Thames

[Madhawk23]

Sorry if this has already been discussed in another thread on this board, but is there a market at all out there for a guy like Eric Thames? Would any team out there even take his 6M salary off our hands, and give us a lottery ticket type prospect in return for him? Coming off of his injury riddled and disappointing season last year, I'm guessing there probably isn't much interest. But, we are talking about a LH power bat that hit 30+ bombs in 2017. Are the Yanks still in need of a 1B?

 

I'd love to rid ourselves of his 6M and then use some of that money to bring in a guy like Lowrie. Then, you could play Lowrie at 2B until Hiura is ready (whether that's 2019 or 2020), and then Lowrie could platoon with Shaw at 3B when Keston comes up, while Shaw could also platoon a bit at 1B with Aguilar to keep his bat in the lineup against good RHP.

 

So.....thoughts on Thames? Would any team have interest in him? Again, I realize we wouldn't get much in return, but I think I'd be OK with that if we could free up that money to use it in an area of need (like 2B).

[sveumrules]

Justin Bour is 31 & put up a 126 OPS+ between 2017 & 2018 in 930 PAs. He is getting 1/2.5 million for 2019.

 

Matt Adams is 30 & put up a 110 OPS+ between 2017 & 2018 in 704 PAs. He is getting 1/3 millions for 2019 with a million dollar buyout on a 2020 option.

 

Eric Thames is 32 & put up a 119 OPS+ between 2017 & 2018 in 829 PAs. At 1/6 million for 2019 plus the million buyout for 2020 he probably has slightly negative value.

[long ball]

Ya, If the Brewers can shed Thames' full salary that's a win.

 

I still think he has a purpose on the team at present, but he might end up being redundant depending on what they do with filling second base.

[And That]

In order for the Brewers to dump Thames' salary, they have to either:

 

a)Include a prospect/prospect package with him in order to pay someone to take him off of their hands; or,

b)Trade for a player of similar value (i.e. an overpaid player), maybe at a position the Brewers could use more help at; or,

c)Hope he gets off to a hot start this season and boosts his trade value.

[KeithStone53151]

In order for the Brewers to dump Thames' salary, they have to either:

 

a)Include a prospect/prospect package with him in order to pay someone to take him off of their hands; or,

b)Trade for a player of similar value (i.e. an overpaid player), maybe at a position the Brewers could use more help at; or,

c)Hope he gets off to a hot start this season and boosts his trade value.

 

Option 4, eat part of his salary and trade the rest. I could see a team that really believes in him taking him for $4 million but not $6 million.

 

Option 5, Thames gets bundled into a bigger deal with Cleveland for Bauer...or bundled into any other deal. You can argue it's similar to option 1 as he would have slight negative value in said trade, but it would likely be hidden by the other pieces involved.

[TURBO]

It's hard not to like Thames, and at times, he has been a great story in Milwaukee, but we just don't have the roster space for a guy who plays a worse than horrible OF, and no room for at 1B.

 

I wish the guy well, but I really hope we can move him, even if only for salary relief.

[coolhandluke121]

When you see guys like Choi and Aguilar on the waiver wire in recent memory, and then you see much more proven guys like Duda, Morrison, and Reynolds signing for less than what Thames makes, you probably shouldn't hold out hope that they can clear his salary, let alone get anything of value for him. The market has changed dramatically since guys like Adam Lind could be traded for something of value.

 

I think they just keep him. They may as well have an LHB 1B and emergency RF in small outfields. They can shade Cain to cover him. It was far from a disaster when they did it last year. His inconsistency at the plate is the real issue.

 

Really sucks that they basically gave away Choi because they had him.

[SRB]

There had to have been something wrong with Thames at the end of 2018. He's a much better hitter against RHP than his end of year numbers show (which even then were not that bad).

 

Might as well hold on to him if trade partners are going to act like he has negative value.

[jjfanec]

Read someone saying the Yankees should go after thames because he would fit perfect in their stadium and on an al team. No idea if they have any interest but that could be nice. Who are the Twins trotting out at DH and 1B these days? They could do worse than Thames

[JosephC]

Brewers could very well have a big need for Thames left-handed bat once the season rolls around. Right now there are only 3 left-handed bats on the 40 man roster (not counting the pitchers).

[rickh150]

We wouldn't be getting much back for Thames..... if someone takes on his contract, that would be enough to send him elsewhere.

[Montezuma]

I think Thames adds quality as a first baseman and pitch hitter. And being a fan favorite is a plus.

[rickh150]

Braun is the backup, you'd have to believe, in 2019. Shaw and Hernan can play there too. Somewhat surprised, not shocked though, if he is on the team for opening day.

[sveumrules]

Brewers could very well have a big need for Thames left-handed bat once the season rolls around. Right now there are only 3 left-handed bats on the 40 man roster (not counting the pitchers).

 

Agree with this. Last two years shake out to...

 

Thames 829 PAs 118 wRC+

Aguilar 877 PAs 127 wRC+

 

For whatever it is or isnt worth, Steamer projects Eric for a 109 wRC+ next year compared to 105 for Jesus. I'd imagine the plan for next year as it currently stands would be to start Aguilar with Thames getting a couple two tree starts a week between 1B & corner OF.

 

Combined they have played 23 months with the Brewers & I thought it'd be fun to write them all down then type them all here.

 

01. 0417 ET (103 PAs) 345/466/810 (219 wRC+!!)

02. 0618 JA (91 PAs) 313/352/747 (183 wRC+)

03. 0517 JA (63 PAs) 328/381/707 (175 wRC+)

04. 0917 ET (72 PAs) 328/431/574 (160 wRC+)

05. 0418 JA (52 PAs) 378/423/533 (155 wRC+)

06. 0418 ET (74 PAs) 250/351/625 (151 wRC+)

07. 0518 JA (107 PAs) 272/355/565 (142 wRC+)

08. 0617 JA (63 PAs) 286/365/536 (133 wRC+)

09. 0818 JA (105 PAs) 270/371/506 (131 wRC+)

10. 0717 ET (83 PAs) 284/361/500 (124 wRC+)

11. 0718 ET (74 PAs) 265/324/500 (119 wRC+)

12. 0817 JA (53 PAs) 213/302/553 (112 wRC+)

13. 0517 ET (96 PAs) 221/375/416 (108 wRC+)

14. 0618 ET (62 PAs) 218/300/491 (108 wRC+)

15. 0918 ET (24 PAs) 211/375/368 (108 wRC+)

16. 0718 JA (106 PAs) 202/321/449 (105 wRC+)

17. 0918 JA (105 PAs) 266/324/447 (105 wRC+)

18. 0917 JA (41 PAs) 250/317/444 (95 wRC+)

19. 0717 JA (52 PAs) 261/308/391 (79 wRC+)

20. 0817 ET (92 PAs) 173/272/420 (76 wRC+)

21. 0617 ET (105 PAs) 163/267/402 (69 wRC+)

22. 0417 JA (39 PAs) 222/282/278 (48 wRC+)

23. 0818 ET (44 PAs) 098/159/244 (-4 wRC+!!!)

 

Key takeaways for me are that in eleven or twelve months we've gotten average or better production for a 1B out of one of the two with only one month (0418) of overlap in there.

 

Then you have five months of meh production followed by six months of bad to abysmal production.

 

Add it all up & over the last two seasons Brewers 1B are 6th in WRC+ & 8th in fWaR. Not bad for a couple scrap heap guys.

[SRB]

If we trust Thames to go back to mashing RHP then it actually makes much more sense to sell high on Aguilar to add a major league piece (2B or SP) and then you can platoon Thames/Braun with Braun getting days in the OF along with Santana.

 

Braun vs. LHP + (Good) Thames vs. RHP is an excellent 1B.

[rickh150]

If we trust Thames to go back to mashing RHP then it actually makes much more sense to sell high on Aguilar to add a major league piece (2B or SP) and then you can platoon Thames/Braun with Braun getting days in the OF along with Santana.

 

Braun vs. LHP + (Good) Thames vs. RHP is an excellent 1B.

 

A big leap of faith

[Jaylyn]

If we trust Thames to go back to mashing RHP then it actually makes much more sense to sell high on Aguilar to add a major league piece (2B or SP) and then you can platoon Thames/Braun with Braun getting days in the OF along with Santana.

 

Braun vs. LHP + (Good) Thames vs. RHP is an excellent 1B.

Agree 100%, selling high on Aquilar would be my first choice, if there was ever a regression candidate, Jesus is it. Braun at 1B also allows Santana to get regular ABs in RF and Yelich back in left with Keon as backup at all 3 OF. If Thames can't right the ship, platoon Braun and Shaw at 1B, Travis looks brutal when he faces a lefty.

[JosephC]

I'm not so sure that we'll be seeing Braun back at first base. Even though he was fairly healthy for the last two months, the game log at Baseball Reference indicates he didn't appear at first base a single time after July 23. Braun posted a -19.0 UZR/150 as a first baseman, and if the Brewers defensive metric mirrors that, then they might be pretty motivated to keep Braun out of the infield.

[clancyphile]

If we trust Thames to go back to mashing RHP then it actually makes much more sense to sell high on Aguilar to add a major league piece (2B or SP) and then you can platoon Thames/Braun with Braun getting days in the OF along with Santana.

 

Braun vs. LHP + (Good) Thames vs. RHP is an excellent 1B.

 

A big leap of faith

 

Thames missed time with injury in 2018, and then had spotty playing time because Jesus did emerge. I don't think a 2019 rebound is out of the question - and if the Brewers play their cards right, they could deal Aguilar at a high this offseason, and a hot Thames could be moved mid-season.

[amt2138]

In 183 plate appearances Thames was hitting .250/.344/.556 with 13 home runs before he was placed on the DL for the second time.

 

Then the disastrous 95 plate appearances that followed .161/.232/.333.

 

I'm not willing to give an asset to unload a $6 million contract. Run with it and see if a healthy Thames can get back to delivering.

[pacopete4]

There a decent chance that both of our 1B options aren't good next year. Playing with fire with that position as it stands.

[Brew Crew Buster]

It does seem wise to keep Thames. The trade value is minimal and he provides some insurance against Aguilar regressing.

 

The Brewers could always cut him at some point during the year if things don't work out.

 

It isn't worth subtracting Thames and not getting anything back right now.

[rickh150]

It does seem wise to keep Thames. The trade value is minimal and he provides some insurance against Aguilar regressing.

 

The Brewers could always cut him at some point during the year if things don't work out.

 

It isn't worth subtracting Thames and not getting anything back right now.

 

Salary relief would be worth it. First base is covered by several others.

[SRB]

I'm not so sure that we'll be seeing Braun back at first base. Even though he was fairly healthy for the last two months, the game log at Baseball Reference indicates he didn't appear at first base a single time after July 23. Braun posted a -19.0 UZR/150 as a first baseman, and if the Brewers defensive metric mirrors that, then they might be pretty motivated to keep Braun out of the infield.

 

I think the sample is small enough that UZR is effectively meaningless. I don't remember him looking horrible the limited time we saw him over there. He stopped playing 1B because Aguilar became an everyday player and Santana got demoted, but now we're back to the original problem of having too many OF.

 

I can't imagine they are going to keep all three of Thames/Santana/Broxton on the bench, and yet Santana and Broxton are out of options.

[pacopete4]

The stockpile led to Aguilar last year. Can’t have enough options.