The $60 million dollar challenge. Build the '07 Brewers.

[Brew Man Dan]

They payroll has been increaesing every year about 10 mil or so, so how about the $70 million dollar challange?

[Klements Bratwurst]

I asked this on another thread, but I want to ask again. Did management make any indication that they will jump to $70 million next year? All I heard so far is that Attanasio stated at a business meeting in Milwaukee that they will entertain a $60 million payroll. Anyone know if this was stated or speculation?

 

With the jump in attendance this year, I would hope they would hit a higher number than $60 million, provided they are smart about how they do it.....

[rluzinski]

I thought Mark A. went out and said they have a $70 mil budget next year. Hopefully I didn't make that up.

[Team Canada]

From MJS, 7/27:

 

"Next year, Attanasio said, the team's payroll will increase to $60 million, which will allow the team to keep pace with smaller-market teams like the Minnesota Twins."

 

LINK

[rluzinski]

"Next year, Attanasio said, the team's payroll will increase to $60 million, which will allow the team to keep pace with smaller-market teams like the Minnesota Twins."

 

Wow. I added $10 mil for no particular reason. Opps. I

 

t will still be pretty easy for Melvin to resign anyone on the team, even if he can't dump Jenkin's/Clark's salary. Just don't resign Mench (I hope).

 

What's funny about Mark A's comments:

 

1. The Twins had a payroll over $60 mil THIS year.

 

2. Mark doesn't know what "pace" the Twins will even set for 2007.

[vacin8r]

I know this is 8.8mil over the $60mil cap, but I think this team would be worth it. of course its contigent on what free agents go for and trades to be made.

 

C&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Damien Miller&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $3,750,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

C&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Mike Rivera&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $350,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

1B&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Prince Fielder&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $350,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

2B&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Rickie Weeks&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $650,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

3B&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Corey Koskie&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $2,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

SS&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Bill Hall&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $4,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp signed to 3 year 15mil 4/5/6

IF&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Tony Graffanino&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $2,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp signed to 2 year 4 mil deal 2/2

IF&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Jeff Cirillo&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $1,250,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp signed to 1 year 1.25mil deal

OF&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Kevin Mench&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $4,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

OF&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Carl Crawford&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $4,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp traded sheets, turnbow, villanueva and $2mil

OF&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Corey Hart&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $350,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

OF&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Gabe Gross&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $350,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

OF&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Tony Gwynn Jr&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $350,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

SP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Jason Schmidt&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $13,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp free agent 4 years 49mil 13/14/12/10

SP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Chris Capuano&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $4,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp 4mil in arby

SP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Vicente Padilla&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $7,500,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp free agent 4 years 30 mil 7.5/8.5/7/7

SP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Dave Bush&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $350,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

SP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Yo/Eve/Zac/Saf&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $350,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

CP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Francisco Cordero&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $5,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

RP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Justin Speir&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $3,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp free agent 3 years 10 mil 3/3.5/4

RP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Matt Wise&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $1,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

RP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Brian Shouse&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $1,500,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

RP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Rafael Soriano&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $3,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp traded jenkins, hardy, and $4mil

RP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Jose Capellan&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $350,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

RP&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp eve/saf/hen&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $350,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp departed trades&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $6,000,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp total payroll&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp $68,800,000&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp

 

 

not a bad lineup of:

crawford

weeks

fielder

hall

koskie

2 spots filled by hart/mench/gross depending on l/r matchup

miller

pitcher

 

and a very good pitching staff to boot, although i hate losing sheets, schmidt is a good stop gap #1 until we find another #1(calling mr gallardo, mr gallardo, you have a phone call in 2008/2009)

 

-don

[Invader3K]

Maybe the team should just have a fire sale and save up for two or three years, and then buy a championship. The Marlins have won two world championships in the span of about 12 years, so it can't be that bad of an approach.

[mothershipconnection]

CBS sportsline has Weeks at $1.22M this year. Is that because he signed a major league deal after being drafted?

His bonus is being spread out, and was raised because he made the opneing day roster in 2006.

Here's a LINK regarding his contract.

[monkeyman343434]

from what i took from that article, is that between August of 2003 (when Rickie signed the deal) he is/was owed $5.1 million. He received $2 million before January of 04 for part of his 3.6 million dollar signing bonus, leaving $1.6 million to be spread out over 04,05,06 and 07... 400,000 a year? add that onto his salary this year from the big league team 330,000? .. that should equal about 730,000 for him? not? am i missing something?

[Crewin06]

New to the Forum. I have been watching for a while now and just wanted to give it a try.

 

Trades:

1.) Jenkins and Mark Rogers for Pat Burrell and 10 million from the Phillies. Pat Burrell is due 29 Million over the next 2 seasons and Philadelphia has soured on him. I like his .890 OPS and think he can easily replace Lee's production in the lineup.

 

2.) Mench for best available offer. If nobody wants him. Dont offer him arbitration unless it is for less than 1.5 million. I think his production can be reproduced by Hart or Gross or any other outfielder in the Majors. There is no reason to have a $4 million outfielder with an OPS under .800 that sucks on defense on a low budget roster.

 

3.) Offer Bell and Graffinino arbitration. Hopefully someone picks them up in Free Agency and the Brewers get draft picks in return.

 

4.) Offer Tomo Ohka Arbitration or a 2 year 10 million dollar offer max. If He accepts great but I doubt he will. The first round pick will be good enough

 

5.) Offer Hall Arbitration- hopefully it is only 3-4 Million. Try to sign to multi year contract.

 

6.) Sign Doug Davis to a 2 year 11 million dollar contract.

 

7.) Offer Capuano arbitration 4.5 million

 

8.) Sign Greg Madux to a 1 year $5 million contract for either end of rotation or long bull pen. Hopefully Mike Maddux can talk him into it.

 

9.) Offer Shouse arbitration

 

10.) re-sign Cirillo for 1.5 million

Starting pitching

1.) Sheets 10

2.) Capuano 4.5

3.) Bush .4

4.) Davis 5

5.) Maddux 5

20 million

 

Bullpen

Eveland .35

Shouse 1

Turnbow 2.3

Cappellan .35

Helling 1

Gonzalez 1

Cordero 5

11 Million

 

Lineup

2B-Weeks .4

CF-Gwynn .35

SS- Hall 3

1B- Prince .4

LF- Burrell 8

3B- Koskie 2

RF- Hart .35

C- Miller 3.75

17.75

 

Bench

Rivera .4

Hardy .35

Cirrillo 1.5

Gross .35

Clark 3.8

6.4

 

BTW- I would shed Clark's salary to whoever would take it. I just dont know if I would have any takers.

 

This would also allow a chance for Villanueva, Jackson, Hendrickson, Eveland to challenge for the starting rotation and would leave Gallardo in the minors for a mid season callup when a starter gets injured.

 

Total team Salary= 55.15 million

 

My Projections for 2007's lineup would be

1.) Weeks (.290 AVG, .380 OBP, 35 steals, 15 HR, 110 runs)

2.) Gwynn (.270 AVG, .350 OBP, 25 steals, 70 runs with split time w/ Clark)

3.) Hall (.930 OPS, 35 HR, 110 RBI)

4.) Prince (.900 OPS, 35 HR, 110 RBI)

5.) Burrell (.880 OPS, 30 HR, 110 RBI)

6.) Koskie (.830 OPS, injured halfway thru the season

7.) Hart (.850 OPS)

8.) Miller

 

Personally I wouldnt mind an upgrade at center but it is highly doubt

[sbrylski]

I actually like the idea of trading for Burrell. His stats over the last two years are great, especially his OBP - .272 / .387 / .507 / .894.

 

I don't know if they would take on Jenkins though. I would think something more like Mench, Rogers, and Eveland/Jackson for Burrell plus the $10 million. I would be happy with that.

[Crewin06]

I think the phillies are dying to unload him that is why I included Jenkins, because I did not want his salary and it would make burrell's salary easier to take. The reason I do not like doing Mench is because we don't really owe Mench a salary next year. By including Mench instead of Jenkins essentially you are adding 7 million to the cap next year.

 

But I think you were right maybe they would have to sweeten it more by adding someone of Zach Jackson's calibur.

 

Or if they wanted the deal of Mench, Rogers, Jackson maybe they could add another 3-4 million to the deal because that is about how much we would need to get rid of Geoff Jenkins.

[endaround]

No way do you need to give up real prospects to get Burell. Mench for Burell plus $8 million or Jenkins for Burell plus $4 million would be enough I'd think.

[sbrylski]

No way do you need to give up real prospects to get Burell. Mench for Burell plus $8 million or Jenkins for Burell plus $4 million would be enough I'd think.

 

If that's the case then Melvin should pull the trigger. I really like this idea.

[aracko]

The one move I really would like to see is for the Brewers to go out and sign GIL MECHE. I love this guys stuff and think Gil has Ace potential is is just now hitting 27 years old. 4 years, 28 million.

 

Resign Hall - although I think its going to take more than 3 years 12 million. I think the true number will be something like 3 years 18 million and we better get it done before the Yankees and Redsox can get in teh bidding.

[sbrylski]

My Edited Plan

 

 

Catchers

 

Damian Miller is getting pretty old and we are already seeing a decline in his production. I think we pick up Damian's option, as I think he has at least one more solid year left in him.

 

Pick up option on C Damian Miller (1 year / $3.75 million)

 

To help keep Miller healthy and productive, I will go out and find him another catcher to share time with. This new catcher will also take over for Miller after 2007 and serve as a stop-gap until Salome or another option is available. Looking at FA-to-be, I select Javier Valentin. He is relatively young, and has shown some pretty good flashes at the plate. He also has a plus arm, gunning down over 40% of runners, IIRC. Other options would include Greg Zaun, Rod Barajas, and Bengie Molina.

 

Sign FA C Javier Valentin (3 years / $7.5 million)

 

Mike Rivera goes back to AAA and would be an excellent option to call up in case of injury. If Rivera continues to preform well at the plate, he could also be considered as an in-house option to take over after 2007, or continue his role as backup catcher and a new starter is aquired after the 2007 season. I'm not sure Rivera can continue to bat as well as he has been, and I also have a concern with his arm behind the plate (14 SB / 1 CS - 7%).

 

EDIT: Rivera's production has tailed off a bit, though is still respectable. His SB/CS percentage also balanced out alittle bit, as it now stands at 19%. I still think it would be beneficial to sign a FA catcher. Miller could completely bomb at any minute, and Rivera isn't anything more than a decent backup. I still sign Javier Valentin, who has had a great August. Against RHP, he has a line of .291 / .325 / .494 for the season while Miller has bat better verse LHP throughout his career. He has a .868 OPS split this year.

 

 

Infield

 

Almost no moves have to be made in the infield, especially if Koskie is able to return from his injury. Hall and Koskie make great platoon partners at 3B, but Hall deserves to play everyday, so he will start against RHP at SS. Hardy gets starts at SS verse LHP, while Hall is at third and Koskie is on the bench, but he has to earn his way back into an everyday starting spot. Fielder and Weeks anchor the right side of the infield. For my last infield spot, I resign Cirillo. He can fill in at 3B, 2B, or 1B, and has excelled in his backup role. I think he has one more year in him.

 

Resign IF Jeff Cirillo (1 year / $900 k)

 

If for some reason Koskie cannot return or if Cirillo retires, then I would make Graffanino my top option as a backup infielder to resign.

 

EDIT: First off, I am beginning to doubt that Koskie will be returning next year, though I'm still going to assume that he does come back. Also, if he's not, it might not be possible to resign Graffanino due to another team giving him a for sure starters role. In that case, Rottino stays on the big league team as the 5th infielder.

 

As Hardy hopefully re-establishes himself as an everyday player, he can get more time at SS. Against RHP, Hall can shift out to CF and Gross to LF, pushing Mench out of the lineup.

 

Also, we should buy out Hall's arby years.

 

Sign UTIL Bill Hall (3 years / $15 million)

 

Outfield

 

We should shop Jenkins around. I have been a big supporter of Jenkins in the past, but now it appears he has begun to decline. He is also only a part time player, and we have plenty of left handed outfield bats. I don't have high hopes for the return, but I feel we can aquire a good young reliever without having to pay for any of Jenkins salary. I figured one team that would have an interest in a corner outfielder would be the Giants, with both Bonds and Alou possibly on their way out. A pitcher from their team that I targeted was Jack Taschner. He's a lefty who pitched great in 24 appearences for the Giants last year (1.59 ERA / 1.24 WHIP), but struggled pretty bad in just 4.1 innings to start this year. He was optioned back down and has pitched very well in AAA. He's also from Milwaukee, but not that young anymore. He will be 28 next season. The goal of this trade is to aquire the best relief pitcher that we can for Jenkins, and one who will hopefully be in the teams plans for the next couple of years. Hopefully we can get someone more established than Taschner, but I will set the bar low.

 

Trade OF Geoff Jenkins to San Fransisco for RP Jack Taschner

 

Next, I would call around to see what it would take to bring in a stud CFer. In particular: David DeJesus, Carl Crawford, and Andruw Jones. I fully expect to get shot down on all my offers, as I will be unwilling to part with Gallardo, and Braun in my talks with Atlanta. I won't offer as much for Jones because he is expensive and wouldn't be with the team after next year. So plan B in CF would be to platoon Gross and Clark. By batting Gross against RHP, and Clark against LHP, using this years stats we would be getting .887 OPS points out of the position, which is very good.

 

That gives us the starting OF of Mench - Gross/Clark - Hart. In house options for the 5th OFer would be Tony Gwynn Jr. and Laynce Nix. Unfortunately, they are both left handed batters and would likely be very bad options against LHP. When we are facing a LHP, Clark is starting in CF, so our 4th OFer is Gabe Gross. Gross is 0-15 against lefties this year, so he is also a bad option. For this reason, I feel we should look outside the organization for a backup corner OFer. As I was scouring some FA-to-be lists, I came across a seemingly obvious choice: Gabe Kapler. He is a right handed batter who hits both lefties and righties equally well. He is a career .271 / .330 / .422 hitter, which profiles into a very good backup. He has above average range and an above average arm, and was with Melvin in Texas.

 

Sign FA OF Gabe Kapler (2 years / $4 million)

 

Tony Gwynn Jr. and Laynce Nix will remain in AAA. Gwynn could use some more time developing, and I need to see more out of Nix before I give him a big league spot.

 

EDIT: I've changed my mind about signing a backup outfielder in free agency hence the gray font. I think an outfield of Mench, Gross, Hart, Clark and Gwynn/Nix would be fine, especially if Hall starts to get time in CF. If we did though, a better target might be Jose Cruz Jr., who has put up some great OPS numbers against LHP over the last 4 years - .924, .951, .829, .924.

 

I also want to say that a trade for Andruw Jones should probably be explored. I still expect him to be priced a bit higher than I would like to pay, but if he can be had for a reasonable deal without giving up Gallardo, Inman or Braun, he would fit in very well with my long term plan. Plugging him into CF would push Gross over to RF, and keep Mench on the bench more often. He would be a great bat to plug into the middle of our lineup. I don't expect us to resign him, but in 2008 Braun would come up to play 3B and Hall could be shifted to CF full time. Jones would be the best "stop-gap" ever, but I still wouldn't give up very much to aquire a stop-gap no matter how good he is. It would be a great way to boost the offense and energize the team however. Even though I would like to aquire him, I do think his bat is overrated a bit. It is very good for a CF, but a career OBP of .343 and OPS of .846 is nothing stellar.

 

Pat Burrell is another potential trade target, though I am very high on Gross and Hart. Burrell is ripped on by the media but management may still want to keep him around and he does have a no-trade clause that would have to be waived.

 

 

Starting Pitchers

 

Sheets in back, as is Bush. We might as well buy out Capuano now. Davis goes to arbitration, and next year is likely his last as a Brewer. Previously, I wanted to resign Ohka, but with concerns over his health and recent preformance, it might be better to let him walk.

 

Sign SP Chris Capuano (3 years / $16 mill[/i]

 

I am not comfortable with simply handing Doug Davis a job next year and relying on a youngster in the rotation. So in an effort to create more competition in the rotation and to add more depth, I would go after a free agent pitcher comparable to Ohka. Personally, I like Vincente Padilla. His 4.27 ERA and 1.34 WHIP this year are pretty respectable in a hitters park. He would be a good bet to give us an ERA anywhere from 4.00 to 4.50 next year, and he has potential to do even better.

 

Sign FA SP Vincente Padilla (3 years / $18 million)

 

Now we have a rotation of Sheets, Capuano, Bush, Padilla, and one of Davis, Villanueva, Eveland and Jackson. We are deep and well protected from injury. With what happened this year, we should all know that you can never have enough depth.

 

 

Relief Pitchers

 

Picking up Cordero's option is a must.

 

Pick up option on RP Fransisco Cordero (1 year / $5 million)

 

Wise, Capellan and Turnbow all return. We go to arbitration with Shouse. One more spot is taken up by the 6th starter, likely Davis or Villanueva. That leaves one spot. I think we need to go out and sign an arm. Someone to really solidify the bullpen. The lefty Jamie Walker has had an ERA in the threes or lower for the last five years, including a 1.93 ERA this year. He will be 35 next year. It might cost a bit to get him, but he would really solidify the pen into one of the best in the NL.

 

Sign FA RP Jamie Walker (3 years / $8 million)

 

If the market goes high for Walker, there are some other options. Signing Walker puts guys like Taschner, Sarfate and Spurling on the outside looking in, though they would have a chance to win a job in ST.

 

 

Summary

 

Trade Geoff Jenkins to San Fransisco for RP Jack Taschner

 

Sign FA C Javier Valentin (3 years / $7.5 million)

Sign FA SP Vincente Padilla (3 years / $18 mil)

Sign FA RP Jamie Walker (3 years / $8 million)

 

Resign Jeff Cirillo (1 year / $900 k)

 

Pick up option on Fransisco Cordero ($5 million)

Pick up option on Damian Miller ($3.75 million)

 

Buyout Arbitration for Capuano (3 years / $16 million)

Buyout Arbitration for Hall (3 years / $15 million)

 

Arbitration for Davis (~$4,000,000)

Arbitration for Shouse (~$1,000,000)

Arbitration for Mench (~$3,000,000)

 ------ ROSTER ------ Starting Pitchers Catchers ----------------- -------- 1. Ben Sheets $10,000,000 Damian Miller $ 3,750,000 2. Chris Capuano $ 4,000,000* Javier Valentin $ 2,000,000* 3. Vincente Padilla $ 5,500,000* 4. Dave Bush $ 352,000 Infielders 5. Doug Davis $ 4,000,000* ---------- Prince Fielder $ 329,000 Relief Pitchers Rickie Weeks $ 500,000 --------------- Bill Hall $ 3,500,000* LR Carlos Villanueva $ 327,000 Corey Koskie $ 2,000,000 MR Jamie Walker $ 2,500,000* J.J. Hardy $ 355,000 MR Matt Wise $ 1,000,000 Jeff Cirillo $ 900,000* MR Jose Capellan $ 350,000 SU Derrick Turnbow $ 2,300,000 Outfielders SU Brian Shouse $ 1,000,000* ----------- CL Fransisco Cordero $ 5,000,000 Kevin Mench $ 3,000,000* Brady Clark $ 3,800,000 ----------- Gabe Gross $ 335,000 Pitching Payroll $36,329,000 Corey Hart $ 329,000 Tony Gwynn $ 327,000 ----------- Positional Payroll $21,125,000 ---------------------------------- Total Payroll $57,454,000 ---------------------------------- Depth Charts Lineups ------------ ------- POS 1 2 3 --- ------- ------- ------- C Miller Valentin 1. 2B Weeks - R 1B Fielder Valentin Cirillo 2. CF Gross - L 2B Weeks Hall Cirillo 3. 1B Fielder - L vs RHP 3B Koskie Hall Cirillo 4. SS Hall - R SS Hall Hardy 5. RF Hart - R LF Mench Gross 6. 3B Koskie - L CF Gross Clark Hall 7. LF Mench - R RF Hart Gross 8. C Miller - R POS 1 2 3 --- ------- ------- ------- C Miller Valentin 1. 2B Weeks - R 1B Fielder Valentin Cirillo 2. CF Clark - R 2B Weeks Hall Cirillo 3. 1B Fielder - L vs LHP 3B Hall Cirillo Koskie 4. 3B Hall - R SS Hardy Hall 5. LF Mench - R LF Mench Gross 6. RF Hart - R CF Clark Hall Gwynn 7. SS Hardy - R RF Hart Gross 8. C Miller - R

[TheEndless7]

I think you're insane to think than any starting pitcher will sign a 3 year 5.5 million dollar deal. Even Mediocre ones were getting 5 years 6-8 mil last year, and prices don't go down.

[plowjockey]

Great stuff. That must have been a lot of fun putting it together. As I reported in another thread, reoprts here in Texas are that Padilla is a real locker room cancer, so we'd need to proceed with caution. This guy seems to have a real problem with booze and needs to clean up his life before I'd be an enabler and dump a load of money and security on him. Pitching bereft Texas does not want to resign him, and he has been real productive for them this year. I do love the idea of signing Valentin, and if that does not work out, Barajas would be an equally solid alternative.

[sbrylski]

As I reported in another thread, reoprts here in Texas are that Padilla is a real locker room cancer, so we'd need to proceed with caution.

 

Did not know this. Plenty of other similar otions, such as Suppan, Marquis, Gil Meche, and Ted Lilly. Maybe we could get a younger guy, like a Dave Bush, for Geoff Jenkins.

I think you're insane to think than any starting pitcher will sign a 3 year 5.5 million dollar deal. Even Mediocre ones were getting 5 years 6-8 mil last year, and prices don't go down.

 

I was thinking something along the lines of $5.5, $6, $6.5 each year respectively, as I said a 3 year / $18 million deal. If we have to bump the per year salary up $500k or even a mil to get one of the pitchers listed above, so be it, but I don't think I'm that far off, nor insane.

[thefutureishere2006]

remember who else was locker room cancer? carlos lee.............. not advocating padilla....but not buying into it either.

[TheEndless7]

I'd take a pitcher for that amount of money, specially a end of the rotation starter, but I don't think you'll get one for that low in the FA market. Another Dave Bush would be more likely ((and more useful IMO))

[tigerbrew]

Quote:

---

Sign FA SP Vincente Padilla (3 years / $16 million)

---

 

Sbrylski, excellent to read that I'm not the only one who wants Padilla this off-season. I suspect he will cost the brewers a little more than that as the rangers want him back too.

[sbrylski]

Just noticed a bit of an error with my post. I have Padilla's contract listed as an $18 million deal in one spot and a $16 million in another. I meant $18 million. Still, as others pointed out, a bit more might have to be added.

[DHonks]

I've long liked Padilla. But with a rotation 1-4 of Sheets, Davis, Cappy, and Bush, I think I'd rather break in one of the youngsters. I'd rather it be in the more traditional 5th starter's role, where he gets skipped, and has to do some work out of the pen. That's because we should be able to win games with our top 4. I like letting a youngster get his feet wet in the 5th spot.

 

Ideally, the organization needs to figure out what they have in Mench. It seems likely that they open 2007 with Gross in LF/CF and Hart in RF. Jenkins seems a 50-50 proposition for RF, and I'd give Mench a 75% chance of manning LF on opening day. I think Clark will be dealt. And I would be comfortable with Nix and Krynzel as the 4th and 5th OF's, since both can play defense. The reason I mention Krynzel is that his skills profile decently for the 25th man. Of course, if it comes down to him or Rottino, I'd take Vinny.

[sbrylski]

But with a rotation 1-4 of Sheets, Davis, Cappy, and Bush, I think I'd rather break in one of the youngsters.

 

I think it depends on how much confidence you have in Davis, and how much you have in the youngsters. I figured I had some money left over, so why not really solidify and deepen the starting rotation, though we could be fine without signing a SP. But two injuries again and look out.