Nieuwenhuis signs split contract with Milwaukee

[reillymcshane]

Kirk Nieuwenhuis and the Brewers settled on a split contract that pays him $900K in the majors and $257K in the minors.

 

[yfinn6]

Interesting. I think that's a first for me hearing a contract like that.

[jerichoholicninja]

Interesting. I think that's a first for me hearing a contract like that.

 

Not uncommon at all. Last year or the year before the Brewers signed someone to the same kind of contract.

[djoctagone]

i don't ever recall a major league contract with a minor league split for a player out of minor league options. what kind of salary does the average aaa player get?

[yfinn6]

Interesting. I think that's a first for me hearing a contract like that.

 

Not uncommon at all. Last year or the year before the Brewers signed someone to the same kind of contract.

 

Who?

[reillymcshane]

i don't ever recall a major league contract with a minor league split for a player out of minor league options. what kind of salary does the average aaa player get?

 

A player in the minors who is on the 40 man roster for the first time - and has no major league experience - gets around $45,000.

 

A player in the minors who is on the 40 man roster and has major league experience - or has been on the 40 man roster for 2 years - gets roughly $85,000.

 

These are the minimums - players can negotiate larger deals - which is often the case for veterans.

 

Last I saw, a AAA player gets between $2200 and $3000 if they aren't on the 40 man roster and have never been in the big leagues.

[jerichoholicninja]

Interesting. I think that's a first for me hearing a contract like that.

 

Not uncommon at all. Last year or the year before the Brewers signed someone to the same kind of contract.

 

Who?

 

I feel like it was a pitcher. I'll see if I can try and dig it up.

[reillymcshane]

Interesting. I think that's a first for me hearing a contract like that.

They are not that uncommon (but not that common either). It seems like it's often borderline veteran guys - or guys coming off injuries.

 

The team just doesn't want to commit to a full year of a salary to a guy who might not make the club - so they strike the deal with the player. Even if he doesn't make the club, he still gets a decent wage in the minors.

[Mass Haas]

I feel like it was a pitcher. I'll see if I can try and dig it up.

 

Randy Choate - 2007?

[And That]

Split contracts are extremely common. But usually just the MLB portion is reported.

 

Most to all of the pre-arby guys have split contracts. For instance, if Yadiel Rivera is in MLB, he's making about $535k next year. In AAA he's probably making closer to $100k.

 

Anyone on a minor league deal with a spring training invite would have a split contract as well.

[yfinn6]

Split contracts are extremely common. But usually just the MLB portion is reported.

 

Most to all of the pre-arby guys have split contracts. For instance, if Yadiel Rivera is in MLB, he's making about $535k next year. In AAA he's probably making closer to $100k.

Anyone on a minor league deal with a spring training invite would have a split contract as well.

 

For sure; that part wasn't the surprise. I guess I never recall it being reported like Kirk's or the amount of money. Not a big deal either way.

[Devinep]

I don't want him on the majors or the minors either. With so many outfielders in the system, there isn't room for him, especially now that none of them will be moving to first base. AAA will be stacked, so some guys like Reed would be better off on the big league bench instead of the bench in AAA. At least there's some potential there. Kirk is a waste of ABs.

 

Plus there's the issue of Kirk inexplicably playing over the younger better Santana l.

[sveumrules]

Santana started 28 of the first 40 games in RF before going on the DL. Over that same timeframe Kirk did not start a single game in RF.

 

Santana came back to the majors from injury/rehab on August 19th. From then until the end of the season he started 30 of 42 games. Over that same timeframe Kirk started 16 games, 6 of which came in center.

 

When both players were healthy Kirk did not play RF over Domingo.

[MKE81]

Santana started 28 of the first 40 games in RF before going on the DL. Over that same timeframe Kirk did not start a single game in RF.

 

Santana came back to the majors from injury/rehab on August 19th. From then until the end of the season he started 30 of 42 games. Over that same timeframe Kirk started 16 games, 6 of which came in center.

 

When both players were healthy Kirk did not play RF over Domingo.

I've said this a million times on here and nobody wants to listen to it. Kirk isn't playing over anyone. He's a backup. As long as the starting OF stays healthy they'll all get 500+ AB. Kirk can still see 200+ AB even as the 4th but him being a lefty is whats carrying his 40 spot. I too wish it was Reed or someone else as the 4th because Kirk shouldn't be on the team for the future. If the Brewers go with 12 pitchers I'm fine with Kirk/Reed for a year as we'll probably have Perez + 1 IF joining them and a catcher on the bench.

[pacopete4]

Santana started 28 of the first 40 games in RF before going on the DL. Over that same timeframe Kirk did not start a single game in RF.

 

Santana came back to the majors from injury/rehab on August 19th. From then until the end of the season he started 30 of 42 games. Over that same timeframe Kirk started 16 games, 6 of which came in center.

 

When both players were healthy Kirk did not play RF over Domingo.

 

Thank you for this. Thank you! People are so uninformed with their comments on this guy. He did a nice job for us last season in the OF when we didn't have much to write home about. Especially at Miller Park.

[Devinep]

Santana started 28 of the first 40 games in RF before going on the DL. Over that same timeframe Kirk did not start a single game in RF.

 

Santana came back to the majors from injury/rehab on August 19th. From then until the end of the season he started 30 of 42 games. Over that same timeframe Kirk started 16 games, 6 of which came in center.

 

When both players were healthy Kirk did not play RF over Domingo.

 

Well if you do the math of your statement Santana was starting about 70% of the time. It's not like he's a catcher who needs that many breaks. Plus it would have been more Kirk starts if Broxton didn't run into a dumb brick wall.

 

Again, it's not like Kirk has no role in the majors. He just doesn't have one on a rebuilding team where EVERY roster spot should be given to a guy whose is establishing trade value or is a young player proving his big league ability m. Kirk is an OK backup OF, but is neither of those things.

[MKE81]

Santana started 28 of the first 40 games in RF before going on the DL. Over that same timeframe Kirk did not start a single game in RF.

 

Santana came back to the majors from injury/rehab on August 19th. From then until the end of the season he started 30 of 42 games. Over that same timeframe Kirk started 16 games, 6 of which came in center.

 

When both players were healthy Kirk did not play RF over Domingo.

 

Thank you for this. Thank you! People are so uninformed with their comments on this guy. He did a nice job for us last season in the OF when we didn't have much to write home about. Especially at Miller Park.

Kirk is fine defensively playing all spots, nobody really says anything negative about that. But he's absolutely horrendous on the road. Was excellent at Miller Park. The issue is, overall, he won't be better than what Reed or Cordell could be - a consistent backup. Someone who performs at home and on the road while also playing all 3 OF spots too. They're just not lefty. And Reed will steal more bases while Kirk hits for more power. Cordell is Reed but with power and more speed

[CheeseheadInQC]

The difference is the cavalcade of outfielders the Brewers brought in last year to compete for spots all had had AAA success, from Broxton, to Flores to Liriano. While they all had question marks, they'd shown that they could handle that level. Reed struggled at AAA last year and Cordell hasn't even had a chance there yet and also probably isn't a guy who they'd rush to the big leagues only to sit on the bench. If you can get an upside guy of that type to replace Nieuwenhuis, fine, but I'm just not seeing the answer in their system right now.

[MKE81]

The difference is the cavalcade of outfielders the Brewers brought in last year to compete for spots all had had AAA success, from Broxton, to Flores to Liriano. While they all had question marks, they'd shown that they could handle that level. Reed struggled at AAA last year and Cordell hasn't even had a chance there yet and also probably isn't a guy who they'd rush to the big leagues only to sit on the bench. If you can get an upside guy of that type to replace Nieuwenhuis, fine, but I'm just not seeing the answer in their system right now.

Agree that's why I said I'm fine with Kirk as the 4th for this year, especially if the starters remain relatively healthy. Beyond this year he should be gone. I expect to see Cordell playing well at AAA this year now that he's 100% healthy. I actually don't think Reed struggled overly much at AAA this year. Sure his numbers are down from his career averages but they're not significantly down and his game isn't to drive the ball and get additional carry, which aides in stat padding. He was 3.5yrs young and still put up a 366 OBP while playing quality defense. Both of those alone will make him a quality MLB backup.

[djoctagone]

Kirk Nieuwenhuis and the Brewers settled on a split contract that pays him $900K in the majors and $257K in the minors.

 

with the outfield depth on the 40-man (plus kyle wren), i can't see how the brewers would want to outright nieuwenhuis to the minors and pay him that much.

[Boomer5]

Mlbtraderumors says the Pirates tried to trade for him but couldn't strike a deal.

 

I have no idea why a rebuilding team would want to keep this guy.

[brewerfan82]

I presume you're basing this off this:

 

"In the wake of Starling Marte’s suspension, the NL Central rival Pirates at least discussed swinging a trade for Nieuwenhuis, but they’ll instead look elsewhere for outfield help."

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/04/brewers-outright-kirk-nieuwenhuis.html

 

It'd be interesting to hear the details on that, but I'm guessing it was somewhere between 1.) them asking if he could be had for "cash considerations" with the Brewers saying no and 2.) doing due diligence in asking about him, but deciding fairly quickly they'd rather pursue better options.

[Outlander]

I guess I don't get it. Even if they couldn't work out a trade couldn't the Pirates just claim him after they couldn't agree to a deal.

[brewerfan82]

Yeah, I think they just decided to go another route to get someone better. Saying the "Pirates at least discussed swinging a trade for Nieuwenhuis" doesn't even necessarily mean they discussed it with the Brewers, could just mean someone in the front office brought it up as one idea and they decided they had better options.

[djoctagone]

nieuwenhuis accepted his outright assignment to colorado springs. he will be making a pro-rated $257,000 during his time in the minors.