Brewers decline option on 1B Eric Thames

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

 

Eric is now a free agent. Can't say I saw that coming. Hope Braun has his 1B mitt ready.

[jjfanec]

Makes very little sense to me. I am Stearns has a plan but braun won't be able to play first everyday

[owbc]

That is a shock. I wonder what they are planning to do with the extra cash...or are they planning on 2020 being a rebuilding year?

[MrTPlush]

http://giphygifs.s3.amazonaws.com/media/RHS4uBLwvRNUA/giphy.gif

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Something's in the works. Has to be.

[folly412]

Will miss Thames. I guess they have a target list for 1B upgrades. A Braun-Thames platoon seemed to make sense, and $7.5M is not a price tag where you try to get him for less.

[RollieTime]

Ton of flexibility is what he is going for. I think something big is going to happen this offseason. They could realistically have $60 million to spend this offseason and it is trending that way right now. With Chacin, Anderson, Jeffress, Albers, Moose, Grandal, and now Thames off the books, they have roughly $47 million off the books from last season already.

[long ball]

I think $7.5 for Thames was probably slightly higher than market value, but like Folly said, not enough to decline and re-sign. I would've predicted Thames option to be picked up, but I'm not really that surprised it went the other way.

 

Not sure, where they'll go with 1b. Maybe Shaw and hope he can fill the LH side of the platoon there.

[nate82]

Probably going to be a Shaw and Braun platoon at 1B.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Ton of flexibility is what he is going for. I think something big is going to happen this offseason. They could realistically have $60 million to spend this offseason and it is trending that way right now. With Chacin, Anderson, Jeffress, Albers, Moose, Grandal, and now Thames off the books, they have roughly $47 million off the books from last season already.

 

Batting 3rd and playing 3B for your Milwaukee Brewers, Anthony REN-DONNNNNNNNN!

[OldSchoolSnapper]

They could just be pooling money to make a run at Grandal. Especially since he's going to play some 1B it sort of explains not paying for Thames.

[RollieTime]

Ton of flexibility is what he is going for. I think something big is going to happen this offseason. They could realistically have $60 million to spend this offseason and it is trending that way right now. With Chacin, Anderson, Jeffress, Albers, Moose, Grandal, and now Thames off the books, they have roughly $47 million off the books from last season already.

 

Batting 3rd and playing 3B for your Milwaukee Brewers, Anthony REN-DONNNNNNNNN!

 

Man SIGN ME UP!! I was on that train a while ago, but seeing he already has been offered $30 million over 7 years, it’s probably not in the Brewers’ best interest. But if it were to happen, I would love the move! Sign Moose and put him at first possibly to make room for Rendon?

 

Cain

Hiura

Yelich

Rendon

Moose

Braun

Iglesias

Pina

P

 

Yes please... A man can dream.

[torts]

freeing up that cash for a moose and/or grandal run for sure

[Surhoff5]

Grisham for Dom Smith -- 1B solved

[statman0007]

My guess is this likely means Braun is back at first base. I know he'd be short for a first baseman, but is there any consideration to moving Hiura there since the defense at second was such a struggle? He's listed at 6'0" which is the same as Thames and Prince Fielder.

[82brewcrew82]

Something's in the works. Has to be.

We say this all the time but nothing ever really is.

[Roderick]

Could be they still try to re-sign, just not at that cost? If they still have a need at 1B and no otehr team has bid higher, I could see Thames coming back for $6M or something.

[82brewcrew82]

That is a shock. I wonder what they are planning to do with the extra cash...or are they planning on 2020 being a rebuilding year?

A rebuild may not be the worst strategic move they could make.

[MrTPlush]

Could be they still try to re-sign, just not at that cost? If they still have a need at 1B and no otehr team has bid higher, I could see Thames coming back for $6M or something.

 

We just spent $1mil to cut him. We didn't do that to possibly save $500,000. Pretty much a sign Thames is gone.

[82brewcrew82]

My guess is this likely means Braun is back at first base. I know he'd be short for a first baseman, but is there any consideration to moving Hiura there since the defense at second was such a struggle? He's listed at 6'0" which is the same as Thames and Prince Fielder.

Not worried about Brauns height. His inability to actually play first is the issue.

[Oxy]

I guess they couldn't find a trade partner at that price? Seems like we could have gotten another Spanberger like return and still saved the cash...

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I guess they couldn't find a trade partner at that price? Seems like we could have gotten another Spanberger like return and still saved the cash...

 

Not a very big market for non-versatile power-hitting 1B types. There is going to be a long of those guys available for just money, and at less than what Thames would be making, this offseason.

[82brewcrew82]

Grisham for Dom Smith -- 1B solved

Maybe. You gotta think they are looking for a full time answer at first. They didn't cut bait on Thames to pick up a couple of jabornes to platoon at first. Or maybe they did. Who knows.

[Eye Black]

Grisham for Dom Smith -- 1B solved

Dominic Smith was the first thing that went through my mind when I saw this news. My bold prediction for the Brewers off-season is that Dominic Smith is the starting first baseman on Opening Day 2020.

[Oxy]

I'll say they sign Grandal and have him play 1st for 75 games and catch for 75 games.