Brewers Working on a Deal for Shannon Stewart?

[brewerfan82]

This was mentioned in the Brewer Rumors thread, but according to Ben Maller, the Brewers are working on a one year deal for Shannon Stewart:

 

www.benmaller.com/#123033

 

 

Edit: fixed spelling of last name

[brewerfan82]

I've always liked the guy as he's always had a good average (.300+ in six of the last eight seasons and never below .274 in the last ten seasons). If he can get his OBP back up to his pre-2005 range (between .363 and .380) he'd be a great leadoff option for this team.

 

Of course, this is all provided he stays healthy...

[aracko]

Id rather take my chances with guys on the roster than Stewart. I love new players and he doesnt do anything at all for me to be honest. Sad thing is he would probably cost 2+ Mill.

[trwi7]

I know he's had injuries but what are they? Are they nagging injuries that could likely happen again, freak injuries?

[aracko]

Although if we got him he would probably play LF - which means Billy Hall can play CF.

[endaround]

More ehhh. Not an upgrade and a large injury risk. He'll be cheap and thats about it.

 

EDIT: He hasn't played in more than 140 games since 2002 when he had 141. Last year it was 44, 2005 132, and 2004 92. He's as fragile as Drew without the offense or defense.

[JohnBriggs12]

When he could run, he was a nice player.

 

This would have to be a heavy incentive laded type deal because the last two seasons he's not been very good. Part of that undoubtedly because he played some when he was hurting but is he really healthy now? He also hasn't really hit lefties any better than righties so I wouldn't say he's an ideal platoon type.

 

twri7, he's had plantar fascitis in his feet that seems to be recurring and chronic.

 

Maybe going from turf to grass will help.

[cooprules]

Quote:

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I know he's had injuries but what are they? Are they nagging injuries that could likely happen again, freak injuries?

---

 

He's got "plantar fasciitis".

 

www.kffl.com/player/5558/mlb

[splitterpfj]

Stewart is confined to LF due to a poor arm, and now his feet are hurt all the time......I'm completely disinterested. This WAS a good player, but that's not today.

[aracko]

I have "plantar fasciitis" and you would have to be REALLY tough to play OF with this and be really effective. It definatly makes you get going alot slower. Slower jumps on balls and slower out of the box?

 

NO THANKS

[JohnBriggs12]

From American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website:

 

"If you don't treat plantar fascitis, it may become a chronic condition. You may not be able to keep up your level of activity and you may develop symptoms of foot, knee, hip and back problems because the plantar fascitis changes the way you walk".

 

And we're considering this guy?

[brewerfan82]

For comparison sake, here are the stats for the three recently mentioned outfielders:

 

Shannon Stewart

Age AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS Salary

2004 30 378 46 11 47 6 3 .304 .380 .447 .827 $5.5mil

2005 31 551 69 10 56 7 5 .274 .323 .388 .711 $6.0mil

2006 32 174 21 2 21 3 1 .293 .347 .368 .715 $6.5mil

 

162 Gm Avg 658 104 14 71 25 9 .299 .364 .439 .803 (career)

 

 

Kenny Lofton

Age AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS Salary

2004 37 276 51 3 18 7 3 .275 .346 .395 .741 $3.1mil

2005 38 367 67 2 36 22 3 .335 .392 .420 .812 $3.1mil

2006 39 469 79 3 41 32 5 .301 .360 .403 .763 $3.8mil

 

162 Gm Avg 628 119 10 61 49 13 .299 .372 .423 .795 (career)

 

 

Steve Finley

Age AB R HR RBI SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS Salary

2004 39 628 92 36 94 9 7 .271 .333 .490 .823 $7.0mil

2005 40 406 41 12 54 8 4 .222 .271 .374 .645 $6.0mil

2006 41 426 66 6 40 7 0 .246 .320 .394 .714 $7.0mil

 

162 Gm Avg 593 91 19 74 20 8 .272 .333 .444 .777 (career)

[brewerfan82]

I knew he had recent injury problems, but I hadn't realized it was a possibly chronic condition. I can't imagine we'd sign him if we thought he was still having problems, so hopefully Dougie checks his facts before agreeing to anything.

 

That said, IF it hasn't become a chronic problem, I'd take him over Lofton...and I want NOTHING to do with Finley.

[cooprules]

If he could somehow prove the condition is better I woudn't mind "settling" for him but he's not someone we should be looking at in November. Maybe in February.

[MadisonBrewerBlue]

seems like a big gamble to me. made $6 mil last year. hasn't played in tons of games in years. oft injured. what has he done lately ? Not much

[endaround]

Stewart at this point is nice pinch hitter. Thats really it. But if the Brewers see him more than the #5 OFer it shows they have given up on truly competing in 2007.

[Klements Bratwurst]

I thought we were done looking at players like this? #5 Outfielder is as best he could be. I would certainly take TGJ to perform this role.....

[twobrewers]

Nothing too exciting here.

 

Meeh...

 

But, I think you can figure out part of the reason the brewers are targeting him is that he doesn't strike out.

 

If he is healthy and can make contact....maybe.

[bucksman4]

I say why not?

 

If it's a one-yr deal as advertised, it's not much of a risk financially. Plus, I don't think much of Gross/Gwynn/Mench/Jenkins/Nix in the OF mix right now, so why not give the guy a shot? He's a .300 hitter and he'll make some contact out there. Could wind up being an excellent signing IF he stays healthy.

[vacin8r]

Is this all part of doug melvins new master plan of carying 75 outfielders? I figure if we could get 3 who hit well against every starting pitcher in the NL central we should have a pretty solid super platoon going. With some probably being able to hit more than one, you may even be able to cut it down to 50 or 60 outfielders. It may take some creative use of the disabled list however.

on a serious note, Im not sure I want to add any outfielder who isnt at least well better than at least 4 of the ones we have, at least until we can trim the current list to no more than 5 or 6.

-don

[And That]

A Stewart/Jenkins platoon in LF wouldn't be that bad, but would Stewart cost less than Mench, and would Stewart sign here just to platoon?

 

If he signed, I guess that'd be encouraging about Hall's chances to play CF.

[princeginterhallhelms04]

Use to love stewart he was a pretty good player but i don't want to mess around with his injuries. Also why can't we just give the job to Hart. An OF of Jenkins/Hart/Hall is fine with me.

[JohnBriggs12]

That's right vacin8r, 75 outfielders to pinch hit for the 115 man pitching staff and to run for the 35 catchers.

 

We won't get into the infield just yet, but Melvin's working on 3B now with 4, so I think he's planning on at least 16 there.

 

Anybody know how far along construction is on that 4 tiered dugout expansion?

[colbyjack]

Someone already mentioned this, but Stewart isn't even the most ideal platoon mates since, as a right-handed hitter, he actually hits RHPs better than LHPs. So platooning him with Jenkins, or even Gabe Gross (which was my first thought) really wouldn't solve anything there.

 

And of course you have the injury situation.

 

I do agree with the idea that if the Brewers are indeed interested in Stewart it may mean they aren't as serious about Hall playing LF. I have always liked Stewart as a hitter for his ability to hit for a high average and get on base, but if they're talking about a 1-year deal, again, I still prefer Kenny Lofton.

[brewerfan82]

Quote:

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Someone already mentioned this, but Stewart isn't even the most ideal platoon mates since, as a right-handed hitter, he actually hits RHPs better than LHPs. So platooning him with Jenkins, or even Gabe Gross (which was my first thought) really wouldn't solve anything there.

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An all right-handed platoon in leftfield with Mench is an interesting possibility. I have to believe that two of Jenkins, Clark and Mench will be dealt this offseason and if Mench is the one who sticks, I wouldn't mind a Stewart/Mench platoon in left with Hall/Hart/Gross covering center and right.