K-Rod....

[HiAndTight]

K-Rod is living in a dream world if he thinks he's going to get $2 million plus at this stage of the game. I don't see anyone giving him much more than the minimum, to be honest. If he's holding out for a certain dollar amount, he won't be back in baseball.

 

 

He's a proven reliever who had a down year last year, but not a T-Bow year or anything.

 

I hardly think 2 million dollar for a pitcher with his track record is that crazy. The longer it goes of course the less likely that 2 million is, but unless we're again talking about his personal life, than I'm completely lost how 2 million is a "dream world," in today's market for a pitcher like K-Rod.

[HiAndTight]

I guess having K-Rod in our bullpen wouldn't hurt it, but if we're looking for bullpen arms, couldn't we just call up Donovan Hand? I'd rather give a younger (and cheaper) guy a chance than to put a band-aid on this bullpen.

 

 

My guess is because they're looking for a late inning reliever and they don't want to bring up Hand and throw him into the SU role right out of the gate.

 

Or even someone who can come up and close. And while I know the general consensus on this board is that the 9th is no different than any other inning, I don't believe or agree with that, and every big league pitcher I've heard talk about it has backed that up. It's just tough to quantify.

 

So, that is why IMO rather than bringing up a guy like Olmsted who's pitched brilliantly since his first blow up.

Or others who look good, Manzanillo, Wooten, Sanchez, Hand being the most obvious, Wooten...and on and on.

So I can both understand why they'd want K-Rod and why some on here wouldn't. Frankly I wasn't really on board with the Lohse signing, so I'd rather just go with all our young guys since we're already 6 games under .500 and at this point at least hope Lohse keeps dealing like he has been and you know some team will give you a nice prospect of a package for Lohse in 2-3 months.

[RockCoCougars]

K-Rod is living in a dream world if he thinks he's going to get $2 million plus at this stage of the game. I don't see anyone giving him much more than the minimum, to be honest. If he's holding out for a certain dollar amount, he won't be back in baseball.

 

 

He's a proven reliever who had a down year last year, but not a T-Bow year or anything.

 

I hardly think 2 million dollar for a pitcher with his track record is that crazy. The longer it goes of course the less likely that 2 million is, but unless we're again talking about his personal life, than I'm completely lost how 2 million is a "dream world," in today's market for a pitcher like K-Rod.

 

Maybe so, but if he was really that valuable I'd have thought that someone would have taken him basically for free at the deadline last season or signed him to a deal in the off-season. My guess is that he is looking for the kind of money they are talking about and there are no takers at that price, if he was willing to take less, he would have gotten a shot in spring training somewhere. Maybe he could go fishing with Derek Lee, Jermaine Dye and Latrell.

[HiAndTight]

K-Rod is living in a dream world if he thinks he's going to get $2 million plus at this stage of the game. I don't see anyone giving him much more than the minimum, to be honest. If he's holding out for a certain dollar amount, he won't be back in baseball.

 

 

He's a proven reliever who had a down year last year, but not a T-Bow year or anything.

 

I hardly think 2 million dollar for a pitcher with his track record is that crazy. The longer it goes of course the less likely that 2 million is, but unless we're again talking about his personal life, than I'm completely lost how 2 million is a "dream world," in today's market for a pitcher like K-Rod.

 

Maybe so, but if he was really that valuable I'd have thought that someone would have taken him basically for free at the deadline last season or signed him to a deal in the off-season. My guess is that he is looking for the kind of money they are talking about and there are no takers at that price, if he was willing to take less, he would have gotten a shot in spring training somewhere. Maybe he could go fishing with Derek Lee, Jermaine Dye and Latrell.

 

Since when is 2 million dollars really "that valuable," in today's MLB?

 

My guess is that he was looking for a larger contract with a team like the Tigers where he had a chance to earn back a closers job and hasn't found it, and it waiting until a favorable situation presents itself.

 

I still can't see how 2 million dollars for a pitcher with his track record is "dreaming," when you look at what countless other relievers have gotten paid.

[RockCoCougars]

K Rod has a great track record, pre-2012. Combine his performance last season with the seeming lack of interest in him on the open market, and you have a situation where he is either going to have to retire or come back on a make good basis. I don't see where he can be choosy for either a specific role or for a certain amount of money at this point. Obviously, $2 million is chump change for a free agent reliever these days, but I suspect that had someone been willing to give him that kind of money, he would have taken it.

[PrinceEatMeat]

http://brewersbeat.mlblogs.com/2013/04/17/brewers-close-to-re-signing-k-rod/

 

There it is.

[AZBrewCrew]

EDIT: someone beat me to it

[brewcrewdue80]

Well, great. I will only accept this deal if when KRod is called up from the minors the club DFA's Axford. Having both Axford and KRod back together to be called upon from the pen...is well after last season...Insanity!

[brewcrewdue80]

Now all we need for last season to come full circle is for the team to trade for Marcum. Oh and what Randy Wolf doing? We can always add another C like Kottaras to personally catch for him and play 1b the other games right?

[HiAndTight]

Well, great. I will only accept this deal if when KRod is called up from the minors the club DFA's Axford. Having both Axford and KRod back together to be called upon from the pen...is well after last season...Insanity!

 

 

And after our 96 win season, when you add Henderson, Badenhop, Figaro, Gorzelanny, Kintzler, and Gonzalez who I have no doubt will turn back into the legit loogy he's been his entire career, it could very well be brilliant.

 

Axford's thrown less than 3 bad innings this year. So a bit early to write him off as well as he bounced back last year.

 

And as I pointed out, while K-Rod had a down year last year, that was in part due to an inflated HR ratio, and a bit of a down season(though still possessing a FIP and XFip below 4.00).

[HiAndTight]

Now all we need for last season to come full circle is for the team to trade for Marcum. Oh and what Randy Wolf doing? We can always add another C like Kottaras to personally catch for him and play 1b the other games right?

 

 

And what seasons have ANY of those players ever put up GREAT seasons for their position?

[SoupTown]

Axford should not see any inning greater than SIX until he throws a few at 98. The guy has no chance to succeed throwing straight as an arrow at 93 /94. Keep putting him out there in the 6th (maybe 7th, mabye mop up) until he is throwing 98. Why does he not actually even TRY another pitch?

 

K-Rod. Well, the guy does have a long, long history of success. The chance of him not being up in 30 days is very, very remote.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Axford should not see any inning greater than SIX until he throws a few at 98. The guy has no chance to succeed throwing straight as an arrow at 93 /94. Keep putting him out there in the 6th (maybe 7th, mabye mop up) until he is throwing 98. Why does he not actually even TRY another pitch?

 

K-Rod. Well, the guy does have a long, long history of success. The chance of him not being up in 30 days is very, very remote.

 

Axford rarely has thrown 98. He tops out at 96-97, and usually doesn't start hitting 97 until into the season. 95-96 would be normal for him at this time of year, so he's down 1 or 2 MPH right now. And he's been throwing a lot of sliders actually, which is rather unusual for him.

[brewcrewdue80]

Now all we need for last season to come full circle is for the team to trade for Marcum. Oh and what Randy Wolf doing? We can always add another C like Kottaras to personally catch for him and play 1b the other games right?

 

 

And what seasons have ANY of those players ever put up GREAT seasons for their position?

 

 

Sarcasm on the situation.

[HiAndTight]

K Rod has a great track record, pre-2012. Combine his performance last season with the seeming lack of interest in him on the open market, and you have a situation where he is either going to have to retire or come back on a make good basis. I don't see where he can be choosy for either a specific role or for a certain amount of money at this point. Obviously, $2 million is chump change for a free agent reliever these days, but I suspect that had someone been willing to give him that kind of money, he would have taken it.

 

 

Well, setting aside the fact that he already signed with the Brewers, his 2012 seasons failures are being greatly exaggerated. He still struck out a batter per inning and had a FIP and XFIP in the 3.60-3.80 range.

 

People can't constantly talk about how volatile relievers are and then write a guy off who hasn't been his entire career because of one season in which he wasn't outstanding.

 

72 IP, 72 K and an inflated HR ratio. He didn't fall apart of deal with a serious injury, or deal with a significant loss of velocity.

 

And in reference to your last sentence, I suspect he wasn't willing to accept 2 million dollars on a team with an established, entrenched reliever earlier on in free agency. It's still just 2 million for a guy who was absolutely lights out last year despite having a couple of blow up outings.

[HiAndTight]

Axford should not see any inning greater than SIX until he throws a few at 98. The guy has no chance to succeed throwing straight as an arrow at 93 /94. Keep putting him out there in the 6th (maybe 7th, mabye mop up) until he is throwing 98. Why does he not actually even TRY another pitch?

 

K-Rod. Well, the guy does have a long, long history of success. The chance of him not being up in 30 days is very, very remote.

 

 

So 98 MPH is the magic number for Axford? He can't be effective unless he's throwing 98 MPH?

 

His velocity has been a fraction of the problem in his 3 outings he's struggled(two of which he was brought back out for another inning).

 

With his slider or curve depending on which he can throw reliably, he has plenty of heat on his fastball to thrive in the closing role. Axford has now had 4 straight 7th/8th inning outings that have been very strong and clean. With Henderson humming along, I'd keep him in the closers role, but give Axford the SU position.

[Warning Track Power]

Just curious...Where is K-Rod? I haven't read anything about him in the minors.

[TheCrew07]

Just curious...Where is K-Rod? I haven't read anything about him in the minors.

 

My response would be... "Who Cares?".

 

I would think he's in AZ getting into shape.

[markedman5]

KROD is in extended spring traing now....hasen't gone to the minors yet.

[PrinceEatMeat]

http://brewersbeat.mlblogs.com/2013/05/02/with-visa-in-hand-k-rod-ready-to-report/

 

Update on K-Rod.

[HiAndTight]

Just curious...Where is K-Rod? I haven't read anything about him in the minors.

 

My response would be... "Who Cares?".

 

I would think he's in AZ getting into shape.

 

 

And Warning Track Power's response would probably be, "I care since I asked the question."

 

My personal response would be a LOT of people care since there is a thread about it.

[HiAndTight]

K-Rod's looking like a great signing.

 

He's the type of asset that the Brewers of the 90's used to deal around the deadline for a couple prospects. A Bob Wickman type deal that netted us Sexson and Marcus Scutaro(though he ended up being placed on waivers several times before getting his career going).

 

2 million dollars and while he's certainly benefited by good luck, he's currently spotting a .68 ERA, his walks and HR's are down, and one would have to think a team like Cincy, Detroit or any number of teams would be interested.

Axford is another prime candidate as he's been absolutely dominant since the 2nd week of the season and I believe it's been about 17 outings now without allowing a run.

Pieces like these aren't going to get you Profar in return, but it's certainly possible a team would part with lower level prospects that the Brewers might get lucky on.

 

 

There are a LOT of players right now that the Brewers have that they could deal, but these two would seem to be atop the list of most likely.

[reillymcshane]

K-Rod's looking like a great signing.

 

He's the type of asset that the Brewers of the 90's used to deal around the deadline for a couple prospects. A Bob Wickman type deal that netted us Sexson and Marcus Scutaro(though he ended up being placed on waivers several times before getting his career going).

 

2 million dollars and while he's certainly benefited by good luck, he's currently spotting a .68 ERA, his walks and HR's are down, and one would have to think a team like Cincy, Detroit or any number of teams would be interested.

Axford is another prime candidate as he's been absolutely dominant since the 2nd week of the season and I believe it's been about 17 outings now without allowing a run.

Pieces like these aren't going to get you Profar in return, but it's certainly possible a team would part with lower level prospects that the Brewers might get lucky on.

 

 

There are a LOT of players right now that the Brewers have that they could deal, but these two would seem to be atop the list of most likely.

You got it right. Deal K-Rod while he's hot. He's had great luck so far. He's been great for us, but this team isn't going anywhere. Deal him for whatever you can get. The sooner the better.

[Invader3K]

I never got the angst over re-signing K-Rod. It turns out it was a smart move by Melvin and will look even better if he's flipped for a nice prospect or something.

[3and2Fastball]

K-Rod to Detroit makes a lot of sense right about now