remaining free agents as of 12/31 - potential Brewers appeal?

[monty57]

That's the problem. He's never had plate discipline, and people think he's good. When he was told / ordered to take more pitches, his walk rate went up, but he lost all his power. I hope he can put it together from here, but how often does someone with no discipline all of a sudden develop discipline this late in his career?

[Ennder]

Harts career ISO is .197 and last year was .158, that isn't some huge drop. It is a couple HRs in a shortened season.

 

His BB% hung around 7% until 2008 and then last year it was over 9%. In the minors it was 7% as well. There is no reason to think Hart can't grow into a 9% BB rate. His ISO in the minors was .197 which suggests the career rate probably is closer to his real talent than last year. He isn't going to be a star most likely but he certainly could be adequate or slightly better.

[davego]

Corey came up short in some big spots the past two years (or at least the last part of 2008). That certainly works against his status with fans.

[MNBrew]

Time to update the list again, 3.5 weeks after first posting it. Clearance prices are on their way. Plenty of decent guys still available. I'm rooting hard for...

 

P: Bedard & Mulder

OF: Baldelli or Winn

IF: Nomar or Lopez

 

... to end up Brewers -- most especially Bedard & Baldelli! -- though a move or two may need to happen to clear enough payroll space.

 

With tons of teams still with big needs & at least some

$$ to spend, there

are only 12 changes to this list over the past 25 days (6 in the first 9 days, only 6 more in the last 16):

 

 

Infield (Brewers still need depth):

 

 

Nomar Garciaparra (more likely on the corners)

 

Eric Hinske (corners + corner OF) signed w/ Braves

 

Orlando Hudson (only if Weeks gets hurt between now & ST)

 

Aubrey Huff (corners + corner OF)

signed w/ Giants

Felipe Lopez

 

Mark Loretta (sunset of his career, but still wish we'd never let him go)

announced his retirement

Melvin Mora

 

Miguel Tejada

signed w/ Orioles

 

Outfielders (potentially as 3rd/4th starter or more-solid-than-Gerut reserve):

 

 

Garrett Anderson (LH bat)

 

Rick Ankiel (more name than actual value I think, but some solid skills)

signed w/ Royals

Rocco Baldelli (low risk, potentially very solid reward, proven history in CF) -- on my original paper version, forgot him on

this list

 

Endy Chavez (solid production, experienced part-timer, could be CF or 4th OF)

 

Johnny Damon (not likely, but still a solid player, would start)

 

Jermaine Dye (if Hart were moved to CF or in trade)

 

Vlad Guerrero (not likely -- more realistically a DH from here on out) signed w/ Rangers

 

Matt Holliday (highly unlikely -- would also weaken St.L.!) re-signed w/ Cardinals

 

Scott Podsednik (LH, CF or corners, still hits well & has good speed) signed w/ Royals

 

Randy Winn (see Dye comment)

 

 

Pitchers, non-injured:

 

 

Doug Davis signed w/ Brewers -- YEA!

Jon Garland

 

Braden Looper

 

Pedro Martinez

 

Brett Myers (?) signed w/ Astros

 

Joel Piniero (big $$ expected after contract-year wonder-production)

signed w/ Angels

Jarrod Washburn

 

 

Pitchers, injury recoveries:

 

 

Erik Bedard (if this guy were healthy, he'd be worth the risk)

 

Randy Johnson (not likely, but even at his age he's still better than Suppan if healthy) announced his retirement &

began his Cooperstown clock

 

Ben Sheets (not at the dollar figures he's talkin' 'bout)

 

John Smoltz (see Randy Johnson comment)

 

Chien-Ming Wang (see Bedard comment)

 

 

Pitchers, other:

 

Brenden Donnelly (pitched decently when healthy last year) signed w/ Pirates

[TooLiveBrew]

I can't find anything on Smoltz announcing his retirement. Not saying you're wrong, necessarily, but a link would be useful.

[cwolf2012]

I think he was referring to "not likely, but even at his age he's still better than Suppan if healthy," not the retirement comment.

[Invader3K]

I recall reading a story from a week or two ago from an Atlanta paper that made it sound like Smoltz was strongly leaning towards retirement.

[MNBrew]

Randy Johnson (not likely, but even at his age he's still better than Suppan if healthy) announced his retirement &

began his Cooperstown clock

John Smoltz (see Randy Johnson comment)

 

Yes, I meant the parenthetical comment, not the bold-faced update. Smoltz's routinely still comes up as a FA other teams are considering on mlbtraderumors.com.