Shortstops available

[TooLiveBrew]

Quoted from a different thread:

Man, Furcal's contract is a little absurd. He is getting $12 this year, only Jeter and Tulo get more at the position. He gets more than 2X what Hardy gets.

It's definitely a big salary. However, if you think longer-term, how much money might a prospect like Gamel or Thornburg (just two examples, not saying I've heard anything about them or matched up organizational depth) save the Brewers down the road? For example (only), if Gamel provides league-avg. production at 1B for the next three seasons for roughly $500K/season, you might make your money back right there. Meaning, as opposed to trading him for Reyes -- and again, that's purely for an example -- and having to sign a FA first baseman.

 

The Brewers would likely only be asked to pay for the remaining value on the $12M contract -- it breaks down to roughly $2M/month. There are a couple other wrinkles to Furcal's contract (per Cot's): "may earn additional $1M annually based on health", & "limited no-trade clause (may block deals to specified clubs)". I would guess Furcal would probably be willing to waive his NTC if the Brewers were even on his no-trade list. No idea what, exactly, "health" means in this context, but it's probably a games played and/or PA threshold. He missed more than a month of games due to his broken thumb earlier this season, so I doubt he'll qualify for the full $1M bonus this season.

 

If the Brewers bring Furcal in at the deadline, & the Dodgers

wouldn't ask them to pay for any of his salary for games already

completed, the Brewers would be adding about $4M in payroll. That's

really not that much, in the MLB reality -- heck, the Crew is paying Betancourt $6M to be terrible this season ($2M buyout for '12). But in addition, for a team like

the Brewers that doesn't project to just run away with the division or

Wild Card, each win is *that* much more valuable.

 

Imo the question is not merely, 'Is going from Betancourt -> Furcal worth the difference in contract?' -- although the answer to that question is probably yes, due to the Brewers being in the thick of a postseason chase. I think you have to also examine how much money can be saved (compared to spending in free agency) by not dealing away the kind of prospect(s) that it will take to land someone like Jose Reyes, who's also not cheap.

[derflotr]

The Cardinals released Ramon Vazquez. Can he still play SS?

[CheezWizHed]

Imo the question is not merely, 'Is going from Betancourt -> Furcal worth the difference in contract?'

 

That was a nice system level analysis of the situation...

[And That]

Don't think it's been brought up yet, but Clint Barmes is decent with the glove and not a hack with the bat. He's also due to be a FA and has an outside chance at being a Type B.

[adambr2]

Eh Barmes is alright, if you're satisfied with pretty much strictly a defensive upgrade.

 

I'd certainly prefer a bigger upgrade like Hardy, but I'd do it if there were no other available options if we didn't have to really give up much at all.

[Mr Southpaw]

Omar Vizquel..... 44 years old, switch hitter, 10 gold gloves, cheap.

[adambr2]

Please upgrade this, Doug. Betancourt is not cutting it and a Betancourt/Counsell platoon is not a good option at all long-term.

[Schlitz001]

I can't take the lack of offense from Yuni. It's so frustrating to know

that he's going to be swinging at the first pitch no matter what the

situation. His defense would be somewhat forgivable if he at least got on base

at a .300+. DM has to be on the phone trying to remedy this.

 

The Brewers don't have much to offer in a trade, so their best chance is to get a player who is in the last year of his contract, probably older, and owed a larger salary. The shortstop must also be on a team that is not in contention or one with excess SS. Here is a list of players who fit that mold, along with their career batting lines and money owed in 2011.

 

1) Rafael Furcal - .285/.350/.410 - owed $12M in 2011 - 33 years old

 

Furcal would be a nice pickup, except that he might be out until mid July with a strained side muscle. And even when he comes back there is always the threat that he will head right back to the DL. He's been on and off the DL several times in the last 4 years. He might be the best option for the Brewers since the Dodger will want him traded out of the division and given that he is owed a considerable amount of money this year. With Jamey Carroll doing a nice job for the Dodgers this year at SS, it shouldn't be hard for the Dodgers to forget about Furcal.

 

2) Marco Scutaro - .267/.336/.384 - owed $5M in 2011 - 35 years old

 

It would be fun to see Scutaro come back to the Brewers after his history with the club. (See the movie "A Player to be Named Later") His defense can be a liability, but he's a definite offensive upgrade from Yuni. With Jed Lowrie being the Red Sox' primary SS, they might be enticed to trade Scutaro, and especially so if they decide to make a play to trade for Reyes. Scutaro has been injured this year and so has Lowrie, making the Sox thinner at the SS position.

 

3) JJ Hardy - .263/.325/.426 - owed $5.85M in 2011 - 28 years old

 

We all know that Hardy is a superb defender, and an above average hitting SS with an injury history. I think that JJ will probably get moved at the deadline, just not to the Brewers. Melvin really screwed Hardy over in 2009 by sending him back to the minors at the end of the season. Even with Escobar ready to take over at SS, Melvin was a little overeager to move Hardy and now he's set up perfectly to be ridiculed by the fans/media if he brings Hardy back to the organization for prospects. I don't see this happening.

 

4) Jose Reyes - .289/.338/.439 - owed $11M in 2011 - 28 years old

 

Reyes has a .904 OPS this year so far, way above his career average of .777. He's already been labeled as THE trade deadline player to get. The Brewers would need to compete against the Reds, Giants and Red Sox, who all have better farm systems than the Brewers. The Mets are rumored to be in negotiations with Reyes to resign him. Those are 4 reasons why the Brewers probably don't have a chance at Reyes. On the other hand, he is clearly the best SS available and if the Brewers stay on their hot streak, who knows what DM will do.

 

5) Jack Wilson - .267/.308/.369 - owed $5M in 2011 - 33 years old

 

I stuck Wilson in here because his defense is so damn smooth. He would probably be an easy trade from Jack Z and it would be fun to finally hear Uecker gush over Wilson as a Brewer. On the other hand, he sucks at offense, even more so this year with his .546 OPS.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I think that all of those but Reyes are realistic trade targets. Hardy is probably pricing himself out of our reach as well though. I would be fine with any of them, because they are all better than Betancourt.

[Mr Southpaw]

Omar Vizquel..... 44 years old, switch hitter, 10 gold gloves, cheap.

I don't know what do you think, Doug.

[Hate those Rodents]

I am in a Taylor Green mood and just posted about him in the major league forum. If it's determined he's ready to take over 3B (just hypothetically play along with me on this one) and outside the box trade might be to deal McGehee to a team for a similarily struggling SS. Not sure of any names out there, but maybe someone can list some teams that could use a 3B and we can think of some names that could come back our way?

[Hate those Rodents]

Just did some minor research and the obvious trade partner might be San Diego. For either Bartlett or Cabrera. Now, Cabrera has been out with a hand injury but will return anytime now and assuredly be back sometime in June. San Diego has holes but doesn't need both shortstops. Both would be immense upgrades for us. The plus with either player is that we'd have them next year too. Thoughts?

[Warning Track Power]

I've been thinking for a while that Bartlett was the under the radar candidate that DM might go after. He's the big sleeper candidate because the Padres aren't going anywhere and he will likely cost much less than a Reyes, Furcal or even JJ. I wouldn't mind Bartlett at all.

[endaround]

Barlett's defense looks to have seriously fallen off. The Brewers are better off with Wilson.

[Roscoe Chill]

Mike Aviles?

[Dmiles23]

It sounds like the Mariners are bringing up Dustin Ackley, and MLBTradeRumors.com mentions that the Mariners may now be looking to trade Jack Wilson. Are we interested?

[PrinceEatMeat]

I hope we are interested. Doug should get on that now.

[Crash2303]

as a short-term fix- in all the SS discussions, i can't recall people raising up Edwin Maysonet's name. I've heard plenty regrets over losing Luis Cruz, but looking at their numbers they seem like fairly comparable players. So, if people had wanted Cruz to make the team in Spring Training or call for a deal to be made for him now, what about giving Maysonet a shot? He at least has to be better defensively than Yuni/Counsel/Wilson, and it would seem that it would be hard to do any worse offensively.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Maysonet isn't any better than Wilson or Counsell, so no. I say trade for Jack Wilson right now, release Betancourt, and move on. If someone better comes along closer to the deadline, then make the move, and at least we'll still have Jack Wilson and Counsell as our backup infielders.

[brewmann04]

take a flyer we need to look into any possible upgrade.

[dlk9s]

Astros looking to trade Jeff Keppinger:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors...ade-myers-keppinger.html

 

Don't know if we'd have anything to offer, but I wouldn't mind him in the lineup at all.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Heck yes, I'd take Keppinger in a new york minute. I hope Melvin gets in on that.

[adambr2]

Wilson is awful, I can't imagine giving up anything whatsoever for a guy who isn't even an upgrade from any of our current SS.

[igor67]

Definitely yes on Keppinger.

[razzzorsharp]

Keppinger can play all infield positions and can get on base pretty well. What's his Def like at ss? Also, he has a team option for next year as well.