SS Upgrade: Realistically What Do You Expect?

[Warning Track Power]

I like the idea of acquiring Headley and Bartlett as the first option to upgrade the 3B and SS spots, but I would definitely welcome the acquisition of both Furcal and Carroll as a fall back. Furcal becomes the starter at SS and Carroll becomes Craig Counsell for this year and for the next few seasons after 2011 when CC retires.

 

My ideal has us making two separate deals, acquiring Headley and Bartlett, and then acquiring Carroll to back them up. While upgrading the O and getting more production is important, upgrading the defense in those two spots is critical.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think the reason we haven't gotten a SS is because Melvin is chasing the biggest fish. In the meantime, he should add Carrol. If Melvin can get who he really wants in 2 weeks, Carrol would become the top back-up at almost every position for a team that is presently trying to contend with a terrible bench.

Hmmm. The biggest "fish" is Hanley Ramirez. He is having a very mediocre season and we all know the Marlins are cash strapped and his salary goes up to $15 million next year.

 

I presume you mean Reyes, but it got me to thinking.

[Warning Track Power]

I think the reason we haven't gotten a SS is because Melvin is chasing the biggest fish. In the meantime, he should add Carrol. If Melvin can get who he really wants in 2 weeks, Carrol would become the top back-up at almost every position for a team that is presently trying to contend with a terrible bench.

Hmmm. The biggest "fish" is Hanley Ramirez. He is having a very mediocre season and we all know the Marlins are cash strapped and his salary goes up to $15 million next year.

 

I presume you mean Reyes, but it got me to thinking.

I just don't see us having anything close to the pieces needed to land a Reyes or Hanley, save including Prince. I don't think a Gamel/Thornburg/Hart would get them, nor do I think it would be a smart move for the Brewers given that Reyes is likely to leave after the season. Maybe it would be a good deal for Hanley as he is signed long term, but who plays RF for the rest of the season and who plays RF and 1B in 2012? It sure looks nice with Morgan/Hanley/Braun/Weeks but after Lucroy it gets real dicey at 1B, 3B, RF.

 

[Hate those Rodents]

Ian Desmond may be in play, Rosenthal is reporting. We are one of three teams he mentions that may be interested.

[bucksman4]

Heyman says the Brewers covet Carroll and Betemit.

[Hate those Rodents]

I know that Nats are looking for a CF. For some reason, they strike me as one of the teams that might value Carlos Gomez more than others. If I am Doug, I'd offer Gomez + for Desmond, realizing the plus might be a substantial piece.

[Warning Track Power]

Ian Desmond may be in play, Rosenthal is reporting. We are one of three teams he mentions that may be interested.

I''d take Ian Desmond in a heartbeat. I wish he walked more and struck out less, but he's fast, relatively young (26 in September) and apparently is working hard to improve at SS. He may be the only SS I'd give up legit talent for. Any pitcher short of Thornburg and Peralta.

 

Desmond just moved to the top of my available SS list. Hopefully he is one of the behind the scenes out of nowhere candidates we can make a play on.

 

EDIT: To HTR's point about a CF, I could see them offering Schafer or Komatsu + something else. I think we could part with one of those guys for a SS with Desmond's potential.

[Hate those Rodents]

Question is, how much are we "hijacked" by the KROD trade? That is, are all five or so players on the list for the Mets to choose from excepmt from any other trade until the Mets decide they do/do not want them?

[Warning Track Power]

Heyman says the Brewers covet Carroll and Betemit.

I think Haurdicourt brought up a very good point in a response to Heyman's tweet. Paraphrasing, he said I don't know how much better Carroll and Betemit make the Brewers. I tend to agree with him. I like Carroll, but not as an everyday player. I think if Carroll is acquired, he should be the super utility guy, with Furcal coming as the main SS. Keep in mind Caroll is 37. I don't see DM acquiring a 37 year old to be the everyday SS in a pennant race.

 

Betemit just doesn't inspire me to feel he will be a significant upgrade over McGehee. I'd much rather see Green promoted or a change of scenery type guy like Ian Stewart than acquiring a meh player like Betemit.

 

 

[brewmann04]

Betmit should not be looked at right now they will give Casey another 2 weeks to prove himself. I can't see the Nats trading Desmond.

I think Melvin going to have to settle for a Stop gap SS.

[HiAndTight]

Is Carroll too much to expect at this point? He seems like he would be a very solid fit for this team, and makes a relatively low salary. I wouldn't think it would take much to get him. Seems like this idea might make too much sense to happen for whatever reason.

Invader3K, while you've been over the top in your Betancourt criticism, I completely agree with you that Carroll is the guy who'd be the best fit on this team.

I don't see how one COULD be over the top in their Betancourt criticism? He's quite literally the worst player in the big leagues(everyday that is).

 

He's terrible at everything. The ONLY value he has is his occasional blind squirrel like power he finds on occasion.

 

Terrible defensively and he has a poor BA for an OBP. Seriously, .256? We were running Hall and Hardy out for offensive numbers worse than that while both playing MUCH better defense.

 

 

I honestly don't EVER remember watching a worse everyday player since I've become a Brewers fan, and I've watched some god-awful Brewers teams.

[The Truth]

Don't quite get the intrigue with Ian Desmond. Betancourt has a higher OPS than Desmond this year. And Desmond's OBP is only .263 right now!

[Oldcity]

Desmond seems like a guy maybe to target in the offseason. They need someone who is likely to improve the team right now--I don't think Desmond fits that category.

 

Though his defense is better, and that would be helping the team. In fact, I think it's more important to get a good defender than anything else. The team right now has one position on the entire diamond that's above average defensively, and they could really use another at SS.

[JohnBriggs12]

Yuni/Wilson combo since the break: 10 for 24 (.417); 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1.167 OPS.

 

Standing pat is putting in a strong bid.

[brewmann04]

jOHN you might have a point seems that they like platoons (Plush/Gomez) and if Casey starts to get it going i can see DN standing pat.

[JohnBriggs12]

jOHN you might have a point seems that they like platoons (Plush/Gomez) and if Casey starts to get it going i can see DN standing pat.

I've always believed Yuni and Casey could at least turn it around and put up decent numbers over a couple months. It's the old theory that guy's numbers for a season generally end up being similar to what's on the back of their bubble gum cards. That would mean a good couple months for both those guys. It's very early but Casey's 6 for 19 and Yuni's 6 for 15 since the break.

 

The Brewers absolutely need another infielder if anything to replace Counsell on the bench who's basically played himself out of any role save a guy you'd put up there to sacrifice bunt. I still think Betemit makes the most sense because he can alternate at 3B. Roenicke can go with the hot hand between Wilson and Betancourt and get enough offense out of that position.

[The Truth]

The problem with that, John, is then you have Yuni B potentially starting playoff games, or very meaningful playoff race games in September. And you cannot afford to have his brutal defense and unprofessional at-bats (swinging at the 1st pitch, swinging at ball 4 and ball 5) in such situations. Despite the probability of Betancourt putting up better numbers in the 2nd half, he absolutely must be replaced

[Warning Track Power]

Desmond seems like a guy maybe to target in the offseason. They need someone who is likely to improve the team right now--I don't think Desmond fits that category.

 

Though his defense is better, and that would be helping the team. In fact, I think it's more important to get a good defender than anything else. The team right now has one position on the entire diamond that's above average defensively, and they could really use another at SS.

Exactly. Desmond is a very intriguing buy low candidate. At worst IMO, Desmond pushes with YuBet in terms of offensive production (AVG, OBP, OPS) the rest of the season. Desmond adds a dimesion of speed on the bases that YuBet doesn't (20 SB, only 4 CS). The upgrade in D alone would be worth the trade but Desmond also brings the secondary speed element.

 

I'm not saying he is going to be Reyes or Ramirez at SS, but he doesn't have to be. We don't need a leadoff hitter or a cleanup hitter at SS. Whoever we acquire needs to be sure handed with the glove and able to be counted on to get on base and swipe a bag out of the 7th or 8th spot in the lineup. Desmond is only 25 and is improving on D. I say it's worth it for 2011 and he COULD be the answer at SS long term as well.

 

 

[The Truth]

Whoever we acquire needs to be sure handed with the glove and able to be counted on to get on base...

Again, Desmond has a .269 OBP this season. His career OBP in over 900 MLB at-bats is .295

[Warning Track Power]

Whoever we acquire needs to be sure handed with the glove and able to be counted on to get on base...

Again, Desmond has a .269 OBP this season. His career OBP in over 900 MLB at-bats is .295

Understood. However, he is only 25 and in his 2nd full year in the bigs. In 2011, Desmond's OBP is .269 and Betancourt's OBP is .262. I said the AVG/OBP/OPS would likely be a push in 2011, but gaining the ability to swipe a base and the D at SS would be worth it, assuming it doesn't cost something ridiculous.

 

[RockCoCougars]

Whoever we acquire needs to be sure handed with the glove and able to be counted on to get on base...

Again, Desmond has a .269 OBP this season. His career OBP in over 900 MLB at-bats is .295

Understood. However, he is only 25 and in his 2nd full year in the bigs. In 2011, Desmond's OBP is .269 and Betancourt's OBP is .262. I said the AVG/OBP/OPS would likely be a push in 2011, but gaining the ability to swipe a base and the D at SS would be worth it, assuming it doesn't cost something ridiculous.

What am I missing? Desmond seems to be below average at the plate and bad in the field. He led NL SS in errors last season.

[Funketown]

Desmond makes a lot of errors but he has good range and a strong arm. He is probably average at best in the field. He's not a good hitter but he is probably not worse than Yuniesky at the plate.

 

He's really not anything special, but he would be a moderate upgrade over Betancourt.

[pretendastronaut]

Olney reporting;

 

"Milwaukee has reached out to the Dodgers about Jamey Carroll."

[FoxyFoxes]

If Caroll can play the left side of the infield decently I am down for this trade. Doesn't have any pop but he could be our primary pinch hitter as a righty (with Kotsay as a lefty). This would leave Counsell for the 14th 15th innings or defensive replacement for Yuni or Casey. I'd be ok with this. Josh Wilson is the one being cut over Yuni i just have that feeling.

[The Truth]

Jamey Carroll would be an enormous upgrade over Betancourt offensively. Carroll has a career .365 OBP (.360 this year)