Who is the 2014 version of Jerry Hairston?

[danzig6767]

Zobrist and Bonifacio depending on how much a team wants to trade away. Zobrist is having a down year but still would probably take quite a bit and don't know if he would really want a bench role even if he ends up playing almost every day at second, short or corner outfield.

 

Why should Tampa be able to get quite a bit for Zobrist?

 

1. He's 33 years old

 

2. His stats have declined in back to back years

 

3. Tampa is terrible this year

 

4. I doubt they'd pick up his 7.5 million dollar option next year

 

5. Trading him would save penny pinching Tampa about 3 million this year and the 500K buyout for his option after the season.

 

I'm pretty sure he'll get traded, but my guess is that Tampa won't get that much for him beyond saving over three million and at best a mid-level prospect unless he starts really raking soon. He's 33 years old and sporting a .712 OPS.

[Outlander]

Why should Tampa be able to get quite a bit for Zobrist?

He is a name player with a solid history and the best utility guy out there. If the Rays make the decision to trade him they will get more just because the Cardinals and Brewers would likely both be interested.

[brewcrewdue80]

Why should Tampa be able to get quite a bit for Zobrist?

He is a name player with a solid history and the best utility guy out there. If the Rays make the decision to trade him they will get more just because the Cardinals and Brewers would likely both be interested.

 

 

Yep. He'll cost a major prospect because any single Playoff team( and likely ALL) can use him and bid on him. He'll be pursued by 20 clubs if being opened up for trade. A team that can easily spend that 7.5mil next season for his services while using him down the stretch this season, Will give up a top prospect.

[danzig6767]

Well, quite a bit is pretty vague. If that meant a top 5-7 prospect, i'd pass quickly, even though our farm system isn't exactly loaded.

[reillymcshane]

Zobrist and Bonifacio depending on how much a team wants to trade away. Zobrist is having a down year but still would probably take quite a bit and don't know if he would really want a bench role even if he ends up playing almost every day at second, short or corner outfield.

 

Why should Tampa be able to get quite a bit for Zobrist?

 

1. He's 33 years old

 

2. His stats have declined in back to back years

 

3. Tampa is terrible this year

 

4. I doubt they'd pick up his 7.5 million dollar option next year

 

5. Trading him would save penny pinching Tampa about 3 million this year and the 500K buyout for his option after the season.

 

I'm pretty sure he'll get traded, but my guess is that Tampa won't get that much for him beyond saving over three million and at best a mid-level prospect unless he starts really raking soon. He's 33 years old and sporting a .712 OPS.

Zobrist has put up the following fWAR:

 

2009: 8.5

2010: 3.7

2011: 6.3

2012: 5.8

2013: 5.4

2014: 1.5 (so far)

 

Yes, he's had a down year in 2014, and he may well be on the decline. But the guy is still a good player. He's a great defender at 2B, LF and RF. At $7.5 million this year and next, he's a great bargain. It'll take more than a spare part or mid-level prospect to get Zobrist.

[reillymcshane]

The Brewers don't need an everyday position player, which is what I see Zobrist as. Sure he moves around the diamond, but he's rarely out of the lineup. Outside of Overbay, none of the starters or regular platoon guys are candidates to be replaced. This makes a guy like Zobrist overkill. If you can get him at a bargin price - great. I'd love to have him. But I doubt that's going to happen. He's going to cost something.

 

Of our reserves, no one (except Maldonado) is playing well. Each guy, Falu, Herrera, Bianchi, Gindl and Schafer, is producing negative WAR (-1.5 combined this year for the group) this year.

 

Guys like Schafer, Bianchi and Gindl all were positives last year (or at least not negatives). If those guys could bounce back and simply play like last season, we'd be much better off.

 

Otherwise, you get a guy like Bonifacio. He's nothing great - but he is going to be able to back up multiple spots, handle a position for a few weeks if there's an injury, and ultimately not be a negative contributor (which is what we have now). And he won't cost a top prospect.

 

However, Bonifacio might not be the best answer because he hasn't played short in a couple of years. I'm not sure how good (or bad) he would be at the position. Anyone you get would need to be able to play SS adequately.

 

Again, if you can get Zobrist for a Hunter Morris-type player, by all means, jump all over it. Take on the salary. He'd be awesome to have. But I think it will take a lot more.

 

In the end, we may just want to give Bianchi and Schafer another try (after they've had some success at Nashville).

[endaround]

Schafer had a wOBA of 65 in 2013. In 2014 it was 54. Bianchi had a wOBA of 53 in 2013. In 2014 it was -19. There really isn't much to hope for there.

[Getumthisyear]

Like to get a Left handed bat.. Maybe Yonder Alfonso from San Diego. He's hasn't hit much this year, but only 27 and think he can play 1B/3B and leftfield. Maybe there tired of waiting for this guy. I think a change of scenery and Miller Park might get this guy going.. Think Grant Green of the Angels would be a great fit as well. He's Left handed and plays all over the diamond. Not sure what kind of prospect he is? I know they kept CJ Cron up and sent him back a couple of weeks ago

[RWeeksFan23]

Eric Chavez would've been perfect if it wasn't for his latest injury.

[logan82]

Schafer had a wOBA of 65 in 2013. In 2014 it was 54. Bianchi had a wOBA of 53 in 2013. In 2014 it was -19. There really isn't much to hope for there.

Did you mean some other stat becasue from what I remember wOBA is usually a decimal type number with 3 digits.

[igor67]

At this point wouldn't Zobrist as a platoon mate for Reynolds and a super sub be a nice healthy bump in production?

[Bombers]

At this point wouldn't Zobrist as a platoon mate for Reynolds and a super sub be a nice healthy bump in production?

I don't think anyone is arguing he would be a nice add, but it all ends up on the cost. As ReillyMC said. If they want a 1:1 for someone like Morris - i am game. But Coulter or Roache or Taylor I would pass.

[endaround]

Schafer had a wOBA of 65 in 2013. In 2014 it was 54. Bianchi had a wOBA of 53 in 2013. In 2014 it was -19. There really isn't much to hope for there.

Did you mean some other stat becasue from what I remember wOBA is usually a decimal type number with 3 digits.

 

I meant wRC+. Wasn't thinking clearly. Anyway, they are both pretty far below average.

[HiAndTight]

Bonifacio with the career sub .700 OPS? He's never even put up an OPS over .700 unless you count his half season with KC last year, which was exactly .700. Sure he can play a lot of positions but he can't hit a lick. Might as well keep trotting out Herrera or Bianchi over Emilio.

 

You are overlooking his one full year as a regular with the Marlins in 2011 when he hit .296/.360/.393. That adds up to an OPS of .753. He's a .263 lifetime hitter with over 150 career steals. He's got some value. We're talking who is this year's Jerry Hairston. That bar isn't all that high. Hairston was a career .257 hitter with not all that much more power and less of a SB threat.

 

Correction, he had one so-so year out of his 8 year futile career. [sarcasm]Go get him Doug![/sarcasm]

 

 

[sarcasm]I'm shocked you're against a potential trade without offering any alternative solution.[/sarcasm] Because the only way we can upgrade our bench without giving up much is to go out and add Manny Machado. Actually, you might make the argument he's only had one good year as well.

 

I'm curious, just what type of player DO you think the Brewers should target to bolster their bench, add versatility without giving up any top prospects? It seems to me you click on a players link, look at his OPS and if it doesn't meet your prerequisite, you not only dismiss him, you're almost outraged at the suggestion.

 

From 2011-Now Bonafacio=.269/.328/.354 And a OPS of .682. Lost in there is the fact that he can play LITERALLY every position in the IF or OF(sans catcher). And he's a very effective threat on the bases as he's stolen 111 bases with 28 CS in there.

 

I'd like to see an adjusted OPS that accounts for stolen bases somehow. Ie, Billy Hamilton has a slugging pct of .385, but he steals .30 bases everytime he gets on. That way maybe some people wouldn't dismiss anyone with a sub .800 OPS right off the top. More than anything, I see you eviscerate every player that someone suggest. Who do YOU suggest? It's easy to find flaws in players games. Especially players we're targeting to help provide bench depth. All we need though is someone who provides a significant upgrade over what we have. Bonafacio is a significant upgrade over Bianchi or Herrera.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Depending on his injury status the Brewers should seriously look at Michael Cuddyer. He can 1B /OF.

[Eye Black]

One trade candidate that could add some depth around the diamond is the Twins Trevor Plouffe.

 

Plouffe would require a bigger return than what the Brewers gave up in 2011 for Hairston, but he would also be under team control for three more seasons which could ease the transition of losing Ramirez as the everyday 3B in the not too distant future. At 28, Plouffe is a solid role player that has experience at several positions around the diamond. While he has primarily been a 3B throughout his MLB career, he has played major league games at SS, 2B, 1B, LF, and RF over his five seasons. He is unlikely to ever repeat his 24 HR season of 2012, but he is an adequate hitter for a guy with his versatility. This year he has a 101 OPS+, and through 77 games he has a 1.6 WAR (B-Ref).

 

One other interesting connection with Plouffe is that he has been a good friend and off-season training partner with Ryan Braun for the past eight off-seasons, and is also represented by Braun and Garza's agent, Nez Balelo.

[Mr Southpaw]

Maybe they would be interested in Estrada?

[RWeeksFan23]

What about Bobby Abreu?

 

Veteran left-handed bat that gets on base, gives you good at-bats, has a little pop. Would be useful especially with how poor our backup OFs have been.

[superfly]

One trade candidate that could add some depth around the diamond is the Twins Trevor Plouffe.

 

Plouffe would require a bigger return than what the Brewers gave up in 2011 for Hairston, but he would also be under team control for three more seasons which could ease the transition of losing Ramirez as the everyday 3B in the not too distant future. At 28, Plouffe is a solid role player that has experience at several positions around the diamond. While he has primarily been a 3B throughout his MLB career, he has played major league games at SS, 2B, 1B, LF, and RF over his five seasons. He is unlikely to ever repeat his 24 HR season of 2012, but he is an adequate hitter for a guy with his versatility. This year he has a 101 OPS+, and through 77 games he has a 1.6 WAR (B-Ref).

 

One other interesting connection with Plouffe is that he has been a good friend and off-season training partner with Ryan Braun for the past eight off-seasons, and is also represented by Braun and Garza's agent, Nez Balelo.

 

Actually, I really like that idea. Plouffe will never be a world beater, but he has pop in his bat. Pull him out of Target field and surround him with a few quality MLB hitters and we could see an increase in his numbers. He really has nobody around him besides a .100 Willingham and occasionally Mauer or Arcia when they aren't hurt.

[Warning Track Power]

I also second the idea of adding Plouffe...he would be a perfect addition to the bench and could provide some insurance at a number of positions as mentioned, as well as provide the option at potentially moving Ramirez to 1B for 2015.

 

However, I believe that the most likely scenario with someone being the 2014 Hairston...Tony Gwynn Jr. or Darwin Barney. I just don't see the Brewers making a deal that would be the equivalent of the 2011 Hairston. An arguably better backup at 2B, SS or a 4th OF is really all the Brewers will add in my opinion. I would love to be surprised and see a deal for a 1B like Yonder Alonso or Yasmani Grandal but I just don't see it.

[Kelbysdaddy]

Plouffe would be perfect for out needs. He's kinda a poor mans zobrist.

[brewmann04]

I think we are targeting the right type of players in regards to getting a Needed Bat.

[Eye Black]

From the below audio link of Doug Melvin's appearance on WTMJ earlier today, when asked about position players he responded, "Position players aren't the situation that we're actually looking for. We feel we're pretty solid there." Not sure if it is posturing or he has ruled out position players even in the case of adding roster depth. Hopefully not, although maybe he is waiting until after the deadline to look for those type of players.

 

Doug Melvin on WTMJ's Brewers 360

(If you have issues playing it from SoundHound, here is the WTMJ Website Link, Doug Melvin interview starts at 2:06 mark)

 

Also, for what it's worth at the very end (last 20 seconds) he has some comments about the Twins and Cardinals being teams that may not deserve competitive balance picks and then mentions that the Brewers were happy to get the pick they did and that they, "may have gotten "Ryan" Haniger with that kind of pick." Haniger was the No. 38 overall pick (one pick before Joey Gallo went off the board), but it was the second of two picks awarded to the Brewers as part of the Fielder compensation. Regarding calling him Ryan, hopefully he just misspoke, because I would like to think he knows the names of at least the top five prospects in the system.

[LouisEly]

What about Ruben Tejada of the Mets? Top 100 prospect Wilmer Flores is knocking on the door and the Mets arguably two best position players man 3B and 2B so there isn't anywhere to go.

 

Although he is only 24, Tejada has never been able to seize the full-time SS or 2B job. He's never hit for power, but he has a very OBP-heavy OPS with a lifetime OBP of .329 (greater than his lifetime SLG of .314) and is sporting a .354 OBP this year. With Tejada eligible for arby next year and Flores, Wright, and Murphy the starters maybe the Mets would flip Tejada for Estrada to fill Bartolo Colon's SP spot next year. In cavernous Citi Field Estrada won't give up as many HRs and could thrive. Tejada will be under team control until 2018, solidifying the backup SS/2B role for a few years, able to start for Gennett against tough lefties.

[brewcrewdue80]

Hmm, LouisEly. That's an interesting development. Flores was a guy that I thought was to be the Mets 2b of the future. I'm not quite sold, Tejada will be made available in trade. I'm guessing the Mets are trying Flores out for SS to see if he can stay there but if his defensive numbers fall off, I'm thinking Tejada remains their man at SS and Daniel Murphy is actually made available in trade in the Offseason, thus creating the importance to hold on to Tejada. Tejada would definitely be a nicer fit for backup 2b/SS than Bianchi.