Edgar Renteria

[PKBadger]

Maybe it's an overreaction to Alcides Escobar's .614 OPS last year and reports of his free-swinging exploits in Winter League, but I was wondering what people thought of making Renteria an offer.

 

It seems like Craig Counsell continues to be this team's plan for backing up SS, and I'm just not sure that he's a good option at this point in his career - the only advantage I see is that he bats lefty. Now, Edgar is no spring chicken either but he is 6 years younger. Bill James projects a .714 OPS next season for Renteria. There's no platoon opportunity, per se, but it would be good insurance if Escobar continues to struggle. I also think that having another Latin player to mentor Escobar (a former All-Star, at that) would be a good idea.

 

According to this article, he was insulted by the Giants' offer of $1M. Doesn't have a ton of interest from other clubs. I'm wondering if a contract similar to the one we signed Counsell to in 2007 (2 yrs/$5M) would be worth offering?

 

Note: obviously, I would want to settle the pitching staff first before extending such an offer, and only if there was enough room left in the budget.

 

....and I fully expect to get bashed for this idea. Bring it on. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[endaround]

I'd be fine with it assuming that SF didn't dump him due to health issues. Its just weird to sign Tejeda instead of Renteria since Tejeda now is Renteria without the defense to play SS.

[RockCoCougars]

I agree that there are better options than Counsell. Maybe I'm biased because of how he hit in his first time here, but I'd prefer Felipe Lopez if they were going to give a two year deal as you proposed for Renteria. Yes, I know that he's not very good defensively (particularly at short), but he's versatile, and I think he'd be a great switch hitting stick to have off the bench. I don't think a late inning defensive specialist type guy is needed with Escobar around, plus I would guess that he will be playing the bulk of the games barring injury. Lopez is also good friends with Rickie, isn't he? That couldn't hurt with extension negotiations.

[paulmolitor4]

Nick Punto? He's a FA I believe. A switch-hitter and a plus defender at 2B,3B, and SS. I think he would be an upgrade over Counsell. Not sure how much he would cost though.

[dadofandrew]

Punto does nothing well except defend and dive stupidly into 1B. His OBP is horrendous, so I much prefer Counsell. Renteria might be ok, but he was "offended" by the $1M offer, so he seems to be living in the past. Lopez is pretty much a 2B/3B who has played SS, you'd need a "real" backup SS as well if you'd sign him.

[paulmolitor4]

Punto does nothing well except defend and dive stupidly into 1B. His OBP is horrendous, so I much prefer Counsell. Renteria might be ok, but he was "offended" by the $1M offer, so he seems to be living in the past. Lopez is pretty much a 2B/3B who has played SS, you'd need a "real" backup SS as well if you'd sign him.

Their OBP's aren't much different. Punto is pretty much the same offensively as Counsell, although he has the advantage of being a switch-hitter. Punto would also give you better defense than Counsell does. I guess I see great value in having a switch-hitter off the bench who can play 2B,3B, and SS at an above-average level. Don't get me wrong, I like Counsell but he's below average offensively and he's only average defensively at this point in his career.

 

 

[RockCoCougars]

Lopez hasn't played too much shortstop as of late (probably for good reason), however, he was a 'regular' shortstop as recently as 2007. I have Escobar penciled in for at least 140 games if he's healthy..... for better or worse, as the Brewers committed to him when they dumped Hardy. I think that this is a sink or swim season for Escobar. I don't think that Lopez would kill the team if he had to start maybe once a week or so at shortstop and fill in for a few games here and there. Obviously, if Escobar gets hurt for a long period of time or is completely brutal, you are probably going to have to go out and get a guy capable of playing everyday. I think you'd have to do that even if you have Counsell, because though he's been good with the glove, I don't think that it would bode well for the team if he's was playing short every day- if he was even able to do so at his advance age. This is why I don't think that it makes sense to keep him around just to back up short- in a nutshell, hopefully whoever backs short won't be needed much because Escobar is keeping them off the field. If money is spent on this guy, I'd rather see it go to someone with a better bat off the bench than Counsell. As for third, Gamel can step in, or McGehee could move to second if something happens with Rickie with Gamel manning third. Another thing about Lopez is that he brings versatility in that he could play pretty much anywhere.

[Ennder]

I don't really want Renteria but I think it is very important we get someone who could play 2B or SS every day. Sending Escobar down at some point is a possibility and Weeks isn't any less of an injury risk having been healthy a year, his wrists are always going to be a concern.

[Crash2303]

Now with Betancrap as our SS, it seems all the more reasonable to go out and sign Renteria to play SS/2B. We need you Edgar!

[Crash2303]

in fact- hope we trade betancourt for a good low-level minor leaguer and then pick up both Renteria and Counsell. that would give us a lot of flexibility in the infield- and much better fielding.