Sogard to Brewers - 1 year, $4.5m w Club Option

[liveforoctober]

Sogard and Thames are the same age.

 

Last season, Sogard had a season more valuable than Thames has ever had.

 

We also may bring Thames back.

Thames has been a very consistent 2WAR/500PA player over his 3 years with the Brewers.

 

Sogard is also very consistent - he has never had 2 good years in a row. Never. I don't care what Sogard did last year as the chances he comes close to that number is 2%. The chance he put's up a less than 1 WAR year is ~50%. As a backup he's fine for change. As a backup for $4.5M when we don't have a 3B and 1B then that's just crazy. History repeating? Pay Sogard for his 2017 and get his 2018, pay Sogard for his 2019 and get?

 

And the way the offseason is going. Thames will cost more than his option so I doubt Stearns does that and points out his mistake. We're more likely to see Justin friggin Smoak.

 

I'd like to see your math on this.

[TURBO]

Sogard is exactly the type of veteran you want in a playoff run.

 

Isn't this the same Sogard we waived a couple years ago because he was just that horrible?

 

He is probably a great guy for the clubhouse, I'll give you that.

[wallus]

I really hope he isn't our starting 3rd baseman or Shortstop on opening day.

[patrickgpe]

I have been as positive as anyone else here on this offseason, but I don't understand this one. Yes he had a nice season last year, but I don't see how he fits here, with Arcia, Urias, and Huerra on the roster. The only way it makes sense is if you are going to trade Arcia and let sogard back up those positions. I do wish Stearns would focus on the open holes in the corner IF spots rather than adding depth to the middle IF positions.

 

Glad that we now have people suggesting the order of operations for a [so far] very good GM.

 

I'm sure he's just blindly throwing darts. When March rolls around: "Oh, crap! I forgot about a starting third baseman!"

YES, i know he will have it figured out, but there are only 26 men on a roster and we have a bunch of scrappy middle IF's on the team and no corner IF's. I have not complained at all this offseason, and have said we have no idea what the master plan is, just making an observation.

[liveforoctober]

I will say with Arcia, Urias, and Hiura we have a YOUNG, young middle infield and so adding a vet to the shuffle isn't a horrible move.

[Boomer5]

This board was almost burned to the ground with every time Sogard was in the lineup and here we are a year later paying him $4.5M?

 

Um....what am I missing here? Do people really think he is a 2.5 WAR player?

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

This board was almost burned to the ground with every time Sogard was in the lineup and here we are a year later paying him $4.5M?

 

Um....what am I missing here? Do people really think he is a 2.5 WAR player?

 

It ultimately doesn't matter what we think. No one here made the decision.

 

It's obvious that the Brewers, however, see value in him. We'll see if they are seeing something that we aren't.

[pacopete4]

Don't like the price tag but the signing makes some sense. I really hope he doesn't turn back into a pumpkin or Stearns will really look bad on this one.

[A Swing and A Drive]

Wait, you are telling me that you can't sign a guy like Sogard for 2 million or less?

 

Ridiculous.

 

that is way too much to spend on him, WAY too much.

 

We've got money to burn baby!

[homer]

Meh. How's his defense?

[tmwiese55]

Yes maybe a touch more than I'd have guessed he got. But in this market it is what it is. Plus, MKE seemingly can spend a bit more on fringe moves right now as it seems that 15ish mil deals aren't gonna happen. So, a logic along the lines of pay the extra mil for Sogard or get a guy like Saladino, hey might as well pay the extra mil as it's unlikely we're going to approach the salary of last year.

 

Also, when comparing to Thames. First, he hasn't signed anywhere yet but good chance he signs for less than what the option was going to be. Second, when we had to decide on that option we didn't know what the overall market would be (higher than we thought) and we didn't know what other moves may or not make so wanted the flexibility. In hindsight, maybe they'd have just done it and been done with it. But they obviously can't predict the future.

 

But overall, as someone who was never sold on him and wanted him down much quicker I'm still a bit skeptical his 2019 wasn't a fluke. But if they're playing with the same ball it should be fine and it's just 1 year.

[liveforoctober]

I will also say, for better or for worse, I love the passion of Brewers' fans. Here we are on a Wednesday afternoon and the news of an Eric Sogard signing has 60 replies on a message board within a half hour or so.

 

Lot of emotion in the stands at whatever our field is called now.

[3and2Fastball]

Sogard is exactly the type of veteran you want in a playoff run.

 

Isn't this the same Sogard we waived a couple years ago because he was just that horrible?

 

He is probably a great guy for the clubhouse, I'll give you that.

 

It’s more than that, a lot more. If you are in the playoffs and you need a LH pinch hitter in a big moment you want a guy like Sogard who has the experience in big moments and can make contact and make something happen.

 

Both the Nationals & Red Sox in the last 2 World Series had a lot of role players like that...

 

We essentially just traded Hernan Perez for Eric Sogard. This is a move towards solidifying the 26th player on the roster. And I could care less if it costs Mark an extra couple million!

[KeithStone53151]

One thing I'll add. Let's just say we go to camp with Hiura, Sogard, Arcia, Urias, Healy...not the greatest on paper for sure. You let those 5 guys into an open competition for playing time...it will certainly bring the best out of each one of them.

[JimH5]

Something has to be up.

 

I can't see them paying Sogard (or anyone) $4.5 million to be a part time player.

 

Maybe they're sending Hiura off for a SP.

[A Swing and A Drive]

I will also say, for better or for worse, I love the passion of Brewers' fans. Here we are on a Wednesday afternoon and the news of an Eric Sogard signing has 60 replies on a message board within a half hour or so.

 

Lot of emotion in the stands at whatever our field is called now.

 

Even the customers at the Restaurant Formerly Known As Fridays are fired up!

[liveforoctober]

Sogard is exactly the type of veteran you want in a playoff run.

 

Isn't this the same Sogard we waived a couple years ago because he was just that horrible?

 

He is probably a great guy for the clubhouse, I'll give you that.

 

It’s more than that, a lot more. If you are in the playoffs and you need a LH pinch hitter in a big moment you want a guy like Sogard who has the experience in big moments and can make contact and make something happen.

 

Both the Nationals & Red Sox in the last 2 World Series had a lot of role players like that...

 

We essentially just traded Hernan Perez for Eric Sogard. This is a move towards solidifying the 26th player on the roster. And I could care less if it costs Mark an extra couple million!

 

I think this is incorrect. This could very well be a business decision to make money. The amount of Nerd Power merchandise that will be flying off the shelves with the new logo will be awe inspiring. Mark made money on this one.

[A Swing and A Drive]

Something has to be up.

 

I can't see them paying Sogard (or anyone) $4.5 million to be a part time player.

 

Maybe they're sending Hiura off for a SP.

 

Keston Huira to Rays for Tyler Glasnow. Who says no?

[RollieTime]

I think $4.5 is an overpay for Sogard, but if he hits like he did last season, he will be fine.

 

I fully expect an Arcia trade as he, Sogard, and Urias are all predominantly 2B/SS guys with Hiura having the full time 2B gig covered. Those three are redundant and something will have to give. Arcia is as good as gone with Hiura getting the 2B spot, Urias getting SS, and Sogard filling in for injuries, underperformance, and guys needing off days. It also adds a lefty bat to the mix when we are facing righties.

 

Not a fan of Sogard and not a fan of this signing at all. But I am interested in seeing if he can carry over his performance from last season to this season. If he does, then I will be pleasantly surprised.

 

But I am expecting an Arcia trade. I just wonder if it’s going to be for a prospect or two or possibly part of a package for a third baseman since it’s something we still desperately need. Maybe even part of a larger trade of a team wanting a competent bench piece with some upside.

[3and2Fastball]

Hey if it helps give Mark confidence in spending, I’ll buy 5 Nerd Power shirts right now!

[pacopete4]

I think this is incorrect. This could very well be a business decision to make money. The amount of Nerd Power merchandise that will be flying off the shelves with the new logo will be awe inspiring. Mark made money on this one.

 

Duh. Mark makes money on all of them. He's in his vault right now sliding around on all his gold coins like Scrooge McDuck laughing at us peasants.

[torts]

but can he play CF?

[HarveysWBs]

I reserve my judgment on the baseball wisdom of this move. But my “some men simply want to watch the world burn” side is enthusiastically in favor of this for no other reason than the impending full-on meltdown of the Brewers commentariat and it’s high priest, Kato Kaelin.

 

I’m just giggling imagining Stearns as arch-troll, scrolling Brewers Twitter like Rorschach, saying “I’m not stuck in this offseason with you, you’re all stuck in this offseason with me.”

[TURBO]

Sogard is exactly the kind of guy that CC can't not play...

 

He will be inserted into our line-up far more than he should. We've seen it all before.

[xisxisxis]

This board was almost burned to the ground with every time Sogard was in the lineup and here we are a year later paying him $4.5M?

 

Um....what am I missing here? Do people really think he is a 2.5 WAR player?

Well if the Brewers math is the same as historical FA math then they are expecting a little less than 0.5 WAR for $4.5M.

 

I'd like to see your math on this.

Lol. I did a logistic regression analysis of all available data (in my head), but really just used the # of years he was above 1 WAR for the 50%. The 2% I pulled out of my butt as "close to" means different things to different people...