Brad Hawpe: replacement for Prince?

[SZBrewerFan]

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that Hawpe will be released following the conclusion of the Rockies game tonight. Does any one else feel as though he would make for a solid replacement for Prince in 2011? I know Hawpe is having a terrible year this year, probably mostly attributable to injuries throughout the year, but he is a solid left handed producer. Honestly how much worse with the glove could he honestly be than Fielder? I would be very interested in him if I were Melvin.

[PKBadger]

He's been a model of consistency over the last 4 seasons. .280-.290 batting average, .380 OBP, 25 HR, 85 RBI. And his splits aren't terrible either.... .760 OPS against lefties, not great but you could do a lot worse.

 

It certainly seems like an overreaction by the Rockies.

 

Carlos Gonzalez just collided with a wall in tonight's game, so I doubt they release him until there's a clean bill of health issued.

 

 

Edit: he's a pending FA (team option of 10.15 option will be declined)....that explains a lot. Would definitely like the Brewers to take a look this winter if Fielder is moved

[Never Outhustled]

It tough to understant the value of this player. He had a high OPS, in a hitters park. He was an abysmal defender, but was playing out of position. He's having a bad season, but he's dealt with injuries. However, he's 31, so some of his regression was predictable.

 

I think I'll pass, and let Hart or Braun be Fielders replacement, with a good defensive OF added to the lineup.

[uwisfan]

I think he'd be more attractive to other teams. The Brewers don't lack for talent to fill first base, with room to make for Gamel and Lawrie.

[HiAndTight]

Wow. I'd for one would be shocked if they release him. I guess "bad season" has different meanings in different cities. In Milwaukee we put up with a couple of Hall's sup .300 OBP seasons, Hart's terrible year(for much cheaper and with service time remaining), Jenkins struggling, etc..etc...

 

So when I look at a .255/.343/432 season with a .776 OPS for a guy who's been as consistently good as he's been, I don't look at it as a reason to dump the guy in a playoff race.

 

By the way, he's got an absolute cannon for an arm. And while he's a bad defender, I believe playing in Coors with that ridiculously spacious OF and the altitude has impacted his defensive metrics to the point where they make him appear worse than he truly is. This year he's a little bit closer to just "poor" than a couple of his previous seasons standards of "atrocious", but I believe playing in RF for instance in Milwaukee, he'd look to be much better than he has been.

 

Again, not an argument that he's good, merely not AS bad. Colorado's got the right idea though with Fowler, and Gonzalez teaming up in the OF. If they could add another player of their ilk, that would really serve them well in that OF.

[JohnBriggs12]

It's not all that shocking. With a $10 million team option for next year that probably would have been declined, they've probably been shopping him for some time and aren't getting anything more than a low level warm body offered back. He would seem like a perfect fit for the White Sox.

[Flood Pants]

Pick this guy up, no questions asked, as long as the Rockies will continue paying most of his salary for the remainder of the season. If he can regain form, he's an extremely valuable player for what his cost would be. An on-base machine with some power. If he continues to struggle, the Brewers will not have lost much.

[dadofandrew]

He's hit that mythical wall corner OF's in their early-mid 30's usually do. Gamel at $400K seems like a better deal to me.

[HiAndTight]

It's not all that shocking. With a $10 million team option for next year that probably would have been declined, they've probably been shopping him for some time and aren't getting anything more than a low level warm body offered back. He would seem like a perfect fit for the White Sox.

Well, I disagree. They're a contending team, he's been a consistent as can be. 4 year splits of .288/.384/.518 with a .902 OPS and a 125 OPS+. And now he's "struggling" to a .776 OPS and you wouldn't be shocked if a team in the middle of a playoff race cuts him? I'd be completely shocked and think it's a ridiculously terrible idea.

 

And if you believe that they COULD trade him, even for a "low level warm body", then it would make it even dumber to trade him.

 

A-You get a player back.

B-You save money.

 

What sense does it make to trade him just because you're not getting enough when you're going to dump him?

 

Anyway, I'm not buying it. This is just FAR too illogical IMO.

 

 

[HiAndTight]

He's hit that mythical wall corner OF's in their early-mid 30's usually do. Gamel at $400K seems like a better deal to me.

Yeah, perhaps, but it's also very likely that the little nagging injuries he's dealt with this year are the reason he's struggled a little bit relative to his past seasons. Again, I want to reiterate this again, but he's got a .776 OPS. Not what you expect of him, but it's not like he just fell off the map.

 

Honestly, I'd gladly take him, bring him in next year in RF, move Hart to 1st and hope he has a big 1st half, and then trade him at the break/trade deadline.

 

I want Gamel playing 3rd and I'd like to see McGehee moved for pitching, so you could prepare Lawrie next year by playing him in RF, and either leave him down all year and stick with Hawpe and get the compensation picks if he has a big year, or as I said earlier, deal him and bring up Lawrie after he gets a good 80 games in AAA.

 

 

I don't expect this to happen, and I certainly don't believe he WILL be released. I just think he's got far, far too much value for that yet, but in this rhetorical scenario, I think this would be a very good risk to take.

[kramnoj]

And now he's "struggling" to a .776 OPS and you wouldn't be shocked if a team in the middle of a playoff race cuts him?

 

Are you not aware that unadjusted OPS isn't really a good way to look at a RF in Colorado? That OPS is league average in that environment. League Average for a RF isn't good. Combine that with bad defense, and you don't have a good player. If you look at his last 3 years, he's basically a replacement player.

[JohnBriggs12]

They actually DFA'd him so they are trying to work a deal. As far as Colorado being a "contending" team, they aren't really. They are 11 games out in the West, and at least 4 games behind 3 other teams for the WC. Coolstandings pegs their playoff chances at 1.9%.

 

Hawpe wasn't going to play. Colorado wants to look at other guys the rest of the way and they had decided they weren't going to pick up his option anyway. Further evidence the Rockies have thrown in the towel, they just DFA'd Randy Flores too and he may draw some interest from a contender too.

[endaround]

Hawpe in RF? Its one of the few ways you could actively make the Brewers' defense worse.

[HiAndTight]

And now he's "struggling" to a .776 OPS and you wouldn't be shocked if a team in the middle of a playoff race cuts him?

 

Are you not aware that unadjusted OPS isn't really a good way to look at a RF in Colorado? That OPS is league average in that environment. League Average for a RF isn't good. Combine that with bad defense, and you don't have a good player. If you look at his last 3 years, he's basically a replacement player.

I'm aware that's an opinion and not really a "fact". You can reduce every discussion about numbers to say, "well, this is a better way to judge him". But "adjusted" isn't a real number, OPS is, although obviously there is a Coors park factor to the discussion. Though Coors is hardly unique in that perspective. You would also then have to adjust his defensive numbers IMO.

 

Regardless, I was obviously wrong and the Rockie's did in fact release him. I'm still surprised they did it.

 

OPS last 3 years

2007

Home-1.017

Away-.831

2008

Home-.894

Away-.864

2009

Home-.917

Away-.890

 

 

So he's not strictly a product of Coors field. The guy's a pretty good hitter. Just surprised one year of struggling at the plate, and the Rockie's dumped a guy who's been such a big part of the team on the field, and such a respected member in the clubhouse and community.

 

I'm guessing there won't be a lack of interest in him going down the stretch.

[kramnoj]

I'm aware that's an opinion and not really a "fact".

 

If that is your belief, demonstrate why using raw OPS is a better way to define a RF in Colorado, compared to adjusting for context and including defense.

 

So he's not strictly a product of Coors field.

 

Find someone who said that and make sure you tell them. I said that we should include park factors. Didn't say that he wasn't a good hitter in previous years.

 

There are teams looking at him, MLBTR has the Rangers and Giants as possibilities.

[Never Outhustled]

I can't believe the White Sox haven't grabbed Hawpe. They need a lefty stick, and they're DH's have been awful. Hawpe might not be a terrible choice for their 1B next year, and they'd have better knowledge of that if they gave him an audition this year.