Could brewers land lee? espn insider

[Brew City Baseball Fan]

anyone have insider to let me know which lee it may be?

[pete]

There's no way I would give a nickel to the collection of condescending, arrogant elitists who fancy themselves as above all other humanity in their ability to divine any truth related to baseball but... I'd guess Derrek Lee. It would be insurance for Gamel, he's at the end of his career and he wants more money than anyone will pay. That spells a Melvin guy to me.

 

I know how he talks now about how Mat should have every chance to succeed, but it wasn't long ago that he used to respond that "there are people in the organization" that believe he should have an extended opportunity. Maybe Melvin will defer more money.

[Brew City Baseball Fan]

wow aka not a brewmaster fan i see?

[PrinceEatMeat]

Here it is guys. Basically an article about remaining free agents. This was the part about Lee. I'd definitely take Lee if comes cheap on a 1-year deal. He'd be good against tough LHP at 1B and would provide some power off the bench.

 

Derrek Lee, 1B

Lee can still field his position and could find a taker in the Milwaukee Brewers on a one-year deal, or possibly the Oakland Athletics. The Cubs could be interested as their current plan is start Anthony Rizzo in Triple-A and go with Bryan LaHair as the starter at first.

[Raw Biz]

In a "normal" situation, I'd take Lee ONLY as the power threat off the bench and occasional 1B starter against tough lefties. I'd give him a one-year deal for about $2-3 million. I still think Gamel should get 130-140 starts, barring injury/complete awfulness. However, considering Roenicke's love of veterans and general disdain for anyone not "proven," I have a feeling that Lee would become the full-time starter by the end of May, if not earlier. So I would rather just run with what we have now.

[PrinceEatMeat]

This article also mentions the Brewers as a possible suitor for Mike Gonzalez. Wouldn't mind having him either.

[patrickgpe]

I'd love to have gonzalez only because braddock is the only lefty on the pen.

[brettac1]

Parra is there, too.

[patrickgpe]

true but he hasn't pitched in over a year.

[JohnBriggs12]

Parra is there, too.

So are non roster invitees, Juan Perez and Dan Meadows both of whom have decent long shot chances at roster spots.

 

Parra has never excelled vs. lefthanded hitters so he's not really a viable loogy.

 

I'd rather have Carlos Lee than Derrek Lee.

[Bnowell4evr]

Parra is there, too.

So are non roster invitees, Juan Perez and Dan Meadows both of whom have decent long shot chances at roster spots.

 

Parra has never excelled vs. lefthanded hitters so he's not really a viable loogy.

 

I'd rather have Carlos Lee than Derrek Lee.

I would too all things being equal. However they're not with Carlos Lee being property of the Astros along with making $18.5M this year. Derrek Lee could probably be had for a similar contract to what Casey Kotchman just signed and wouldn't require a good prospect that the Astros would want for eating $15M of Carlos Lee's contract.

[brwrsfan]

Derrek Lee would also be good for defense. He's a very good defensive first basemen and if Gamel has some issues, could be a late inning replacement as well. I'd take him for cheap but nothing more than a couple of million. And hope that RR doesn't play him as the vet every day unless he's earned it. But he would be a nice platoon option at 1b i think.

[monty57]

In a "normal" situation, I'd take Lee ONLY as the power threat off the bench and occasional 1B starter against tough lefties. I'd give him a one-year deal for about $2-3 million. I still think Gamel should get 130-140 starts, barring injury/complete awfulness. However, considering Roenicke's love of veterans and general disdain for anyone not "proven," I have a feeling that Lee would become the full-time starter by the end of May, if not earlier. So I would rather just run with what we have now.

 

Ditto.

 

I am a bit tired of the ESPN & MLB.tv guys continually saying that Melvin needs to find "a replacement to Prince Fielder at 1B," and going on about how the Brewers need to pick up a veteran 1B. No one ever says anything about Gamel (good or bad, it's like he doesn't exist), just that Fielder's gone and the Brewers are toast unless they pick up a veteran FA. I really, really want Gamel to succeed.

[RockCoCougars]

I want a veteran bat as much as anybody, but I don't see the need for Lee. All that he can do is pinch hit or steal time from Gamel. I'd rather have Carlos Lee at this point.

[nate82]

I would prefer Vlad or Fukudome over Derek Lee. I think you could even experiment playing Vlad at 1B from time to time plus if Braun does get suspended for 50 games Vlad would be a good fit in the lineup and could even play some LF.

[Warning Track Power]

Brewers potentially having D. Lee at 1B and A-Ram at 3B. Never would have seen that coming in 2008.

[PKBadger]

If we're going to have Izturis and his worthless matchstick of a bat on the bench, might as well offset it with some semblance of offensive skill, albeit declining skill.

[brettac1]

If he signs a minor league deal like Izturis, by all means. I don't think that's happening, though.

[miggs721]

I'd take D Lee in a heartbeat...I had a buddy that went to fantasy camp, and heres some words from Don Money

 

"Tonight’s cocktail hour had a Q&A session with some of the coaches (Don Money, Jerry Augustine, Moose Haas and Cecil Cooper) and Don Money stole the show. The man is so brutally honest that it will probably cost him his job within the Brewer’s organization. I hope Don is wrong because he is not on the Matt Gamel and Caleb Gindl bandwagon and spoke privately to a few of us about the regression in Jonathan Lucroy’s batting approach since becoming a big league catcher. "

[RockCoCougars]

Money really seems to have it in for Gamel, that's for sure. I'd bet that at least a little of it is personal. His personality doesn't seem to rub the 'old school' guys the right way. Perhaps there is more to the 'attitude issues' than any of us know, but to me, you have to give Gamel the chance. Let him play nearly every day until the end of June and then evaluate. If he falls on his face, then no one can say that he wasn't given an opportunity. 'Guys' like Lee will still be readily available if the team is competitive at that point. I just don't want them to have a guy like Lee on the roster, because it would be too tempting for them to start using him regularly. I don't mind them getting a vet who can play first, but I'd prefer one who can play the outfield as well.

[Hate those Rodents]

I'm sure Lee could play a berkman-esque corner outfield at a minimum, if we so desire. The key would be to just use him once a week there pick the right matchup to do so.

[reillymcshane]

Let him play nearly every day until the end of June and then evaluate. If he falls on his face, then no one can say that he wasn't given an opportunity. 'Guys' like Lee will still be readily available if the team is competitive at that point. I just don't want them to have a guy like Lee on the roster, because it would be too tempting for them to start using him regularly.

This nails it for me. If you add a guy like Lee, he becomes the safe - but mediocre - option at 1B. If Gamel has a bad day or week or whatever, everyone is suddenly tempted to bench him for Lee.

 

If we had Lee, he would probably hit 15-20 HR, hit .260-.280, play good defense. But that's the upside of Lee. With Gamel there's a solid chance he can duplicate that production (not the defense, however). And there's a chance he can do better - something you probably won't get with Lee. Also, Gamel comes at a fraction of the cost. We also need the left handed bat in the lineup. We lack power from the left side, and Mat is our best option to hit 20 HR. I haven't seen Gamel play lately, but I suspect he's a better baserunner at this stage of his career (this is just a guess).

 

Also, with Lee, you can't ignore the fact that he's 36. He looks in good shape, but it's a dangerous age for big hitter. His OPS over the past few years has trended downward: .972 to .775 to .771.

 

And finally, like RockCoCougers points out - guys like Lee will be around in June/July. If Gamel is truly failing, you can make a move at that time. But we are better off rolling the dice with Mat to start the season.

[Bnowell4evr]

I don't get the reasoning where people think we can just wait around until June or July to make a trade for another 1st basemen. Were gonna be playing without Fielder and Braun for 50 games so if Gamel sucks were done when June or July comes around. Instead of planning for the postseason we'll be selling off Greinke, Marcum, Wolf and K-Rod.

Fans just don't understand whats at stake this season and it frustrates the heck out of me.

[Raw Biz]

I don't get the reasoning where people think we can just wait around until June or July to make a trade for another 1st basemen. Were gonna be playing without Fielder and Braun for 50 games so if Gamel sucks were done when June or July comes around. Instead of planning for the postseason we'll be selling off Greinke, Marcum, Wolf and K-Rod.

Fans just don't understand whats at stake this season and it frustrates the heck out of me.

I could also say that people who think losing Braun for 50 games will ruin the entire season don't understand WAR and it just frustrates the heck out of me too. Obviously the game isn't played in a vacuum but at worst, losing Braun should cost something like 4 games. That's assuming Braun is a 12 WAR player (he's not) and the player replacing him is a replacement player (most likely Aoki, who should provide some value).

I just think people are overreacting when it comes to losing Prince and possibly Braun for 50 games. Prince hurts but we're also upgrading at SS (at least on defense) and 3B and Gamel should provide some value as well. Braun is only one player and I still think we have a top 5 pitching staff (bullpen and rotation) in the NL. Defense should be upgraded with Gamel, Gonzalez, the combo of Aoki and Morgan/Gomez in LF & CF. I think we'll have enough offense with Weeks, ARam, and Hart in the middle of the order with Morgan/Aoki at the top (at least against RH) to get through 50 games.

[RockCoCougars]

I don't get the reasoning where people think we can just wait around until June or July to make a trade for another 1st basemen. Were gonna be playing without Fielder and Braun for 50 games so if Gamel sucks were done when June or July comes around. Instead of planning for the postseason we'll be selling off Greinke, Marcum, Wolf and K-Rod.

Fans just don't understand whats at stake this season and it frustrates the heck out of me.

I could also say that people who think losing Braun for 50 games will ruin the entire season don't understand WAR and it just frustrates the heck out of me too. Obviously the game isn't played in a vacuum but at worst, losing Braun should cost something like 4 games. That's assuming Braun is a 12 WAR player (he's not) and the player replacing him is a replacement player (most likely Aoki, who should provide some value).

I just think people are overreacting when it comes to losing Prince and possibly Braun for 50 games. Prince hurts but we're also upgrading at SS (at least on defense) and 3B and Gamel should provide some value as well. Braun is only one player and I still think we have a top 5 pitching staff (bullpen and rotation) in the NL. Defense should be upgraded with Gamel, Gonzalez, the combo of Aoki and Morgan/Gomez in LF & CF. I think we'll have enough offense with Weeks, ARam, and Hart in the middle of the order with Morgan/Aoki at the top (at least against RH) to get through 50 games.

Gamel is not really a big worry for me. I'm more concerned about the left field spot for the first 50 games. I'm also not working under the assumption that Ramirez, Weeks, Hart and Braun (when he gets back) will be able to repeat 2011. Assuming that Braun is suspended, if one or more of those first three guys gets injured/off to a slow start, I'm expecting a substandard offense.

 

To me, this team is nowhere near as good as last season. Basically, it's going to come down to pitching. The only reason that I feel that this team has a shot is that St. Louis has been decimated as well. If Cincy can play up to it's potential, it's probably a battle for second place though.