Speaking of Josh Hamilton (somebody had to) [Latest… Melvin: We have the connection with Narron but not with US Bank… post 230]

[crossface21]

Bill Michaels though he wasn't hosting. IIRC it was around 20-30 minutes into the show, so it was early.

 

 

It was at the 13:29 mark of the audio. Carrol said it wasn't likely, just a distinct possibility. He also said that Hamilton will get a big number contract, and 99% of where he goes will be based on that, and the other 1% I think is where he's saying where he's comfortable.

 

As much as I'd like to see Hamilton, there are too many reasons I don't think it happens. Age, contract length, issues in the past, and of course the #1 reason: money. In a couple years when Braun's contract really bumps up, they would likely have $40 million+ tied up in 2 position players if it happened. Granted, in a 3-4 years instead of the Brewers payroll only being $90-$100 million, it'll probably be in the $100-110 million range but you still need to be able to afford quality guys at the other positions. As much as we talk about younger guys that are controlled during pre-arbitration years and before they get the big contracts, you can only have so many of them. We talk about Scooter, Thornburg, Peralta, Shafer, etc., but who knows how good they'll turn out? They may need money to go find other guys and they'll need to pay them. I'm not looking to go back to the 90's and early 2000's where there are only a couple good players and our rotation has the likes of Jimmy Haynes, Jamie Wright, and Ruben Quevedo.

 

With that said, DM: go get Josh Hamilton.

[3and2Fastball]

Hamilton and his wife are saying they are going to sign with whoever offers the most money. They are going to set up a charitable foundation with a huge portion of the money, so basically whichever team will pay the most will get Josh Hamilton, as the Hamilton family wants to raise the most $$$ for charity that they can....

[PrinceEatMeat]

Hamilton and his wife are saying they are going to sign with whoever offers the most money. They are going to set up a charitable foundation with a huge portion of the money, so basically whichever team will pay the most will get Josh Hamilton, as the Hamilton family wants to raise the most $$$ for charity that they can....

 

Where did you see this?

[JohnBriggs12]

Will Carroll was just on WSSP and said there's a "distinct possibility" that Hamilton is a Brewer next year.

 

This makes me think there's actually a chance of it happening. Will Carroll is a very credible source. Before now, I really didn't believe there was any chance. Was this on Bill Michaels or Chuck and Wickett? I'll have to listen to it later.

 

I've heard the same thing from Phil Rodgers on Chicago radio. The Narron connection is huge but so is Attanasio's commitment to winning. The thought that they'd be left short of pitching has been eased considerably by the performance of Estrada and Fiers. They'll either get another pitcher back by dealing Greinke or use some of the money saved on him for a less expensive FA option. Narveson, Thornburg, Peralta, Burgos, Rodgers, give them a lot of other candidates. There's enough coming off the books with Wolf, K-Rod, and Marcum.

[3and2Fastball]

Hamilton and his wife are saying they are going to sign with whoever offers the most money. They are going to set up a charitable foundation with a huge portion of the money, so basically whichever team will pay the most will get Josh Hamilton, as the Hamilton family wants to raise the most $$$ for charity that they can....

 

Where did you see this?

 

The most recent Sports Illustrated article on Hamilton. It was from an issue about 3-4 weeks ago.

[3and2Fastball]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1199964/index.htm

 

"But no one would be stunned to see him fielding an offer worth anywhere from $175 million to $200 million next winter. And Hamilton hardly seems interested in giving Texas any kind of discount. He wants whatever the market will bear.

 

"It's more the giving away part," he says. "That's in the forefront of any kind of thought we have about our next contract. The bigger it is, the more we can give away. It's cool to think about all the different ways you can help people by playing baseball. Who couldn't live on a million, two million, three million?"

 

Whether he means for a year or a lifetime, Hamilton won't say. But call it payback or penance: This coming contract is a key reason, he feels, for why he was saved years ago. The whole Josh Hamilton thing was meant to serve as an example, a symbol to the masses of what faith can achieve. And he was meant to use his riches in ways that will be unveiled as soon as he signs on the dotted line."

[Samurai Bucky]

 

With Marcum, Wolf, Greinke, ARam, Alex Gonzalez and KRod off the books we could easily bring in Hamilton, a decent SS and some bullpen help.

 

Our OF would consist of Braun, Hamilton and Aoki which is very good. In the IF we have Hart, Weeks, a new SS via trade or FA, and Green at 3B.

 

Is Alex Gonzalez not coming back next year?

[monty57]

Gonzalez's option was based on plate appearances, which he obviously isn't going to reach. If he comes back, it's as a free agent on a new contract.

[jmeks23]

Gonzalez's option was based on plate appearances, which he obviously isn't going to reach. If he comes back, it's as a free agent on a new contract.

 

True, but barring a trade, he's probably their best option to bring back, and he'd probably be willing to come back to prove he was worth the first deal. I think Stephen Drew will be out of our price range due to the Scott Boras connection.

[Samurai Bucky]

Gonzalez's option was based on plate appearances, which he obviously isn't going to reach. If he comes back, it's as a free agent on a new contract.

Ahhhh... now I feel more edu-ma-cated... thx!

[splitterpfj]

I don't believe Hamilton will come anywhere close to 175-200 million, and with Greinke not taking the money, and the other players who are coming off the books, I absolutely will not rule out a Brewers' run at Hamilton this winter.

 

It would certainly be a risky move, but if the number comes in at 20-25 million and 5 years, the Brewers could absolutely fit him in if they decide they really want to.

 

The last I heard, the Rangers' last offer had been in the 90-95 million range for five years...he's over 30, with plenty of missed games on his resume...I really don't think a Fielder-type deal is coming for Hamilton.

[TURBO]

Would have made a lot more sense to pay Fielder 25 million per year than Hamilton, who has been pathetic most of this season.

 

If he doesn't right the ship, no way I want to invest anything near those numbers in an aging, risky OF...

[splitterpfj]

Honestly, I think the Brewers might have paid Prince 25M, if the bidding hadn't reached that many years in the deal.

[GoToHelfaer]

Eh.. If the Brewers want to go the FA route, I'd rather they go after the cheaper B.J. Upton. And I wouldn't mind Maicer Izturis at SS, who can also play second and third.

[molitor fan]

Growing concerns that Hamilton's recent struggles and cryptic comment suggest serious problems

 

http://deadspin.com/5931354/something-weird-is-going-on-with-josh-hamilton?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

[RockCoCougars]

Regardless of what's going on in his life, Josh Hamilton has been putting up Rickie Weeks first half numbers since late May. I wouldn't even entertain the thought of giving him a mega contract.

[Invader3K]

Yeah, and the Brewers shouldn't be in the business of giving out gold watch contracts to aging players, let alone one with all sorts of red flags lIke HamIlton ís showing. I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole.

[PrinceEatMeat]

I hope Gomez keeps playing really well, because that will hopefully cause Melvin and Mark A to get rid of any thoughts they had of going after Hamilton.

[brewmann04]

I can't see the crew going after a Hitter over a Pitcher.

[jerichoholicninja]

I hope Gomez keeps playing really well, because that will hopefully cause Melvin and Mark A to get rid of any thoughts they had of going after Hamilton.

 

I highly doubt they had any thoughts of going after him before. Well, they probably did but it was more like:

 

Mark: Hey wouldn't that be cool if we signed Josh Hamilton!

 

Doug: Yup.

 

END OF SCENE

[splitterpfj]

Jon Heyman is on the MLB Network right now, discussing Hamilton.

 

1. The "personal issue" Hamilton has been dealing with is a (thus far unsuccessful) attempt to get off chewing tobacco. Heyman did not say specifically whether this issue had contributed to Hamilton's slump, but it would make sense that it would.

 

2. Heyman says, the Rangers have not made Hamilton an official offer, and they do not plan to do so during the season. He says, while Hamilton had visions of a huge deal like Albert and Prince got, execs around the game believe Hamilton will wind up getting 4-5 years, due to his age and history of injury.

 

As Heyman said, "There's one in every crowd", but he believes the HUGE deal is not coming for Hamilton. I agree with this, I think the top end is likely to be in the 5/125 neighborhood.

[endaround]

The only thing Hamilton has going for him is the complete dearth of FA position players. Its him and Melky. Both of them have a chance of signing one of the most regretted contracts ever.

[derflotr]

As Heyman said, "There's one in every crowd", but he believes the HUGE deal is not coming for Hamilton. I agree with this, I think the top end is likely to be in the 5/125 neighborhood.

I'm sure he'll start on an offensive binge soon and he'll once again be the best player to have ever played the game within a month. Then he'll end up with the blank check treatment this offseason.

[TURBO]

too much baggage for ateam like to Brewers to even consider.

 

put that money into a frontline starter, if not 2013, then save it for 2014.

 

I want no part of Hamilton and his issues.

[adambr2]

I would sign Hamilton for 5/$125 in a heartbeat.

 

The emergence of Fiers, Estrada, Rogers, and Peralta has kept us from needing to get heavily involved in the FA pitching market.

 

1) Aoki/Gomez

2) Weeks

3) Braun

4) Hamilton

5) Ramirez

6) Hart

7) Lucroy

8) Segura/Bianchi

 

This is the best lineup in MLB and the best lineup in franchise history.