Matt Wieters sign and flip?

[JohnBriggs12]

Boras has obviously overvalued Wieters and he's still out there looking. Brewers don't really have a clear cut starting caliber catcher. Why not invest a modest sum say $7-9 million on a one year offer that would give him and Boras another shot at a payday next offseason and see if a good half results in some return at the deadline, ala Aaron Hill last year?

[pacopete4]

I'd be on board. Not sure it's realistic but he'd be a guy worth tossing a one year deal to and allowing Susac to work with him.

[Outlander]

He seems to be on the decline, would rather just see what they have in Susac at this point as I am confident he can put up comparable offensice number entering his prime. Defensively Susac will never be what Wieters was but neither will Wieters.

[jerichoholicninja]

Wieters is pretty much done as a catcher and his bat doesn't play that well anywhere else besides behind the plate. No thanks.

[TURBO]

So if what you want to do is sign him and flip him, why hasn't anyone else thought of doing that? Are the Brewers the only team to use this strategy? It gets brought up here constantly. Sign guys to flip them, if it were so easy, don't you think other teams would catch on?

[trwi7]

Nobody wants him now at whatever price he's trying to get. WHat makes you think we'll be able to flip him for anything decent in 6 months? It's honestly not worth the time, money or effort.

[JohnBriggs12]

Wieters is pretty much done as a catcher and his bat doesn't play that well anywhere else besides behind the plate. No thanks.

 

He caught 117 games last year and threw out 35% of base stealers. What makes you think he's done? He's unsigned because Boras overvalued him and teams looked elsewhere. Brewers payroll is low enough that they could roll the dice for one year deal. Not saying he's an All Star (though he was just last year) but he's got a better track record than any catcher on the Brewer roster and it's not really close and at 30, it's not like he's ancient.

[MadThinker88]

I would pass on this option.

 

Unlike last year with Aaron Hill entering the season (& the Brewers did not have much other option at 3B) or this year with N Feliz (in the closer role), there are some guys to review/ consider for moving forward behind the plate.

 

I think club resources would be better used in other places than signing Wieters.

[MDCrew]

Listening to a Baltimore station the other day one of their baseball guys was mentioning pretty much the same thing. The feeling is that his days of being a full time catcher are likely over. Best option for him would be a place where he can DH and part time catcher and maybe fill in at 1B a few times a year.

[MKE81]

It annoys me that people think Susac is a platoon catcher and shouldn't be given the chance to start full time. Give him Wieters AB totals and he'll put up better offensive numbers. Wieters had a 87 OPS+ last year and is actually 1pt below Susac in terms of MLB career (baseball reference) and 8pts below on everyone's beloved Fangraphs. And Susac is 4yrs younger. He's also capable of throwing out 30% of runners and being average on defense. Susac doesn't need a platoon he needs an opportunity to prove he's a full time starter and he would have already had it in SF if not for Posey. Susac, Pina, Bandy = set at catcher unless they all fall on their faces (won't happen).

 

People need to get off the "sign and flip" bandwagon - it doesn't apply to every available opening.

[HighHeat19]

Exactly MKE81.

 

If nobody wants Wieters now, how are you going to flip him come July? He would have to hit be better than last year's numbers by a long shot to get value back from him. And 7-9 million a year for a .700 OPS? 30 y.o.? Look how hard it was to get a decent package for Lucroy. And his salary, contract, numbers and D are far superior than Wieters.

 

Roll with the young guys and get them experience for when the Crew gets competitive. If the Brewers rolled with the "sign and flip a vet" theory last year, they wouldn't of found the Villar's, the Perez's and the Broxton's of the world.

 

Stearn's has stayed the course. Young controllable talent.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Tough to trade catchers at the deadline. LuCroy deal was an exception but that wasn't easy for sure

[Greenleaf1]

I'd really like to see what Pina can do, with either Susac or Bandy as the backup to start the year, then just let those 3 figure out who deserves the most playing time.

 

I'm all for trying to sign and flip at positions of need (Hill at 3B, Feliz at closer), but at some point you have to give the new guys a chance.

[homer]

Nice call JB!

http://www.fanragsports.com/news/stokke-brewers-emerge-possibility-matt-wieters/

[MillerParkSouth]

Should have known Boras would be in Mark's ear about him

[reillymcshane]

This is likely one of two things:

 

1. Boros drumming up interest in his client and throwing out the Brewers to help stir the pot. He's good at this kind of thing.

 

2. Wieters isn't getting much interest from the rest of the league and is trying to find a place he can play full time - and thus try and rebuild his stock for a better deal next year.

 

I'm skeptical about #2, because you would think a team like the Nationals would be a better option - great staff, playoff caliber club. Of course, maybe the Nats just like Derek Norris - although you would have to think they have some serious concerns after hitting .186 last year. Or maybe Washington won't guarantee him anything more than a part time gig. Who knows.

 

I'm guessing it's Boros drumming up business for his client. We're his 'mystery team' that he always seems have floating out there. I'm guessing he's just feeling out Milwaukee as a way to scare other clubs who might be interested in Wieters so they increase their offers.

 

But hey, I guess it can't hurt to check in on the guy. If the price is right - you never know.

[jerichoholicninja]

I just don't see this happening. Susac is not some young kid who can afford to sit another year. Signing Matt for 1 year does absolutely nothing for this organization unless he can be flipped at the deadline and I doubt he would bring back that much compared to the at least $5-8M he'll be paid. Maybe he could platoon with Thames at first but you don't sign those guys to platoon with each other.

[MillerParkSouth]

Yeah I've seen doubts as to whether Wieters can even catch full time anymore. Just let Susac/Bandy/Piña battle it out.

[nate82]

This would have made sense before Thames signed but now not so much. The Brewers could have had Wieters play the majority of his games at 1B and also be the 3rd catcher on the team.

[pacopete4]

This would have made sense before Thames signed but now not so much. The Brewers could have had Wieters play the majority of his games at 1B and also be the 3rd catcher on the team.

 

 

Thames can play corner OF too. Lots of flexibility on the roster.

[DHonks]

He's still recovering from TJ surgery. I love signings like this. Could put up tremendous numbers in Miller Park

[trwi7]

Just play Susac. Jesus, we don't need to go after every mediocre free agent there is.

[Jenkins5]

I don't think Thames has an impact at all. Weiters is a catcher and that is where his value is. He is not great defensively and 31 but why would he come to Brewers to focus on 1B over Catcher to rebuild stock? I could see a Lucroy situation where you give him day here & there off behind plate & throw at 1B to keep bat in lineup or give Thames day off.

[DHonks]

He's still recovering from TJ surgery. I love signings like this. Could put up tremendous numbers in Miller Park

[reillymcshane]

Wieters was once an outstanding defensive catcher. He was pretty mediocre in 2014-15, but got better rankings last year. He had TJ surgery in 2014 - so that he struggled in the aftermath isn't a shocker. He seems to have gotten better - but I doubt he's back to where he was (but that's just a guess).

 

The article about the team's interest in Wieters said he's known to be a good clubhouse guy. Don't know how true that is.