Derek Dietrich

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

With not having to compensate Miami, he is worth an offer of two years at around $4 per year. A goo utility player that can start at 2b until KH is ready.

 

I would much rather pay $8 million for two years of Derek Dietrich than $10 million for one year of Jonathon Schoop. Schoop probably has more theoretical upside, but there is also the threat of him being an expensive offensive black hole. Dietrich can easily slide into a utility role once Hiura is up and playing regularly too. He's doesn't grade out at a very good defender, but he is very athletic, and the Brewers' shifts should help put him in the right spots to make plays. I only wish he hit left-handed pitchers better, because if he's signed, he'd likely have to be platooned with Perez.

[JohnBriggs12]

Starting the year with a platoon of Dietrich and Perez at 2B is not a bad way to go. Offensively Dietrich is pretty close to Moustakas particularly if he gets a bump in power from playing in Miller Park.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Dietrich's below average d isnt a big concern to me. The brewers really max out their defensive ability with positioning, so that isnt a big worry. A .750 -.775 ops 2nd baseman who can slide Shaw back over to 3rd and give Huira time to season sounds fine.

[clancyphile]

With not having to compensate Miami, he is worth an offer of two years at around $4 per year. A goo utility player that can start at 2b until KH is ready.

 

I would much rather pay $8 million for two years of Derek Dietrich than $10 million for one year of Jonathon Schoop. Schoop probably has more theoretical upside, but there is also the threat of him being an expensive offensive black hole. Dietrich can easily slide into a utility role once Hiura is up and playing regularly too. He's doesn't grade out at a very good defender, but he is very athletic, and the Brewers' shifts should help put him in the right spots to make plays. I only wish he hit left-handed pitchers better, because if he's signed, he'd likely have to be platooned with Perez.

 

That sort of platoon wouldn't be a bad thing... although, Dietrich is valuable solely as a utility player as well.

 

Ideally, sign Dietrich and keep Schoop. Use Dietrich and Perez as the main pieces off the bench.

 

Schoop is likely to rebound from 2018 to some extent - his average BABIP from 2015-2017 was .321. Hi BABIP was in the .260 range in 2018. That's likely an anomaly.

 

If Hiura struggles in 2019, then you have solid options all around. If he does well and forces the issue... then the Crew can deal Schoop.

[tmwiese55]

Key here seems if Dietrich can still play 2B/3B. He really hasn't much the last few years, but as noted after what we saw with Shaw I wouldn't be super concerned about it and would have trust in our management to use properly. I'd take him as a good bench/platoon piece assuming cost is reasonable.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

Key here seems if Dietrich can still play 2B/3B. He really hasn't much the last few years, but as noted after what we saw with Shaw I wouldn't be super concerned about it and would have trust in our management to use properly. I'd take him as a good bench/platoon piece assuming cost is reasonable.

 

From what I can gather, his defense is average at 1B/2B, a little below average at 3B, and downright bad in the OF. All of which could be potentially softened/improved with the Brewers defensive positioning prowess.

[tmwiese55]

But he also hasn't really played 2B/3B in a few years. But yea with our management I'd assume it's fine and clearly offense was our issue last year so may have to flex a bit to get it.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

I've reached the point that I'll be mildly surprised if the Brewers don't sign Dietrich.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I suppose it probably stands to reason that if Dietrich is signed, it would completely take them out of the running to sign Moustakas. Dietrich's poor splits against lefties are concerning, but he is seemingly a more versatile but a little less powerful version of Moose. I think I'd be ok with a straight platoon of Dietrich and Perez at 2B, perhaps until Dubon or Hiura are ready. Then Dietrich could slide into a utility role.

[tmwiese55]

Also another lefty who can play some 1B if Jesus is more like 2nd half than 1st half so you end up giving him more days off. If signed you'd hope you can move Thames somewhere else and clear that money, then you can have a more flexible bench. Could help to 'afford' Schoop more easily if that's what they want as well.

[KeithStone53151]

From a defensive standpoint on Dietrich, he's not like Shaw where his issue is range but he'll for the most part gobble up everything he can get to. I just think he's not a great defender. I've seen him botch plays he should make too often in the very limited amount of him I've seen. While being more athletic than Schwarber, he makes just as many bad reads/misplays on baseballs in the outfield. No matter where you put this guy, he's not going to be a reliable defender.

 

The biggest plus I have on Dietrich is he comes across as a guy that puts in the work. You can look at his physique and improvements and assume that. I love hearing about guys that put in the effort, it's why I'm so high on Nelson and Nottingham. I would be surprised if you couldn't find those types of comments on Dietrich from coaches, media, teammates, etc.

[MadScientist]

Looking at his home/road splits (>800 road ops the last 3 years), I really want the Brewers to get him if he can play 2nd anywhere close to average.

[Roderick]

Dietrich's poor splits against lefties are concerning,

 

I have no problem platooning Perez and Dietrich, until Hiura is ready. Perez has been better than average against lefties the last three years.

 

But, we really should unload Thames if we pick up Dietrich.

 

Hit by pitch is part of the obp calculation, right?

[JohnBriggs12]

Dietrich's poor splits against lefties are concerning,

 

I have no problem platooning Perez and Dietrich, until Hiura is ready. Perez has been better than average against lefties the last three years.

 

But, we really should unload Thames if we pick up Dietrich.

 

Hit by pitch is part of the obp calculation, right?

 

You're right about Thames if Dietrich is signed. Thames roster spot would go to Santana because of the need for more RH punch. Once Hiura is ready, Dietrich has some value as occasional 1B platoon and lefty bat off the bench. I think Dietrich's offense is pretty comparable to Moustakas. Yelich doubled his HR total moving from Miami to Milwaukee. It's a stretch to think Dietrich will match that but he could go from 16 to 20 without too much trouble, maybe even 25.