Carlos Santana would solve the 1B problem

[Soupbone]

How much will he cost?

[ThisIsMyCrew]

He was pretty solid in 2019 with an almost 400 obp and 281 avg 911 ops.

 

Really terrible year in 2020 but most did.

 

1yr 4/5 mil probably.

[brewmann04]

pay him Jedd money

[Soupbone]

Even in a down year his OBP was .349. I think that would have led the Brewers.

[TURBO]

1 year at 4 - 5 million?

 

Grab him up ASAP if that is his price.

[Soupbone]

Sorry. Yelich was 7 points higher.

[pacopete4]

Will be 35 next season. OBP is there I’m sure but it’s not getting this roster any younger nor more athletic.

[JohnBriggs12]

Not sure he "solves" their 1B problem because he's been up and down in recent seasons. But he was really good in 2019. So yeah, he should be an upgrade if only because he's been a legit middle of the order hitter for most of his career and adding a threat to this lineup is a good thing.

[balsamlaker]

Makes sense unless you have other in-house plans like Yelich or Hiura at first. Another "buy low" option if healthy is CJ Cron.

[pacopete4]

I like Cron a bit more because he’s 30. A bit younger and I’ll bet cheaper. But still doesn’t infuse young controllable talent. It’s something that just has to be a priority moving forward or we are in for dark days ahead.

[JohnBriggs12]

I like Cron a bit more because he’s 30. A bit younger and I’ll bet cheaper. But still doesn’t infuse young controllable talent. It’s something that just has to be a priority moving forward or we are in for dark days ahead.

 

First base certainly hasn't been a priority in the draft, but maybe one of the catching prospects with a good bat can transition to first base. Maybe Feliciano?

[brewerfan82]

I like Cron a bit more because he’s 30. A bit younger and I’ll bet cheaper. But still doesn’t infuse young controllable talent. It’s something that just has to be a priority moving forward or we are in for dark days ahead.

Where's this young, controllable talent coming from then? Practically every free agent is at least 30 years old. Hader seemed like the best trade candidate to really bring back some nice young pieces, but I'm doubting he has much value right now with how the offseason is going so far (and he ain't even going to be cheap anymore either). Best bet may be to plug holes and if it's not working out again and a guy like Santana is having a nice season you may be able to flip him for something nice.

[wntrtxn21]

I like Cron a bit more because he’s 30. A bit younger and I’ll bet cheaper. But still doesn’t infuse young controllable talent. It’s something that just has to be a priority moving forward or we are in for dark days ahead.

 

I could see Cron as a last resort type guy if Stearns fails in the trade market. He's no better than Gyorko and not as good with the glove.

[pacopete4]

I like Cron a bit more because he’s 30. A bit younger and I’ll bet cheaper. But still doesn’t infuse young controllable talent. It’s something that just has to be a priority moving forward or we are in for dark days ahead.

Where's this young, controllable talent coming from then? Practically every free agent is at least 30 years old. Hader seemed like the best trade candidate to really bring back some nice young pieces, but I'm doubting he has much value right now with how the offseason is going so far (and he ain't even going to be cheap anymore either). Best bet may be to plug holes and if it's not working out again and a guy like Santana is having a nice season you may be able to flip him for something nice.

I don’t have the answers for it but it’s something they need to focus on. We will never be a consistent franchise moving forward if we are banking on hitting the lottery every off season with 1-year deals on questionable players or over the hill guys we hope to squeak out another good season with. It’s just not sustainable.

[wibadgers23]

A Hader trade is about the only way we’ll be able to bring in young, controllable talent. If we can’t trade Hader then we’ll be looking at another offseason of bringing in guys like Sogard and Smoak.

[bensheeps]

Sports Illustrated calls Santana the 30th best free agent this year and lists the Brewers as "Best Fit"

 

https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/10/30/mlb-free-agent-rankings-2021

[balsamlaker]

Mitch Moreland would also be fine on a one-year deal.

[Madhawk23]

Yeah, sign me up for either Santana or Moreland on a 1 year deal right now. Gotta think we'd have a decent chance to at least land one of those guys, right? We certainly can provide the promise of a lot of playing time at 1B heading into next year.

[PeaveyFury]

I won't claim to know the financials, but Santana seems like a great candidate to yield better results on the 'one year deal with an option' contract.

[JohnBriggs12]

I like Cron a bit more because he’s 30. A bit younger and I’ll bet cheaper. But still doesn’t infuse young controllable talent. It’s something that just has to be a priority moving forward or we are in for dark days ahead.

 

I could see Cron as a last resort type guy if Stearns fails in the trade market. He's no better than Gyorko and not as good with the glove.

 

Cron has a career slugging percentage 40 points higher than Gyorko. They have nearly the same amount of career HR, but Cron has done it in 400 fewer plate appearances than Gyorko. Cron hasn't been great but he's been a model of consistency. From 2014 to 2019, Cron's BA was never below .248 and his slugging percentage was never lower than .437 which is higher than Gyorko. Gyorko has been more up and down.

 

Cron's defense at 1B is acceptable. But you don't sign Cron to play third and it's not an either or situation. Sign them both or sign Cron and sign a 3B. Signing Cron would allow you to move Gyorko to 3B which is another glaring hole. Gyorko has more value as a 3B than he does as a 1B as it's slightly less of an offensive position.

[DR28]

Mitch Moreland would also be fine on a one-year deal.

 

Yep I said in another thread, I would gladly take Moreland as our 1B in 2021 and also take Asdrubal Cabrera as our 3B in 2021.

 

Both could be had on the cheap, since that's what we'll be this Winter.

[MadThinker88]

Just a point of reference..

Some have suggested that Keston Hiura is too small to play 1B (he is listed at 6-0, 202 lbs).

Carlos Santana who has been up & down defensively at 1B in his career is listed at 5-11, 210 lbs (although he seems much closer to 225 lbs).