Spurling & Stocker outrighted

[MNBrew]

Pardon me if this is redundant, but I couldn't find another thread discussing it. Maybe I'm blind...

 

Apparently today wasn't a good day for fringe-level Brewers whose last names start with "S." Chris Spurling & Mel Stocker were outrighted to AAA Nashville. I first saw it on ESPN.com this afternoon.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/transactions

 

I guess these two didn't have much of a chance, and I know I won't miss 'em. Melvin won't finish his dissection of the roster with Yost & the coaching staff 'til next week, I think.

 

Let the fun begin!

[And That]

I wonder if this has something to do with re-adding Koskie and Graffy to the 40-man. I think we have to do that before we get rid of them.

[MNBrew]

I think Koskie's & Graffanino's situations are slightly different. Graffanino can file for free agency, I think, without having to be activated because his contract expires. But since the Brewers hold an option on Koskie, I wonder if they might need to activate him in order to buy out the option.

 

Then again, maybe activating the player isn't necessary in either case.

[dadofandrew]

Pretty sure you have to clear the 60 man DL first. Luckily, no one else has much room either, though few teams have 41+ "prospects".

[And That]

I think Koskie's & Graffanino's situations are slightly different. Graffanino can file for free agency, I think, without having to be activated because his contract expires. But since the Brewers hold an option on Koskie, I wonder if they might need to activate him in order to buy out the option.

 

Then again, maybe activating the player isn't necessary in either case.

You can't just leave a guy hanging on the 60-day DL, AFAIK. Could they designate Graffy for assignment even though he's still injured? I'm 95% certain Koskie must be re-added.

 

[MNBrew]

Well, I suppose that no matter the procedure necessary, neither Koskie nor Graffanino would end up back on the 40-man roster for very long. It seems like we all expect that to be the case.

[endaround]

And somehow Greg Aquino still survives

[recte44]

He's got a live arm.

[MNBrew]

Maybe hanging onto him long enough turns him into someone add to a trade package to "beef up" our end . . . kinda like adding Krynzel & Eveland to Davis to get the '07 set of Brewer-backs.

 

Wait, did that just create a circular definition, by using the subject in question within the example? Darn that Greg Aquino!

 

Seriously, I can't see what they like so much about that guy. The other thing is, I can't see how he was ever successful enough to have been Arizona's closer for half a season.

[BCZF]

Speaking of Koskie, my wife got a Brewer clock for her birthday with a picture of Koskie on the team.. It took me aback because I honestly couldn't' remember what he looked like..

[JJHardy7]

Was it really worth putting Stocker on the 40-man roster? I know this is somewhat of a moot point right now, but Sarafate looked good enough with Houston to at least raise an eyebrow or two of whether or not we should've given him a shot (I know we did give him a few shots, but only one in the bigs). I just hate seeing possible good bullpen arms let go for nothing -- and Stocker used up one of the 40-man spots Sarfate could have had.

 

One other note. I know in some other threads it's been discussed that Aquino is still on the 40-man because he is a young guy. He is going to be 30 this January. Just thought I'd clear up any confusion. Maybe he's still on the team to somehow justify the Davis trade? Doubt it, but it'd be nice if he would pan out to make the trade look a little better.

[clancyphile]

Was it really worth putting Stocker on the 40-man roster? I know this is somewhat of a moot point right now, but Sarafate looked good enough with Houston to at least raise an eyebrow or two of whether or not we should've given him a shot (I know we did give him a few shots, but only one in the bigs). I just hate seeing possible good bullpen arms let go for nothing -- and Stocker used up one of the 40-man spots Sarfate could have had.

 

One other note. I know in some other threads it's been discussed that Aquino is still on the 40-man because he is a young guy. He is going to be 30 this January. Just thought I'd clear up any confusion. Maybe he's still on the team to somehow justify the Davis trade? Doubt it, but it'd be nice if he would pan out to make the trade look a little better.

Estrada is not an automatic out at catcher, and he's a darn sight better than the other options.

And Vargas could be flipped for someone. The Davis trade is by no means a loss.

 

Remember the Loretta trade in 2002? That brought Wayne Franklin to Milwaukee. Franklin did OK as the #5 in 2003, then in 2004, he was traded to SF for a couple of pitchers, one of whom was Carlos Villanueva. Or how about the continuing odyssey of the Sexson trade? Overbay brought not just Dave Bush, but Gabe Gross. And Gross could be an option in the outfield next year - he's done well in limited duty.

 

[And That]

It should also be noted that this will make Spurling a minor league free agent, unless there is some kind of deal in place to bring him back.

[dadofandrew]

Rotoworld mentioned Spurling will be a top minor league FA, but he has a good history with the Brewers. He may well be back if the Crew wants him.

[endaround]

Was it really worth putting Stocker on the 40-man roster? I know this is somewhat of a moot point right now, but Sarafate looked good enough with Houston to at least raise an eyebrow or two of whether or not we should've given him a shot (I know we did give him a few shots, but only one in the bigs). I just hate seeing possible good bullpen arms let go for nothing -- and Stocker used up one of the 40-man spots Sarfate could have had.

 

One other note. I know in some other threads it's been discussed that Aquino is still on the 40-man because he is a young guy. He is going to be 30 this January. Just thought I'd clear up any confusion. Maybe he's still on the team to somehow justify the Davis trade? Doubt it, but it'd be nice if he would pan out to make the trade look a little better.

I'm more upset that Aquino was kept over Sarfate. When Stockman was added there was room.

 

[MNBrew]

It does seem interesting that they felt the need to add Mel Stocker but never bothered with Drew Anderson, who's still on the 40-man and who would seem to be a poor man's Gabe Gross, which isn't saying too much at this point.

 

While our offense wasn't great all-around (though darn good in some areas), it was better than the bullpen. So it does seem curious they'd hang onto Anderson who seems like space filler and let a healthy power pitcher like Sarfate go. . . . And all the more curious after sending 3 prospect arms to the Padres for Linebrink. At least the Balfour-for-McClung deal seems to lean in our favor.

 

Anyway, so I wonder if guys like Anderson & Aquino also may not be long for the 40-man roster. Or maybe they keep Anderson but use Laynce Nix as bait. It'll be interesting to see.

[Thurston Fluff]

Conspiracy theory alert

 

We had two power guys with control problems in Sarfate and McCLung. Neither of whom could be left in the minors next year without exposing them to waivers. Probably something they didn't feel was going to work so they took the one with the best stuff and traded the other.

[JJHardy7]

I think if you factor in Davis' contract compared to Suppan's contract and the production the each produced the Davis trade doesn't look all that great.

 

Anyways...will Stocker most likely start in AAA next year?

[endaround]

Davis is paid less on average and gave Arizona 200 innings.

[bigredrobbo]

Whatever happened to the sure thing of DD's arm falling off this year? Seems like "some guy in a bar" just might not be the best source for baseball news. Whoda thunk it?

[dadofandrew]

I thought Doug was done when he signed that long-term deal for well under market value. Maybe he just liked Arizona.