Jenkins an '08 Brewer - yea or nay?

[Invader3K]

I would really like to see the Brewers go after a "big bopper" type LF to boost their offense, as I've said many times in the past. It's not that I don't like Jenkins, but I really don't think he should be an everyday OF for the Brewers after this season, as either the full time starter or part of a platoon.

[IckyRicky]

When Jenks comes up to bat, I wonder if we'll see a strikeout or a home run. We see way too many strikeouts, but the occasional HR or hit makes up for that. He's still a very good guy with his glove. As another poster said, his $9M '08 salary will probably seem "normal" after the free agent signings this winter. Unless someone really stands out in the Sept call-ups, I'd say lets keep him for '08.

[BrewCrewForever]

I would really like to see the Brewers go after a "big bopper" type LF to boost their offense, as I've said many times in the past. It's not that I don't like Jenkins, but I really don't think he should be an everyday OF for the Brewers after this season, as either the full time starter or part of a platoon.

I think one more year of a Jenkins platoon with a righty would be fine because LaPorta will probably be ready come 2009.

 

[Invader3K]

That is true that LaPorta is coming, but I think a proven, veteran type bat would really help this lineup, rather than just relying on the young guys like this year.

[Fatter than Joey]

He's still a very good guy with his glove.

 

He has declined considerably -- and isn't going to get any better.

 

As another poster said, his $9M '08 salary will probably seem "normal" after the free agent signings this winter.

 

I doubt this -- Jenkins is a platoon player at this point in his career. We can't build a roster around "good values". While we want to be frugal with the players that we sign, just because Jenkins may be a bargain at $9M, doesn't mean he is going to produce runs, better than others. You can't hang your hat on a good value argument.

 

The other aspect that gets over looked -- is that we will have to pay Mench, or some other clown money to play against LHP. So really Jenkins at $9M is not a fair thing to say, it would be more accurate to say (for example) Jenks+Mench = $14M for 2008.

 

I think one more year of a Jenkins platoon with a righty would be fine because LaPorta will probably be ready come 2009.

 

This is another shaky argument -- IF LaPorta is ready for 2009, Gabe Gross could be just as suitable as a stopgap -- that is to say -- we can look at other options to keep LF warm for LaPorta.

 

Unless someone really stands out in the Sept call-ups, I'd say lets keep him for '08

 

I can't imagine any OF call-up will make any impact on whether Jenks is a Brewer in 2008.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Personally Id like to see a list of potential Free Agents during the off-season. Anyone got any links?

Cot's has one: Link

 

Other than Hunter or Jones, I don't see anybody much better than Jenkins.

 

I'd be OK with Jenkins coming back. I think our biggest offseason concern is what to do with our pitching as that has been the biggest disappointment this year.

 

By the way, why do so many people hate Mench so much. He has a higher OPS against LH than Jenkins has against RH's. He seems to be a perfect platoon guy for Jenkins.

[Fatter than Joey]

By the way, why do so many people hate Mench so much.

 

I think people hate how he is used, rather than the 215 lbs. of flesh that is Mench.

 

People don't like Mench getting starting ABs against RHP.

 

EDIT: Mench has 132 ABs against LHP -- 120 against RHP

19 of those ABs were as a PH -- I will assume that that those have come against LHP -- So Mench has had more starting ABs against RHP than LHP.

 

He is miserable against RHP, and to top it all off, when he starts against RHP we lose a valuable PH against LHP, for late in the game. (that isn't a catcher)

[moofnelson]

If Jenks has a good month of September, and helps this team make the playoffs, I'd take him back. If he goes into a funk, when this team needs him most, then get rid of him.

[rluzinski]

He has declined considerably -- and isn't going to get any better.

 

He certainly won't get better but I haven't noticed an obvious decline in defensive ability. I presume there has been one from age but what have you seen to suggest it's been "considerable"?

 

I don't think Jenkins is worth the $9 mil next year and the 100 AB he'll get in September is probably not going to change my mind. I'd be fine with Gross as a short term solution for another platoon in LF next year.

[hauser42]

Personally Id like to see a list of potential Free Agents during the off-season. Anyone got any links?

Cot's has one: Link

 

Other than Hunter or Jones, I don't see anybody much better than Jenkins.

 

I'd be OK with Jenkins coming back. I think our biggest offseason concern is what to do with our pitching as that has been the biggest disappointment this year.

 

By the way, why do so many people hate Mench so much. He has a higher OPS against LH than Jenkins has against RH's. He seems to be a perfect platoon guy for Jenkins.

Jenks has to come in for about 5 mil if he is coming back since he is a platoon player, there is no reason to pick up the option unless Brewers are going to pay him for being part of the team for so long. That my friends would not be a good baseball or business move.

 

Free agency is not the only option when it comes to filling LF they could go out and trade one of the starting pitchers to fill that need. Bush, Vargas, Villy, or Parra could be sent packing to fill that need of a fulltime starter.

 

I agree that Gross next year is a solid option if they let Jenks go but then you need that right handed guy to fill the platoon role again. Would be better to have a set guy so Ned doesnt fiddle with the lineup so much.

[1992casey]

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

It's clear as mud. This stuff below was in a thread a few months ago. I happened to copy the exchange into the Site FAQ additions: trade, waiver, free agency rules thread.

Mad Hatter 610 :

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So say the team doesn't use the team option on Jenkins. If another team resigns him as a Free Agent, the Brewers wouldn't get any compensatory pick for him, would they?

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1992casey:

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Provided that Geoff declares free agency and the Brewers offer arby, the team would get whatever comp pick that they'd get otherwise.

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endaround:

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If you decline an option, you usually have to renounce the player and remove him from the 40 man. So no arby offer and no picks.

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1992casey:

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I'd swear on a box of baseballs that exactly this situation came up about a year ago on another team and that offering arby was an option.

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[BrewCrewForever]

It amazes me how people want to throw Jenkins under the bus. He's had a good year. The only two good free agent OF are Jones and Hunter. We can't afford either. So whats wrong with keep Jenkins and maybe even Mench for another platoon year. If they dont keep Jenks I do feel pretty good about Gross though. I think keeping both gives us depth though.

[bjkrautk]

It amazes me how people want to throw Jenkins under the bus. He's had a good year. The only two good free agent OF are Jones and Hunter. We can't afford either. So whats wrong with keep Jenkins and maybe even Mench for another platoon year. If they dont keep Jenks I do feel pretty good about Gross though. I think keeping both gives us depth though.

I think a lot of people's perception on Gross has been skewed by the past week. He did have an excellent 06 season, but this year hasn't exactly been the 'vote of confidence' that would lead to me wanting to hand him the starting job (platoon) next spring.

 

If LaPorta is 1-2 years away, it's tough to justify giving a new corner OF large money right now. To borrow the NFL term, there's no dead money when exercising the option on Jenkins. If the "LF of the future" isn't ready for '09, the market can't be any worse than it is this off-season.

[Invader3K]

Well, as I've suggested before, maybe we could trade for an OF as a stopgap solution until LaPorta arrives.

[valpocrewsader]

Good god, no. Gabe Gross or upgrade. The Whiff Jenkins-era of Brewers baseball should've ended in 2006.

[Tbadder]

I have been steadfastly supporting Jenks for next year, but I've reversed my position. Gross should be adequate and the money is best spent on pitching (Cordero, Linebrink, or someone else). Jenks should naturally decline and so I think this would be the time for the "changing of the guard."

 

Having said that, a long term solution for leftfield is in order. At this point I don't think we can count on Laporta (lets see how AA ball goes first [i'm betting he struggles mightily], and you just gotta believe he's gonna be an absolute butcher out there). So I'd look for some Melvin-magic and see if one of our starters can't bring a big bat.

[heavenquest]

Nix will be perfect for this team. He will hit 20-30 homeruns every year and 80-100 rbi. He is an outstanding defensive outfielder. He is a proven cf and has the arm to play rf.

[flosses like fossas]

i'm for bringing jenkins back only if the crew let him test the market and he comes back at a more reasonable price ($5/6M?). if someone like the giants or orioles want to throw $8-9M at him and he wants to take it, let him walk. i think jenkins wants to finish his career a brewer, and i don't see another contender coming calling on him in the offseason. this for me is an odds on win-win. that said, i'd much prefer letting jenkins walk and making a trade for a one year rental (with fingers crossed about la porta in '09). so my question would be, who's in a contract year next year? there is pitching that could be moved for a big bat for one season. like many here, i see next year as the baby brewers' year to grow up and win the central, so why not make a definitive move?

 

 

also, to whoever said they want to see jenkins pass yount on the hr list: why? until further notice, yount is the name and the face as the greatest player in the history of the franchise who leads all but two of the brewers' all-time offensive categories while jenkins is a career brewer (hopeful) and off-and-on fan favorite. as far as those labels go, about the same could be said for jim gantner - both long time brewers, both pretty consistent when they were healthy, neither were/are all that clutch, and the best and worst that might be said of both is that neither really contributed to the success of the brewers with much beyond consistent defense. simply topping the list won't validate or prove anything, and besides that, it's a temporary record that fielder will have annihilated in a few seasons. so what, a pat on the back of a guy who's under-performed since signing for what was referred to earlier as "stud money at the time of his signing"? frankly, the only reason jenkins has any shot at any team records is the simple fact that the franchise is comparatively young, so, inevitably, anyone with a long enough contract is going to dent some all-time lists. look at it this way: if jeromy burnitz had remained a brewer until he retired last year, he'd be the brewers' all-time home run leader with a total that jenkins surely won't reach. [and then the jenkins faithful began their virulent onslaught.]

[jjfanec]

I do like some of what Jenkins brings to the table, but in a small sample of what Gabe Gross can do playing everyday i am very impressed. You can say he is just on a hot streak but isnt that the same reason people want Jenkins because he can get hot. Gross has good power, good speed and in my mind most importantly he works the count. He has walked at a better clip than Jenkins and struck out with less frequency. I think he is a perfect fit in this lineup with so many free swingers

[Fatter than Joey]

I presume there has been one from age but what have you seen to suggest it's been "considerable"?

 

Considerable I would define as "not worth it". I think in a lot of these discussions we treat Jenkins as a multiple GGer, and that his defense is something we should pay a premium for. However while at some point in the past Jenkins may have been an above-average/elite corner OF defensively, his skills in 2008 will have declined "considerably" to where he is an average OF at best. This is my opinion based on watching him play. I don't see Jenks defense as a selling point at this point in his career.

 

Nix will be perfect for this team. He will hit 20-30 homeruns every year and 80-100 rbi. He is an outstanding defensive outfielder. He is a proven cf and has the arm to play rf.

 

Hi Mrs. Nix! -- Glad to have you aboard! -- If by "this team" you mean "Hiroshima Carp", if by "every year" you mean "Colorado, circa 1993" and by "play RF" you mean "RF in Tropicana Field" I would agree 100%

[RightFieldCoder]

For those of you who don't want Jenkins back, here is the downfall of offering arbitration. The same thing that happened to Graffy, he accepts and you are forced to pay him at least ?85%? of his salary from the year before depending on what the arbitrator decides. Looking at what other OFers are getting, he could probably get more than his 9M. So you either need to accept his option or let him go for nothing. Declining the option and offering arbitration would be the worst case, imho, unless he's already agreed to sign for a lesser deal.

[Cyanogen5]

I am fine with bringing Jenkins back because he has produced just fine this year, and I think he is the best we have got. As good as this team is right now, I am not all that comnfortable going in to next year with a big ? in the outfield. Can we really expect Gross to perform as well as Jenkins has? Has everybody forgotten his amazing performance that got him sent back to the minors? Nix has not be reliable in the Majors before...are we ready to hand him the everyday spot? I certainly am not. The problem I see right now is the fact that all of our outfielder contenders for left field ar left handed (Jenkins, Gross, Nix), and our main back-up centerfielder is also left handed. If we could trade Jenkins for a decent, reliable right handed hitting left fielder, then maybe. I guess I just that that we need his experience and skill for our team next year...we are too close to pin all of our hopes on a couple of youngsters who haven't shown us much so far. The fact that is would only be a 1 year option and not a multi year contract make the decision that much easier for me.

[RU Rah Rah]

Nix will be perfect for this team. He will hit 20-30 homeruns every year and 80-100 rbi. He is an outstanding defensive outfielder. He is a proven cf and has the arm to play rf.

 

Hi Mrs. Nix! -- Glad to have you aboard! -- If by "this team" you mean "Hiroshima Carp", if by "every year" you mean "Colorado, circa 1993" and by "play RF" you mean "RF in Tropicana Field" I would agree 100%

Almost spit out my coffee from laughing.

 

[Diskono]

No. Out of last season's free agents, no platoon outfielders made over $5 million, so $9 million is way too much. I think Gross can come close to matching Jenkins' numbers, and there will be quite a few lefty platoon outfielders available as free agents.

[pitchleague]

I want to add to my original comment that the decision to bring Jenkins back or not may weigh heavily upon if the Brewers make the post-season or not. And honestly, I don't know which way Melvin would go--bring him back if they make the post-season and dump him if they do not or vice versa.

 

I would probably bring him back no matter what. But my heart wants to say that it depends on how deep into October we get. If we get there at all. (do we play in October this year?)