luke maile placed on outright waivers--now a free agent

[djoctagone]

the brewers.com transaction page states so. however, i'm not entirely sure that this means that he's cleared outright waivers. Edited November 5, 2021 by djoctagone

[djoctagone]

luke maile cleared outright waivers. because he had been outrighted to the minor leagues before, he reserved the right to refuse the outright assignment to class aaa nashville and become a free agent.

 

he elected free agency.

[Eye Black]

Less than ten months ago the Brewers had 6 catchers on their 40-man roster (Omar Narvaez, Manny Pina, Jacob Nottingham, Luke Maile, David Freitas, Mario Feliciano). They are now down to just two, Omar Narvaez and Mario Feliciano.

[Sixtofan]

I thought Maile would be the backup in 2022. I had the impression they really liked him for some reason.

[djoctagone]

they could still plan to re-sign him. he was arbitration-eligible.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Maile has a career OPS of .568 over 691 PA in the majors. His 30 Ab for the Brewers was an aberration and the Brewers know it. He had a .668 OPS for AAA this year. His most valuable trait this year was he had an option left. That gave the Brewers a good defensive catcher that they could option as needed if injuries occur. He no longer has an option and is arby eligible so he no longer has much value. There are other Catchers out there that the Brewers can sign either via major league or minor league contract. In fact since they have roster space room they will likely get their choice of backups to sign a major league contract if they want to early this offseason.

[brewmann04]

I am sure the brewers will find at least a 3rd or 4th catcher to add.

[Eye Black]

I am sure the brewers will find at least a 3rd or 4th catcher to add.

Of course, it’s a 100% certainty they’ll be adding to the catcher position at some point.

[clancyphile]

Maile has a career OPS of .568 over 691 PA in the majors. His 30 Ab for the Brewers was an aberration and the Brewers know it. He had a .668 OPS for AAA this year. His most valuable trait this year was he had an option left. That gave the Brewers a good defensive catcher that they could option as needed if injuries occur. He no longer has an option and is arby eligible so he no longer has much value. There are other Catchers out there that the Brewers can sign either via major league or minor league contract. In fact since they have roster space room they will likely get their choice of backups to sign a major league contract if they want to early this offseason.

 

Agreed. This was a horrible decision to keep him on. That slot could have been used for some deserving prospect earlier this year (dare I mention the freed-by-trade Hummel?). Maile made no sense at any point in 2021.

 

I'm hoping they bring back Pina, six years, $9 million. He's been solid as a starter, and a superb #2 catcher. He's knownthis staff and worked with them, and that sort of contiuity matters, IMO.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I'm hoping they bring back Pina, six years, $9 million. He's been solid as a starter, and a superb #2 catcher. He's knownthis staff and worked with them, and that sort of contiuity matters, IMO.

 

You do realize that Manny Pina is 34 years old, correct?

[sveumrules]

Agreed. This was a horrible decision to keep him on. That slot could have been used for some deserving prospect earlier this year (dare I mention the freed-by-trade Hummel?). Maile made no sense at any point in 2021.

 

I'm hoping they bring back Pina, six years, $9 million. He's been solid as a starter, and a superb #2 catcher. He's knownthis staff and worked with them, and that sort of contiuity matters, IMO.

 

Hummel can't crack Arizona's 40 man & they are the worst team in MLB. Coming into the season he last caught 64 innings at A+ in 2018. Thinking he would be a legitimate option to catch for an MLB contender in 2021 makes considerably less sense than giving that spot to Maile, who is a proven MLB catcher & had an option remaining.

 

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Piña comes back, but I don't think he'll be getting a contract that runs through his 41st birthday.

[Outlander]

If Maile returns on a minor league deal then great but certainly not worth a 40 man spot now that he has no option. Hopefully they can sign Pina for one more year and go with Narvaez/Pina for 2022 and Feliciano has a breakout year in the minors.

 

In regards to Hummel he got the Brewers Escobar which was nice. Doubt 9 games at catcher in 2021 means MLB backup but still rooting for him.

[Roderick]

I'm hoping they bring back Pina, six years, $9 million. He's been solid as a starter, and a superb #2 catcher. He's knownthis staff and worked with them, and that sort of contiuity matters, IMO.

 

You do realize that Manny Pina is 34 years old, correct?

 

I went back assuming it would have to be Pinamadness that listed that. Nope. But next best guess.

[Lathund]

When it's a long contract, or a trade involving 11 players, it's usually clancy. I think he wanted to give Hernan Perez 7/$35m or something too.

[clancyphile]

I'm hoping they bring back Pina, six years, $9 million. He's been solid as a starter, and a superb #2 catcher. He's knownthis staff and worked with them, and that sort of contiuity matters, IMO.

 

You do realize that Manny Pina is 34 years old, correct?

 

Yes. But he is also a very solid #2 catcher. Whether he's backup up Narvaez, or helping break in Mario Feliciano, either way, he's worth having around, and he won't break the bank.

 

Fry is more or a utility player who can be a #3 catcher (with a huge bat).

[DuWayne Steurer]

alternatively, the Brewers could go year to year with Pina, because as a backup catcher in his mid-30's, he's not going to get prohibitively expensive. It's not like giving a long term deal to a mid 30's 700 OPS backup catcher is cornering some market inefficiency that no one else has thought of. It's not done because there's zero financial sense to do so.

[Lathund]

I really hope they'll re-sign Manny, I love the guy. What worries me is the state of the catcher FA class; Manny is one of the better catchers available. He's getting older, but for a 1 year deal I don't think clubs are too bothered with that. The Tigers traded for Tucker Barnhart and his 1yr/$7.5m club option, and Manny is both a better hitter and a better defender. Barnhart has the edge in age and durability, but if that's what the market considers Barnhart to be worth, then Manny is probably going to be too expensive for a backup/short part of the platoon catcher for the Brewers.

[LouisEly]

I really hope they'll re-sign Manny, I love the guy. What worries me is the state of the catcher FA class; Manny is one of the better catchers available. He's getting older, but for a 1 year deal I don't think clubs are too bothered with that. The Tigers traded for Tucker Barnhart and his 1yr/$7.5m club option, and Manny is both a better hitter and a better defender. Barnhart has the edge in age and durability, but if that's what the market considers Barnhart to be worth, then Manny is probably going to be too expensive for a backup/short part of the platoon catcher for the Brewers.

Exactly. Over the last three seasons in 432 plate appearances Pina has put up a combined 2.7 bWAR/3.2 fWAR.

 

The only reason he might be remotely affordable is because he hasn't been durable.

[Thurston Fluff]

I really hope they'll re-sign Manny, I love the guy. What worries me is the state of the catcher FA class; Manny is one of the better catchers available. He's getting older, but for a 1 year deal I don't think clubs are too bothered with that. The Tigers traded for Tucker Barnhart and his 1yr/$7.5m club option, and Manny is both a better hitter and a better defender. Barnhart has the edge in age and durability, but if that's what the market considers Barnhart to be worth, then Manny is probably going to be too expensive for a backup/short part of the platoon catcher for the Brewers.

 

If the market is that thin then he may want to see if there's a team willing to make him the main catcher. It may be less about money or years than playing time that ends his time here.