Other moves??

[JohnBriggs12]

How about bringing Chris Narveson back on a minor league deal to compete for a bullpen spot? I believe his deal last year in Japan was for just one year. The results in Japan weren't great on a bad Japanese League team, but he showed he was healthy making a full 24 starts (Japanese starters make one start per week).

 

Melvin talks about how he found Duke for next to nothing.

[ewitkows]

Get Brandon Beachy on an incentive laden contract. Coming off 2nd tj surgery could be a great buy low candidate

[DR28]

Get Brandon Beachy on an incentive laden contract. Coming off 2nd tj surgery could be a great buy low candidate

 

I was just gonna post about him... He's making a decision on his 2015 team by the weekend, he has multiple offers.

 

I would really love to see Beachy added... This is a solid, solid rotation.

 

Gallardo

Lohse

Garza

Peralta

Beachy

 

Then sign Joba as final bullpen piece...

 

Broxton

Henderson

Chamberlein

Smith

Thornburg

Jeffress

Kinztler

 

This pitching staff could be really good... Top 5 in NL.

[jerichoholicninja]

How about bringing Chris Narveson back on a minor league deal to compete for a bullpen spot? I believe his deal last year in Japan was for just one year. The results in Japan weren't great on a bad Japanese League team, but he showed he was healthy making a full 24 starts (Japanese starters make one start per week).

 

Melvin talks about how he found Duke for next to nothing.

 

Marlins signed the Narv-dog already.

[ewitkows]

Get Brandon Beachy on an incentive laden contract. Coming off 2nd tj surgery could be a great buy low candidate

 

I was just gonna post about him... He's making a decision on his 2015 team by the weekend, he has multiple offers.

 

I would really love to see Beachy added... This is a solid, solid rotation.

 

Gallardo

Lohse

Garza

Peralta

Beachy

 

Then sign Joba as final bullpen piece...

 

Broxton

Henderson

Chamberlein

Smith

Thornburg

Jeffress

Kinztler

 

This pitching staff could be really good... Top 5 in NL.

 

Where does Fiers pitch then?

[pete]

Where does Nelson pitch then?

 

Also, I'll believe Henderson can come back when the team breaks camp with him. Thornburg is younger and the homer in me doesn't want to give up, but he's not automatic either.

[MNBrew]

Thornburg & Henderson have to a lot to prove in terms of their health, let alone performance, before they should be counted on for the Opening Day roster.

 

That said, I really hope they do prove healthy and to have regained their form. Each would be a big plus for the strength/depth of the bullpen.

[Outlander]

Agree, counting on Thornburg or Henderson is a mistake just as counting on Gorz last year was as well. Hopefully the Brewers are thinking this way and they are not short handed in the bullpen come opening day. I would think not since they acquired Duke last year to cover Gorz but you never know.

[JohnBriggs12]

Agree, counting on Thornburg or Henderson is a mistake just as counting on Gorz last year was as well. Hopefully the Brewers are thinking this way and they are not short handed in the bullpen come opening day. I would think not since they acquired Duke last year to cover Gorz but you never know.

 

We get very little out of Brewer beat reporters this time of year (and that's an entire topic in and of itself), so we likely won't know the condition of Henderson and Thornburg until spring training. I would hope the Brewers training staff has much better info. The fact that they haven't added any relievers as yet could be an indication that the reports are promising. Every guy is a different case though. Making decisions based on experience with Gorzelanny doesn't make sense to me but you always want to go to camp with enough arms and competition. It appears they really like Strong and see him as a guy who could emerge as the second lefty.

[pete]

I'd love to know which side initiated the conversation that led to the Strong trade.

[jerichoholicninja]

Reading over MLB Trade Rumors today I saw a few scrap heap guys I think are worth a shot on a minor league deal.

 

Franklin Gutierrez - Could be like Grady Sizemore last year. Perhaps being a 4th OF would keep him healthy for a full season and would allow Parra to be traded.

 

Chad Billingsley - Hasn't pitched in almost 2 years but was pretty good when healthy. A minor league deal with an opt out date might get him or maybe he'd be willing to move to the bullpen.

 

Mark Ellis - He's going on 38 but still grades out pretty well defensively. Last year was a disaster at the plate for St. Louis but has a career .760 OPS against LHP and could platoon with Scooter and give ARam some days off at 3B.

 

Johan Santana - Torn Achilles ended comeback attempt last year but if he would accept a minor league deal I see no reason not to sign him. He's pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League.

 

Of that group I think Ellis offers the most help.

[DR28]

I'd love to know which side initiated the conversation that led to the Strong trade.

 

We traded Michael Strong?

[pete]

I was thinking of Martin actually.

[JohnBriggs12]

A guy who intrigues me as a future trade target is Grant Green of the Angels. A natural SS, it would seem it would be an easy transition for him to move full time to 3B. He's not a huge power guy, but he's been a very high average hitter at every level. The Angels have Freese ahead of him at 3B, who's a FA (and possible Brewer target himself maybe as soon as July if Ramirez falters) and they acquired Kyle Kubitza from Atlanta to be his heir apparent, so Green could be expendable.

[bill hAll Star]

I'd be a fan of Grant Green to platoon with Scooter and be 3B insurance this year as well as Segura insurance this year.

 

EDIT: He does have reverse splits over his short MLB career so far, though. Hits RHP OK and has been terrible against LHP...I'd assume that would change.

[BrewBalls]

Not many players left out there who are intriguing. I believe only K-Rod, Beachy and Chamberlain are worth a major league deal at this point. I would consider Furcal, Cabrera, Viciedo, Corriea, Morales, Adams, Lindstrom, Coke and Burnett on minor league deals.

[superfly]

Not many players left out there who are intriguing. I believe only K-Rod, Beachy and Chamberlain are worth a major league deal at this point. I would consider Furcal, Cabrera, Viciedo, Corriea, Morales, Adams, Lindstrom, Coke and Burnett on minor league deals.

 

Surprised DM hasn't signed Furcal yet...that's a trademark DM move (Iztures, Edmonds, Counsell, Hairston, Kotsay, Ransom, etc)

[jerichoholicninja]

Is Furcal even healthy? He hasn't been not injured since the middle of 2012.

[BrewBalls]

Is Furcal even healthy? He hasn't been not injured since the middle of 2012.

Not sure about his health status but if healthy he would provide them with a solid defensive, switch hitting, proven back up for both Segura and Gennett. I'm not saying they should do it but the risk would be low if he's signed to a minor league deal and simply brought in to compete with Gomez and Herrera.

[reillymcshane]

Position player-wise, I think we are done making moves. Sardinas or Gomez will be the back up middle IF (lean Gomez since he is out of options and more experience), Rogers or Jimenez will back up 3B/1B (lean Jimenez since he is a natural 3B and out of options), and Schafer or Peterson will be the 5th OF (lean Schafer for his defensive skills).

 

Pitching-wise, I wouldn't be surprised to see another reliever added, and a veteran arm to go to AAA for depth. But you can always wait out these last couple of moves and see how things go in spring training.

[yoyomayoma]

Kenley Jansen out 8-12 weeks. I'd be very surprised if they don't sign K-Rod or Soriano.

[brewmann04]

Bingo there YOYO

[JohnBriggs12]

Orioles just designated Alex Hassan to make room for Cabrera. Hassan has a nice skill set that could be useful for the Brewers. He's primarily a RF, but he's also played some 1B. He's got a career OBP in the minors of .393. While he doesn't hit a lot of HR, he does hit for some power. He's killed lefties in the minors. Here's his OPS by year vs. lefties:

 

2014: .902

 

2013: 1.034

 

2012: .702

 

2011: 1.026

 

2010: .999

 

2009: 1.172

 

He's not all that unlike Sean Halton who the Brewers just let be taken in the minor league draft ironically by the Orioles, but he's more patient.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm sure the Brewers are monitoring veteran starters in camps on minor league deals who could be available at the end of spring in case of injury to any of the guys penciled in the rotation. Those guys hook up with teams as much to showcase themselves around the league as to make the team they are pitching for in spring.

 

Braves got pretty good production out of Harang last year in just such a late spring addition.

[Outlander]

I would definitely be in favor of adding Hassan if they think he can play 1B and have him face some lefties instead of Lind. Would probably rather have him than Peterson/Schafer. I like Peterson but don't see him getting a lot of playing time with Lind there.