Aaron Rowand

[Irish Brewer]

Aaron Rowand is a free agent in the off-season. I'm not sure we would bite on him, but having him in center with Billy moving to left would most certainly boost our defense. Not to mention getting a quality lead off hitter would allow Weeks to move down to the 2 spot and Hardy down to the 6-8 spot. The only issue is the amount of money he is going to command this off-season. With Tori Hunter and Andruw Jones dictating the market, Rowand could be a potential steal. What are people's thoughts?

[sbrylski]

The Aaron Rowand of '04 and '07 (.310 / .370 / .525 with 25 HR) sign me up.

 

The Aaron Rowand of '05 and '06 (.265 / .325 / .415 with 12 HR) no way.

 

He's goes as his BA goes, and it results in some inconsistency. What's ironic is that he's actually hit the ball better in his two recent bad years in term of LD%, but due to bad luck didn't have good seasons. In his good years he's had good luck but didn't hit as well.

 

His career .333 / .400 doesn't get me excited though. I wouldn't be totally opposed to offering him a contract, but I think there are other options out there that could be as good or better.

[kgbaseball]

That idea has been thrown around a lot, and while he certainly would help defensively, I think his OBP numbers are a fluke, since he's only gone above 330 twice, and this year was a contract year. I'd pass.

[pogokat]

yeah 05/06 rowand looks a lot like 07 hall...except probably 7-8 million a year

[endaround]

Rowand will likely get a Johnny Damon size contract. So add $5 million more onto that.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

I'd offer a five year $40 Million Dollar Contract ... but thats just me

[ILuvDaBush]

The guy acts like he's Evel Knievel, and it's impossible to get the guy out of the lineup. I would rather not see a guy limp around with a concussion as he hits .250... We have Estrada for that.

[YoGo24]

I think hes going to be a bit over priced. Especially coming off the career year.

[Postseason2006]

If Dave Roberts and Juan Pierre can get what they got last year, Rowand will get ALOT more than that.

[AJAY]

From CNNSI . . .

 

Phillies center fielder Aaron Roward is due for a huge payday this winter, bigger than contracts handed over to Juan Pierre, Eric Byrnes and Gary Matthews, and given their hands off approach so far, the Phillies don't appear to be the ones forking over the money. The early leader? Milwaukee. The Brewers would love to put Rowand in center and move Ryan Braun, a liability at third base, to left field.

[Team Canada]

Iiiinteresting. And obviously Billy would go back to 3B. That would certainly improve our D exponentially.

[sbrylski]

From CNNSI . . .

 

Phillies center fielder Aaron Roward is due for a huge payday this winter, bigger than contracts handed over to Juan Pierre, Eric Byrnes and Gary Matthews, and given their hands off approach so far, the Phillies don't appear to be the ones forking over the money. The early leader? Milwaukee. The Brewers would love to put Rowand in center and move Ryan Braun, a liability at third base, to left field.

I'm not going to get too excited here...its very early in this process.

[TooLiveBrew]

The early leader? Milwaukee.

 

Says who? No way this goes down. This franchise can't afford any more than the one Suppan contract they have in place to, well, Suppan. Disregard this nonsense.

[Invader3K]

The early leader? Milwaukee.

 

Says who? No way this goes down. This franchise can't afford any more than the one Suppan contract they have in place to, well, Suppan. Disregard this nonsense.

Based on what? They're going to have plenty of money coming off the books this off-season, and payroll is supposed to be increasing again, anyway. I'm not going to get too excited about this rumor so early, but I don't think you can say the Brewers won't be giving out any more big contracts.

 

[Brewer Fever]

It makes too much sense short term and for that reason I'm calling it too good to be true.

 

Long-term it makes less sense. Moving Braun to left, signing Rowand long-term (he'd get at least 4 years), and having Hart entrenched in right, leaves no spot for LaPorta. Which is why I doubt there's any legitimacy to this report. Unless of course Hall is traded before LaPorta arrives and Braun stays at 3rd. I'd still be happy with that, as I think it makes us a better team with Rowand in CF and batting 2nd.

[Roscoe Chill]

Having a spot for LaPorta shouldn't be of concern right now, unless it's of the belief that he'll be up sometime next year. And I wouldn't say [if this was true] that it obviously means Hall is back to 3B...as it has been pointed out, Bran could stay at third and Hall could be traded...or maybe even Hall would go back to a super sub role? Say that would be the case. In '08 Hall would go back to playing all over the diamond, and probably start on Opening Day in LF.

Counsell and Graffanino had over 500 at bats combined last year, it's not like Hall wouldn't get starter playing time if he were to spell anyone and everyone at 2B, 3B, SS, LF, CF, and RF.

[TCSM]

wait a minute, why all of a sudden should we stop building for success now because of laporta? he's got another year maybe 2 before he's even called up, and who knows if he'll be a success. If we can get someone like rowand and do the hall/braun switch i'm all for it. I rather get someone who has already prooved how good he can be, rather then hope and pray potential comes around.

[Crew2323]

I'd much rather see the Brewers go after A-Rod and put him at 3B and move Braun to Left Field. That'd be my ideal move of the offseason. A pipe dream...I know. But one can wish, right?

[MNBrew]

The thing I wonder is this: The Brewers as the leader on Aaron Rowand . . . Is this speculation, or does someone really know what Melvin & Co. are hoping hard for? The logic is solid, although the likelihood seems less so. Then again, Yost & Co. spent half the winter denying a move of Billy Hall to the OF (who knows why they felt they had to do so?) before it finally became truth. So if the denials start right away, well, we just take 'em with a grain of salt 'til stuff actually happens. And in the meantime stuff like this is fun to think about.

[jjfanec]

Obviously this may be speculation but I think it does fill a lot of holes in one move. I am not all for moving braun to the outfield but if he could make the more rather well and hall moves back in our infield defense improves dramatically. Hardy and Hall would be a solid SS-3b, now weeks and fielder are still liabilities but hopefully they can improve at least some. The outfield become remarkably better with Rowand out there.

 

One other possibility. Braun stays at third and Gross and Hall platoon in left with Rowand and Hall as everyday guys. Dillion stays as a 5th bat with maybe gwynn jr or another lefty in the mix. Gross and Hall platooning makes some sense to me since the shift out to left from center shouldnt be too hard, but maybe another move is too much for Hall.

 

I agree that LaPorta shouldnt be too much of a thought right now considering at best he starts in AA ball. Thats a long way from an impact in the show.

[Nader Raider Tim]

Rowand would be a nice addition. Whether or not he should be signed is debatable. In my mind signing Aaron Rowand comes down to number of years he gets. If the Brewers can sign Rowand to a 3 year 36 million dollar deal with a team option for a fourth with a 2 million dollar-ish buyout, I would be all for that signing. Granted it isn't my money and I am also going off of the assumption that within the next couple years the payroll with creep up to 85-90 million. Rowand is a player that has a skill set that alot of teams would want, so odds are he would be able to get a longer deal, probably something around the 5 year 60-65 million or 6 year 70-72 million. Signing Rowand to a deal of that length IMO, would be unwise, when he is nearing the end of the 5 year deal you are overlapping on the year that the Brewers are going to have to sign Hardy, Fielder, Weeks, et. al, to larger deals if not in all cases buying out freeagency years.

 

Rowand would be nice for 3, maybe 4 years, but anymore in that might hurt the Brewers chances to compete long term. If Rowand does require more years the I would say Mike Cameron would be the ideal CFer for next year.

 

(PS yes it is my goal to mention my man-crush on Mike Cameron in every post)

[dadofandrew]

The odds of Hall going into '08 as a platoon guy are 0%.

 

Rowand will command 4+ years at $10M per.

 

Rowand would not be an offensive upgrade over Mench/Jenkins.

 

Rowand is not a "professional hitter", does not walk much.

 

Add all that up, he seems very unlikely, though possible I suppose.

[splitterpfj]

First of all, calling Milwaukee the "early leader" is just silly. Nothing can happen yet, teams can't even make offers at this point. Beyond that, I like Rowand, but he's been up and down with the bat and he's coming off a great year, I'd like to add his glove, but this one would be just like Suppan, he would help, but he will be overpaid for what he brings.

[TooLiveBrew]

Aaron Rowand will not be in Milwaukee in 2008, and we will be grateful. The only value he'd add is defense, and paying through the nose for defense, when one player won't be able to turn around our sub-par D - in the OF, where D isn't a real problem, is foolish. Thankfully I trust that DM & Co. won't make this mistake. Average power, OBP driven entirely by BA, no thanks.

[Roscoe Chill]

Aaron Rowand will not be in Milwaukee in 2008

 

You may be right, but stating it like it's absurd is a tad over the top I think. As far as free agents go, INCLUDING starting pitchers, he's one of very few fits for the Brewers.