pitching and develop his skills in the minor leagues. It's really only a paper transactions.

[JJHardy7]

I'm sure he's spent his signing bonus on supporting drug using friends and members of his entourage. His trade value is very minimal, as one more test and he's done, so no one is giving up more than a middling prospect. As I've said many times, he'll get every chance because of the money invested in him, but it's hard to believe someone that stupid could ever be intelligent enough to get major league hitters out.

Really? There was this one guy with drug problems that played for the Brewers...Paul...something...Molitor? Yea I think that was his name. Let's get real here. You and jack have been against him in other threads and are sticking by your opinion (which is fair). Let's not make generalizations. It's so easy for us to sit here and think the guy is an not intelligent or whatever other words some have said here. He's not intelligent, huh? There have been many more 'intelligent' people that have smoked weed than JJ. I've never met the guy so I'm not throwing him under the bus. From what I've heard, he's a good guy who has made some bad decisions. I'm not going to go out of my way to rip on the guy and I absolutely put him on the 40-man roster. When did a guy on the 40-man have to be a guy that never smoked weed or made bad decisions? Let's step back for a second...I'm not trying to rip on guys on the 40-man this year since I know how much time everyone of them put in, but let's be honest...JJ has more potential than quite a few guys who were on the 40-man (I'm specifically speaking to those not on the 25-man roster).

Do I wish JJ made better decisions? Sure. He did screw up an opportunity. This guy is still very, very, very young. Again, let's all throw stones at him because everyone here must just be so perfect. Let's face it...nobody here knows the exact details of anything related to JJ and the weed. I guess I'm not the kind of person to totally think he is supporting his 'friends' with drugs and has some big entourage.

From a pure baseball standpoint, not putting him on the 40-man would be a major mistake. It won't hurt anything. If something happens during the season and you need a spot, you can always take him off the 40-man. I still am somewhat appalled that around here regarding comments regarding JJ. People apparently have no problem throwing stones at people they've never met...I've never met him so I'm not going to do that. I am disappointed in what he's chosen to do, but by no means am I giving up on him. I do wish him the best and I hate to say it, but if he does make it I hope everyone throwing stones here sticks by their views. People make mistakes...there are hundreds of higher profiled athletes, celebrities, etc. who have made the same or worse mistake.

And to answer the question I don't trade JJ. His value isn't high and if you're going to sell low you might as well release him. And yes...he has been thought of to be an ace. The main question has been whether or not he'll be a starter now given his time away from the game. He may profile now more as a reliever.

[TheCrew07]

This is basically a thread to nowhere, I don't mean any disrepect twobrewers, it's just I view this as a lose/lose situation and conversation. If he comes back and makes it, at the very least he's put his development behind a full season by being suspended for 150 games total thus far. The only reason I'm commenting is because I fimly believe the organization needs his arm in the worst way. I could get pretty excited about Yo, Rogers, and Jeffress at the top of the rotation some day. With Braddock moving to the pen and Parra struggling, we need all of the high ceiling starting pitching talent we can muster.

 

I'm not into releasing him, nor am I into putting him on the 40 man roster just to avoid testing. At some point if he's going to become a player he needs to get serious about his career, if I'm Nichols and Ash, I'm looking to see how handles being up against the wall. If you bail him out, what has he really learned?