Gerut Avoids Arby, 1 yr/$2 million

[Hate those Rodents]

Per Tom Haudricourt, "One thing to remember, folks: These one-year arbitration contracts are not guaranteed, meaning the players can be cut in spring training with the club obligated to only a fraction of the money."

 

I learned something today, I had no idea this was the case. I thought all MLB contracts were guaranteed.

I thought the reason we simply released Vargas two years ago or whenever that was, was because we didn't have to pay him because he was an arby guy.

[joepepsi]

But it's a valid question why the Brewers would fear a hearing that might save a couple hundred thousand dollars for a guy who went from an .845 OPS in 08 that earned him $1.775 mil, to a .654 OPS in 09 and who on paper is their 4th OF. That's a pretty dramatic dropoff in production. My only conclusion is they want him happy largely because he might well turn out being an everyday player.

No one gets a pay cut in arbitration. I believe an arbitrator looks at the player's previous 3 seasons, not just last season, when making his ruling. Gerut probably would have asked for at least a$500K raise in arbitration, maybe more. I suppose the Brewers could have come up with a 20% paycut as their figure, but they wouldn't have won.

[CheezWizHed]

I don't think anyone's throwing Gerut under the bus as Ennder suggests.

 

Assuming you meant Gomez, I would disagree with the statement. Some people have thrown Gomez under the bus. I think everyone is routing for him, but some don't even want to have him starting in CF or a shot at it.

 

People talk about buying low. Someone who has potential, but for one reason or another, hasn't produced as expected. So when we acquire someone like that (BTW, Hart and Parra could also be included here), many people have complained about Gomez being only a 4th OF (please start Gerut at CF). Personally, I'm excited to have him. I would have preferred a pitcher for Hardy, but I think Gomez is a good example of a player we should target. He has youth on his side and is improving (however slightly).

 

[Invader3K]

I agree 100% CheezWiz. I know I've said this before, but I remember when people on this forum would say repeatedly about the Brewers' youngsters, "These guys are young and have ability...we need to give them time to improve and mature as players." Now we have a young CF with tremendous speed and defensive ability who has shown flashes of being a good hitter, just hasn't put it all together yet...and he's only 23! Yet so many on here seem like they're going to be actively rooting against him this upcoming season. I mean, some people are saying they would rather see 32 year old Jody Gerut (useful player, but a total example of a "yawner acquisition" last year) get the starting job in center field! Come on...it's getting pretty hypocritical on some levels.

 

I think a lot of it is misdirected bitterness at Doug Melvin for not magically pulling a mythical "young talented cheap pitcher" out of his rear for JJ Hardy.

[endaround]

How is it hypocritical to notice the year is 2010 and not 2006? Gomez should never have been in MLB at this point in his career and pointing that out isn't throwing him under the bus.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think the tradition that no player in arbitration gets a cut developed over a period of ever expanding FA salaries that was the norm for decades. In the past 2 seasons, FA contracts have shrunk. Eventually this is going to filter into the arby system as well. But to do so, teams are going to have to be willing to take it to hearings.

[valpocrewsader]

To get his client more money, Gerut's agent should have asked for a league minimum base salary with an additional $1 earned for every weak groundout Gerut hits to second base. Ziiing!

 

I know the consensus is that Gerut isn't as awful as he showed for much of 2009, but my word it was uncanny that for most of the year every at bat of his I saw was a tailer-made ground out to 2B. With an occassional popout to 2B sprinkled in.

[logan82]

As for Gomez, his LD%, GB%, swings at pitches out of the zone, ISO, K% and B% all improved last year. This is a player showing growth even if it didn't come out in his slash stats. He pretty easily could be a 2 WAR player this season and with a little bit of a breakout he could reasonably reach 3 WAR.

 

Many of those stats you mention are similar to what he did in 2007. I agree he could be a 2 WAR player pretty easily mostly because of his glove.

[joepepsi]

A small sample size to be sure, but Gerut's first 5 plate appearance game for the Brewers came on August 13th. In the nearly 3 months previous he hardly played at all.

 

From 8/13 to the end of the year: 116 PA, 276/345/467 (811 OPS)

 

He should get 400+ plate appearances in 2010 if he's going to hit like that. Here's hoping Macha is smart enough to find him the playing time.