Justin Smoak to the Brewers

[bigredrobbo]

I'd rather have Seager/Turner at 3b, and maybe a Keuchel in the stocking too, please Santa.

 

....and while I'm dreaming, I'd also like pony and a Turbo Man!

[KeithStone53151]

One thing I read on Seager, his 2022 option becomes a player option if trades. So we're trading for 3/52 on Seager. I doubt we can work out financial terms with the Mariners to make that work.

[wallus]

One thing I read on Seager, his 2022 option becomes a player option if trades. So we're trading for 3/52 on Seager. I doubt we can work out financial terms with the Mariners to make that work.

 

It was reported that he would get rid of that player option if traded to a contender.

[bill hAll Star]

One thing I read on Seager, his 2022 option becomes a player option if trades. So we're trading for 3/52 on Seager. I doubt we can work out financial terms with the Mariners to make that work.

 

It was reported that he would get rid of that player option if traded to a contender.

 

Yeah but I'm pretty sure Seager also graded the Brett Anderson signing an F and laughed at the Brewers for signing Sogard for more money after his abysmal 2018 stint with the team and therefore I doubt he considers them a contender.

[wallus]

One thing I read on Seager, his 2022 option becomes a player option if trades. So we're trading for 3/52 on Seager. I doubt we can work out financial terms with the Mariners to make that work.

 

It was reported that he would get rid of that player option if traded to a contender.

 

Yeah but I'm pretty sure Seager also graded the Brett Anderson signing an F and laughed at the Brewers for signing Sogard for more money after his abysmal 2018 stint with the team and therefore I doubt he considers them a contender.

 

Good thing he is a big Ryon Healy fan!

[brewmann04]

Maybe Eric didn't want to come back. I hope they sign a guy like Frazier for 3rd and let him compete against Healy.

[brewmann04]

I still think their one big move out their now that David has made his additions. (Pitching)

[liveforoctober]

Narvaez is the guy I expect more of a “Miller Park Bounce” than Smoak (Toronto isn’t exactly a pitcher’s park) but I could see Smoak benefiting from being in Milwaukee, and also not playing 54 games against NY, Boston & Tampa pitching (!)

 

Strangely enough, the guy I'm most excited to see hit in Miller Park to see if he can a boost is Garcia. He has right center power which should play, I'm excited to see if any of the Miller Park pixie dust can get on him as well.

[tmwiese55]

Why would Thames want to come back to a team that non tendered him? Plenty of reasons. Their offer is still more than anyone else, he's comfortable there, has a home there, possibly kids in school there?, friends with the teammates, the park still suits him well, this team is the one that gave him a chance to get back to MLB to begin with, familiar with/likes the coaches, team is still a playoff contender, lots of PT available for RHP, it's still better than playing in Korea again, hold out too long for something better you might be left out and be on a minor league deal.

[RollieTime]

Not a big fan of this signing either. The last two signings of Sogard and Smoak have been underwhelming to me. I would have preferred Thames back for first, but maybe he didn’t want to come back after having his option declined. He did seem to truly love Milwaukee though. Maybe Stearns just didn’t have much interest in bringing him back?

 

I do like the continued trend of cutting strikeouts. Hopefully Smoak can hit closer to .250 with his OBP 100 points higher and we will be fine. The lineup still lacks that big bat protecting Yelich in my opinion. If Yelich hits second, we really do not have a 4 hole hitter as I assume Hiura will be hitting 3rd. If Yelich hits third, Hiura could hit 4th and have Cain and Urias in front of Yelich, but I prefer Hiura in the 2 hole with Yelich hitting third.

 

It’s an interesting idea, but I hope they consider bringing in Castellanos like somebody else suggested and have him play 3rd for this season. Shift him to first next season, or possibly have him splitting time in the outfield and first. That bat in the 4 hole protecting Yelich would be a big addition. Late game situations, Sogard, Arcia (?), and Smoak are all options to come in to solidfy the defense late and pull Braun while shifting Castellanos to the outfield, 1st base, or pulling him out of the game altogether.

 

I know they won’t actually look to bring in Castellanos with Garcia brought in and now Smoak, but I think that will be an opportunity missed. Castellanos is primed for his breakout this season and I wish it was in a Brewers uniform.

[KeithStone53151]

One thing I read on Seager, his 2022 option becomes a player option if trades. So we're trading for 3/52 on Seager. I doubt we can work out financial terms with the Mariners to make that work.

 

It was reported that he would get rid of that player option if traded to a contender.

 

Seriously? It's one thing to waive a no trade clause to go to a contender, but quite another to waive I think $15m...

[LouisEly]

The thought of going into the season with our 3B options being Eric Freaking Sogard and Healy sickens me.

 

No way this is what we settle with, there has to be a BIG move on the horizon.

Both Yelich and Cain were acquired in late January. Lots of time left.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

This is the first one I really don't care for at all.

[JimH5]

To me, the only good thing about the Smoak deal is the contract. That's not nothing, as every Brewers deal seems to be viewed through that prism. But he looks to be the least productive 1B in the division, and his performance is trending downward.

 

Maybe he hits in Miller Park and plays passable defense, but on the surface, he looks like a below average player with easily replaceable skills.

[mattyo]

Don't know if we have the resources to land Donaldson, but his AAV may come down a bit for any team willing to go the 4th year with him. Of course, that would mean that we'd be paying him a lot of money in four years when he's probably not going to be all that productive.

 

You mean just one year after our window with the NL MVP closes? Would you look at that. Seems perfect.

 

Edit - I know Stearns is trying to build an annual contender so he won't be looking at "windows." But still seems like an elite defending, middle of the order bat at our only lacking position would be worth taking a chance on.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

At this point I am thinking the Brewers are shooting for a lower K team that puts the ball in play more often. Every new acquisition thus far fits that profile. Smoak is not exactly a low K guy but Thames isn't either and he does switch hit.

[KeithStone53151]

The reason I like this deal. I see a lot of potential improvement in his stat line from 2019. He was wildly unlucky, and I think we platoon him to a degree which limit if RH at bats and should also help improve his stat line. Also the $4m price tag with the option. So lets say we can help Smoak unlock another gear and he has a monster year...well we have a club option we can exercise for a very affordable price. I know this is unlikely, but not impossible...so the club option has value. Smoak had a .223 BABIP last year...if all else is equal and that unlucky .223 becomes a very lucky .330, that probably makes Smoak a 900 OPS guy real quick.

 

Definitely true he's not as good as the other 1b in the division, but he should be marginally less productive...and based on the contract we should theoretically be able to use saved payroll $ to improve elsewhere.

[LouisEly]

I think the whole "Thames is strictly a platoon/Smoak is serviceable vs LHP" is a bit overblown.

 

First, Thames and Smoak had almost the exact same OPS vs. LHP last year (.679 vs .672).

 

Second, the Brewers' main competitor next season is the Cardinals, and not only are all of their starters RHP, but all but one of their key relievers are RHP (Andrew Miller the exception, but he'll be 35 next year and has been fading the last two years). The Reds starters are all RHP and only have one key LH reliever (Garrett).

 

Thames is a legitimate threat vs. RHP, and Braun can play 1B versus tough LHP.

[bill hAll Star]

I think the whole "Thames is strictly a platoon/Smoak is serviceable vs LHP" is a bit overblown.

 

First, Thames and Smoak had almost the exact same OPS vs. LHP last year (.679 vs .672).

 

Second, the Brewers' main competitor next season is the Cardinals, and not only are all of their starters RHP, but all but one of their key relievers are RHP (Andrew Miller the exception, but he'll be 35 next year and has been fading the last two years). The Reds starters are all RHP and only have one key LH reliever (Garrett).

 

Thames is a legitimate threat vs. RHP, and Braun can play 1B versus tough LHP.

 

Point taken but I will add that Miley is a lefty for the Reds.

[KeithStone53151]

At this point I am thinking the Brewers are shooting for a lower K team that puts the ball in play more often. Every new acquisition thus far fits that profile. Smoak is not exactly a low K guy but Thames isn't either and he does switch hit.

 

I agree with this. Stearns made other moves previous years to cut loose high k players, at this point he has very few holdovers from before his tenure and the roster is mostly his guys.

 

Smoak certainly isn't a low k guy, but his roughly 22% over the last 3 years is lower than Thames 31%. Probably not Stearns ideal guy, but a move in the right direction.

[KeithStone53151]

I think the whole "Thames is strictly a platoon/Smoak is serviceable vs LHP" is a bit overblown.

 

First, Thames and Smoak had almost the exact same OPS vs. LHP last year (.679 vs .672).

 

Second, the Brewers' main competitor next season is the Cardinals, and not only are all of their starters RHP, but all but one of their key relievers are RHP (Andrew Miller the exception, but he'll be 35 next year and has been fading the last two years). The Reds starters are all RHP and only have one key LH reliever (Garrett).

 

Thames is a legitimate threat vs. RHP, and Braun can play 1B versus tough LHP.

 

Point taken but I will add that Miley is a lefty for the Reds.

 

Also add the Cubs are still pretty loaded with LHP, and despite their payroll issues still have a lot of untapped potential on their MLB roster.

[jonescm128]

At this point I am thinking the Brewers are shooting for a lower K team that puts the ball in play more often. Every new acquisition thus far fits that profile. Smoak is not exactly a low K guy but Thames isn't either and he does switch hit.

 

I agree with this. Stearns made other moves previous years to cut loose high k players, at this point he has very few holdovers from before his tenure and the roster is mostly his guys.

 

Smoak certainly isn't a low k guy, but his roughly 22% over the last 3 years is lower than Thames 31%. Probably not Stearns ideal guy, but a move in the right direction.

 

...and then he signs Keon Broxton.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Broxton is a AAA player that comes off the bench to play defense in the 7th inning if someone gets hurt.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Also add the Cubs are still pretty loaded with LHP, and despite their payroll issues still have a lot of untapped potential on their MLB roster.

 

Curious as to where this untapped potential lies given they have an aging roster and group of supposed can't miss studs who really have amounted to a collection of league averageish players with significant warts, who are all approaching the more expensive arbitration stages of team control. Plus they are still sparring with that Bryant grievance that might make him a FA after this year - unlikely that happens, but it sure as heck seems like it's quashed any immediate trade moves/acquisitions with their offseason until its sorted out.

 

The Cubs are bumped up against the luxury tax threshold and have alot of holes that need to be filled on their MLB roster - they are actually having a horrible offseason.

[KeithStone53151]

One note on Smoak. I knew he was slow, but didn't realize just how slow. He's directly between Grandal and Molina on sprint speed on statcast. I thought to check this because he's had 11, 11, and 17 GIDP over the last 3 years...we should anticipate him ranking near the top in baseball in GIDP/PA.