Outfield logjam: Trade one?

[monty57]

The Marlins have lost Bonifacio for up to 6 weeks are are reported to be looking outside the organization. The Brewer OF isn't quite as crowded now with Hart playing some 1B, but it might be an opportunity to pick up something of value for Morgan.

 

They have 3B Matt Dominguez in AAA who could be available since he's now blocked by Hanley Ramirez. The problem with that is we also have a Ramirez at 3B, so trading for a MLB-ready 3B may not be wise.

 

Their top prospect is Christian Yelich (Baseball America #41), who is far too much to hope for for one of our CFs, but maybe a deal for Hart if they thought Coughlin or Stanton could hold CF for a while. I don't think that's probably an option as he's a year or two away, and I don't see us trading 1.5 years of Hart for someone who won't be on the Brewers for a couple of years. Not that it would be a bad deal for us, just that I don't see Melvin doing it.

 

They have a couple of good SP in A ball, but so do we, so that's probably not our first item on the "needs list." However, if Morgan could bring back 2011 first rounder Jose Fernandez, then go for it.

 

Maybe a realistic option for Morgan would be someone like Marcell Ozuna in high-A. Here's MLB.com's report: "When Ozuna is healthy and locked in, he has all the tools to be a prototypical right fielder. He has a ton of raw power to tap into, and adjustments he made at the plate should allow him to do that more consistently. He has a plus arm from the outfield and his above-average speed gives him good range defensively as well as the ability to steal bases. He shook off a terrible first half of 2011 with a terrific second half, one that the Marlins hope carries over in 2012." He's 22 and MLB.com projects him to be MLB ready in 2014.

[HiAndTight]

We have the money. There isn't any question about that anymore.

 

You've mentioned that a couple of times, and I hope you're right, but saying it's so doesn't make it true. I certainly still have questions as to whether we can pay Braun and Greinke over $40MM/year between the two of them while still trying to field a competitive team around them.

 

 

 

This discussion could go in 20 different directions, but right now, fielding a competitive team year in and year out, we have momentum and are drawing well over 3 in great years and 2.7 or so in a couple down years.

 

We reportedly made more money last year spending about 95 million than we've made in a long time(twice as much according to Forbes) and this year again, we have a new TV deal kicking in adding 20 million in revenues and should have another record breaking year in ticket revenues since we're significantly ahead of last years pace(4.5 K per game, though that should even out when school lets out as we had great attendance last year) and we're making more money per ticket.

 

So I do believe that we can spend 115 million dollars and not be near the red if we can keep Greinke and stay competitive.

 

But again, if we spend 115 and instead of spending 22-23 million on Greinke, we spend 14 million or so on Marcum and then like I said earlier, try and sign a guy like JDLR for 2/18 or some other inflated contract and they have injuries issues, or whatever, we're just not competitive, the attendance will dwindle and we will have to either cut salary or our salary won't rise relative to average inflation. That's the worst case scenario. Which again is why I'm for just blowing the whole thing up sans Braun, Luc, and Yo(perhaps even extending the latter for 3 at 45 right now if possible with a up front bonus to make it more enticing).

 

 

My biggest fear is just trying to hold on though. Going through the Macha type years and having them become the norm while spending well over 100 million.

 

I don't KNOW if it'll happen in Milwaukee, but in Cleveland when they had a good baseball team, they drew fans. Christ, didn't they sell out some incredible amount of games in a row? Like 500? I don't know, just throwing that out there, I thought it was a VERY long streak. But after they went through a rebuild and got good again, the fans didn't really come back. I suppose you also have to consider that possibility. You have momentum right now with fan support. Which...again is why I don't think we have that firesale.

[HiAndTight]

The Marlins have lost Bonifacio for up to 6 weeks are are reported to be looking outside the organization. The Brewer OF isn't quite as crowded now with Hart playing some 1B, but it might be an opportunity to pick up something of value for Morgan.

 

They have 3B Matt Dominguez in AAA who could be available since he's now blocked by Hanley Ramirez. The problem with that is we also have a Ramirez at 3B, so trading for a MLB-ready 3B may not be wise.

 

Their top prospect is Christian Yelich (Baseball America #41), who is far too much to hope for for one of our CFs, but maybe a deal for Hart if they thought Coughlin or Stanton could hold CF for a while. I don't think that's probably an option as he's a year or two away, and I don't see us trading 1.5 years of Hart for someone who won't be on the Brewers for a couple of years. Not that it would be a bad deal for us, just that I don't see Melvin doing it.

 

They have a couple of good SP in A ball, but so do we, so that's probably not our first item on the "needs list." However, if Morgan could bring back 2011 first rounder Jose Fernandez, then go for it.

 

Maybe a realistic option for Morgan would be someone like Marcell Ozuna in high-A. Here's MLB.com's report: "When Ozuna is healthy and locked in, he has all the tools to be a prototypical right fielder. He has a ton of raw power to tap into, and adjustments he made at the plate should allow him to do that more consistently. He has a plus arm from the outfield and his above-average speed gives him good range defensively as well as the ability to steal bases. He shook off a terrible first half of 2011 with a terrific second half, one that the Marlins hope carries over in 2012." He's 22 and MLB.com projects him to be MLB ready in 2014.

 

 

I don't really like Dominguez. He's never really produced in the minors. If you stack him up next to Green, I'd rather have Green anyway. And with Aram..which you pointed out(though you could always move one to 1st) he doesn't seem to be a great target.

 

Ozuna however sounds like a great potential target. He's EXACTLY what we're lacking. A high ceiling type power bat. He's hit 22 and 23 HR's the last two years in the minors and has 8 already in the FSL which is impressive.

 

21 years old, so not some elite prospect at his age...

 

 

But I think the Brewers need to target players in this mold. It's amazing to me how we could trade away players who certainly didn't qualify as superstars for guys like Burnitz, Sexson, Seitzer going back further as well as others. It'd be nice to be able to add a couple guys we could at least hold out hope could end up being 30 HR guys like Ozuna.

 

 

And Morgan seems to be cooperating. He's starting to hit and put it together again. Of course....how is he going to fit in the Florida Marlins clubhouse? Volstad is gone, but still....that may be interesting. At least pre-trade. After they were to trade for him, I think they'd love him like we all do....

 

He's almost like Driver to me. Not to be disrespectful to Driver, I just mean a very likeable guy who we just don't really have space for, and who can still be productive, but a guy who is also blocking younger talent. Now Driver's a Packer legend and Morgan is in his 2nd year in Milwaukee, though he's certainly going to be remembered for a long time, not only for his personality which is likeable, but his game winning single.

 

But it does seem like it's time to move on.