Brewers have serious interest in Jose Reyes?

[BillyRed]

Interesting comments by Braun. I guess I'd rather throw a few extra dollars at Prince.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/35828/reyes-more-likely-a-brewer-in-12-than-fielder

[1992casey]

I smell a least a couple of levels of hearsay, the weakest of which is that these comments originated from the New York Post. I'd love to be privy to everything Ryan said instead of just a couple of snippets.

 

Additionally, tying his comments to the Brewers' front office having interest is a huge stretch. The front office is going to be appropriately silent at this time. They have other things on their mind, and accusations of tampering are the last thing they need.

 

I'd say that this adds up to a couple of comments taken out of context and some poor reporting.

[brewcrew_2_2]

I agree with the hearsay analysis and honestly...we have a 0.000001% chance of re-signing Fielder. So does that make the 0.00001% chance we have of signing Reyes better? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[kramnoj]

Out of all the players that are scheduled to be FA, Reyes provides the best chance to improve the Brewers. Shortstop is the weakest spot the Brewers have in the minors. Assuming Prince leaves, the Brewers will have money to spend, and as linked recently, the new TV deal is going to add significant revenue to the team.

 

The big unknown right now is what the market is going to be for Reyes. If he would be available for 5/$75M, I would hope the Brewers would be all over that. If some team offers something resembling the Werth deal, there's no way the Brewers should be in on it.

[jjfanec]

I honestly think Reyes is a better fit for the Brewers than Fielder. His WAR of 6.2 is so much better than Yuni that we could put Gamel at 1B and be a better team next year. We dont have the cheap in house option at SS.

 

What are Prince and Reyes likely to get in FA?

 

In the end I think we get neither and instead lock up Greinke.

[bjkrautk]

Reyes

Morgan / Gomez

Hart

Braun

Weeks (only because Hart doesn't like batting 5th)

Gamel / ?

Green / McGehee

Lucroy / Kottaras

 

...is still a pretty good lineup, and an upgrade on defense as well.

 

 

I don't think it's overly likely, and I always worry about a tampering claim if it were to happen after a guy gets quoted like this, but it's not the worst idea we'll hear in the off-season.

[kramnoj]

I don't think the Brewers getting Reyes is likely, but if they did it wouldn't mean the Brewers couldn't also re-sign Greinke.

[jwill535]

I agree that its just hyperbole. I think he is just making a statement about the chances of signing Fielder more then about the chances of signing Reyes.

[Team Canada]

Moving this to Transactions/Rumors...

[endaround]

Why do I get the feeling that Braun was asked if he held a grudge with Reyes and said something like "No, why would I? He could be a Brewer next year after all." And later was asked does he think Fielder will be back next year and said something like "Maybe, you never know but probably not." And then the Post did what the Post does.

[Hate those Rodents]

Somewhat off topic, but I think the addition of Reyes represents the only way DM is willing to go status quo at 1st and 3rd. Otherwise, I think it's pretty certain he'll spend valuable money or trade chips to upgrade one of the corner infield spots, more than likely at first base. If Reyes is in the fold, I think our infield is set for next year (once Hairston is resigned too).

[Schlitz001]

"I think there's a better chance we sign (Reyes) than we re-sign Prince (Fielder)."

 

That does not sound like something Braun would say, especially in the middle of a heated playoff race, even if it is true. I know Braun is a junior deputy GM, but I'm not sure he has this much of a pulse on what the front office is talking about doing for next year.

[TooLiveBrew]

I think this thread title is very, very misleading. This isn't a blog trying to draw hits/traffic here, why not change it to reflect that these are comments taken completely out of context?

[BillyRed]

I think this thread title is very, very misleading. This isn't a blog trying to draw hits/traffic here, why not change it to reflect that these are comments taken completely out of context?

How is it misleading? The thread title has a question mark at the end basically saying "I wonder if this is really true?" After all the article starts out, "Jose Reyes has said Ryan Braun gave him a recruiting pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers at the All-Star Game. And Milwaukee's interest apparently is sincere. "

 

How do you know the comments were taken out of context? They may have been but you can't be sure of that.

 

 

[paul253]

Yeah the thing about signing Reyes is that you get to get rid of Bentancourt too. Not only does it save money, but it fills a HUGE hole in the system and gives us a few years to hopefully develop a shortstop. We have people that can replace Fielder at first but nobody who can replace Bentancourt (unless they're willing to resign Hairston and let him play SS every day which would be cool). A 1-2 punch of Reyes-Morgan would be killer.

[dadofandrew]

I have been talking about this for months. They offered Prince over $20M a season, and though they have spent some of that on Rickie's extension, Mark A will at least offer it again, or maybe even bump it up a tad. Reyes is not as good, but because he's a SS and most SS's suck, is close to as good if you compare the two "how many runs above average." And, he won't cost as much, in salary or years. And, though many doubt whether Gamel will be given a chance, the Crew has no one to play SS every day under contract. As with any FA, I doubt it will happen, but it sure makes sense.

[logan82]

Betancourt is under contract. All we have to do is pick up his option. Of course if that happens I will lead the pitchfork brigade demanding Melvin's head on a pike down to Miller Park.

[TooLiveBrew]

How do you know the comments were taken out of context? They may have been but you can't be sure of that.

 

When the author states "And Milwaukee's interest [in Reyes] apparently is sincere", and his proof is a quote that sounds more like an answer to a question about the Brewers re-signing Fielder, I can't think of anything but 'out of context'. I mean, the chances that Prince is a Brewer beyond 2011 are roughly 0%, so a 1% chance of signing Reyes is a better percentage.

 

If 'Ryan Braun trying to convince a FA to come to Milwaukee during the All-Star break' is "sincere interest" from the Brewers, then I guess Braun's deputy GM badge is for real http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[nate82]

I wouldn't doubt there is some interest from the Brewers for Reyes. Depending on the how much Reyes is looking to get maybe the Brewers can get Reyes on the deal that was offered to Prince or somewhere near that hopefully lower. If the Brewers could get Reyes on a 5-year $90-100m deal I would think Melvin and company would be very interested in Reyes but nearly the whole league would be interested in Reyes if that is all it will take. I won't be surprised if the Brewers sign Reyes nor will I be surprised if he just stays with the Mets. There won't be as big of a market for Reyes this year as Pujols and Prince are going to take the most of the free agent dollars that will be available. Sabathia will also be taking away some free agent dollars on the market as he will get an extension with the Yankees for more money. The Red Sox will not be in the market for FA bats as they will be looking for pitching.

The market for Reyes is rather small. I wouldn't be surprised if the market came down to the Brewers and the Mets as being the market for Reyes. This could mean that Reyes could come at a smaller price tag than what he and his agent are thinking they will be getting. The last that I heard on the Reyes front is that they are looking for a Crawford like deal. I am not sure the Mets will give that to him and I definitely don't believe the Brewers will give him that contract either. A wild card team that I could see coming up and being active for Reyes could be the Braves or the Angels.

[RockCoCougars]

In my view, Reyes will be this off season's Carl Crawford. Mark it down. Someone's going to give him way too much money, and I hope it's not the Brewers.

[JohnBriggs12]

Betancourt is under contract. All we have to do is pick up his option. Of course if that happens I will lead the pitchfork brigade demanding Melvin's head on a pike down to Miller Park.

Can't you Yuni haters get over it? My goodness he played a key defensive position on a 96 win team, was 2nd among NL SS in RBI, and so far he has a .984 OPS in the postseason got one of 3 rbi in the biggest game in nearly 30 years for the franchise while handling every ball hit to him flawlessly.

 

You and your "brigade (which at this point might be what a dozen?)" should be thanking Melvin for getting Yuni as part of the deal. You would rather have had Counsell at SS this year?

 

Reyes would be just as big an upgrade over half the SS in baseball. Why use that against Betancourt, especially now? $6 million would be a lot for Betancourt, but not by all that much. With a $2 million buyout to Yuni, you'd have to get an equal or better replacement for $4 million or less. I'm not sure that guy is out there either.

[sbrylski]

Briggs, answer me this. How good do you think a team with eight Betancourts would be?

 

I have no idea how you could possible come back with an answer of "above .500". Therefore, Betancourt is pulling the team the wrong direction, wouldn't you say?

[JohnBriggs12]

Briggs, answer me this. How good do you think a team with eight Betancourts would be?

 

I have no idea how you could possible come back with an answer of "above .500". Therefore, Betancourt is pulling the team the wrong direction, wouldn't you say?

Hmmm. I didn't know Fielder could play SS. How good would a team of eight Lucroys? Or can he play SS too? That's apples to oranges my friend.

 

He'd be better or at least as good as a team of 8 Orlando Cabreras, Ronny Cedenos. Jack Wilsons, Edgar Renterias, Clint Barmeses, Paul Janishes, Craig Counsells, Josh Wilsons, and on and on.

 

How far down is a 96 win team pulled anyway? Every other Brewer team in history been pulled down farther.

[sbrylski]

Briggs, answer me this. How good do you think a team with eight Betancourts would be?

 

I have no idea how you could possible come back with an answer of "above .500". Therefore, Betancourt is pulling the team the wrong direction, wouldn't you say?

Hmmm. I didn't know Fielder could play SS. How good would a team of eight Lucroys? Or can he play SS too? That's apples to oranges my friend.

 

He'd be better or at least as good as a team of 8 Orlando Cabreras, Ronny Cedenos. Jack Wilsons, Edgar Renterias, Clint Barmeses, Paul Janishes, Craig Counsells, Josh Wilsons, and on and on.

 

How far down is a 96 win team pulled anyway? Every other Brewer team in history been pulled down farther.

I mean equivalents. Take Betancourt's relative bat and defense to the average at his position, and say you have seven other players that are the same distance from average at their position.

 

This is a team of equivalents for Betancourt based on last year's stats:

 

C - Miguel Olivo

1B - Adam Lind or Mitch Moreland

2B - Aaron Hill

3B - Danny Valencia or Casey McGehee

SS - Yuniesky Betancourt

LF - Delmon Young

CF - Angel Pagan

RF - Cody Ross

 

This is based on WAR.

[RockCoCougars]

Barmes is my target. I'm thinking that you could get Barmes, JHJ and another vet infield backup to take Counsell's role combined for a little over half of what Reyes will get alone- and you won't have to give them a six year deal. Reyes just isn't as good as advertised. Like Crawford, in my view, he's largely a creation of fantasy baseball. He's much more valuable in that realm (depending on how much your league overvalues steals) than in real baseball. Career season at the plate (by far) in a contract season, and below average defensively. Yes, I know that he's fast and 'exciting', but so is Carlos Gomez for about an eighth of the cost. If the Brewers are going to spend huge money on a guy, it had better be Prince.