Keep Jenkins in 2008?

[lithium75]

Ok, anyone here that know anything about me would agree that this post is about as anti-me as possible. Do we exercise our option for Jenkins next year? $9,000,000 has become cheap for a slugger with jenkins' resume. I for one vote that we keep him on for another year. A proven veteran LF with his credentials would cost us far more than $9 mil to sign as a free agent, and LaPorta has yet to take a pro at bat. Should we keep him?

[BrewCrewForever]

I know this topic has been beaten like a dead horse, but I still vote to keep him.

[vacin8r]

I think its way too early to make this decision. They will obviously look at all options in the off season to have the best lineup they can get at their level of payroll. With the market being what it is there are a few options:

1)keep jenkins and either keep mench, or get a different righty platoon mate who is possibly cheaper.

2)sign a free agent as the platoon would cost similar to the 11-14 million a FA competent corner outfielder would cost.

3)if gwynn improves in AAA either play gwynn in left or move hall to left and play gwynn in center.

4)bring up or acquire some stop gap type avg-just below avg LF for a season or 2 until you know what you have in Laporta

5)trade some of your minor league depth for a better stop gap above avg LF for a year or 2 before he becomes a FA again so you have a spot for Laporta if he works out.

 

I would think #2 is probably the least likely based on payroll concerns and an upper tier FA not only costing money, but costing that money for 4-5 years unless you can trade him later and thats no guarantee. With Laporta as a possibility in 2009/2010 #1 or #5 being most likely, and since you need a partner to trade, Id place the chances that Jenkins is a Brewer in 2008 at about 85%.

-Don

[DHonks]

to be honest, I think it might make more sense to decline the option, then offer arbitration. If he wants to stay, then he does. If he wants the 2-3 year contract he'll be offered elsewhere, then we'll get some draft picks

[sbrylski]

With how we went well over budget this year, I wouldn't be suprised if we see that corrected next year by keeping salary real low, meaning letting Jenkins leave. However, they are also getting a huge increase in revenue this season with the large attendence spike, so we might be able to afford him.

 

One player that we are very likely to ship out is Vargas, IMO. He's going to cost a lot more next season, and we need to open up a spot for Gallardo. (Please save the Vargas v Bush for another thread) Could he net us a LF replacement who could at least platoon at a high level? Maybe we send away Gwynn or Jackson as well. If so, I'd love to see that and then use Jenkins $9 mil to help resign Sheets.

 

Either way, it'll be interesting to see what they do.

[igor67]

I don't see the Brewers digging up better production on the FA market for less, so I'm pretty confident barring a major trade we'll see the option picked up and some kind of search for a lefty killer to pair with him.

[JJHardy7]

I think a lot depends on how he finishes the season up. $9 million is reasonable now at this time, but with all the other young talent we have I'm kind of hesitant even though I'm a Jenkins guy. Maybe we don't pick it up and try to re-sign him cheaper?

[DHonks]

With how we went well over budget this year

 

I've never seen this reported. From what I speculated, we were likely just a bit over budget, but even then, they have several levels in mind. Since the Brewers will make money this year, there's no reason the payroll can't go up. However, it's likely that it stays at it's current level as they try to lock up Hardy and Fielder to 4 year deals.

[sbrylski]

I've never seen this reported.

 

Hadn't it always been $60 mil as the target payroll? With a little wiggle room if the "right guy was there"? Well, we were at about $72, correct? So I'm thinking that's about $5-$7 million over what they wanted as a max, due to not finding takers for Mench or Jenkins.

 

Not substancial, no, but its there. It was a bigger concern of mine on opening day, but they have to be raking in the cash this year.

[1992casey]

We tend to assume a budget, but in reality we have to wait until the team actually signs its players. After the Ulice Payne fiasco, Doug Melvin said he didn't really like other GMs knowing what his budget was. Note that you'll rarely?if ever?spot a wintertime quote about the budget from either Mark A. or Doug.

 

That said, I think Mark did say that this year's initial budget was expanded a bit.

[hauser42]

I for one vote that we keep him on for another year. A proven veteran LF with his credentials would cost us far more than $9 mil to sign as a free agent, and LaPorta has yet to take a pro at bat. Should we keep him?

 

Vote No!!!

 

Credentials?? Do you mean unable to hit left handed pitching and prolonged slumps during the season. Ability to have a great month or two during the second half. Jenks is having a nice year but that is because he is playing to his strenghts this year.

 

There will be players out there and at or under 9 mil that can do the same job.

[Thurston Fluff]

I can see both sides of this as viable. If we keep him we have a known commodity which is nice. If we leave him go that money could be used to extend Sheets or help pay for Coco ect. Since every team seems to wnat pitching we have some very valuable trading chips this winter. Several of which could get us a left fielder at a reasonably salary. Even if the production isn't quite at the level of Jenkins the rest of the team is about to hit it's prime so a slight drop in production there could be offset somewhat. Either way I won't complain.

[dadofandrew]

I'd say 70/30 against, but 3 months ago, I would have said 98/2.

 

The Crew might just spend on a FA for LF, as 6 spots are filled for about $10M in '08. If they do not bring in a top-tier guy, they could find a Trot Nixon type cheaper than $9M.

[BrewCrewForever]

I wonder who would sign Jenks if he does leave. And if it would be in a full time role or just against RHP role. If he does go I will become somewhat of a fan of that team. Unless of course he goes to the Cubs http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[bjkrautk]

Jenks is having a nice year but that is because he is playing to his strenghts this year.

 

...and why wouldn't the team try to play to his strengths if he were here in '08?

 

I have no problem seeing Jenkins on next year's team, provided he's paired with a platoon-mate who can hit left-handed pitching. Even if the Brewers could find someone who could be as productive as Jenkins for less-than $9 mil., could we sign that player to a short-term deal?

 

This year's draft all but cemented my opinion; if things go as planned for LaPorta (IMO), he should be up for a September '08 call-up. If that holds, then signing a new left fielder would waste far more cash down the line: why would a free agent outfielder with average-to-above-average production sign anything less than a 3-year contract? Signing anyone else would lock up sallary that could be used to extend the core guys.

 

...and if LaPorta's not ready by the end of '08, the team can address the need at that point (with a better read on the whole farm system: Gillespie, Katin, etc.).

[rluzinski]

I'd like to think Melvin could do something more with $9 mil, personally. How about toll that over to the 2009 budget and resign Sheets?

[Fatter than Joey]

...and if LaPorta's not ready by the end of '08

 

It's very unlikely LaPorta will be an option at the end of 2008.

 

I am not a big fan of keeping Jenkins. I think he would be overpaid at $9 million -- If he produces like he did in April -- I'd change my mind -- If he produces like he has in May/June -- no thanks.

 

Personally Id hope they trade him as his stock is probably at its ceiling.

[TheCrew07]

I don't want to get into an arguement about splits and platoons. Platoons might look good on paper, but they aren't a very cost effective way to run a ball club. Year in and year out for it to be viable you'd have to find a very cheap 750ish OPS half of the platoon to keep it going.

 

I get the arguements for platooning, but to me it's more of a stop gap measure than a permanent way to manage one's roster. Therefore, I'd rather they not pickup his option for next year. Personally I think it depends how fast they think they can push LaPorta, so we'll see.

[Oldcity]

Quote:

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to be honest, I think it might make more sense to decline the option, then offer arbitration. If he wants to stay, then he does. If he wants the 2-3 year contract he'll be offered elsewhere, then we'll get some draft picks

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Hadn't thought of this, but this is a pretty clever idea IMO.

[Diskono]

Quote:

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A proven veteran LF with his credentials would cost us far more than $9 mil to sign as a free agent, and LaPorta has yet to take a pro at bat. Should we keep him?

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Based on last year's free agents, a platoon outfielder shouldn't cost more than $5 million tops (link). I'd take Gabe Gross at league minimum over Jenkins at $9 million.

[GAME05]

I know this has been discussed earlier, but I think the question has become more interesting after this draft and LaPorta. is Melvin thinking of him like he did Weeks, that he's going to be able to handle a rush-job through the minors and be at the ML level really quickly? I think yes.

so I think that prevents us from signing any sort of player near their prime, because they're going to demand a 4-year contract, maybe more. so that just blocks LaPorta in LF.

 

I think Jenkins at $9 million is awful high, and we can't really look too closely at his track record because he's suddenly not hitting lefties like he used to--not that it was ever great, but now it's terrible.

 

What I envision is a Lofton-type of player, someone past-prime that would be adequate, with Gross/Gwynn providing some starts. They would only require a two-year contract, which is enough time for LaPorta to get up to the bigs.

[Dragonbait]

I'm sticking with the NO to the 9mil.

 

Best option....

 

Hall - LF

Gwynn - CF

Hart - RF

[KCBrewerfan34]

Would it be impossible to decline the option & then offer Jenkins less money? The FA crop of OF'ers isn't overwhelming but at $9 million that money probably needs to be invested into our young core.

 

 

 

 

Go BREWERS!!

[PeaveyFury]

to be honest, I think it might make more sense to decline the option, then offer arbitration. If he wants to stay, then he does. If he wants the 2-3 year contract he'll be offered elsewhere, then we'll get some draft picks

 

I was under the impression that if you decline an option you can't offer arby. That could be wrong, but that's always what I've thought.

 

If not, I agree with you. The Brewers' dream scenario in LF is probably Jenkins to Laporta in 09, much like it was supposed to be Koskie to Braun in 07/08.

[BrewCrewForever]

If not, I agree with you. The Brewers' dream scenario in LF is probably Jenkins to Laporta in 09, much like it was supposed to be Koskie to Braun in 07/08.

 

That is pretty much my thinking. As for the outfield of Hall, Gwynn and Hart. Its not a bad idea, but Hall has improved so much in CF that I want to see him stay there as I think he will continue to get even better and someday will be better then Gwynn out there anyway.