1st base options

[brewtank34]

First and foremost, I love Prince Fielder! I want to thank Prince for playing his heart out every single game for the Brewers. I will always cheer for him and never boo him when he leaves for a different team. I only blame him for chosing Boras as his agent. I am rooting for Fielder to help lead us to the promise land this year!!!

 

With that said and Braun's new contract, Fielder is as good as gone (not that he wasn't prior to the contract signing), and the Crew will need to look to the future at 1B. According to MLBTR, here's the list of notable free agent 1B this offseason.

 

First basemen

Garrett Atkins (32)

Lance Berkman (36)

Russell Branyan (36)

Jorge Cantu (30)

Michael Cuddyer (33)

Edwin Encarnacion (29) - $3.5MM club option

Prince Fielder (28)

Ross Gload (36)

Brad Hawpe (33)

Eric Hinske (34) - $1.5MM club option with a $100K buyout

Nick Johnson (33)

Casey Kotchman (29)

Mark Kotsay (36)

Derrek Lee (36)

Xavier Nady (33)

Lyle Overbay (35)

Carlos Pena (34)

Albert Pujols (32)

Nick Swisher (31) - $10.25MM club option with a $1MM buyout

 

I'm not really enjoying that list, cuz we're obvisouly not going to go after Pujols...maybe Swisher. However, I had a thought and wanted to hear what you all thought of it. What is the likelihood that they convert Braun into a 1B? I'm thinking it would be easier for the Brewers to find an OF that could replace Braun, than to find a legit replacement for Fielder at 1B. Are we relying on Gamel to take over 1B or could Gamel play LF...or use Gamel as trade bait and get us a legit 1B/OF???

 

I also heard someone bring up a good point today that at some point in Braun's career, he'll probably have to be converted to a 1B due to his age and playing in the NL.

[endaround]

It's going to be Gamel.

[And That]

1a) Mat Gamel

1b) Casey McGehee

[brewtank34]

I know I know...

I had a momentary lapse of reasoning and ran with it. Thanks for getting me back on track.

[JohnBriggs12]

It's Gamel. I'd look for them to bring in a RH bat that can play first too to occasionally face a tough lefty. My darkhorse for that role is Troy Glaus, who's sitting out this year because he didn't like the offers out there. We all know Melvin likes to resurrect guys out of retirement.

 

Glaus has raked in his career in Miller Park and he'd fit that role perfectly.

[Invader3K]

I still hold out a glimmer of hope that they consider Corey Hart at 1B. That said, I would guess Mat Gamel is option A.

[paul253]

I agree with Invader. I'd like to see Corey Hart back at first base. I think he'd be a better defender there than Gamel and would be easier to throw to. I do think it's much likely that it's Gamel though.

[TooLiveBrew]

Corey hasn't played the infield in several years now, I'm guessing that Gamel would be a better defender at 1B. But I also think Gamel would be a better defender in RF.

[nate82]

I wish Braun would be the 1B option.

[Baldkin]

I wish Braun would be the 1B option.

Agree 900x.

[danzig6767]

Corey hasn't played the infield in several years now, I'm guessing that Gamel would be a better defender at 1B. But I also think Gamel would be a better defender in RF.

If Hart could manage to handle playing infield again, his height and length at firstbase would be a refreshing change from Prince. What i do wonder though is what kind of ability Gamel has at playing in the outfield? He'd have to have a much better arm than Hart, but i don't know if Gamel has more Braun like generally terrible ability to read balls of the bat and then end up taking poor angles/going back poorly on fly balls?

[logan82]

I think Gamel has better fielding instincts than Braun. His problem seems to be throwing the ball. Gamel might be the best defensive choice to play RF, LF or 1B. I still can't believe they signed Hart to that extension.

[The Truth]

Braun will eventually be a 1B but probably not until 2016- or 2017 or so

 

It'll be Mat Gamel and Mat Gamel will rake

[davego]

From what I can figure, Ryan, Corey and Matt will all be part of the regular line-up next year, barring something significant occurring. RR, et al have to decided who goes where to minimize the defensive liabilities.

[GB12]

I really have a hard time believing Braun would be willing to move from the outfield. In fact I'd bet that was made clear before he signed his contract. In LF he's pretty much a guaranteed All Star starter and Silver Slugger favorite. At first base he wouldn't have much of a chance against Pujols (and he'd also have to compete with Votto, Fielder(?), and Howard). I do think Braun is most interested in winning, but I think the personal recognition is also quite important to him.

[derflotr]

It will be Gamel's gig to lose. JohnBriggs is right on the money. A right-hander to spell him from time to time. Nady and Cantu stick out to me from that list as well.

[bucksman4]

My fear is that the Brewers are relying on a guy who has spent the last few years in AAA and never really had a prolonged opportunity to see big league pitching. It's asking an awful lot out of a guy to expect he will rake after not being in the show for even one full season. So, it's more so that they're hoping he will handle 1B okay enough and not look silly at the plate, rather than having any substantive stats in the big leagues to prove it.

[trwi7]

A right-hander to spell him from time to time. Nady and Cantu stick out to me from that list as well.

Why? Gamel hits lefties as well as he hits righties. Nady and Cantu are garbage.

 

[StearnsFTW]

A right-hander to spell him from time to time. Nady and Cantu stick out to me from that list as well.

Why? Gamel hits lefties as well as he hits righties. Nady and Cantu are garbage.

This. 100%.

 

Also, I'd like Swisher, but I'm pretty sure the Yankees will pick up that option unless he has a bad year. What's $9M to them?

[HiAndTight]

My fear is that the Brewers are relying on a guy who has spent the last few years in AAA and never really had a prolonged opportunity to see big league pitching. It's asking an awful lot out of a guy to expect he will rake after not being in the show for even one full season. So, it's more so that they're hoping he will handle 1B okay enough and not look silly at the plate, rather than having any substantive stats in the big leagues to prove it.

At what point then do you promote a prospect?

 

This is a post that is applicable to every single HOF'er who's ever come up(save the AAA time). So it's a non-issue to me. If you believe he can hit, and he's proven he can, I don't see why you wouldn't go with him and put your money into SS/CF.

[derflotr]

The Gamel supporters on this site are ruthless. I say it may be a good idea to have someone else on the roster with 1B experience to maybe start "from time to time" and it's immediately stomped on. I'm talking about a bench bat here. How on earth is Xavier Nady "garbage" as a bench player? Is it really that ridiculous to think that maybe it would be nice to have some depth at the position due to Gamel's inexperience and history with injuries?

[logan82]

If we are to get a bench player we need to look at somebody who can play middle infield positions. We have plenty of corner guys.

[TheCrew07]

The Gamel supporters on this site are ruthless. I say it may be a good idea to have someone else on the roster with 1B experience to maybe start "from time to time" and it's immediately stomped on. I'm talking about a bench bat here. How on earth is Xavier Nady "garbage" as a bench player? Is it really that ridiculous to think that maybe it would be nice to have some depth at the position due to Gamel's inexperience and history with injuries?

Ruthless? There are just many around here that have witnessed his tools and hope he'll be given an opportunity to shine. Gamel may have personality quirks, some veteran players may not have liked him, the coaching staff under Macha may not thought have thought much of him, and certain beat writer certainly doesn't think much of him. However with Lawrie gone Gamel is the only legit impact bat in the upper minor leagues, and the best option to replace Fielder in house. I agree with others that he might be wasted playing 1B defensively, but after watching Fielder boot 2 relatively short hops in today's game I'm ready for a 1B who can pick it a little bit so the IF defense improves on the whole.

 

It's ridiculous to spend significant money on a backup position, we've reached the point where it's necessary to give Gamel consistent playing time and see what he can do. The only reason he remains in the minor leagues is because he hasn't been healthy enough to beat out McGehee in spring training nor was he given an equal opportunity in 2009 to win the position. Since 2009 with Hart being signed, there isn't room for him to start in the OF either, he simply won't be given an opportunity to be an every day player until Fielder leaves.

 

I have no idea about Gamel the person, but I've seen enough from watching and following him through the years to believe he has the potential to be an impact player for the Brewers.

[RockCoCougars]

Ruthless? It's time to give Gamel a chance. He can flat out hit (I see he had a five hit game last night), and has nothing left to prove in AAA. Assuming Prince leaves, I think the job should be his to lose. He's not going to replace Prince's power, but I think that he can put up Overbay (the Milwaukee version) type numbers. Before he is given up on, I want him to get some significant playing time to see if Macha succeeded in ruining him or not. Escobar got a full season to play, so why not Gamel? Hopefully the team resists the temptation to sign some aging scrub (Derrek Lee, etc.) this off-season.

[JohnBriggs12]

Gamel needs to pick it up. .286/.359/.410 at AAA does not scream major league starter at 1B.