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

[liveforoctober]

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.

 

The amount of fake momentum towards a Seager deal is building. The Mariners SS situation is kind of garbage, no? Am I missing an obvious guy they are grooming?

[sveumrules]

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?

 

Sogard has played 6 full-ish seasons & posted the following WAR totals...

 

2019: 2.6 bWAR | 2.7 fWAR

2018: -0.9 bWAR | -0.8 fWAR

2017: 1.9 bWAR | 1.1 fWAR

2015: 1.0 bWAR | 0.4 fWAR

2014: 0.6 bWAR | 0.1 fWAR

2013: 1.9 bWAR | 1.5 fWAR

 

Add it all up & over six full-ish seasons Sogard has averaged about 1.2 bWAR & 0.8 fWAR per season.

 

That is about as close to a 1 WAR player as you are going to get & probably about all the Brewers are expecting for 4.5 million.

[wibadgers23]

Yeah I’m guessing they either plan on trading Arcia/Hiura or they plan on having Urias start the year down in AAA. Something is up though.

[3and2Fastball]

but can he play CF?

 

If Mark Kotsay could... oh wait, that was Roenicke.

[pacopete4]

I want the Brewers to sign another middle infielder for no other reason than to rattle the cages of brewerfan.net. Heck, maybe another OF too.

[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.

 

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

 

Not me. I would make that trade.

[3and2Fastball]

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.”

 

Nominated for post of the month.

 

I’ve been greatly enjoying this Brewers winter. I genuinely feel for my fellow Brewers fans who are wringing their hands over every move though. Perusing Brewerfan.net is a bit like driving slowly past a car crash lately...

[Fear The Chorizo]

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.

 

The amount of fake momentum towards a Seager deal is building. The Mariners SS situation is kind of garbage, no? Am I missing an obvious guy they are grooming?

 

I believe Carl Crawford's younger cousin is there, but him and Arcia are sort of interchangeable in terms of offensive production and general dissappointment as once touted prospects who haven't blossomed.

[xisxisxis]

I want the Brewers to sign another middle infielder for no other reason than to rattle the cages of brewerfan.net. Heck, maybe another OF too.

Castellanos for 5/$110M with opt out in 3.

 

David Stearns new market efficiency is having too many OF. We almost made the WS in 2018 with too many OF... Make the magic continue...

[bill hAll Star]

I find it weird that some people, after watching the last 3 or so years of work, walk into every move with the mindset of, "let's see...how can I find a way to convince myself this is a really stupid move?"

[RollieTime]

A big perk of Sogard’s is his ability to put the ball in play and not strike out. He has struck out in under 15% of his at bats for his career.

 

With the offense we are constructing now, bringing in a guy like Urias who doesn’t strike out a bunch, Garcia who will help cut down the K’s, and now a guy like Sogard, I think it’s a trend we will continue to see.

 

Less power, less strikeouts, and putting the ball in play more will hopefully lead to more manufactured runs and a more consistent offense. Sogard is a nice pinch hitting bat and double switch option for the Brewers to get an at bat with runners on in the latter part of a game who won’t (normally) strikeout.

[Matty V]

If Sogard is expected to fill the Hernan Perez role, I don't mind this move. A little too much money but not shocking given the current market. But if he is expected to get a majority of the starts at 3B I'm going to be very disappointed with this.

[wallus]

This signing was to help the Brewer's wives team win.... bravo DS.

[TURBO]

I find it weird that some people, after watching the last 3 or so years of work, walk into every move with the mindset of, "let's see...how can I find a way to convince myself this is a really stupid move?"

 

Sorry, but I don't believe anyone here who claims that they think this move is good.

 

In the big picture, maybe so, since we don't know what moves are around the corner, but I don't believe that anyone, not even our falsely manufactured sunshine spreaders are happy with this move.

 

Sorry, my fandom doesn't allow me to see this kind of move, and be giddy with delight. When we are obviously pinching pennies, does forking out 4.5 million to Eric Sogard make people happy with our off-season?

 

If so, you are a much better fan than myself.

 

I'm not angry, upset, or mad, but this does nothing to move our needle, just a guy to add to our roster.

 

Arcia has to be on the block, it's the only thing that can explain this.

[A Swing and A Drive]

I think I figured on the Brewers plan.

 

We aren't going to have a traditional thirdbaseman.

 

Instead we are going to have an extra "rover" play just behind the 2B bag!

 

To Hell with the HOT CORNER!

[homer]

If Sogard is expected to fill the Hernan Perez role, I don't mind this move. A little too much money but not shocking given the current market. But if he is expected to get a majority of the starts at 3B I'm going to be very disappointed with this.

 

I'm underwhelmed either way but if he's starting on the regular this is dumb.

 

Edit: Unless Sogard had some radical change last year in his stance/approach whatever that leads the Brewers to think he'll continue doing the same thing going forward.

[bill hAll Star]

When we are obviously pinching pennies

 

Are we obviously pinching pennies? Maybe in long-term roster construction but it seems like we're handing money out the last few days. Throw in a trade or a big signing and we're pretty close to last year's $120-125 million to open the year.

[xisxisxis]

The amount of fake momentum towards a Seager deal is building. The Mariners SS situation is kind of garbage, no? Am I missing an obvious guy they are grooming?

I think a package including Arcia for Seager is probably in the works with the hangup the additional components (Corey Ray?) and cash coming back to MKE. Seager's 3rd year option vests upon a trade so he's a tad expensive. I think he might be the best defensive 3B still out there so that's a definite advantage. Three years (year 32-34 seasons) isn't too long of a stretch for performance decline. We could give them back Freddy. The chances he develops another pitch are about the same as Arcia breaking out...

[recte44]

From @BrewersFarm on Twitter:

 

 

Players that Eric Sogard had a higher wRC+ than in 2019:

 

Francisco Lindor

Manny Machado

Jose Ramirez

Javier Baez

Corey Seager

Kyle Seager

Marcell Ozuna

Mike Moustakas

Whit Merrifield

Rhys Hoskins

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I find it weird that some people, after watching the last 3 or so years of work, walk into every move with the mindset of, "let's see...how can I find a way to convince myself this is a really stupid move?"

 

Sorry, but I don't believe anyone here who claims that they think this move is good.

 

In the big picture, maybe so, since we don't know what moves are around the corner, but I don't believe that anyone, not even our falsely manufactured sunshine spreaders are happy with this move.

 

Sorry, my fandom doesn't allow me to see this kind of move, and be giddy with delight. When we are obviously pinching pennies, does forking out 4.5 million to Eric Sogard make people happy with our off-season?

 

If so, you are a much better fan than myself.

 

I'm not angry, upset, or mad, but this does nothing to move our needle, just a guy to add to our roster.

 

Arcia has to be on the block, it's the only thing that can explain this.

 

That's where I am. If it enables the Brewers to deal away Arcia to shore up a position of need, I like it.

 

As for Sogard's on-field value ... I'm sure he's a great guy to have in the clubhouse.

[homer]

FWIW, he contract is pretty close to the Fangraphs predictions:

 

Type Years AAV Total

Kiley McDaniel 1 $6.0 M $6.0 M

Median Crowdsource 1 $4.0 M $4.0 M

Avg Crowdsource 1.37 $3.9 M $5.4 M

[bill hAll Star]

The amount of fake momentum towards a Seager deal is building. The Mariners SS situation is kind of garbage, no? Am I missing an obvious guy they are grooming?

I think a package including Arcia for Seager is probably in the works with the hangup the additional components (Corey Ray?) and cash coming back to MKE. Seager's 3rd year option vests upon a trade so he's a tad expensive. I think he might be the best defensive 3B still out there so that's a definite advantage. Three years (year 32-34 seasons) isn't too long of a stretch for performance decline. We could give them back Freddy. The chances he develops another pitch are about the same as Arcia breaking out...

 

I'd imagine they want to keep giving JP Crawford some chances. He's probably in the same category as Arcia as a guy that once had some cachet as a prospect but is sputtering at the big league level.

 

Difference being that Crawford has more time until his arbitration hits and may align with their window of 2+ years from now. I'm not saying Arcia wouldn't be a good option for them to try out a bit but his ceiling seems low AND even if he turns things around, his control is up right when the Mariners want to get back to trying to contend.

[ThisIsMyCrew]

Yet another Stearns signing out of left field. Zero rumors about them being in on Sogard. Part of me loves the closeness to the best. Part of me wishes there were more rumors to be had. Either way, solid ball player. If him/Hiura/Urias are the middle infielders... 6 mil ain’t too shabby for them.

[SRB]

Continuing my running series of Mike Moustakas comparisons.

 

2019 Eric Sogard: 442 PA, .290/.353/.457/.810, .342 wOBA, 115 wRC+, 2.6 fWAR

2019 Mike Moustakas: 584 PA, .254/.329/.516/.845, .348 wOBA, 113 wRC+, 2.8 fWAR

 

[KeithStone53151]

I think as a stand-alone...this is a good move. It's a 1 year, low dollar move for a substantial depth piece at middle infield. Sogard is probably a 2nd division starter, but fits well as backup/PH on a contending team.