3B in 2015 if A-Ram not re-signed

[brewcrewdue80]

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/8223

 

Could Brewers add Donaldson at 3rd for Davis/Fiers?

Davis and Donaldson both lack some defensive skill...

A's looking for another power bat in OF after trading Cespedes

Both have appox. 4 years left...

Brewers need a 3B.....

Big bat with decent OBP

Ramirez could move to 1st and Parra to LF

Nelson is the 5

 

If we're looking to tweak the line-up and not do a overhaul, I'm for this.

Lineup changes....

Get Gennett and Braun in spots they both feel comfortable in. Gennett is a leadoff hitter that can make decent contact. Braun isn't the power threat any more so don't put him in the 3 (why RR put him in the 5, I don't know- extra pressure to hit for power, ya think?) Gomez can bat 3rd and is told to put on the brakes, and go base to base, because he plays too dumb to know better (definitely not leadoff). Clark could spell Ramirez at 1st, easing him into the position/leagure. Young Donaldson could be a MVP type player when healthy. Luc in the 6th takes some pressure off of him too. Remember he was an afterthought (8th hitter) in 2011. Gold glover batting 7th and a rejuvenated Segura at 8 to start season.

Gennett

Braun

Gomez

Ramirez

Donaldson

Lucroy

Parra

Segura

 

A's and Brewers coming off similar seasons..... could really help each other.

 

I'd be super happy with that deal! Davis+Fiers for 3years of Donaldson? Yes please! Move Braun back to LF and how about signing Norichika Aoki back to play RF? Bat Leadoff, grind out ABs vs. Swinging 1st pitches/K in 3-4pitches?

Parra compliments Gomez/Braun for rest days. And even Aoki.

I mean Dondaldson put up 8 and 7.4 BRWAR the last 2 seasons! No way Davis/Fiers can duplicate that WAR combined. It'd be an underpayment for Donaldson. Probably need to throw in a guy like Arcia or Taylor. And I'd do it. Taylor especially. Donaldson is exceeding his numbers in the Minors at the ML level. He's a STUD. The Brewers need a STUD to bat 3rd or 4th. Braun used to be it and he's either going to again, or be just good. If Braun returns to Stud status would imagine a Lucroy 2, Donaldson 3, Braun 4, Gomez 5 lineup. You're looking at 4 players Lucroy a 6WAR, Donaldon 8WAR, Braun 6WAR, and Gomez 5-7?WAR You're talking 25-27Wins above Replacement in 4 players. If Braun returns to form. With that WAR amount you're talking about starting with a 75-77win team if those 4 play together in a season. That's 1 Helluva Starting point! Thus why I'm all for it. With the Avg staff we have + those 4 there's a strong ability to contend next season. Find a 1b bat and the team is loaded.

[vegasbrewcrew1993]

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/post/_/id/8223

 

 

I'd be super happy with that deal! Davis+Fiers for 3years of Donaldson? Yes please! Move Braun back to LF and how about signing Norichika Aoki back to play RF? Bat Leadoff, grind out ABs vs. Swinging 1st pitches/K in 3-4pitches?

Parra compliments Gomez/Braun for rest days. And even Aoki.

I mean Dondaldson put up 8 and 7.4 BRWAR the last 2 seasons! No way Davis/Fiers can duplicate that WAR combined. It'd be an underpayment for Donaldson. Probably need to throw in a guy like Arcia or Taylor. And I'd do it. Taylor especially. Donaldson is exceeding his numbers in the Minors at the ML level. He's a STUD. The Brewers need a STUD to bat 3rd or 4th. Braun used to be it and he's either going to again, or be just good. If Braun returns to Stud status would imagine a Lucroy 2, Donaldson 3, Braun 4, Gomez 5 lineup. You're looking at 4 players Lucroy a 6WAR, Donaldon 8WAR, Braun 6WAR, and Gomez 5-7?WAR You're talking 25-27Wins above Replacement in 4 players. If Braun returns to form. With that WAR amount you're talking about starting with a 75-77win team if those 4 play together in a season. That's 1 Helluva Starting point! Thus why I'm all for it. With the Avg staff we have + those 4 there's a strong ability to contend next season. Find a 1b bat and the team is loaded.

 

My point exactly. All that was missing from the Brewers was one more big bat. If they had Donaldson the collapse probably doesn't happen. People here are underrating Donaldson. Guy doesn't get a lot of attention because he plays in Oakland. He's a top level player without a doubt. I like Davis and Fiers, but neither will combine to put up stud numbers. Anyways this is all for naught. The A's have no intention of trading an inexpensive stud. An A's exec when asked about a possible trade said it was stupid idea.

[Kelbysdaddy]

This may have been mentioned, but if the brewers pick up their side of the option and aramis declines do the brewers still have to pay the buyout?

[monty57]

I try not to get too hung up on small samples. The 2014 Brewers are not nearly as good as they were to start the season, and they are not as bad as they were to finish the season, but they probably ended up about where they should from a talent perspective. Going forward, every team in the division with the possible exception of the Reds project to get better over the next few years.

 

Meanwhile, Ramirez will either be back - being a year older means probably less production for a significant portion of the team payroll - or he will be gone with no viable replacement. They have two slightly-above-average pitchers in Gallardo and Lohse who have a season left on their respective contracts. Gallardo is still relatvely young, but Lohse is at the point where age usually knocks players out of the league. If we "go for it," we are facing a big uphill battle with a lesser roster for the Brewers and better divisional opponents. Chances also aren't good that everyone else's rosters will get decimated by injuries while the Brewers remain relatively healthy.

 

Therefore, I'd like to see at least one of Gallardo / Lohse traded for a good, young, inexpensive player with team control. I don't want to "blow things up," but if we really wanted to boost the franchise for the future, trade away Lohse and Gallardo for multiple good/high-upside minor leaguers to supplement the guys we have in the low minors. Let Garza, Peralta, Fiers, Nelson and Thornburg/Jungmann/Smith/whoever pitch next year. If you feel the need, spend some of the free cash from the departures of Weeks, Overbay, Reynolds, Gallardo, Lohse, Ramirez, Duke, Gorzy, K-Rod, etc to fill some holes with short-term free agents. By mid-season, guys like Arcia and Taylor should be ready, and we're not that far from help from guys in the low minors. Supplement that with guys from the trades of Gallardo and Lohse, and a possible trade of Gomez when Taylor is ready, and we could be a viable team again in a relatively short time frame.

 

Personally, I'd take that over one year of long-shot odds, after which we lose Gallardo and Lohse to free agency for nothing.

[TooLiveBrew]

In the 'better a year too early than a year too late' mindset, this just seems like a perfect time to look to deal Lohse.

 

The same is probably true with Ramirez -- probably was actually more true a couple seasons ago, frankly. Obviously now the Brewers can't trade him unless he picks up his side of the option. The best scenario for the org. going forward imo would be to pick up the club side of the option, have Aramis decline, & then offer him a QO. If he signs, great -- you likely have 3B or 1B covered for one more season, & you don't want to be tied to him past his age-37 season. If he declines the QO, you get a nice draft pick for him & let some other club overpay for him on like a 2-year deal.

[Outlander]

I think offering the QO would be worst case. Nobody is giving a first for him and paying $15 million might be twice his market. Best case is Brewers pick up option and he declines. Brewers then free up $14 million.

[reillymcshane]

MLB Trade Rumors did a free agent profile on A-Ram:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/10/free-agent-profile-aramis-ramirez.html

 

They predict he'll come back to Milwaukee on a two-year, $26 million deal.

[monty57]

MLB Trade Rumors did a free agent profile on A-Ram:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/10/free-agent-profile-aramis-ramirez.html

 

They predict he'll come back to Milwaukee on a two-year, $26 million deal.

 

Unless there's a deal in place to institute the designated hitter into the National League, I sure hope the good people of MLB Trade Rumors are incorrect on this one.

[TooLiveBrew]

I think offering the QO would be worst case. Nobody is giving a first for him and paying $15 million might be twice his market. Best case is Brewers pick up option and he declines. Brewers then free up $14 million.

Interesting take. I guess I'm assuming that he'd be pretty well in demand given that he's not going to cost as much as a Sandoval or Hanley Ramirez (if the latter even entertains signing as a 3B).

 

Overall, I think I come down on not wanting to see the club spend $13-15MM AAV on him... but I also think that if he were to be played at 1B he'd stay healthier & have better offensive production. Plus we can always move Braun back to 3B.

 

MLB Trade Rumors did a free agent profile on A-Ram:

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/10/free-agent-profile-aramis-ramirez.html

 

They predict he'll come back to Milwaukee on a two-year, $26 million deal.

 

Unless there's a deal in place to institute the designated hitter into the National League, I sure hope the good people of MLB Trade Rumors are incorrect on this one.

2/$25MM or so is about what I was assuming he'd be looking at in FA. Maybe more like 2/$20 given the assumed forfeiture of a draft pick.

[monty57]

In 2014, there were 5 everyday players aged 36 or over (Marlon Byrd, David Ortiz, Derek Jeter, Torii Hunter, and Aramis Ramirez). Very few players make it that long. Even though he was around .100 OPS points below his career average and admitted that he got tired as the season went on, that Ramirez still did what he did this year was amazing. I do not want the Brewers to sign him to a two year deal, because it seems highly likely that he will be a shadow of his former self while taking up a large chunk of our payroll. We just can't afford to take that risk.

 

Athletics are for young people. I'm 42 and as much as I hate to admit it, I'm not young anymore. Let a big money team make the headlines by signing him, and let their fans scream and moan for the next couple of seasons as he succumbs to age.

[brewcrewdue80]

I think offering the QO would be worst case. Nobody is giving a first for him and paying $15 million might be twice his market. Best case is Brewers pick up option and he declines. Brewers then free up $14 million.

 

I read the Traderumors writeup on ARam, I also read the fan comments. Know who was barking in the comment section to sign ARam?

 

Boston Red Sox fans. Who also happened to finish with a top 10 draft pick. Meaning ARam being signed by them would cost them a 2nd rd. pick.

 

Top 10 protected signing ARam if QO's would be: Arizona(traded Prado...have a use for 3b) Houston(no chance) Colorado (no chance)

Texas(no chance) Minnesota (not likely) Boston as mentioned Chicago White Sox (Could use him) Chicago Cubs(no Chance) Philadelphia (not likely) Cincinnati (no chance)

 

Now back to Boston. They have a number of aging vets whose careers are coming to an end. As well as other contracts set to expire after 2015(especially if options aren't picked up) Boston could look at Baltimore's Nelson Cruz signing and how well that worked out and say ARam is the kind of signing we need to shore up the lineup. May be doubtful but just showing an example of a team ignoring the QO cost to sign ARam.

 

Then of course you have the cost if say a team goes out and signs Shields/Scherzer with QO attached. Now the next signing costs their 2nd round pick...or 3rd if 1st was protected.

 

How about Angels with the 31st pick? Best record in baseball, swept. Wouldn't be surprised if they went at say Scherzer/Shields. ARam could be an upgrade for 3b/DH.

 

Come back to the protected picks and Texas. They could grow anxious with wasting Yu Darvish's best years. Sign one of the big 3 SPs in FA. which cost their 2nd rd pick. Meaning ARam would cost their 3rd rd pick, who could play 3b/mix DH with Beltre....both aging you get both bats in the lineup and give them rest out of the field.

 

The problem to me herein lies with the 2/26mil suggest FA sign. He can get 14mil this year. The QO being 15mil and declining that? So to take a paycut to get 1 more year. Seems to me his best option is to agree to the mutual option or take the QO. I really don't see this getting to the QO declined compensation stage when signed. So this talk really is moot.

[monty57]

The problem to me herein lies with the 2/26mil suggest FA sign. He can get 14mil this year. The QO being 15mil and declining that? So to take a paycut to get 1 more year. Seems to me his best option is to agree to the mutual option or take the QO. I really don't see this getting to the QO declined compensation stage when signed. So this talk really is moot.

 

That really depends on how confident he is that he will remain healthy and productive. 2/$26 is $11MM more guaranteed money than 1/$15. He could easily take the one-year deal and either get hurt or play poorly, leading to his retirement and forfeiture of the extra $11MM. If he's going to be a Brewer next year, I'd much rather have him on a 1/$14 deal than a 2/$26.

 

I could see him declining his side of the option. However, if the Brewers offer the QO, all he has to do is look at how it has affected other players' free agent bids, and he could accept it just so he doesn't take the risk that no team will sign him due to the draft pick compensation. If the Brewers think he's worth the money, they should exercise their side of the option and offer the QO. If they don't think he's worth the money, they shouldn't risk offering the QO.

[JohnBriggs12]

One time well regarded prospect Chris Nelson is available as a minor league FA. As recently as 2012, he posted .301/.352/.458 albeit in Colorado. Might be worth a minor league contract with a ST invite.

[reillymcshane]

One time well regarded prospect Chris Nelson is available as a minor league FA. As recently as 2012, he posted .301/.352/.458 albeit in Colorado. Might be worth a minor league contract with a ST invite.

Kudos, John, for the outside the box suggestion. I don't know much about Nelson specifically, but if A-Ram goes, we'll have to consider all our options. I'd rather try a guy like Nelson than just bring back Mark Reynolds or add a fading vet like Kelly Johnson.

[reillymcshane]

Trade with Boston for Garin Cecchini.

 

The guy isn't perfect, but he could be a high OBP type 3B, hit you 10-12 HR.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=cecchi001---

 

He was great in 2013 (.915 OPS, .443 OBP between High A and AA), but dipped last year at AAA with a .263 BA and an OPS of .712. Prior to 2014, he was ranked around 55-70 on top prospect by publications like Baseball America. However, after a mediocre 2014, he might drop a little.

 

Why would Boston trade him?

 

First, he's not a classic power hitting 3B, so he's not everyone's favorite.

 

Second, Boston has said they are going to be aggressive in adding proven guys this off season. They felt burned when they relied on too many rookies last year and they failed. 3B was a black hole with Middlebrooks. Brock Holt is not a long term solution - more a super sub guy. The club is set at 2B (Pedroia), SS (Bogaerts, although he could shift to 3B if necessary), 1B (Napoli), DH (Ortiz), and OF (Mookie Betts, Cespedes, Allen Craig, Victorinno, Nava and Rusney Castillo, who they just signed). That leaves 3B as a place to add an impact bat. Some players linked to Boston include free agent Pablo Sandoval, and Josh Donaldson (who would have to be traded for). Cecchini would have nowhere to play if someone like Sandoval or Donaldson was brought in.

 

Third, Milwaukee could offer a starting pitcher such as Lohse, Gallardo or Garza. The Red Sox starters are very thin. Right now, only Joe Kelly and Clay Buchholz are locks. They figure to add a top flight starter (a lot of people think James Shields will be their primary target). And they even have some nice minor league prospects. But a veteran like Lohse or Yo or Garza would add some stability to the middle of the rotation without overpaying in years and dollars for another free agent starter (and it prevents you from coughing up another draft pick if the FA has a QO attached to him).

 

For Milwaukee, you say goodbye to A-Ram and hand the job to the kid. Like I said, he's probably not a 20 HR type guy, but he could be a very nice player with a solid BA and a lot of walks.

[HiAndTight]

it would be a miracle if davis ever sniffed .300.

 

Only 16 players in all of baseball hit .300 or above this season, so if that's your mark of a good hitter, there aren't many good hitters in baseball.

 

Davis probably isn't a .300 hitter, but he is an MLB-caliber hitter. If I had to guess, I'd say he'll be a high-700's-to-low-800's OPS guy, with the OPS being SLG heavy. He probably won't be a superstar, but certainly a capable hitter. My concern with him isn't at the plate, it's that his arm isn't strong enough to keep runners from taking extra bases. He may end up being best suited for an AL team as a DH.

I don't think there are a lot of good hitters in baseball today. Too many dumb free swingers like Gomez in baseball today. Gomez has all of the talent in the world, but he lacks discipline and still gets fooled to easily. How many smart and truly good hitters are there in baseball today? I'm talking about guys that are smart enough to lay off junk pitches most of the time. Only a handful....

 

Even Braun even his prime was a little undisciplined. Prince, as awesome as he was, swung at a lot of junk.

 

If Prince swung at a lot of junk, who in your opinion DIDN'T?

 

It's really easy to watch baseball and be critical, it's a bit tougher standing in there vs 95 MPH fastballs and then having to adjust to a 87 MPH slider. Not sure if that makes all the hitters "dumb."

[brewcrewdue80]

The problem to me herein lies with the 2/26mil suggest FA sign. He can get 14mil this year. The QO being 15mil and declining that? So to take a paycut to get 1 more year. Seems to me his best option is to agree to the mutual option or take the QO. I really don't see this getting to the QO declined compensation stage when signed. So this talk really is moot.

 

That really depends on how confident he is that he will remain healthy and productive. 2/$26 is $11MM more guaranteed money than 1/$15. He could easily take the one-year deal and either get hurt or play poorly, leading to his retirement and forfeiture of the extra $11MM. If he's going to be a Brewer next year, I'd much rather have him on a 1/$14 deal than a 2/$26.

 

I could see him declining his side of the option. However, if the Brewers offer the QO, all he has to do is look at how it has affected other players' free agent bids, and he could accept it just so he doesn't take the risk that no team will sign him due to the draft pick compensation. If the Brewers think he's worth the money, they should exercise their side of the option and offer the QO. If they don't think he's worth the money, they shouldn't risk offering the QO.

 

If I'm ARam, I have zero issues if I happen to come up lame vs. a 2nd year contract that is a weaker value than what I'm worth today.

 

He's a man who's made over 130mil in his career on salary alone. A 3 ACL torn Corey Hart coming off a completely missed season managed 6mil last year as a FA. Aramis has every reason to take the Brewers offer and go in to FA in 2016. The only reason to not take the offer is because they tell him he's getting a QO tag. Declining that may cost him not only the 15mil but being signed to a 1year deal worth under 14mil and then still having that same risk you propose.

 

I'd actually think ARam would get a 2year deal worth 30mil in a non QO FA market with say a 9-12mil 3rd year option(2-3mil buyout)

So many garbage contracts have been offered to players not in the same class as ARam in the last 2 offseasons. Shane Victorino, Cody Ross, Nick Swisher, Angel Pagan, Marco Scutaro, Jhonny Peralta, Carlos Beltran, Curtis Granderson, Carlos Ruiz

Age didn't mean a thing. Nor did playing everyday count for anything.

 

ARam has the history to back up a poor season for a team to take a chance and sign him for more money than one would think he's worth. It's going to be like us. and wondering why we didn't go out and just sign Morse or Morneau this last offseason. We just had to shell out a few extra million and our 1b problem wouldn't have been a problem this year. That's what is going to happen with ARam testing FA. A season like he had in 2012 is every bit worth the money to get him on your team. That kind of season will propel your team. He has that talent. In the AL they can DH him. And one can guess the added days off from the field will keep him healthier and his bat more potent.

Anyway as I'm typing this the QO will be 15.3mil. So ARam has 14mil or 15.3mil or FA where if he's declining the guaranteed 14/15.3mil he must be hearing he can get a 2-3year deal worth 15mil or more per season.

[monty57]

He's a man who's made over 130mil in his career on salary alone.

 

Who cares? Just because he's made money doesn't mean he shouldn't do what makes the most sense.

 

Aramis has every reason to take the Brewers offer and go in to FA in 2016.

 

I'd actually think ARam would get a 2year deal worth 30mil in a non QO FA market with say a 9-12mil 3rd year option(2-3mil buyout)

 

You're contradicting yourself. If he can get $30MM guaranteed over two years with a third year option, then he has no reason at all to "take the Brewers offer and go into FA in 2016." That would be horrendously stupid, as he would be bearing every ounce of risk for no additional gain.

 

if he's declining the guaranteed 14/15.3mil he must be hearing he can get a 2-3year deal worth 15mil or more per season.

 

But that's purely speculation on the part of his agent. Teams can't talk to Ramirez or his agent until he and the Brewers have made their decisions.

 

Bottom line is that no one knows what is going to happen, but from listening to his interviews, Ramirez knows that his career is coming to an end. He wants to play next year, and probably for 2-3 more years. If he wants to play 2-3 more years, he can guarantee himself a job with a lot of guaranteed cash if he signs a two-year deal now. Or, he can assume a lot of risk by taking a one-year deal and hoping there is a deal out there after the season.

 

I think you are correct that right now someone will give him more than he's probably worth at this stage of his career. Therefore, unless the Brewers slap the QO on him I think his best financial option would be to test free agency and find an AL team who can offer him more years due to the DH. If the Brewers still want him, the best thing they have going for them is that three years ago he said he wanted to stay around Chicago. That may or may not still be the case, but if it is, he may value that more than a deal that may be better financially.

[lcbj68c]

If the Brewers think he's worth the money, they should exercise their side of the option and offer the QO. If they don't think he's worth the money, they shouldn't risk offering the QO.

 

Agreed. LET HIM WALK! I couldn't give a hoot about some draft pick compensation for declining at QO. It's way too big a risk in my opinion. Most here seem to want to go young. I just think that $15M can be better spent. A-RAM is a good player and I enjoyed his time in a Brewers uniform, but I don't want him back at $15M. I really don't want him back at $14M and I hope he declines his part of the option. If not, I'd almost be okay with the Brewers declining their half and just giving him $4M and consider it a bonus for his production over the life of the contract.

 

We may not get an All-Star to man 3B in 2015, but $15M can go a long ways when our farm talent begins to mature. There is no need to spend $15M in 2015 when A-RAM being the best option makes us a 82-80 team instead of a 77 win team. I'd rather go 77-85 and pocket $15M to be spent over a few seasons when we can really compete.

[logan82]

It's a one year deal. I would offer him the money. It's worth the risk.

[JohnBriggs12]

If the Brewers think he's worth the money, they should exercise their side of the option and offer the QO. If they don't think he's worth the money, they shouldn't risk offering the QO.

 

Agreed. LET HIM WALK! I couldn't give a hoot about some draft pick compensation for declining at QO. It's way too big a risk in my opinion. Most here seem to want to go young. I just think that $15M can be better spent. A-RAM is a good player and I enjoyed his time in a Brewers uniform, but I don't want him back at $15M. I really don't want him back at $14M and I hope he declines his part of the option. If not, I'd almost be okay with the Brewers declining their half and just giving him $4M and consider it a bonus for his production over the life of the contract.

 

We may not get an All-Star to man 3B in 2015, but $15M can go a long ways when our farm talent begins to mature. There is no need to spend $15M in 2015 when A-RAM being the best option makes us a 82-80 team instead of a 77 win team. I'd rather go 77-85 and pocket $15M to be spent over a few seasons when we can really compete.

 

It's far better to let a guy go a year too early than a year too late. First nobody is going to surrender a draft pick to sign him. He'll end up waiting until after next year's draft if he turns down a QO. Risking having to pay him over $15 million seems outlandish to me. He completely disappeared down the stretch and his power was nearly gone. The buyout makes it reasonable to pick up his option from the Brewers standpoint, but I'd hope he turns down his side, and the Brewers move on and find a more long term solution there.

[lcbj68c]

It's a one year deal. I would offer him the money. It's worth the risk.

 

But what is the return on that $15M? We know it isn't a playoff berth, so maybe 3 wins above replacement? I'd rather take the 3 losses and watch Jason Rogers hack it for a year and $10.5M less. Save the money for when Lara and Co need a veteran bat to make the difference.

 

Renting Aramis Ramirez for 1 year at 15.3M is like leasing a satellite radio for your 1992 Ford Taurus. Yeah, you got a nice selection of music to listen to, but your still overpaying for the same service that FM radio provides and oh yeah...you're still driving a 1992 Ford Taurus. I'd rather listen to the cheap FM radio and save the money for the day my whole ride is upgraded. This team needs some fresh tires and probably a new transmission. The radio can wait.

[vegasbrewcrew1993]

it would be a miracle if davis ever sniffed .300.

 

Only 16 players in all of baseball hit .300 or above this season, so if that's your mark of a good hitter, there aren't many good hitters in baseball.

 

Davis probably isn't a .300 hitter, but he is an MLB-caliber hitter. If I had to guess, I'd say he'll be a high-700's-to-low-800's OPS guy, with the OPS being SLG heavy. He probably won't be a superstar, but certainly a capable hitter. My concern with him isn't at the plate, it's that his arm isn't strong enough to keep runners from taking extra bases. He may end up being best suited for an AL team as a DH.

I don't think there are a lot of good hitters in baseball today. Too many dumb free swingers like Gomez in baseball today. Gomez has all of the talent in the world, but he lacks discipline and still gets fooled to easily. How many smart and truly good hitters are there in baseball today? I'm talking about guys that are smart enough to lay off junk pitches most of the time. Only a handful....

 

Even Braun even his prime was a little undisciplined. Prince, as awesome as he was, swung at a lot of junk.

 

If Prince swung at a lot of junk, who in your opinion DIDN'T?

 

It's really easy to watch baseball and be critical, it's a bit tougher standing in there vs 95 MPH fastballs and then having to adjust to a 87 MPH slider. Not sure if that makes all the hitters "dumb."

 

The number of hitters that most of the time avoid low junk can be counted on one hand. I don't how far a guy can crush a fastball. There's still no excuse for swinging a slider that is clearly low and away for the 3rd time in one night. If it happens once it's not a big deal. If it happens twice you lack discipline. How about guys that are greedy and swing a super high fastballs? You're not hitting that out of the park. You're just going to pop it up. Guys like Aoki and Ichiro are rare. They usually don't look silly when they strike out.

[logan82]

It's a one year deal. I would offer him the money. It's worth the risk.

 

But what is the return on that $15M? We know it isn't a playoff berth, so maybe 3 wins above replacement? I'd rather take the 3 losses and watch Jason Rogers hack it for a year and $10.5M less. Save the money for when Lara and Co need a veteran bat to make the difference.

 

Renting Aramis Ramirez for 1 year at 15.3M is like leasing a satellite radio for your 1992 Ford Taurus. Yeah, you got a nice selection of music to listen to, but your still overpaying for the same service that FM radio provides and oh yeah...you're still driving a 1992 Ford Taurus. I'd rather listen to the cheap FM radio and save the money for the day my whole ride is upgraded. This team needs some fresh tires and probably a new transmission. The radio can wait.

I know he isn't the difference between making or not making the playoffs. Worst case is he accepts and gets hurt. We can trade him midseason if he is performing and not hurt.

[Outlander]

Guys like Aoki and Ichiro are rare. They usually don't look silly when they strike out.

Really, I would say that Aoki looks more silly offensively and defensively more often than anybody in baseball.