Brewers sign Matt Albers - 2 year deal

[djoctagone]

During Albers first 21 games he had an ERA of 1.08 with a WHIP of 0.88 and K:BB of 21:5. In his last 7 games since coming back from injury his ERA has been 28.80 and a WHIP of 4.00 and 7:4 K:BB. Clearly something is still wrong with him although he says he is healthy. He has also been very unlucky as his BAbip is .625.

 

Albers is on an incredibly team friendly contract for this year and next; $2.5M each. Are you saying you would throw all of that away because of these last few games?

 

I'm frustrated as well but am not willing to risk losing a good pitcher based on a knee jerk reaction.

It's that "grass is always greener" philosophy. Same thing with the people that want Barnes back up. He was sent down for a reason (general suckiness), and while his numbers are better in AAA in only 6 innings, he still has 5 walks, which is concerning. But at least the Brewers still own his rights. DFA Albers, and him and his cheap contract is gone. Probably to the Cardinals, where he'd immediately put up a sub 2 ERA.

with two open roster spots, and no immediate need to add jimmy nelson back to the 40-man roster, there isn't that pressing of a need to remove a player from the 40-man roster. were the 40-man full, matt albers might be tied to a different fate.

[djoctagone]

off days the next two mondays. if the brewers don't put albers on the disabled list with a legit injury, can they get away with burying him in the bullpen, or will he be dfa'd?

[shanedog19]

off days the next two mondays. if the brewers don't put albers on the disabled list with a legit injury, can they get away with burying him in the bullpen, or will he be dfa'd?

 

Burying a guy on a team trying to win a pennant seems counterproductive to me. I’d rather see Albers get DFA’ed and make better use of his spot.

[coolhandluke121]

They need a full pen until rosters expand, but I can't see a DFA. Alberts isn't Sogard or Drake; he has a decent resume. I don't think you DFA him because of a few terrible outings after an injury. However, his conditioning may be a factor in his performance, as a more fit player would probably recover better. I suppose I could see it being a really tough decision, with them ultimately going in another direction because of fitness. But I don't consider that likely.

[SRB]

They need a full pen until rosters expand, but I can't see a DFA. Alberts isn't Sogard or Drake; he has a decent resume. I don't think you DFA him because of a few terrible outings after an injury. However, his conditioning may be a factor in his performance, as a more fit player would probably recover better. I suppose I could see it being a really tough decision, with them ultimately going in another direction because of fitness. But I don't consider that likely.

 

His resume isn't that impressive. He had a brutal -0.9 fWAR season as recently as 2016.

 

I don't think we can afford to keep Albers on a team that is both contending and relying heavily on its bullpen.

[patrickgpe]

I agree, what is the point of using a roster spot for a older reliever that you cannon rely at ALL. This is not much different at this point then when wang was on the team in 2011 and couldn't be used. His pitches last night were down the middle with no movement, it was basically BP.

[Boomer5]

They need to admit the multimillion dollar mistake with Albers and cut their losses.

 

They are in the playoff hunt, you can’t have a roster spot wasted like this.

[rickh150]

He's signed for next year. No way the team cuts him. He is the mop up guy or he will be on the DL again. September is close, and he could be hidden on the roster then.

[DHonks]

I'll bet he goes back on the DL soon with a phantom injury

[JohnBriggs12]

He's signed for next year. No way the team cuts him. He is the mop up guy or he will be on the DL again. September is close, and he could be hidden on the roster then.

 

Mop up? You have to get some outs to mop up. He can't get 3 outs much less go 2 innings. He's been allowing a HR to every 3rd batter or so he's faced since June 1st. He's owed $2.5 million next year and will be 36? If they can't eat that then they can't eat any contract. He needs to find a new career.

[Bulldogboy]

Today bullpen was a bit short because you cannot under any circumstances pitch Albers. Knebel had to go two in part because of this. He has to be sat down.

[coolhandluke121]

They need a full pen until rosters expand, but I can't see a DFA. Alberts isn't Sogard or Drake; he has a decent resume. I don't think you DFA him because of a few terrible outings after an injury. However, his conditioning may be a factor in his performance, as a more fit player would probably recover better. I suppose I could see it being a really tough decision, with them ultimately going in another direction because of fitness. But I don't consider that likely.

 

His resume isn't that impressive. He had a brutal -0.9 fWAR season as recently as 2016.

 

I don't think we can afford to keep Albers on a team that is both contending and relying heavily on its bullpen.

 

And an FIP under 3.5 in 4 of his last 5 seasons before this one. There's still a good chance that he's better than the alternative the rest of the way. This is just like Sogard and Drake. If better players grew on trees, the Brewers would have them. They're not just going to cut a bad player with some track record of success for a bad player with no track record or pedigree. That's kind of impulsive. If they see something wrong with Albers, they will DFA him, but he probably deserves a chance to redeem himself considering the alternative is probably even more of a crapshoot.

[adambr2]

I'd like to try to way to at least audition Albers next season in the spring. I realize how terrible he is right now, but he was so good all of last year and this year up until June.

 

The best solution is to find an excuse to DL him until the end of August. Then rosters expand and you can bury him in deep mop up duty for the rest of the season.

[djoctagone]

off days the next two mondays. if the brewers don't put albers on the disabled list with a legit injury, can they get away with burying him in the bullpen, or will he be dfa'd?

disabled list it is. left hamstring.

[Boomer5]

You know it’s a good acquisition when you are hoping he goes on the DL. Blue.

[Humans Need Water]

Whichever way the wind blows sums up this board to a tee. Guy was great last year and great this year until his injury. Now he's a pile of deuce, has zero talent and it was a horrific signing? Whine-bag city

[MadScientist]

Whichever way the wind blows sums up this board to a tee. Guy was great last year and great this year until his injury. Now he's a pile of deuce, has zero talent and it was a horrific signing? Whine-bag city

He has been pitching poorly after coming back from his injury. He can't take up a bullpen slot in a pennant race pitching like that. Cutting him is a waste of 2.5 M next year, so having a phantom hammy is good for the club. Maybe he can right himself and be useful down the stretch.

 

Since coming back from the DL he's had 4 appearances, given up 10 runs and only recorded 5 outs. One way or another, that has to go.

[502 to Right]

Non-tendered Jared Hughes to sign Albers. Brutal.

 

Hughes has a 1.41 ERA and 1.081 WHIP in 50 innings.

[folly412]

"Left hamstring"

 

If it passes, sure. I mean, why eat next year's cost now when you can at least evaluate in spring training?

[Tbadder]

Cutting him would be pretty reactionary. This guy has been a decent to good reliever for a number of years. His slump is very inconvenient for sure. I think he’ll find himself, but maybe it costs us. I hope not.

[MadScientist]

He was great in his first 24 outings with the Brewers (3-1, 1.93 ERA). The game that lead to him being on the DL and the 4 games after he returned, he's fallen off a cliff. It's really not hard to believe that something is really wrong with him.

[FVBrewerFan]

He was great in his first 24 outings with the Brewers (3-1, 1.93 ERA). The game that lead to him being on the DL and the 4 games after he returned, he's fallen off a cliff. It's really not hard to believe that something is really wrong with him.

 

It's also really not hard to believe that "something" is cheeseburgers.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

He was great in his first 24 outings with the Brewers (3-1, 1.93 ERA). The game that lead to him being on the DL and the 4 games after he returned, he's fallen off a cliff. It's really not hard to believe that something is really wrong with him.

 

It's also really not hard to believe that "something" is cheeseburgers.

 

Thanks ... now I'm the crazy guy laughing in a quiet office around 20 other people.

[YelichPosse]

He was great in his first 24 outings with the Brewers (3-1, 1.93 ERA). The game that lead to him being on the DL and the 4 games after he returned, he's fallen off a cliff. It's really not hard to believe that something is really wrong with him.

 

It's also really not hard to believe that "something" is cheeseburgers.

 

Thanks ... now I'm the crazy guy laughing in a quiet office around 20 other people.

 

Between this, and talk of "eating" his contract or not... this is a laughing matter

[djoctagone]

look for matt albers to be activated in the coming days . . .