Jenkins an '08 Brewer - yea or nay?

[MNBrew]

While this question has been touched on throughout the year, I wondered if this simple question didn't deserve its own thread:

 

Will Geoff Jenkins be a Brewer in 2008? Or a different version of the question: Should Jenkins be a Brewer in '08? However you see it, why or why not?

 

The majority of folks here seem to agree that Jenkins is not worth what he's getting paid. Neither is he a total loss, though. Does he merit a spot on this team in '08? If so, where does he fit? Personally, I want to like the guy. He always plays all-out. He's consistently solid defensively in either OF corner. But he's overpaid and the rate that he seems to fail in the clutch grows very aggravating. As I think Rick Braun stated (in today's JSOnline chat? I might be wrong), Jenkins has proven that he's generally a pretty good player, but he's not a great player.

 

The way I see it, Doug Melvin didn't really completely address the OF situation last off-season and through Spring Training, even with the trading of Brady Clark. The herd needed more thinning than it got. Overall forecast is still unclear. So I pose my question to the Brewerfan.net masses....

[bullox]

To be honest, he's not being paid to be a great player, he's being paid for what he does. I don't feel that he is really that overpaid for what he does and the time that he has spent with the team. I would definitely bring him back next year. The Brewers would be smart to find another RH bat to platoon with him of course.

[pitchleague]

I'd like to see him come back and Melvin may be inclined to pick up the option because of what's out there on the free-agent market in terms of outfielders. Unless they make a serious run at somebody like Andrew Jones or something, that is (highly doubt it).

 

To answer your question, I will predict a "yea" that he will be on the team in 2008. And I seriously would not doubt that he platoons with somebody else (likely not Mench) again as he and Yost seem to continue calling the platoon a complete success, or something close to it. (they sure aren't saying it was a bad idea)

[AJAY]

Let's see how the rest of the season plays out, but right now I vote YES, bring him back.

 

I want to see Mench get dumped and a better right-handed hitter come in to complement Jenkins.

[DougJones43]

At his $9M club option price? No.

 

Jenkins will turn 34 next year. We have Gabe Gross who is much younger and only a fraction of the cost. I think Gross will be able to hit RHP about as well (possibly better if given adequate playing time) as Jenkins. Gabe Gross will also give us a better BB:K ratio, and will most likely get on base more which is something this team really lacks.

 

I think if there is a dropoff from Jenkins to Gross next year, it will be pretty negligible. Gross very well could be more productive than Jenkins next year, and definitely has more upside at this point. Geoff has had a nice year for us, but I'd much rather use the $9M toward something along the lines of resigning Sheets or Cordero. I'd take my chances with Gross in a platoon next year at one of the corner outfield spots.

[logan82]

At his $9M club option price? No.

 

Jenkins will turn 34 next year. We have Gabe Gross who is much younger and only a fraction of the cost. I think Gross will be able to hit RHP about as well (possibly better if given adequate playing time) as Jenkins. Gabe Gross will also give us a better BB:K ratio, and will most likely get on base more which is something this team really lacks.

 

I think the difference between Jenkins and Gross is pretty negligible. Gross very well could be more productive than Jenkins next year, and definitely has more upside at this point. Geoff has had a nice year for us, but I'd much rather use the $9M toward something along the lines of resigning Sheets or Cordero. I'd take my chances with Gross in a platoon next year at one of the corner outfield spots.

 

Not to mention we also have to either find room for or trade Nix. I believe he is out of options next year.

[brewcrewman17]

I'm tempted to say nay because I'd really like to see what Gross could do in a full season as a starter (or at least as the LHed part of a LF platoon), and even moreso because Tony Gwynn or Laynce Nix could take his place as the LHed 4th/5th outfielder with a so-far nameless (although hopefully not Kevin Mench) RHed bat for the other extra outfielder. However, I don't like the ultimate downgrade Nix or Gwynn would likely be as the LHed extra outfielder from Gross. So yay, bring back Jenkins to take part in a platoon similiar to this years with a new RHed bat, and use Gross as a 4th outfielder to give Hall or Hart a rest against RHed pitchers who are particularly tough against RHers.

[owbc]

I vote yes.

 

Jenkins for $9M seems like a high price for a platoon player, but he will probably draw an equal or higher rate in the FA market. I don't consider cost to be an issue, since the Brewers should be able to raise payroll again after drawing near-record attendance this year.

 

More importantly, next year should be our year to win the central, even if we come up short this year. Therefore, I would like to see proven players penciled in the opening day lineup. We know what we are getting from Jenkins, he has put up essentially the same numbers for almost a decade and he is playing better this year than last. Gross could potentially be the replacement, but he's played well for...a week. If he keeps it up for the rest of the season and propels the Brewers to the playoffs, the decision is complicated--maybe a Hart/Gross platoon in RF and a Jenkins/FA/trade platoon in LF in 2008.

 

Nix is a potential 5th outfielder if Gross ends up starting, but if Jenkins stays, Nix should be used in a trade to fill one of our weaknesses. Maybe he can learn to be a catcher?

 

Hopefully Gross can fill the void, but he will never be Carlos Lee, Soriano, or Dunn. Jenkins with a solid RH bat comes closer.

[AJAY]

Do you think Jenkins would be open to returning at a cheaper price? How much do you think the Brewers should be willing to pay? How much do you think Jenkins will want?

 

I like Gabe Gross, but his defense still scares me. I also wouldn't mind seeing him play more rather than just handing him the job based on 4 or 5 games where he was hot and hit like Babe Ruth. I do agree that his on-base percentage will be a big help.

[MNBrew]

To be honest, he's not being paid to be a great player, he's being paid for what he does. I don't feel that he is really that overpaid for what he does and the time that he has spent with the team.

Bullox, I tend to disagree with this part of your statement -- maybe not entirely by today's standard if he were a full-time player, but looking at it at least in terms of when Jenkins signed his present contract. At that time, $9M/yr. was generally looked at as stud-caliber pay. And that's how the Brewers hoped he'd be playing, that his inconsistencies would continue to lessen and he'd be a totally dependable bat in the lineup -- basically hoping that his offense would continue to follow an improvement curve similar to what his defense did from the early days of his career.

 

I agree that his contract also reflected something of a return on the Brewers' part for the loyalty Jenkins has had to the organization over the years. However, only in the distorted views of the Bronx and maybe Fenway could $9M/yr. seen as typical pay for half of a platoon.

 

[mothershipconnection]

I'd say yes. He's expensive, but contracts are jumping again at a rate that may make it look very reasonable by the end of winter. It's kinda like signing Suppan this year but without the same possibility of disaster - if you want to compete you sometimes have to overspend because nobody else is available. The Brewers will kinda be stuck in a position where they can overpay for a guy like Jenks, miss out on the top-tier players who they can't afford, or go with a platoon of Gross and a cheap stop-gap.

[TheBrewer]

Personally Id like to see a list of potential Free Agents during the off-season. Anyone got any links? With that said, I think the Brewers should go after a good impact OF. I could see Corey Hart in RF, and Hall maybe in CF unless he's dealt which I doubt, and then a big ?? in LF. Even if it's just for a couple years till LaPorta gets here. Which means they could go the trade route in trying to acquire that type of player. ala Carlos Lee in the past.

 

With Jenks, you look at his numbers right now he has an OPS over .820 I believe, and hes hitting around .280ish and will hit about MAYBE 25HR. You put it together and think.. .280BA/25HR/80RBI/.820OPS and you think above average outfielder. However, for me, theres so much fustration with Jenks. Good personality, good defense, but his shock and awe hitting kills me. He could easily manage a .230BA during the 1st half of a season, and then hit .290 the second half or vis versa, or just flat out hit .260 like last year. I just would like to see someone fresh if you wana put it that way. For me, its just too much fustration with him over a full season like last year. I like his personality, and Id wish him the best, but he never could fully put it all together, most likely the injuries taking a toll on him over the years. Every year it was "Im going to hit 40HR" as he would say.

[KCBrewerfan34]

That's a HUGE NO!!!! Gross fills in for him, plus Braun could be moving to the OF, at some point. $9 million will come in handy elsewhere, this would be a catatrophic re-signing. Jenkins money goes to Sheets, Cordero or for arby raises.

 

Hard to believe there are so many yeas, everyone is entitled to their own opinions but fellas, PLEEZE!!!

 

 

GO BREW

[Baldkin]

His contract is amazingly reasonable.

 

Look at what Dye just got in Chicago...

 

I don't think he'll be a Brewer next year, but I have no doubt they will exercise his option.

[Paul77]

I say yes, but to be honest it's just as much for the sentimental reasons as it is for his production. I would love to see Jenks finish his career in Milwaukee, but thats my emotional side. I also wanted Cirillo and Loretta to be life time Brewers. I guess that's why I'm not a GM, though I'm relatively certain I could have done better than Bando.

 

I think they must pick up his option. $9 mil is not going to look so unreasonable after this winter. Heck, it's already shaping up that way. He's going to finish the year with 20 - 25 home runs - as a platoon player. At the very least he'll be an attractive trade option for a lot of teams. Best case scenario, IMO, is that they decline the option and resign him at a lower salary, though I don't see that happening without tacking another year onto his deal.

[saget]

Yes yes yes. Jenkins needs to finish with Milwaukee. This may be the booze talking, but he needs to pass Yount on the HR list before he leaves me.

[TooLiveBrew]

I love when the booze talks! Honestly, given contract fluctuation recently, I think the answer to the thread question is a resounding, "Yes!" Unpopular though that may be, I just don't know who we'll find in FA to put up comparable numbers at a comparable price. If there's a trade done, sure, we may be able to do so. And to be fair, since his success comes largely against RHP, taking 'worse' overall numbers for more balanced success v. both LHP & RHP may be a reasonable consideration...but I still see Jenks back in Mil. in 2008, and I'll miss him if he isn't back!

[igor67]

I am firmly in the see what his numbers look like at the end of the year camp. He really needs to prove in my eyes that he still has that end of hte year kick in him to have an .850+ OPS. If he can't post that with his dramatic platoon splits then I think it's time to move on and acknowledge his defense and other skills have fallen off. Otherwise looking at Dye as a useful comp his contract truly is reasonable for one more year.

[twobrewers]

Dye's contract really skewed the marketplace. But we have to remember, Dye was also an MVP candidate last year - so at least a good portion of his contract was based on the chance that he can do that again. Jenkins has been good for a number of years, but is getting older and never put up huge numbers in any given year. (Although, he has for parts of years)

 

I am not really in favor of seeing Jenkins on the team for $9m next year. I think Gross can produce similiar numbers - and the $9m can be used to shore up other positions. (Bullpen) If Jenkins does remain with the team, I hope it is with a new contract similar to 3 years $15 million.

 

That would still give Jenkins more money ($15>$9), but spread it out over a fews year and let him retire a Brewer. By the end of that contract he would be pretty old - but still a solid back-up player and veteran leader in the locker room. (We did pay Graffy $3 million this year)

[endaround]

Not sure how Dye skewed the market place. Byrnes got $10 million a year over 3 years for having a good year in a top offensive park. At 31 he's a career .268/.330/.456 guy.

[clancyphile]

I vote Nay. Gabe Gross will provide as much, if not more, production at 10% of the price.

 

Geoff's been great, but it's time to move on.

[RU Rah Rah]

Not sure how Dye skewed the market place. Byrnes got $10 million a year over 3 years for having a good year in a top offensive park. At 31 he's a career .268/.330/.456 guy.

Yeah, I commented in the Monroe-to-Cubs thread that Byrnes' numbers really aren't that much better than Monroe's. But, somehow, one guy is available for a PTNL, and the other gets $10 million. (Not totally a apples-to-apples comparison, I know.)

As far as Jenkins goes, he's slightly better-than-average against righties (109 OPS+ for his career) and, as we all know, miserable against lefites (72 OPS+). For his career, he is officially perfectly average -- 100 OPS+. For $9 million, with his skills in decline, I am not sure he's really worth the money. I think Gross would be roughly comparable, and the $8.5 million in savings could be used in all sorts of fun ways.

[Fatter than Joey]

No...

 

Jenkins has to be platooned. I don't like the inflexibility of the platoon in a corner OF spot in general.

 

I am not saying Jenkins is not w/o value, but I think it's time to explore other options.

[BrewCrewForever]

I say yes, but to be honest it's just as much for the sentimental reasons as it is for his production. I would love to see Jenks finish his career in Milwaukee, but thats my emotional side. I also wanted Cirillo and Loretta to be life time Brewers. I guess that's why I'm not a GM, though I'm relatively certain I could have done better than Bando.

 

I think they must pick up his option. $9 mil is not going to look so unreasonable after this winter. Heck, it's already shaping up that way. He's going to finish the year with 20 - 25 home runs - as a platoon player. At the very least he'll be an attractive trade option for a lot of teams. Best case scenario, IMO, is that they decline the option and resign him at a lower salary, though I don't see that happening without tacking another year onto his deal.

I pretty much agree with everything you said here 20fry. I want him here because of sentiment as much as production. Which he has had a very productive year for playing mostly against righties. And 9 mil at that bad.

[Two Fisted Slobber]

Can the Brewers get free agent compensation if they decline his option? If so, a couple of draft picks could sway the decision heavily.