the big bat???

[vacin8r]

Everyone seems to be of the opinion that the brewers should obtain some kind of middle of the order bat through trade this offseason. My question is what bats are out there that a team would trade if we are unwilling to give up top prospects such as Yo or Braun? Burrell has been mentioned, but without the Philles getting any of the big name OF FAs this year, I see them holding on to him. Wells has been mentioned but the talk is that he wants to head to the west coast when he reaches free agency next year so wed be giving up major talent for a one year rental. Crawford/Baldelli may be available, but they would require high end pitching both MLB and prospect level(probably no less than Yo for Crawford). Coco Crisp seems to be available soon assuming the red sox dont trade manny, but most dont consider his stick very big(keep your minds out of the gutter). Manny could be available, but we all know he aint gunna be a Brewer. Who the heck is left? I think we could get Emil Brown from the Royals for a mid level prospect and a good bullpen arm like cappellan or perhaps even turnbow. Perhaps the twins could be contacted to see what it would take to get Cuddyer, but I doubt we could meet their price. Adam Dunn is available and probably affordable, I just doubt the Reds would trade him to a divisional rival, at least I wouldnt. Unless Im missing someone, after that there are a bunch of guys their teams would be fools to trade away, and guys no better than jenkins, many for equal or more money. I may be stuck jumping on the keep Jenkins bandwagon after all. Anyways, I guess Im just pointing out that its easy to say go out and get a big bat. However, with free agent prices soaring and not many teams in a full on rebuilding mode, there just isnt a lot of talent out there to be had for a team interested in keeping their team intact and/or keeping their top 2 or 3 prospects. Oh yeah, and I fear the use of paragraphs like Steve Sparks fears phone books.

-Don

[sbrylski]

Haven't read the post yet, but first comment:

 

Paragraphs!

[jwaltz]

As Sam said, paragraphs are your friend. Don't fear them.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing us attempt to aquire Jason Kubel from the Twins. He wasn't all that good last year but he was still recovering from his torn ACL. He should now be fully recovered and ready his bat speed should be close to where it was before. He has the potential to be a very good hitter.

[AJ Love]

I wouldn't trade Yo or Braun so if that's what it would take I would bet on Fielder and Hall as the big bats

[PeaveyFury]

I would absolutely trade Yo for the likes of Crawford or an extended Vernon Wells.

[AJ Love]

I could see Jenkins, Hardy, Miller and Koskie packaged up for Manny Ramirez.... or Jenkins, Hardy and Miller packaged up for Carl Crawford

 

I think we are going to see a big trade like that coming up... 4 or 5 Brewers packaged up for one star player

[twobrewers]

I was always thinking that the "pursuit of the big bat" seemed a little unlikely to provide any real results.

 

Its not like we don't have players who can hit home runs. Why would we sacrafice a top prospect - for someone who isnt' much better than what we might already have?

 

Sure Manny is great. But we aren't going to get him. Crawford would be nice - but is he honestly that much better than Hall? Burrell is so-so - but then we could just keep Jenkins.

 

I think we actually have enough power on our team as it is...

 

Hall could repeat and hit 35HR

Prince should up his pace to around 35HR

Weeks - I hope improves to around 20HR

Hart should be around 20HR in full-time duty

And I don't think it is out of the realm of possibilities to see Jenkins hit 25HR again.

 

I think we have the solid core - they just need to be HEALTHY and produce. Last year everyone thought we were a playoff team. We got injured and underperformed. This year, we return pretty much the same team, only a year older....and everyone is freaking out about all the changes we need?

 

I don't get it. Sure we lost Carlos - but Hall has been WAY better than I think people expected.

[PeaveyFury]

Crawford would be nice - but is he honestly that much better than Hall?

 

Not sure why that's a question, as it's not like Crawford would be replacing Hall.

 

EDIT: The point being, the Brewers need to get better at any position possible to be offensively competitive.

[brettac1]

Jenkins, Hardy and Miller packaged up for Carl Crawford

 

The Rays would be picking up over $6 million and trading one of the best young players in the league for spare parts.

 

The star player that makes sense for them picking up is Crawford, since he doesn't have a $20 million salary and he's not 30.

 

Ramirez is a such an absolute no chance deal - he's got to waive a no-trade, and to do that he'd want the Brewers to pick up his option through 2010. Riiiiiight.

[saget]

I don't think the DRays want grizzled veterans either. They seem to enjoy youth.

[GAME05]

I don't think we necessarily have to move Yo or Braun in a trade. Melvin has said in interviews he still has Carlos' $12 million to spend if needs be, we have some platoon/backup pieces teams might want, and if Jenkins is included, that's some extra $ room, too.

 

There are still some high-dollar FA's out there, so maybe there are some teams hoping to unload a little money to make a stronger offer for a FA. Maybe we get our bat that way.

 

We got a big bat in Lee for Pods. Why can't we do it again?

 

Granted, that leaves Crawford/Baldelli out of the picture...

[colbyjack]

Keep in mind, the D-Rays don't have to move Crawford right now, and they always seem to start dangling the players they will actually lose about two years before they do actually lose that player (Aubrey Huff, Julio Lugo).

 

Even if they do move Crawford, they're going to be looking for talented young pitching in return, and as brett already mentioned, they're not going to simply take some package of our castoffs to make it happen. Whomever they take in return for Crawford will need to be cheap and locked up for a few years.

 

I don't think we necessarily have to move Yo or Braun in a trade. Melvin has said in interviews he still has Carlos' $12 million to spend if needs be, we have some platoon/backup pieces teams might want, and if Jenkins is included, that's some extra $ room, too.

 

There are still some high-dollar FA's out there, so maybe there are some teams hoping to unload a little money to make a stronger offer for a FA. Maybe we get our bat that way.

 

The only big FA bat remaining is J.D. Drew, and it seems as though he's heading to Boston. And keep in mind that Melvin said he would spend the $12 million he originally had on the table for Carlos Lee if the right player/scenario were available. It's not like he's just going to spend that money regardless of what's out there. I don't think the Brewers take a chance on someone like Drew who seems to be injured more often than he is not.

 

I think a trade is more likely. For whom I have no clue, but I think it's more likely that the big bat people are hoping the Brewers acquire is a player already on the team that needs to step up, as a few have already guessed.

[Ralph Wiggum]

When I look at potential big corner outfield bats, the name Wily Mo Pena keeps hitting me. The Red Sox are on the lookout for a closer because they want to move Papelbon to the rotation.

 

I'm willing to bet that we could flip them Coco Cordero for Pena, which I think would be a steal. Pena isn't a great LF, but he's young, and better out there than Lee. I think he's a potential 40 homer/120 RBI guy. I say a rumor that the Sox were interested in a Pena/Chad Cordero swap, so I don't think a trade for Coco is that far-fetched. The Brewers may have to add someone like Damian Miller or a youngish pen arm like Sarfate.

 

Of course, this is under the assumption that Turnbow will rediscover the strike zone, or that Maddux can turn Aquino into a dominant closer.

[twobrewers]

Crawford would be nice - but is he honestly that much better than Hall?

 

Not sure why that's a question, as it's not like Crawford would be replacing Hall.

 

Sorry I didnt explain better - my point was that in order to obtain Crawford we would likely have to give up a player of Hall's ability.

[Weirdos19]

I'm not puting my trust into Turnbow again.

 

I don't think we are going to add a LF without moving a few outfielders first.

 

I think if we add a big bat, it will be a contact big bat. Somebody who doesn't K much.

 

Seems like those are the types of players DM is targeting. We have enough K's in our lineup already, IMHO.

[saget]

Peter Brown wants Andruw Jones

[princeginterhallhelms04]

Peter Brown wants Andruw Jones

 

And i want to listen to Peter Brown with out shutting off the radio but we don't always get what we want!

[GAME05]

"The only big FA bat remaining is J.D. Drew, and it seems as though he's heading to Boston. And keep in mind that Melvin said he would spend the $12 million he originally had on the table for Carlos Lee if the right player/scenario were available. It's not like he's just going to spend that money regardless of what's out there. I don't think the Brewers take a chance on someone like Drew who seems to be injured more often than he is not.

 

I think a trade is more likely. For whom I have no clue, but I think it's more likely that the big bat people are hoping the Brewers acquire is a player already on the team that needs to step up, as a few have already guessed."

----------------------------

 

That's what I meant. Some other team's going to spend big $$ for a Drew or Zito or whoever, might want to dump some current salary, then we sweep in to take some salary off their hands and we get the player we want, without having to give up huge prospects.

[TooLiveBrew]

I think I want to make non-sexual love with twobrewers!!! If only more fans could have such a level-headed mentality. There's just no need to panic. To be honest, I think the "$10 million puzzle piece" Mark A. referred to is a SP. Who that is, I have no clue.

 

If we can add a solid producer to play either LF or CF, great (Lofton, etc). If not, there's no reason to worry and hurry. Braun is going to be ready sooner than we know, and around that time, YoGa, Inman, Rogers, etc will be ready to pitch in MLB.

 

To quote Homer Simpson, to his growling stomach:

 

"Paaatiennnce, my pet...."

[PeaveyFury]

Sorry I didnt explain better - my point was that in order to obtain Crawford we would likely have to give up a player of Hall's ability.

 

No problem, thanks for the clarification. While we might have to give up someone of Hall's ability, it would likely be in prospect form. Most likely an arm like Gallardo. Now, prospects are no sure thing, so we could be giving up the next John Smoltz, or the next Nick Neugebauer. I think we're at the point where the upgrade that a bat like Crawford would provide might be legitimately worth a prospect or two.

[sheetswannabe]

Well one less big bat... Chad Moeller is gone.