First Base 2014

[igor67]

I'd certainly rather take a flier on Reynolds, then trade a decent if low-upside prospect for a flier on Ike Davis.

[bill hAll Star]

I can just envision the days when the lineup reads:

7. Reynolds

8. Weeks

9. Pitcher

Defensively, the pitchers and catchers of the Cubs, Pirates, Reds & Cardinals may be all that is required.

 

Against a LHP that wouldn't be as bad as you'd think. You'd see a HR by one of those guys in half of the games.

[Mass Haas]

Now Jon Heyman sends out a tweet, must have followed up on Polek's tip:

 

#Brewers are making a push for mark reynolds, and he's leaning toward signing with them. Makes sense. Milw has 1B opening.

[Mass Haas]

And Rosenthal follows suit:

 

Source: #Brewers close to signing Mark Reynolds.

[pogokat]

if it's less than 3 million, we get "Ike Davis" talent without trading anything and for less cash than the real Ike davis got today

[fondybrewfan]

Supposedly it is a minor league deal. If that is the case this is basically a no brainer for the Crew and would be a nice low risk pick up

[MVP2110]

Supposedly it is a minor league deal. If that is the case this is basically a no brainer for the Crew and would be a nice low risk pick up

According to Tom H he has pretty much been assured of making the roster, now whether thats a platoon with Francisco or starting everyday is a different matter, granted would probably produce roughly the same results if you look at splits

[brewcrewdue80]

Well, the positive in Reynolds is that he can play 3b if/when ARam's knees falter and heads to the DL. Kinda the best backup situation on top of playing 1b since you know it's 2b/HR or K with Reynolds. His HR totals though can at least put runs on the Board. Better than Betancourt by far.

It's a Minor League contract but with some assurance on a ML Starting job. I said it before, Ike Davis is Mark Reynolds only Ike bats from the LH Side while Reynolds is a RH bat. Better option with Juan Fran in a platoon situation. But really, I think the signing can be used more for 3b backup in it's value vs what Reynolds does for the team at 1b. And better signing come midseason if ARam is wanted at the trade deadline, you have Reynolds/Juan Fran at 3b and Halton/Morris at 1b at that time. Only bad thing is that you now have to wonder with 1b at 7/8 in order 2b at 7/8 in order...Or does 2b become #2 in the order? which can become a bad situation if/when Gennett doesn't bat .270+ and Weeks remains his .170 self in the first half.

 

It really is time to move Braun/Lucroy to #2 in the order or play Gomez at #2 all year?

[JohnBriggs12]

Reynolds was moved off of 3B because like Francisco, he wasn't very good there. Sure he can play there occasionally, but is he the heir apparent to Ramirez? I don't think so. Ultimately I think this move was prompted by lack of progress Francisco showed this winter. His .260/.351/.393 in winter ball didn't inspire much confidence. Reynolds has also done it at the major league level, albeit the fact his coming off two lousy years. What's scary about Reynolds is he hasn't hit over .221 since 2009 so he almost has to supply 30+ HR. He's equally baffled by both RHP and LHP but if he runs into one enough, fine.

 

Will they platoon Francisco and Reynolds? Eh. I think Reynolds is the more proven player. I'd still be looking for a LH bat that can make better contact. It's one thing to carry Reynolds and his 220 or so strikeouts, but having a bench/replacement guy who also fans once every 2.5 ABs? Could Taylor Green figure in here after missing all of last year? Maybe.

[logan82]

I would have rather stuck with Halton as the right handed half of the platoon. Depends on the money I guess but this is the small half of the platoon.

[LouisEly]

if it's less than 3 million, we get "Ike Davis" talent without trading anything and for less cash than the real Ike davis got today

 

$2M if added to the ML roster by March 24th with performance bonuses up to $600K ($125K each for 200/300/400/500 PA's). So less than your $3M threshold. Would much rather this than trade any legitimate pitching prospect for Ike Davis.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10309967/mark-reynolds-agrees-minor-league-deal-milwaukee-brewers

[DR28]

Lyle Overbay signed to a Minor League deal today...

 

Can we assume a Reynolds/Overbay platoon at 1B this year?

[MNBrew]

I'd doubt Reynolds, Overbay, and Francisco all make the team. I've been actually starting to hope Halton really outplays Reynolds and platoons with Overbay. But having Halton a call-up away isn't a bad thing.

 

I do hope that the Reynolds & Overbay signings mean JF21 doesn't make the team. Then, at most, I believe they're out only 1/6 of his contract, or $225K.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'd doubt Reynolds, Overbay, and Francisco all make the team. I've been actually starting to hope Halton really outplays Reynolds and platoons with Overbay. But having Halton a call-up away isn't a bad thing.

 

I do hope that the Reynolds & Overbay signings mean JF21 doesn't make the team. Then, at most, I believe they're out only 1/6 of his contract, or $225K.

 

I'm with you. FANcisco is such a butcher defensively and such a prodigious strikeout threat that if he's not hitting one HR every 15 or 16 AB's he's basically worthless. Reynolds has at least proven he can do that over a full season but he's far from a sure thing either based on recent performance. Keeping all 3 would mean one would play 3B on the days Ramirez is resting. Can you imagine a lineup with two guys who fan once ever 2.5 AB's? and such poor defense at both corner IF spots?

 

Signing a guy like Overbay who completely ran out of gas last year in NY as evidenced by his .586 OPS after the All Star break last year, smacks of desperation. He's the definition of a guy on his last legs. By the way Overbay's strikeout rate is pretty bad too. At least he plays decent defense one would assume.

 

It will be very interesting this spring if either or both of Halton and Morris have monster springs and the veterans stumble around. One would think Francisco has a big edge going into spring will all the winter ball he played. Granted Arizona numbers are always deceptive, but the bar isn't that high that either or both of the young guys together can't surpass it.

[bensheeps]

Grady Sizemore signs with the RedSox tonight. This may make Mike Carp more available. Doug get on the phone and see what it would cost.

Carp could play first and be a fall-back if Davis struggles in left field.

 

I'll admit I haven't been excited about the Reynolds signing as an "all or nothing" right-handed batter seems to be a poor fit in the Brewers lineup. Overbay brings a left-handed option that seems a little better fit, but is still far from ideal.

 

If the Brewer f.o. has doubts about Morris, why not try to get a batter that had a good season last year and is still under control for a couple more years?

[monty57]

Grady Sizemore signs with the RedSox tonight. This may make Mike Carp more available. Doug get on the phone and see what it would cost.

Carp could play first and be a fall-back if Davis struggles in left field.

 

I'll admit I haven't been excited about the Reynolds signing as an "all or nothing" right-handed batter seems to be a poor fit in the Brewers lineup. Overbay brings a left-handed option that seems a little better fit, but is still far from ideal.

 

If the Brewer f.o. has doubts about Morris, why not try to get a batter that had a good season last year and is still under control for a couple more years?

 

This was on MLBTradeRumors.com this morning:

 

For now, Mike Carp's future with the Red Sox isn't likely to be impacted by the club's signing of Grady Sizemore, an industry source tells MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo (Twitter link). Carp received a lot of trade interest earlier this winter and now another left-handed outfield bat has joined the team, Carp could be the odd man out. I'd guess that Boston wouldn't do anything with Carp, however, until they get a long look at the injury-plagued Sizemore during Spring Training.

 

Although it would be worth making a phone call to see what the price tag might be.

[brwrsfan]

What would it take to get Billy Butler out of KC??

 

They apparently want pitching back.

[DR28]

Ok Doug... Now that Garza is on board, use that pitching surplus we have and get us Ike Davis to play 1B this year!

[fondybrewfan]

I would just assume go with what we have now; especially if it takes any talent at all to get Ike. Either you go big and get someone much better than Ike or you sit back and hope for the best with what you have

[logan82]

There is no pitching surplus. Most teams use at least 7 starters every year because of injuries and poor starts.

[jhart05]

Can someone explain why the Brewers would want Ike Davis?

 

I did a very small amount of research. I typed "What is the love for Ike Davis" into google and found this:

 

http://metsblog.com/qa/email-qa-why-is-ike-davis-being-run-out-of-town/

 

Looking at his stats, he just looks like a younger, probably more expensive version of Mark Reynolds. Lots of K's, no glove, except without as many HRs.

[jerichoholicninja]

Everyone is hoping Davis will turn into the player he was in the ONE good season he had. I know he was very sick a couple years ago and hurt too but I just don't see it happening. That one good year was the exception, not the rule.

[TURBO]

Everyone is hoping Davis will turn into the player he was in the ONE good season he had.

 

Well, we already have a guy like that in our own organization named HUNTER MORRIS! Why pin our hopes to Davis at the expense of our minor league system when we have Morris?

 

I really hope that Morris just absolutely tears it up in spring training, if he gets any at bats...

[wallus]

Ike's numbers are less than impressive....

[Warning Track Power]

Everyone is hoping Davis will turn into the player he was in the ONE good season he had. I know he was very sick a couple years ago and hurt too but I just don't see it happening. That one good year was the exception, not the rule.

I think the real reason why people are pushing for Davis, myself included, is that he represents a potential at 1B that Morris, Reynolds, Overbay & Francisco do not. I liken Ike to the 2007-2008 Rickie Weeks. Those two years combined, Weeks had a slash of .234/.357/.414 with terrible defense and was beginning to look like a bust, much like Ike is now. Whatever your feelings are now on Rickie, I think we all can agree that from 2009-2011 (until the ankle injury) that Rickie was finally developing into the 2B we thought he would become with a .269/.357/.472 slash while providing significant pop at a non-traditional power position.

 

Will Ike have this same type of mid to late 20s revival? I don't know and am not willing to deal Thornburg or Nelson to find out. However, if we could deal a lesser pitching prospect like Hellweg, Pena, Blazek or combination of lesser pitching prospects, I would be willing to take that chance given our lack of promising options for 2014.

 

I think the real interesting proposal would be Hunter Morris for Ike Davis straight up. I would do it.