Extension rumors

[markedman5]

Marcum, Greinke, Axford

 

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[MNBrew]

Like it. You win with great pitching (or at least you should).

[PrinceEatMeat]

I would like to see all of these guys extended. Gotta hold onto the pitching. Although I think it's unnecessary to extend Axford at this point.

[Raw Biz]

I would like to see all of these guys extended. Gotta hold onto the pitching. Although I think it's unnecessary to extend Axford at this point.

I would concentrate on Greinke first. Then I'd extend Marcum but for no more than something like 3/33 (might up it if Greinke isn't extended). I don't think Axford should be extended at all, as we have him for another 4 years I believe and closers are often overpaid. We also have had good success finding guys to step in and close, even if they don't last longer than a year and a half (DeJean, Kolb, Turnbow, Leskanic, Torres).

[The Truth]

I would prefer not to extend Marcum. I think that money could be spent in better ways, and I'm not sure what happened to Marcum in the stretch run and postseason. Would be very happy with extending Greinke. Unsure about Axford. I think he'll be very good for years but you never know, closers can be iffy/inconsistent from year to year. Depends on the $$$

[Invader3K]

I agree about Axford. I'm not sure what the point of extending him right now is, unless it's an extremely team friendly contract. We've seen how easily closers can fall apart over the past few years.

 

I do hope Greinke is extending. Having him and Gallardo at the top of the rotation over the next few years would be outstanding. Not sure how I feel about Marcum at this point.

[JohnBriggs12]

Like it. You win with great pitching (or at least you should).

Agreed. Unfortunately, neither Greinke or Marcum are great.

 

As they're getting lit up next year we can all remind ourselves they are getting money that could have gone to Prince.

[jjfanec]

I am all in for extending Greinke. I actually think Marcum will come a little cheaper now so I am good with him for the right price. But I dont want to extend Axford. I dont like putting a ton of money into closers. When does he actually become a free agent?

[Invader3K]

According to this site, Axford won't hit free agency until 2017.

[brewmann04]

I agree no need to extend Marcum unless he sign a team friendly deal. I like to kkep Grienke though and he would be my Priority.

[yount19.u]

I think now is the perfect time to extend Marcum. The last 2 months of the season don't worry me, but I think it may slightly depress his value. Minus the injury year, he's been about as consistent and reliable as they come so I say go for it as long as it's a market value deal or better.

[sveumrules]

I'd try to keep Greinke for sure, offer him a Jered Weaver type deal and see what he thinks. I'd be fine with a fair deal for Axford and you'd probably save money as closers can make quite a bit in arbitration. I think Papelbon made over 25 million for his three arby years, for instance. Marcum, pass. I like watching the guy compete but tying up big money in MOR starters is not how a team like Milwaukee stays competitive long term.

[NievesNoNO]

Like it. You win with great pitching (or at least you should).

Agreed. Unfortunately, neither Greinke or Marcum are great.

 

As they're getting lit up next year we can all remind ourselves they are getting money that could have gone to Prince.

Or we could sign Prince and two years from now when both Greinke and Marcum leave because we didn't have the money to extend either we all can remind ourselves how much it sucks having Prince and no pitching. The jump from 77 to 96 wins certainly wasn't due to our massive increase in offensive production.

[jjfanec]

Like it. You win with great pitching (or at least you should).

Agreed. Unfortunately, neither Greinke or Marcum are great.

 

As they're getting lit up next year we can all remind ourselves they are getting money that could have gone to Prince.

Yeah because when we had Prince but no Greinke or Marcum we were making the NLCS really consistently. Pitching wins in this league.

[NievesNoNO]

I would negotiate with Greinke and Marcum THIS off-season like they are trying to bring them in as free agents. Either of those two are more important to this team than anyone they can bring in through free agency this year and most likely next season. We gave up a fair amount to get them so it would be nice to extend at least one. Use your exclusive negotiating rights for the next year to your advantage. Who knows if they all ready have their minds made up on testing free agency or not but now is the time to find out and make a legitimate offer and it sound as if they're doing that. Good to hear!

[dadofandrew]

I don't see Greinke signing an extension. I think he sees himself having a great '12 and selling himself to the highest bidder.

[jerichoholicninja]

No need to extend Axford, ever. Trade him before he hits free agency. Closers and relievers are never worth what they sign for.

[The Truth]

No need to extend Axford, ever.

"Ever" is a big word. It completely depends on the negotiations. If Axford continues to be an elite closer, he could get $15-$25 million in Arbitration in a few years. Buying out those Arbitration years with a smaller yearly amount spread out may be desireable. Or not. But I would never say never. Axford is making, what? $450,000 a year. If he came to the Brewers and asked for $24 million spread out over the next 6 years (i.e. $4 million a year), you gotta think they'd consider it.

 

The shelf life of closers is usually pretty small. Maybe Axford might be willing to take the risk of missing out on bigger money down the line to guarantee that he sets up his family nicely for the next several generations.

 

For all we know Aford makes $450,000 in '11 and something similar in '12 and then blows out his arm and never makes big money

[jerichoholicninja]

Truth, you pretty much made my point. There is no need to lock up a reliever unless it is for WELL below market value. Even if Axford were to sign a team friendly extension and get hurt or become ineffective, which based on history is almost a guarantee to happen, it's still money wasted. A team like the Brewers can't be spending big money on someone who only pitches 50-60 innings a year. Doug needs to do something I can only recall him doing once before (with Dan Kolb) and sell high. Not right now, not next year or even the year after but sometime before he becomes a free agent and probably well before that.

[endaround]

Scott Podsednik exists. Lyle Overbay exists. Richie Sexson exists. Melvin sells high all the time.

[jerichoholicninja]

Scott Podsednik exists. Lyle Overbay exists. Richie Sexson exists. Melvin sells high all the time.

Good points on Podsednik and Sexon. Overbay had to be traded, he wasn't really sold high he was sold because there was a clearly better player than him on the team.

[adambr2]

Scotty Po, Overbay and Sexson are all 6 years or more removed.

 

Not saying Melvin has never sold high, but none of those guys are representative of recent trends.

[TooLiveBrew]

Greinke makes most sense to extend, to me. If Axford wants to take less overall money in exchange for financial stability, I guess you'd have to consider it. And as long as no more than four seasons were offered to Marcum, the Brewers could lock up a pretty impressive core for the rotation.

[nate82]

Scotty Po, Overbay and Sexson are all 6 years or more removed.

 

Not saying Melvin has never sold high, but none of those guys are representative of recent trends.

There hasn't been anyone to sell high on recently so what are you exactly trying to say here?

[Nader Raider Tim]

An Axford deal similar to what the Rays do would be lovely. Give him 4 years of guaranteed money and get 2-3 option years tacked on.