Jack Cust

[miggs721]

Why not take a flier on him as a 4th OF....Perfect power hitting LH off the bench with a high OBP..can't field worth a lick, but I'd take him over Boggs anyday of the week

[DHonks]

I'd sign Cust with the promise that if Fielder is moved, he'll be our 1st baseman. He'd also be a 4th OF and left-handed power/obp pinch hitter

[dadofandrew]

No proven starting type player is going to come to MIL to sit behind Hart and Braun...that's a promise of 150 AB's, unless there's an injury. That's why Hinske was so nice, he's at the point where he'll take $1.5M to mostly sit. Cust won't, and eventually, he'll find at least a platoon gig.

[endaround]

Since when is Cust a proven starting player? We're talking about a guy who was DFA's last spring and not picked up by anyone.

[dadofandrew]

He gets 400 PA's a year and makes $2.5M...he's at least a platoon guy, and he has an 800+ OPS. He'll get plenty of AB's, but since he's an awful fielder, has limited openings each season. He's kind of like Jim Thome now, as opposed to Thome 5 years ago.

 

If I were an AL GM, I'd find my DH annually just by waiting and sifting through the chaff. Worst case scenario, you end up platooning a Gabe Gross type with a RH hitter until the deadline...heck, you'd still get 90% of the average DH production for a couple mil. DH is not a place to give a long-term commitment, as guys enter the DH fray every year, due to injury, age, and the simple loss of fielding skills.

[JohnBriggs12]

No proven starting type player is going to come to MIL to sit behind Hart and Braun...that's a promise of 150 AB's, unless there's an injury. That's why Hinske was so nice, he's at the point where he'll take $1.5M to mostly sit. Cust won't, and eventually, he'll find at least a platoon gig.

I'm not so sure Hinske didn't see that his role would be rather limited and that affected his decision.

 

Until a deal is made, the Brewers still have Gamel to provide lefthanded power off the bench. Plus he can play 3B as well as corner OF spots, so it should be easier to get him more like 250-300 ABs. It's not an ideal role for a young player, but I think Roenicke will find playing time for him by sitting McGehee and Hart once a week against tough right handers. Don't forget too, that Braun has a history of minor hurts that require some days off too.

 

[dadofandrew]

I doubt Gamel will sit on the bench, he'll play somewhere most every day. A cheap LH bat off the bench is pretty easy to find.

[brettac1]

I love the guy.

 

But calling him an "OF" is a pretty big stretch. He's a DH who has a glove laying around somewhere. He's really an AL player, which is why he got released like End said and no one grabbed him.