Now will Stearns look to find that future 3rd baseman

[brewmann04]

I wonder will Stearns try to move K Davis for more prospects. But it be curious to see what haul can he get for Luc

[pacopete4]

I think a guy like Lara projects to be our future 3B with Arcia.

[Roderick]

I think a guy like Lara projects to be our future 3B with Arcia.

 

Lara is too far away to even assume he will make the majors, nonetheless be the starter at 3B for a playoff contender type team. I agree we need to be searching out 3B options in trades, but not if it costs us too much in value. In a few years, if it comes down to it, we can always sign a free agent if that is one of the pieces that would get us over the hump.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think a guy like Lara projects to be our future 3B with Arcia.

 

Lara is too far away to even assume he will make the majors, nonetheless be the starter at 3B for a playoff contender type team. I agree we need to be searching out 3B options in trades, but not if it costs us too much in value. In a few years, if it comes down to it, we can always sign a free agent if that is one of the pieces that would get us over the hump.

 

Why not wait and see how Villar/H. Perez do filling in at SS? Once Arcia is up, if either or both have swung the bat well, just move them over to 3B. Both are in their mid 20's for gosh sakes.

[FVBrewerFan]

Very simple. Keep accumulating the best talent you can at any level, any position. This is not the time in the rebuild to worry about positions. Garza could play 3rd this year and next year, and it wouldn't matter.

[Jenkins5]

He already got the 3B of the future. Garin Cecchini. His .300/.385/.425 Slash will fit well until Gatewood or Lara make it.

[bensheeps]

He already got the 3B of the future. Garin Cecchini. His .300/.385/.425 Slash will fit well until Gatewood or Lara make it.

 

YoungGeezy1

Sounds like we are the two co-presidents of the Cecchini fan club.

 

He is the one I'm watching the closest this spring to see if the change of teams/wide open 3B position can get him back to doing what he had done in the minors before last year. Would love to see his LH bat and high OBP play out at a #2 hitter in the lineup.

[pacopete4]

He already got the 3B of the future. Garin Cecchini. His .300/.385/.425 Slash will fit well until Gatewood or Lara make it.

 

YoungGeezy1

Sounds like we are the two co-presidents of the Cecchini fan club.

 

He is the one I'm watching the closest this spring to see if the change of teams/wide open 3B position can get him back to doing what he had done in the minors before last year. Would love to see his LH bat and high OBP play out at a #2 hitter in the lineup.

 

 

Add a third to your group (if you will). I loved this pickup and really am intrigued to see him become a Lyle Overbay type doubles guy playing solid defense at 3B. Really pulling for this guy.

[brewmann04]

it nice to see a Pisan make the Team

[reillymcshane]

Very simple. Keep accumulating the best talent you can at any level, any position. This is not the time in the rebuild to worry about positions. Garza could play 3rd this year and next year, and it wouldn't matter.

^ This is exactly right.

 

We have the luxury to experiment right now - try guys like Cecchini or Perez or whomever. Focus on getting the best players, let fate, time and circumstance sort things out.

 

It doesn't mean you don't get a 3B, it just means you don't put positional priority at this time. That could change down the road, but for now, it's not essential.

[MrTPlush]

He already got the 3B of the future. Garin Cecchini. His .300/.385/.425 Slash will fit well until Gatewood or Lara make it.

 

Who are you talking about? Are talking about the guy who has been pretty lack luster in nearly 1,000 AAA at-bats. I get that he is still on the young side, but that many at-bats at one level you should see improvement not a guy fighting to keep his line over .200/.300/.550

 

Penciling him as anything on a MLB roster at this point is a bit extreme.

[JohnBriggs12]

Agree with MrTPlush (that's twice now).. Not ready to drink the Kool Aid on Cecchini coming off a season like he had at AAA. Heck he's never really done anything above A ball other than take a bunch of walks one year at AA. He could hit .600 this spring and I'd say fine, go prove you can hit at Colorado Springs and we'll get back to you. They used a decent prospect to get Villar. He's not a long term answer at SS, but he's going to get a chance to play a lot there until Arcia the Great arrives. I'd like to see a SS platoon of Villar vs. RHP and Perez vs LHP, and make it a competition to see who moves and takes over 3B (Hill's fine there in the mean time). Maybe having a switch hitter like Villar bat mostly from left side might make him a better hitter. If neither of them is productive and Cecchini's putting up monster numbers at AAA, then go to him.

[bill hAll Star]

Very simple. Keep accumulating the best talent you can at any level, any position. This is not the time in the rebuild to worry about positions. Garza could play 3rd this year and next year, and it wouldn't matter.

^ This is exactly right.

 

We have the luxury to experiment right now - try guys like Cecchini or Perez or whomever. Focus on getting the best players, let fate, time and circumstance sort things out.

 

It doesn't mean you don't get a 3B, it just means you don't put positional priority at this time. That could change down the road, but for now, it's not essential.

 

I'll sound like a broken record agreeing with this take again.

 

If your 2018 starting lineup includes Arcia, Phillips, Santana, Clark, and some other prospect...that's 5 starters totaling about $3 million in salary. Throw in Lopez, Hader, and another young pitcher and your staff has 3 starters combining for $1.5-2 million.

 

Long story short, you can make another Aramis Ramirez signing if you still don't have a 3B figured out then...or you can trade a prospect out of an overflow position for the Todd Frazier acquisition of that offseason.

[pacopete4]

Agree with MrTPlush (that's twice now).. Not ready to drink the Kool Aid on Cecchini coming off a season like he had at AAA. Heck he's never really done anything above A ball other than take a bunch of walks one year at AA. He could hit .600 this spring and I'd say fine, go prove you can hit at Colorado Springs and we'll get back to you. They used a decent prospect to get Villar. He's not a long term answer at SS, but he's going to get a chance to play a lot there until Arcia the Great arrives. I'd like to see a SS platoon of Villar vs. RHP and Perez vs LHP, and make it a competition to see who moves and takes over 3B (Hill's fine there in the mean time). Maybe having a switch hitter like Villar bat mostly from left side might make him a better hitter. If neither of them is productive and Cecchini's putting up monster numbers at AAA, then go to him.

 

I think you're going to be devistated when Perez isn't on the major league club. There was a reason for his removal from the 40 man. Going to take superb play, some other guys to horribly suck and a possible injury for him to be in the show again.

[FVBrewerFan]

Right, plus Garza's contract will be gone too. Mark A will have plenty of money to spend on a 3B for 2018 if there isn't a clear option by then.

[brewmann04]

I hope cecchini does prove to be our 3rd baseman the talent there maybe a change will do him good.

[ewitkows]

I'm more worried about the C of our future. I don't see him in the system.

[And That]

Houle, Leal, Sibrian, and Atencio all have shots to be that guy. They're all inexperienced, so we'll know a lot more after this season.

 

Meanwhile, Pina, Garcia, or Pinto could hold down the fort, albeit without an overwhelming amount of probable extra value.

[brewmann04]

that might be addressed in the trade.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Agree with MrTPlush (that's twice now).. Not ready to drink the Kool Aid on Cecchini coming off a season like he had at AAA. Heck he's never really done anything above A ball other than take a bunch of walks one year at AA. He could hit .600 this spring and I'd say fine, go prove you can hit at Colorado Springs and we'll get back to you. They used a decent prospect to get Villar. He's not a long term answer at SS, but he's going to get a chance to play a lot there until Arcia the Great arrives. I'd like to see a SS platoon of Villar vs. RHP and Perez vs LHP, and make it a competition to see who moves and takes over 3B (Hill's fine there in the mean time). Maybe having a switch hitter like Villar bat mostly from left side might make him a better hitter. If neither of them is productive and Cecchini's putting up monster numbers at AAA, then go to him.

 

I think you're going to be devastated when Perez isn't on the major league club. There was a reason for his removal from the 40 man. Going to take superb play, some other guys to horribly suck and a possible injury for him to be in the show again.

 

Given that Perez was stated to be on the short list of potential backups to Villar at shortstop, I'd say he has a pretty good shot if another shortstop isn't acquired. He was much better than Elmore last season, so all it would really take is the Brewers deciding to keep Yadiel Rivera in the minor leagues to start the season. At this point it really looks like Rivera vs. Perez (pick one) and Hill vs. Walsh vs. Middlebrooks (pick two, with one starting at third) for the backup infield spots.

[MKE81]

He already got the 3B of the future. Garin Cecchini. His .300/.385/.425 Slash will fit well until Gatewood or Lara make it.

 

Who are you talking about? Are talking about the guy who has been pretty lack luster in nearly 1,000 AAA at-bats. I get that he is still on the young side, but that many at-bats at one level you should see improvement not a guy fighting to keep his line over .200/.300/.550

 

Penciling him as anything on a MLB roster at this point is a bit extreme.

 

Except you're lumping in a decent 2014 AAA season with a horrendous one. And 238/318/646 isn't fighting to stay above 200/300/550 - he's clearly over it, not straddling it. He's had one awful year and the other was pretty decent. And by decent I mean his 263/341/712 would have ranked him 14th in BA, 7th in OBP and 18th in OPS during the 2015 MLB season. This year will clearly be a telling season for him given he's going back to the approach that gave him great success. I agree he shouldn't even be thought about for the MLB roster unless it's late in the season and he's had a strong year. He's an interesting potential candidate for 3b starting in 2017 though (at this time). But Stearns isn't going to bank on him returning to form - he'll still find a 3b to compete.

 

I also find it funny someone else said he hasn't done anything above A ball outside of take walks in AA. Because that 296/420/825 AA line is solely a result of taking walks!! He followed that up with 277/434/772 in AFL. I'm sure most people would gladly take a 280/400/770 player at 3b

[MKE81]

Agree with MrTPlush (that's twice now).. Not ready to drink the Kool Aid on Cecchini coming off a season like he had at AAA. Heck he's never really done anything above A ball other than take a bunch of walks one year at AA. He could hit .600 this spring and I'd say fine, go prove you can hit at Colorado Springs and we'll get back to you. They used a decent prospect to get Villar. He's not a long term answer at SS, but he's going to get a chance to play a lot there until Arcia the Great arrives. I'd like to see a SS platoon of Villar vs. RHP and Perez vs LHP, and make it a competition to see who moves and takes over 3B (Hill's fine there in the mean time). Maybe having a switch hitter like Villar bat mostly from left side might make him a better hitter. If neither of them is productive and Cecchini's putting up monster numbers at AAA, then go to him.

 

I think you're going to be devastated when Perez isn't on the major league club. There was a reason for his removal from the 40 man. Going to take superb play, some other guys to horribly suck and a possible injury for him to be in the show again.

 

Given that Perez was stated to be on the short list of potential backups to Villar at shortstop, I'd say he has a pretty good shot if another shortstop isn't acquired. He was much better than Elmore last season, so all it would really take is the Brewers deciding to keep Yadiel Rivera in the minor leagues to start the season. At this point it really looks like Rivera vs. Perez (pick one) and Hill vs. Walsh vs. Middlebrooks (pick two, with one starting at third) for the backup infield spots.

 

What I hope happens - Villar will eventually be a super utility who brings an array of tools to that spot so he's valuable. After Scooter is traded it'll be Villar/Hill at 2b and 3b (both will get PT at each position) and a natural and cheap SS will be acquired. Villar can then also backup SS. Walsh can backup 2b/3b. Perez is below average and I don't think he makes the team. Middlebrooks also is below average but he at least has power and can backup both corner spots. They say Rivera has a shot at making the roster but I'd keep him in AAA at 2b unless you're not planning on him being part of the future - then you might want him to play SS at the highest level, hoping he performs then you trade him as a young, slick fielding SS (who can also play 2b)

[brewmann04]

I forgot about Middlebrooks think they will have that covered short term also with Checcini and Perez.

[Roderick]

They say Rivera has a shot at making the roster but I'd keep him in AAA at 2b unless you're not planning on him being part of the future - then you might want him to play SS at the highest level, hoping he performs then you trade him as a young, slick fielding SS (who can also play 2b)

 

I am thinking - "not planning on him being part of the future - then you might want him to play SS at the highest level, hoping he performs then you trade him as a young, slick fielding SS"

[FVBrewerFan]

I'm more worried about the C of our future. I don't see him in the system.

 

Same answer as 3B. No reason to worry for two more years.