Trading for Carlos Beltran or another Outfielder?

[The Truth]

Thinking outside the box a little: what if the Brewers traded for Carlos Beltran and moved Ryan Braun to 3B? Braun won't be much worse defensively than McGehee, in fact he'd probably be as good, and a very good hitting outfielder would be a much bigger offensive upgrade than whoever is available in the trade market at 3B or going in house with Gamel or Green

 

If this is the "go for it" year, you don't go for it with a rookie at 3B just up from AAA or a hope and prayer that Casey starts hitting

 

I think you trade for Beltran and then trade for a a SS like Barmes and then you truly are "going for it"

[endaround]

Braun is tons worse defensively than McGehee. Braun is arguably the worst 3B to ever play significant innings. And that's before we deal with the fact Beltran makes 18.5m and has a full no trade clause.

[Diggr14]

why not just see if David Wright is available, instead of playing games with Braun?

[brewmann04]

I don't believe that going to Happen we need a SS more.

[rwa12]

Olney and Kurkijan said on the radio this morning that the Mets would be asking for a premier A list prospect for Beltran, as he is the best bat available. They also said they were holding firm to that. Not sure if we even have anyone that qualifies.

[Raw Biz]

There's been a few posts recently about moving guys to different positions after they've spent years where they currently are (Weeks to SS, Braun back to 3rd, Fielder to CF). This isn't a video game and moving guys to different positions is usually difficult. I was never a big Bill Hall fan but he was moved to a new position every year (and he was considered a utility guy) and it messed him up big time. Sure Braun has played 3B in the past but he never really should have. Just because McGehee is bad doesn't mean anyone else you put there will be better. It may be out of the box thinking but sometimes it's better to just stay in the box and close the lid.

[markedman5]

Braun absolutely hated playing 3rd.

 

You'd have a better chance of moving him to catcher.

 

not going to happen.

[JohnBriggs12]

Braun absolutely hated playing 3rd.

 

You'd have a better chance of moving him to catcher.

 

not going to happen.

Braun did play SS in college, and he probably would be more comfortable there than at 3B. That won't happen either. The Brewers are thrilled with their OF. It's the last place I suspect they'd add a guy.

[Warning Track Power]

why not just see if David Wright is available, instead of playing games with Braun?

In a semi-realistic world, the only way we would have a big enough chip to deal for Wright is by moving Fielder. I doubt a package starting with Thornburg and Gamel would even be enough for the Mets to move Wright. I would love having a Weeks-Braun-Wright combo for the next 5 years, but it's just not going to happen.

[The Truth]

OK, so it wasn't much of an idea. I don't look at baseball like a video game... I honestly don't think Braun was all that much worse than McGehee at 3B. (In other words I think Casey is pretty bad... and if you upgraded defense in the outfield with Beltran and upgraded defense at SS, having Braun at 3B isn't a huge detriment)

 

but as others said, not gonna happen

[TheCrew]

We are not getting Beltran or Reyes or Wright - if we were, it would have been part of the K-Rod deal and we would have ate more salary to make up for the lack of a top prospect. Would have loved to see it, but I just can't picture it happening - eating more salary would have been very attractive to the Mets too.

[PrinceEatMeat]

http://www.mlbtraderumors...feed&utm_medium=facebook

 

Brewers listed as being interested in Beltran.

[Invader3K]

I don't understand where we would play him right now unless we deal Hart.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I don't either. I'm confused by our interest in him.

[brewmann04]

just get a defensive short stop and and for bonus a 3rd baseman who can hit, but alas we don't have enough prospects.

[southpaw121505]

Unless there is concern over Braun...

[Oldcity]

Would the Mets take a lesser prospect if the Brewers also included Hart? Does Hart even have much value to them going forward as an average corner OF who isn't cheap? I somehow doubt it.

[Invader3K]

My guess it that Melvin is just doing the usual "due diligence" on this. I doubt any serious trade talks develop from this.

[Warning Track Power]

Unless there is concern over Braun...

Nailed it...This scares me more than anything. Kotsay, while I'm not as down on him as some are, in the lineup everyday for the rest of the season would almost singlehandedly ruin our chances for the playoffs. If all of a sudden we start popping up on the Josh Willingham radar as well, I think we'll know that concern over Braun is greater than being let on.

 

 

[monty57]

The linked article said the Mets would pick up a "substantial" portion of Beltran's contract, while the ESPN crawl last night said they would pick up all of it. They're certainly looking for some top-tier talent in return, and the Brewers aren't in position for that. Just upgrade SS and bring up Green and I'll be happy.

[yoshii8]

Is it possible we would trade Corey Hart for a Beltran rental? I just heard that the Brewers were listed as a darkhorse candidate, and thats the only thing that would make any sense to me. I'm not really sure how I would feel about that trade though?

[The Truth]

Can Beltran play SS?

 

I think any way you can improve the team, you do it, especially in a "go for it" year...

[Warning Track Power]

I just don't understand how acquiring Beltran helps us given that he isn't a CF anymore, the Mets won't want to take on salary ala Corey Hart and it will likely cost a lot to acquire him. The rumor yesterday from Heyman was that the Mets were asking the Phillies for Domonic Brown! I just don't see how this trade happens barring it being a 3 way deal with a Corey Hart involved. Even then I don't think replacing Hart with Beltran is such a significant upgrade that it truly makes that great of a difference.

 

On a related note to acquiring an additional OF, I would love to see is us acquire Kosuke Fukudome, essentially taking Mark Kotsay's role. Fukudome as the 4th OF in Milwaukee for the stretch run would be very nice. Throw in him LF to give Braun's leg a rest. I'm sure the Cubs would listen given his $13.5MM salary. All of a sudden that bench looks a little stronger with backup OF of Fukudome and Gomez.

[TheCrew07]

Just so I understand, you want us to pay what's left of Fukudome's contract to be a bench player? Or you expect the Cubs to kick in some cash and help a division rival just to get an already expiring contract off their books? This isn't close to the same situation as K-Rod, and there's no way I'm helping anyone in the division even by sending them a marginal prospect so we can upgrade our bench. Look at the contract details below, especially the 2 lines I bolded.

Kosuke Fukudome of
4 years/$48M (2008-11)

• 
  
• 4 years/$48M (2008-11)
  
  
  • 
    [li]
  signed by Cubs as a free agent from Japan 12/12/07
• $4M signing bonus
• 08:$6M, 09:$11.5M, 10:$13M, 11:$13.5M
• no-trade protection
• club must sign Fukudome to an extension by 11/15/2011 or release him, allowing him to become a free agent
• award bonuses: $0.3M each for MVP, WS MVP, $0.2M for LCS MVP, $0.1M Silver Slugger, $75,000 each for Gold Glove, All Star
  
• perks: 8 first-class round-trip air tickets between Japan and Chicago for family each year, personal trainer, masseuse, interpreter, visa expenses, $25,000 annually in moving expenses, vehicle during spring training and regular season
• Fukudome to make annual donation to club charity

[/li]

agent: Joe Urbon

ML service: 3.000

[Warning Track Power]

I merely offered the name as a suggestion. Given that half the season is already gone, he's owed approximately $7mm. No way i take that salary on but id gladly take on $2.5-3 given Brauns injury status. Just so I understand, you wouldn't help an in division rival with a marginal propsect even if it improves our club in a push to make the playoffs? If thats your stance then we just plain disagree.