Avi Garcia not extended QO - now a Free Agent 11/5/21

[JosephC]

It's already been brought up, but in 2017 Garcia slashed .330/.380/.506/.885 but a very high .392 BABIP certainly helped that.

 

His combined slash line from 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 is only .257/.309/.411/.720 which is poor for a corner outfielder.

 

Will be interesting to see how this plays out. I believe he will hit in Miller Park. But frankly, based on the last five years, he had good offensive stats in two of those seasons and rather poor offensive stats in the other three seasons.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Would be pretty easy for him to get to 550 PA if he's healthy and someone else is hurt.

[MrTPlush]

Would be pretty easy for him to get to 550 PA if he's healthy and someone else is hurt.

 

Even in his unreal 2017 year he barely got there...so I don't think this is a very easy feat for poor Garcia.

[JackNicholson1974]

Is the guarantee really only 17.5 million?

 

500k signing bonus

7 million in 2020

10 million in 2021

 

Gets tricky in 2022 though. If he doesnt get the 550 PAs then 2022 remains a club option and the contract either becomes 2/19.5 or 3/29.5

If he does get the 550 PAs and it becomes a mutual option and the Brewers exercise their portion but he declines or "opts" out I dont see how the 2m buyout gets paid.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Would be pretty easy for him to get to 550 PA if he's healthy and someone else is hurt.

 

Even in his unreal 2017 year he barely got there...so I don't think this is a very easy feat for poor Garcia.

 

Honestly if he gets 550 PA that means he's healthy and performing really well for the Brewers - I don't see the downside. So he opts out and cashes in and the Brewers lose out on paying him longterm while his production declines...I'm glad he's willing to bet on himself and give the Brewers a chance to afford 2 years of his prime. If he stays healthy and just performs like he did with Tampa the next two seasons it's a steal.

[JohnBriggs12]

Garcia is in his prime and has been solid performer for 2 of his last 3 seasons. He won't play everyday. Heck Yelich sits due to back issues occasionally. His strikeout rate isn't horrific like Santana's for instance. He's always been an underachiever in the power department but he's likely to produce 20 HR in 450-500 AB's and that could spike at any time.

 

I still think they need a lefty bat to play significant time at 1B. Perhaps they're waiting on Thames or maybe they'll grab a Matt Adams.

[JosephC]

Is the guarantee really only 17.5 million?

 

500k signing bonus

7 million in 2020

10 million in 2021

 

Gets tricky in 2022 though. If he doesnt get the 550 PAs then 2022 remains a club option and the contract either becomes 2/19.5 or 3/29.5

If he does get the 550 PAs and it becomes a mutual option and the Brewers exercise their portion but he declines or "opts" out I dont see how the 2m buyout gets paid.

 

There is a chance that there is language in the contract that Garcia doesn't get the buyout if he walks away from the third year. But that is pretty unlikely. Both Grandal and Moustakas had mutual options in their contracts for 2020, both of these players walked away from the deal, and Milwaukee will pay Grandal 2.25 million and Moustakas 3 million this season.

 

It's safe to say that Garcia's 2 million buyout for 2022 is guaranteed.

[markedman5]

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

According to McCalvy, Garcia was told by Counsell he will be playing predominantly in LF, with some CF mixed in. To me this seems like an odd choice, as metrics have indicated that Yelich is better in LF than RF given his arm strength, and that Garcia has a much stronger arm. I do wonder if the idea of Yelich moving to 1B does have a bit of merit? Perhaps they can find someone else to take those RF at-bats? Calhoun perhaps?

[areacodes]

 

Looks like 2021 is $10.5m and the option becomes a mutual option with either 550 ABs in 2021 or a combined 1050 both years.

[tmwiese55]

The LF thing surprises me a lot. Remember a game last year Braun volunteered for RF due to a big left field wherever they were. So with a whole offseason you'd think he'd be fine with the move to right as well and it kind of just becomes a rotation among 1B/RF.

[long ball]

I'm surprised that the plan is for Garcia to primarily play LF and not RF. I kinda figured they'd move Yelich to LF on days Braun is not in the OF, but perhaps they want to just leave Yelich alone because he will play almost every day as long as he is healthy.

[SRB]

Somewhat weird but there's no reason to think Garcia can't adapt to LF and since he will be splitting time there with Braun this avoids having to force Yelich to shuttle back and forth between RF/LF all season.

[markedman5]

Adam McCalvy

@AdamMcCalvy

·

2m

David Stearns' take on this was that they'll get to Spring Training, see where everyone is comfortable, and what makes for the best alignment. If Yelich desires to stay in RF, so be it. If he's flexible, maybe they flip Yelich and García. Nothing set in stone.

[3and2Fastball]

Completely insane if Yelich gets to choose his position. Garcia’s arm is light years stronger, he should be in right field...

[markedman5]

It will be interesting to see what the next move is......

Tom

@Haudricourt

·

6m

#Brewers David Stearns: "We still think we have opportunities to improve on our infield," he said. "We're going to remain active in both the first and third base markets. We've still got a lot of time to go."

[KeithStone53151]

Completely insane if Yelich gets to choose his position. Garcia’s arm is light years stronger, he should be in right field...

 

There's certainly something to be said about keeping your star player happy. I'll add that Braun was very uncomfortable in RF when he was asked to move to accommodate Khrush "noodle arm" Davis. It's definitely not as simple as putting a round peg in a round hole.

[3and2Fastball]

Completely insane if Yelich gets to choose his position. Garcia’s arm is light years stronger, he should be in right field...

 

There's certainly something to be said about keeping your star player happy. I'll add that Braun was very uncomfortable in RF when he was asked to move to accommodate Khrush "noodle arm" Davis. It's definitely not as simple as putting a round peg in a round hole.

 

Yelich has played 516 career games in LF (4162 Innings!), including winning a Gold Glove at the position in 2014.

[KeithStone53151]

Completely insane if Yelich gets to choose his position. Garcia’s arm is light years stronger, he should be in right field...

 

There's certainly something to be said about keeping your star player happy. I'll add that Braun was very uncomfortable in RF when he was asked to move to accommodate Khrush "noodle arm" Davis. It's definitely not as simple as putting a round peg in a round hole.

 

Yelich has played 516 career games in LF (4162 Innings!), including winning a Gold Glove at the position in 2014.

 

Certainly not an exact comparison. Maybe that's exactly what they intend to do. But again, something to be said about keeping your star player happy. Yelich doesn't have a bad arm by any stretch, so it's probably not that significant of an impact on where those 2 guys play.

 

At the end of the day, I think Yelich opts for LF when the time comes.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Braun in LF only and 1B per TH.

[LouisEly]

It's already been brought up, but in 2017 Garcia slashed .330/.380/.506/.885 but a very high .392 BABIP certainly helped that.

 

His combined slash line from 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 is only .257/.309/.411/.720 which is poor for a corner outfielder.

 

Will be interesting to see how this plays out. I believe he will hit in Miller Park. But frankly, based on the last five years, he had good offensive stats in two of those seasons and rather poor offensive stats in the other three seasons.

My concerns exactly, and why, IMO, it was an overpay.

[rickh150]

Feels like we have been saving nickels and cutting corners so that we can splurge on something, and this move was it. He needs to be an All Star consideration for this move to look good.

 

Weird criteria, no he doesn't.

 

Agreed. Ben Gamel had a .710 OPS as our fourth outfielder last year. Even if Garcia can put up an .800 OPS this deal is worth it. This adds a talented bat while also bringing depth and stability to the OF group. Not to mention the possibility of a breakout season after what he has done in Tampa.

 

 

There are several other outfielders still out there that could platoon for far less $, and we wouldn't have to give them a multi-year deal. Some could be had for a one year deal, and then we would still have their arby rights. Even Domingo Santana's offensive numbers aren't that much worse, even with questionable defense, than Garcia.

Seems like an overspend unless he plays like a borderline All-Star. Even then, if he does play really well, my guess is that he initially will be splitting time with Gamel somewhat.

[liveforoctober]

There are several other outfielders still out there that could platoon for far less $, and we wouldn't have to give them a multi-year deal. Some could be had for a one year deal, and then we would still have their arby rights. Even Domingo Santana's offensive numbers aren't that much worse, even with questionable defense, than Garcia.

Seems like an overspend unless he plays like a borderline All-Star. Even then, if he does play really well, my guess is that he initially will be splitting time with Gamel somewhat.

 

With all due respect, I don't believe the Brewers are giving this guy $10 million/season to sit in favor of Ben Gamel. Unless we acquire a 1B that forces Braun into considerable outfield starts .. Garcia should be our everyday LF.

 

Unless you mean Gamel will split time with him as a defensive replacement ... then fine.

[PeaveyFury]

Even Domingo Santana's offensive numbers aren't that much worse, even with questionable defense

 

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln.....

[BrewBalls]

I can’t remember where I saw it but someone broke down starts as the following.

Braun: 112 in 2019, 60 @ 1B and 52 in LF

Yelich: 142 in RF (includes days off and missing time from back issues)

Cain: 140 in CF

Garcia: 100 in LF, 10 in RF, 5 in CF

Gamel gets the remaining 37 starts go to Gamel