Brewers In Serious Talks To Acquire Papelbon

[DR28]

The more I think about and the longer this goes on... I'm good with Henderson being our closer, I mean he was gonna be our closer last year.

 

Henderson

Broxton

Smith

Perez

Cotts

Jeffress

Thornburg/Kintzler

 

This was the makings of a very good bullpen.

[TooLiveBrew]

I just don't think we should realistically expect anything from Henderson after his injury. I don't mean that I think he's going to be junk, but I don't want to place any eggs in the basket of him being a good high-leverage option.

[fondybrewfan]

Every guy on that list except for Cotts and Kintzler has the stuff to be a closer. I would love it if Jeffress could step up and be that guy just because he is low cost and controllable; no need for DM to be looking out for guys like Broxton, Krod, or Papelbon. You also have good potential bullpen guys in the minors including Pena, Hellweg, Knebel, Goforth, Gagnon, etc. DM certainly shouldn't be looking to sign relievers to anything more than 1 or maybe 2 year deals in the near future.

[Warning Track Power]

Every guy on that list except for Cotts and Kintzler has the stuff to be a closer. I would love it if Jeffress could step up and be that guy just because he is low cost and controllable; no need for DM to be looking out for guys like Broxton, Krod, or Papelbon. You also have good potential bullpen guys in the minors including Pena, Hellweg, Knebel, Goforth, Gagnon, etc. DM certainly shouldn't be looking to sign relievers to anything more than 1 or maybe 2 year deals in the near future.

I have said it in other threads, but I really like the potential of a Thornburg, Knebel, Jeffress and Smith back end of the pen. While it may not be the lockdown Herrera-Davis-Holland, I think it has the potential to be at least as good as Hawkins-Saito-Rodriguez-Axford was in 2011.

[JohnBriggs12]

I just don't think we should realistically expect anything from Henderson after his injury. I don't mean that I think he's going to be junk, but I don't want to place any eggs in the basket of him being a good high-leverage option.

 

Lets see him throw first. He had what's commonly referred to as a "routine cleaning out" of his shoulder, not the dreaded torn rotator cuff surgery. It was reported last month that he's thrown off a mound with no pain. Lets see if he can let loose at some point in Arizona.

[brewmann04]

I agree here with JB not sure what we getting with Henderson,but like the arms we have added .

they once found a guy name Turnbow that ended up as our closer

[CheezWizHed]

they once found a guy name Turnbow that ended up as our closer

 

Who quickly flamed out as quickly as he "flame-on"ed. Granted, he worked for 1 year.

[TooLiveBrew]

I just don't think we should realistically expect anything from Henderson after his injury. I don't mean that I think he's going to be junk, but I don't want to place any eggs in the basket of him being a good high-leverage option.

 

Lets see him throw first. He had what's commonly referred to as a "routine cleaning out" of his shoulder, not the dreaded torn rotator cuff surgery. It was reported last month that he's thrown off a mound with no pain. Lets see if he can let loose at some point in Arizona.

Oh, absolutely. As I said in my post, I'm not counting on him to be anything yet -- good, bad, or otherwise.

 

Lots of pitchers have 'minor procedures' & are fine, & lots have 'minor procedures' that wind up being the first of a long line of problems. As it stands, imo the Brewers aren't necessarily relying on Henderson, which is a good thing.

[superfly]

I'd be very careful counting on Henderson for anything at this point. Career minor leaguer who is coming off of a shoulder injury, it would be very easy for him to regress into garbage ala Turnblow.

[jerichoholicninja]

From a financial stand point it would be smart to keep Jeffress and Thornburg out of the closer spot. Even partial seasons of either of those guys as a closer is going to make them much more expensive in arbitration. As it stands right now put Broxton in the 9th.

[TooLiveBrew]

From a financial stand point it would be smart to keep Jeffress and Thornburg out of the closer spot. Even partial seasons of either of those guys as a closer is going to make them much more expensive in arbitration. As it stands right now put Broxton in the 9th.

Absolutely -- great point. Additionally, if anyone is of the belief that Broxton's not our best RP, you also aren't then burning your best reliever in the Closer™ role. I'm personally not sure whether or not I think Broxton's our best reliever.

[jerichoholicninja]

From a financial stand point it would be smart to keep Jeffress and Thornburg out of the closer spot. Even partial seasons of either of those guys as a closer is going to make them much more expensive in arbitration. As it stands right now put Broxton in the 9th.

Absolutely -- great point. Additionally, if anyone is of the belief that Broxton's not our best RP, you also aren't then burning your best reliever in the Closer™ role. I'm personally not sure whether or not I think Broxton's our best reliever.

 

I don't think there's anyone in the bullpen right now that stands out as "the best". Broxton has the career track record to be the best, but you've also got guys who've put up some really good partial seasons in Smith, Thornburg, and Jeffress. Some might say it's Henderson but I don't trust guys who were career minor leaguers and then suddenly put up a great season (not to say anything about his injury). We've just been burned by those kinds of guys way too many times.

 

If tomorrow was opening day I don't see any way that Ron doesn't use Broxton as the closer just because he's done it for so many years before, regardless of the health of Henderson.

[JohnBriggs12]

Chris Perez has 133 career saves to Broxton's 118.

 

Over the final month of 2014 after a DL stint in August, it appeared Perez found something: 7 IP, 2 Hits, 0 Runs, 4 BB, 9 K's. Perez still gets it up there in the mid 90's. An argument can be made he wasn't right physically before that.

 

I think his below the radar signing could prove to be Melvin's best move this winter.

[jerichoholicninja]

Chris Perez has 133 career saves to Broxton's 118.

 

Over the final month of 2014 after a DL stint in August, it appeared Perez found something: 7 IP, 2 Hits, 0 Runs, 4 BB, 9 K's. Perez still gets it up there in the mid 90's. An argument can be made he wasn't right physically before that.

 

I think his below the radar signing could prove to be Melvin's best move this winter.

 

Broxton also spent 1 full and 2 partial seasons as Chapman's setup guy and only re-signed in Cincy because Chapman was going to be made a starter. He should probably have another 50-60 career saves. I also count them as having an equal 4 seasons as a designated closer. I would hope that Broxton's 20+ point advantage in ERA+ and 2 more K/9 mean more than 15 measly saves.

[pete]

 

Over the final month of 2014 after a DL stint in August, it appeared Perez found something: 7 IP, 2 Hits, 0 Runs, 4 BB, 9 K's. Perez still gets it up there in the mid 90's. An argument can be made he wasn't right physically before that.

 

I think his below the radar signing could prove to be Melvin's best move this winter.

 

Somewhere, maybe an MLB video, he talked about having trouble with bone spurs in his ankle and maybe something with mechanics as well during the middle of last season. I guess rest is the response to bone spurs because I think the surgery is pretty heavy duty. There's probably a good self medication joke possible here.

 

Maybe health, challenge, Lee Tunnell tweaking and/or whatever he could do well.

[yoshii8]

So I'm guessing this Papelbon thing isn't happening.

[pete]

That's when it happens!

 

But hey, to sidetrack for amusement purposes only

I came across this comment at a Phillies blog discussing trading Papelbon:

 

The Brewers have RHP Miguel Diaz, OF Monte Harrison, P Michael Reed, and C. Clint Coulter as prospects swap for Papy and Brown. These prospects would add more credibility to the Phils’ farm system. Phils ought to offer to pay only half of the vesting option to either team.

 

Yes, that's right. Someone imagines that throwing Dom Brown in as a sweetener yields those prospects AND he didn't think the Phils should pay more that half of Papelbon's salary.

[jerichoholicninja]

That's when it happens!

 

But hey, to sidetrack for amusement purposes only

I came across this comment at a Phillies blog discussing trading Papelbon:

 

The Brewers have RHP Miguel Diaz, OF Monte Harrison, P Michael Reed, and C. Clint Coulter as prospects swap for Papy and Brown. These prospects would add more credibility to the Phils’ farm system. Phils ought to offer to pay only half of the vesting option to either team.

 

Yes, that's right. Someone imagines that throwing Dom Brown in as a sweetener yields those prospects AND he didn't think the Phils should pay more that half of Papelbon's salary.

 

I've seen plenty of Brewer-favored trade proposals like that made here too. Homers gonna home.

[TooLiveBrew]

That's when it happens!

 

But hey, to sidetrack for amusement purposes only

I came across this comment at a Phillies blog discussing trading Papelbon:

 

The Brewers have RHP Miguel Diaz, OF Monte Harrison, P Michael Reed, and C. Clint Coulter as prospects swap for Papy and Brown. These prospects would add more credibility to the Phils’ farm system. Phils ought to offer to pay only half of the vesting option to either team.

 

Yes, that's right. Someone imagines that throwing Dom Brown in as a sweetener yields those prospects AND he didn't think the Phils should pay more that half of Papelbon's salary.

No way should Philly have to throw in Brown -- Pap alone should net all those prospects

[Warning Track Power]

That's when it happens!

 

But hey, to sidetrack for amusement purposes only

I came across this comment at a Phillies blog discussing trading Papelbon:

 

The Brewers have RHP Miguel Diaz, OF Monte Harrison, P Michael Reed, and C. Clint Coulter as prospects swap for Papy and Brown. These prospects would add more credibility to the Phils’ farm system. Phils ought to offer to pay only half of the vesting option to either team.

 

Yes, that's right. Someone imagines that throwing Dom Brown in as a sweetener yields those prospects AND he didn't think the Phils should pay more that half of Papelbon's salary.

I would gladly take Domonic Brown as part of a Papelbon deal.

 

Offer them Parra and a prospect as part of the deal and use Brown as the 4th OF. Brown's $2.6 million 2015 salary plus Papelbon's $13 million 2015 salary & $13 million vesting option is a potential $28.2 million commitment. Parra's $6.2 salary means a net gain of $22 million for the Brewers. Have the Phillies send the Brewers an additional $10 million and call it good.

 

Personally, I think Brown could be a change of scenery, post-hype breakout candidate which is why I would have zero issue with him as the 4th OF this season.

[CheezWizHed]

The Brewers have RHP Miguel Diaz, OF Monte Harrison, CF Michael Reed, and C. Clint Coulter as prospects swap for Papy and Brown. These prospects would add more credibility to the Phils’ farm system. Phils ought to offer to pay only half of the vesting option to either team.

 

Fixed.

[DR28]

So I'm guessing this Papelbon thing isn't happening.

 

I bet a K-Rod signing is more likely now.

[brwrsfan]

What are you guys basing this not happening on? Did I miss comments or rumors about it somewhere? Maybe it won't happen but I think Philly is going to eventually fold or we increase our offer very slightly. We don't NEED him and they seem to really want to move him. We've made our offer it seems, we're the only team interested...if they want to move him that badly, they'll come back to us sooner or later.

 

The only wildcard for me would be if the Brewers are waiting to see what happens with Moncada, if the money goes there, we may not have any left for Papelbon. Sounds like that situation may take another week or two yet to sort itself out.

[pete]

Maybe Amaro is bluffing, but he's talked about teams having injuries during ST and the early season as a reason to wait and that he would go till the trade deadline if he has to.

 

Amaro hasn't folded on any other trades as far as I know. I'd guess that if the Brewers aren't willing to give him Harrison, Coulter or Arcia, he wants 2 or 3 prospects like Jungmann.

 

How do you think that sorts out?

[fondybrewfan]

From everything I have ever have read about Amaro; is that he is entirely unrealistic in his trade expectations to the point that other GM's think he is ridiculous. No doubt in my mind that Amaro is holding out expecting some team to become desperate and give him a really good prospect. Getting a good prospect for Papelbon is much more likely to happen at the trading deadline than it is now; especially if it appears that he might not hit the minimum games finished clause. If I were Amaro I would really be trying to trade Hamels right now; its dumb to keep him and he would no doubt return a huge amount of talent. His contract really isn't all that bad.