Melvin wants 2 starters

[TooLiveBrew]

Ah, I was forgetting that Vazquez is in a contract year. In that case, I'd structure an offer around McGehee + one or some of those MiLB prospects.

[logan82]

I think we end up with a Looper type situation again this offseason. We end up with the odd man out instead of a quality guy. Most of the FA pitchers are over 30 and we don't really want to be tied to them for more than a year or two.

[TooLiveBrew]

Driveline Mechanics has a post up on Rich Harden. I'm obviously not introducing a new name, nor am I speaking in favor of Harden for the first time, but he seems to be another ideal Peterson candidate. DM also did a blog post on Harden back in 2008. Both are worth reading, imho.

 

And Fangraphs has a piece up on Ben Sheets. Not really anything a BF.net frequenter doesn't already know.

[PrinceFielderx1]

Ok. This is what I would do if I were Doug..

 

Sign Lackey

Trade for Bucholtz (I have a feeling that Doug Melvin might get serious and offer Gamel, Salome, Bush for him. That's a way better offer then Hardy for Bucholtz... )

Sign Sheets or Duscherer to a incentive deal.

[Invader3K]

Ok. This is what I would do if I were Doug..

 

Sign Lackey

Trade for Bucholtz (I have a feeling that Doug Melvin might get serious and offer Gamel, Salome, Bush for him. That's a way better offer then Hardy for Bucholtz... )

Sign Sheets or Duscherer to a incentive deal.

Well, that would basically be the ideal off-season right there. I really don't think Boston is going to move Buchholz at this point, though.

[seattlebrew]

I know that the big boys are going to bid on this cuban prize but if Melvin is talking with the agent for lackey why not this guy. Younger, cheaper, and is a lefty that throws 100mph.

 

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=At4HmX3uO8E.HVSIDzR3Trc5nYcB?slug=jp-chapman111209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[Invader3K]

I generally don't trust international free agents, especially ones from Latin America. I don't think he's the kind of signing the Brewers can afford to risk. They're talking like he could get upwards of $50 million or more.

[RockCoCougars]

I generally don't trust international free agents, especially ones from Latin America. I don't think he's the kind of signing the Brewers can afford to risk.

Does anybody remember Ramser Correa? I think he was the Brewers last big international signing. Probably about 20 years ago.

[Hate those Rodents]

Would you want to be paying Matzuzaka now, who was much more proven coming into MLB? I'd pass, and fully realize Chapman might end up being really good.

[brewmann04]

if they would sign him for that money and he becomes a bust it will cripple the Franchise for many years.

[seattlebrew]

if they would sign him for that money and he becomes a bust it will cripple the Franchise for many years.

 

You could say that about anybody. We could re-sign Prince to whatever huge boras-laiden contract and then the first at bat of his new contract he gets cancer and ends up out of baseball. I agree it is a lot of money for a small-market franchise to spend, but nothing risked is nothing gained.

[chadomac]

I don't think you could make ALL of these moves and not be over-budget, but I think we could make one of these two trades:

 

1. I would do what it takes to get Vazquez from the Braves. I don't think Corey Hart has much trade value, but a lot of people here seem to, so maybe Hart + a prospect or two not named Gamel? If we give up Gamel I would want a pitcher that is going to be around past 2010, and Vazquez has one year left on his deal.

 

OR

 

2. I would also try and get Arroyo from the Reds. I read they are trying to free up some money so I bet it wouldn't take as much as you think to get him if you're willing to pay his salary.

 

And then I would sign Bedard and Harden (backup plans of Justin Duchscherer or Ben Sheets) as free agents. That gives you:

 

1 Vazquez

2 Gallardo

3 Harden

4 Bedard

5 Suppan

 

OR

 

1 Gallardo

2 Arroyo

3 Harden (or Justin Duchscherer)

4 Bedard (or Ben Sheets)

5 Suppan

 

I'd prefer Vazquez but I think that trade is harder to pull off. I think the most likely guys to be traded for this pitching we're going to acquire are Gamel or McGehee, Hart, and Parra.

[Invader3K]

Haudricourt has a new blog up, talking about how Sheets' agent says he'll "be ready to go by spring training." Haudricourt still suggests he'll probably end up in Texas. Anyone think Melvin will try to bring Sheets back to Milwaukee, or is it still the case where the bridge is basically burned down?

[JonnyLungs]

Haudricourt has a new blog up, talking about how Sheets' agent says he'll "be ready to go by spring training." Haudricourt still suggests he'll probably end up in Milwaukee. Anyone think Melvin will try to bring Sheets back to Milwaukee, or is it still the case where the bridge is basically burned down?

Are you sure you read that right in the Haudricourt blog? The one I'm reading says he feels it's very unlikely that Sheets will be back and suggests he'll sign with Texas.

[Invader3K]

Whoops, I screwed that up. I'll edit my original post again.

[bklynbrewcrew]

Melvin is really in a tough spot here. Lackey is really the only top of the rotation free agent so a team in a large market will probably overpay for him and the rest of the free agents are bottom of the rotation types. The real intriguing free agents are guys like Sheets and Harden who have huge upside but carry substantial injuury risks with them. Assuming we dont sign Lackey we will probably be forced to overpay for mediocrity or take big risks with the injured guys and who knows how that will turn out.

[silversurferr]

I do not like any of the free agents. Lackey will cost too much for too long. Harden is okay for a year, but any longer than that and we will regret it. Sheets is, well, Sheets. Wolf will cost alot for a little better than average pitcher. Bedard seems to be an injury prone weinie. Washburn and Davis are garbage (like Suppan and Looper). The best way to improve is to trade. I think Halladay is unlikely but not impossible. That means Gamel and Hart. Possibly Parra. And others. That being said, Atlanta is the most likely trade partner for Lowe or Vazquez.

[twobrewers]

The Brewers really could use an innings eater with Gallardo and Parra in the rotation.

 

How about a pitcher, who could have been had for NOTHING last year? (As he cleared waivers)

 

Bronson Arroyo's last 12 starts were all over 7 innings with less than 3 ER. He had over 20 quality starts last year. He has pitched over 200 innings in each of the past 5 years.

 

He is signed for 2010 at $11M. With an option for 2012 for $11M. ($2m buyout)

 

I'm still mad that we didn't grab him for nothing.With those last 12 starts - we might have actually played meaningful baseball in September.

[Ennder]

I'm ok with Arroyo but just be ready for some terrible starts mixed in. He is that type of guy who seems to just get hammered 4 or 5 times a year where he can't do anything. I know because he's had those periods each of the past 2 years and I've picked him up off waivers on my fantasy team when his owner gave up on him, heh.

[twobrewers]

Arroyo has two outings in 2008 of less than 2 innings and more than 7 runs.

 

He had one such outing in 2009.

 

No doubt that he certainly has his "blow ups" - but I'm willing to sacrafice a few games. If anything, those "blow ups" make his year end stats deceiving.

[ILuvDaBush]

I'd rather try on Harang. With Rick Peterson in fold, he would be the better target IMHO. Arroyo would be like Soup part deux. Two former Red Sox retreads who are on one year expensive contracts.

[Hate those Rodents]

Not sure why Harang or Arroyo are mentioned so much. My guess is that the Reds aren't happy that Doug wouldn't trade JJ in the division, so I'd expect them to now be unwilling to deal either pitcher into the division.

[twobrewers]

They were both placed on waivers, and cleared, last season.

 

Cincinnati already tried to give them away for free.

[dadofandrew]

Players claimed on waivers are almost always pulled back, if they have any value at all. Almost every player put on waivers clears, as teams know they'll be pulled back. Vernon Wells was the first player to go through in ages.

[brewmann04]

I still believe one will be Mulder and the other will be a hugh risk and high reward guy.