Brewers In Serious Talks To Acquire Papelbon

[Warning Track Power]

An idea from the Moncada signing thread...

 

Maybe now that Moncada is in Boston, the Brewers-Phillies-Red Sox could work out a 3 team deal centered around Cole Hamels where Papelbon from Philadelphia and Cecchini from Boston end up in Milwaukee. Not sure all the moving pieces here and what the Brewers would have to give up but I would be willing to take on more of Papelbon's salary if they could get Cecchini in that deal.

[DR28]

An idea from the Moncada signing thread...

 

Maybe now that Moncada is in Boston, the Brewers-Phillies-Red Sox could work out a 3 team deal centered around Cole Hamels where Papelbon from Philadelphia and Cecchini from Boston end up in Milwaukee. Not sure all the moving pieces here and what the Brewers would have to give up but I would be willing to take on more of Papelbon's salary if they could get Cecchini in that deal.

 

Yes... That would be awesome!!

 

Definitely give it someone like Jorge Lopez (probably have to be more) to get Papelbon and Cecchini.

[pete]

I think the Cecchini prospect luster may be a little less shiny these days. If Melvin could work out a trade for him, skip Amaro and Papelbon. Work something out with the Red Sox.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think the Cecchini prospect luster may be a little less shiny these days. If Melvin could work out a trade for him, skip Amaro and Papelbon. Work something out with the Red Sox.

 

Cecchini is blocked in Boston. Shouldn't take emptying the system to get him.

[Warning Track Power]

I think the Cecchini prospect luster may be a little less shiny these days. If Melvin could work out a trade for him, skip Amaro and Papelbon. Work something out with the Red Sox.

 

Cecchini is blocked in Boston. Shouldn't take emptying the system to get him.

Agreed on both but still they won't give him away. Shame we couldn't deal something of a strength from the minors, OF perhaps, to get him. Prospect for prospect deal. However, I just don't see it as I don't see the Red Sox being light where the Brewers are strong.

 

I think it is far more likely to get him in a Hamels type deal where Boston sends Cecchini as part of the package to Philly and they turn around and flip him to the Brewers with Papelbon for a decent prospect.

[bill hAll Star]

How long does Boston think Ortiz's "vitamins" will hold up for him? After 2015, it's reasonable to think that 1B or DH could be open for Panda and Cecchini can have his spot there. Holt is a platoon/utility guy and Allen Craig seems to be not very valued right now.

[superfly]

Cecchini and Craig trade combo sounds great to me.

[bill hAll Star]

How good is Cecchini's defense? Guy seems like he might be a 5-10 HR/.700 OPS 3B. Gonna have to be a stud defender to carry that.

 

EDIT: He bats lefty. Music to my ears.

[reillymcshane]

How good is Cecchini's defense? Guy seems like he might be a 5-10 HR/.700 OPS 3B. Gonna have to be a stud defender to carry that.

Cecchini's defense is considered average at best.

 

Regarding Cecchini's 2014 performance - prior to the year his biggest criticism was he lacked power. He supposedly tried to address that last year, and the results were not good.

 

I look at 2013 and see a guy who, between A+ and AA, had 94 walks, a .322 BA, and a .443 OB%. That's pretty awesome, even if he only hit 7 HR in 454 ABs.

 

Last year his walk rate was almost 1/2 of 2013. And he struck out at a higher rate. The luster definitely went off the guy. And with average defense, the Sox reportedly weren't convinced he's a long term solution (hence the signing of Sandoval). Boston supposedly is going to work him some at 2B and OF, to increase his versatility.

 

Cecchini is a big guy - 6'3" and 220 lbs. So I think people think he should be hitting for more power. He may have sold out his approach to increase the slugging, and it screwed up his entire hitting approach. Honestly, I don't know if 2013 was an aberration and he's just an average - at best - player. But I like the idea of picking up a guy on the cheap who has some upside. I'd get him and just say be the hitter you know you are - don't try and be something you're not. A guy hitting hitting 10 HR and getting on base 35%+ of the time has some tremendous value (especially when he's cheap).

[Warning Track Power]

Cecchini is a big guy - 6'3" and 220 lbs. So I think people think he should be hitting for more power. He may have sold out his approach to increase the slugging, and it screwed up his entire hitting approach. Honestly, I don't know if 2013 was an aberration and he's just an average - at best - player. But I like the idea of picking up a guy on the cheap who has some upside. I'd get him and just say be the hitter you know you are - don't try and be something you're not. A guy hitting hitting 10 HR and getting on base 35%+ of the time has some tremendous value (especially when he's cheap).

Precisely what the Brewers need at 3B moving forward. I would gladly take a high AVG/OBP, meh power Cirillo-type bat at 3B right now given the makeup of the rest of the young guys (Scooter, Davis, Segura) in the lineup (i.e. decent AVG, low OBP). A 3B that produces a 1997 Cirillo type season (.288/.367/.793, 10 HR, 82 RBI) annually for the next decade would supplement the current everyday lineup perfectly right now.

[fondybrewfan]

So Cecchini is more of a Lyle Overbay type? I have no problem with the lack of HR's so long as he at least has some doubles power, gets on base, and can play a competent 3rd. If he can take walks like that seems like an ideal 2 spot candidate. I can't imagine it would take an arm and a leg to get him right now.

[DocLuna7]

Cecchini's lack of power is a concern to me if we don't find other ways to replace it in our lineup. Going forward after 2015 we don't have ARam and the natural power that he has. Call me hopeful but not betting on a return to previous power numbers from Braun. We will need to find some power somewhere and taking a power position and giving it to a guy who strikes me as a worse version than Casey McGehee doesn't seem like the best of plans.

[Warning Track Power]

After watching the Royals small ball their way to the World Series, I am not as concerned about power. Post-Ramirez the Brewers will still have 20+ HR potential in RF (Braun), CF (Gomez), LF (Davis), 1B (Lind) and 10-15 HR potential at SS (Segura), 2B (Scooter) and C (Lucroy). Certainly not the days of Weeks-Braun-Fielder-Hart but the lineup is not without some thump.

 

I think the ideal focus for the Brewers moving forward will be the focus on acquiring high AVG/OBP hitters to replace players that move on. In my most realistic scenario moving forward:

 

1. Post-2015 the Brewers move out Ramirez and replace him with a hitter whose main focus is how to get on base

2. Braun returns to at least something between his career average of .306/.368 and his 2014 of .266/.324 (essentially .286/.346)

3. Lucroy hits to his career average of .285/.343

4. Gomez hits to his 2012-2014 average of .277/.336

 

Moving forward, replacements in the everyday lineup don't need to necessarily be a .290/.360 OBP hitter, although that would be preferred. They do however need be a little better in terms of OBP than what Scooter was in 2014 (.289/.320) if the Brewers plan to move forward with hitters like Davis (.244/.289) and Segura (.246/.289) as everyday players.

 

My focus moving forward would be to identify players that are high AVG/OBP guys and focus on leading the NL in OBP.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't see Cecchini's value much above that of Luiz Jimenez frankly. Eventually he'll run out of options in Boston. Panda isn't ready to assume a full time DH role anytime soon regardless of how long Ortiz sticks around. Besides, when he does, he'll be replaced by Moncada, not Cecchini. Moncada's not going to unseat either Pedroia or Bogaerts.

[Outlander]

Cecchini has more value than Jimenez. I would prefer Jimenez never play for the Brewers even in a part time role but would love if Cecchini was starting next year. Jimenez is a few years older, strikes out a lot and doesn't get on base, shows occasional power. Cecchini bats left handed and gets on base with little to no power, very different players. The Brewers don't need another Jimenez, they need more guys like Cecchini.

[pete]

Jimenez is supposed to be a plus defender. He's actually got a fairly low K rate and a remarkably consistent OBP that isn't bad. If Cecchini ends up iffy as a 3B, the walks may not matter. The walks may not translate to the majors at the same level with better pitching and scouting.

 

I don't think its so easy to forecast what either guy will be.

 

It would create more buzz to trade for Cecchini.

[bill hAll Star]

Platoon them.

[superfly]

Cecchini has more value than Jimenez. I would prefer Jimenez never play for the Brewers even in a part time role but would love if Cecchini was starting next year. Jimenez is a few years older, strikes out a lot and doesn't get on base, shows occasional power. Cecchini bats left handed and gets on base with little to no power, very different players. The Brewers don't need another Jimenez, they need more guys like Cecchini.

 

 

Difference is Cecchini requires us giving something up. Gomez and Jimenez are already here. I'd stick with Jimenez for this season and see what happens because he's shown the potential to be a good gaps hitter.

[brewtank34]

Just for the heck of it, what kind of return from the Crew would Melvin be ok with if we were to get Pap AND Lee/Hamels?

[DHonks]

If I were the Phillies I would ask for Wily Peralta, Will Smith, Orlando Arcia, and Taylor

[brewmann04]

and Doug the phone goes dead.

[Warning Track Power]

Is it safe to say that the Papelbon rumors are now officially dead with signing of K-Rod? I have zero interest in acquiring him now but I wonder if the Brewers still have any interest in going after Papelbon.

[DR28]

Is it safe to say that the Papelbon rumors are now officially dead with signing of K-Rod? I have zero interest in acquiring him now but I wonder if the Brewers still have any interest in going after Papelbon.

 

Man I hope not... Our pen is complete now.

[MNBrew]

You can trade someone 6 months after you signed them as a FA. That still leaves K-Rod as potential trade fodder in late August if the season is down the tubes at that point. Then Papelbon might (or might not) prove a possible option.

[adambr2]

You can trade someone 6 months after you signed them as a FA. That still leaves K-Rod as potential trade fodder in late August if the season is down the tubes at that point. Then Papelbon might (or might not) prove a possible option.

 

Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you're saying, but why would we trade for Papelbon in July/August if we were selling? Doesn't make much sense to me.