Brewers Decline Option On Koskie; Brad Nelson Added to 40-Man Roster

[brettac1]

And I'm not saying they should have picked up his option, because I agree with Al that this isn't even news. What IS news is the blurb I read on Rotoworld about how he's improved dramatically over the last six weeks and is not retiring. Like I said...it figures.

I'm sure the Brewers are aware of the progress. It's not like they couldn't sign him if he can play, though. I'd love to see them sign him again if that's the case because I think he's an excellent player and would allow them to move Braun to the OF if they wished, or at least have a defensive replacement that can hit a little bit.

 

Obviously, though, the Twins would be the place where he would sign if he can play, I'd guess on a minor league deal with a ST invite.

[dadofandrew]

Yeah, the Twins are a natural choice.

[TooLiveBrew]

Since I've changed my sig, and am too lazy to change it back right now...

Corey Koskie - the force will be with you... always

 

I'd like to formally scold myself for being dumb, not lazy! (see sig... not updated since posting quoted exerpt)... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/embarassed.gif Feelin' dumb.

[wcswimmer712]

It seems that Corey Koskie is going to try and play baseball again.

Koskie to Return as Free Agent

Here's a feel good story from The Star Tribune: Third baseman Corey Koskie has fully recovered from the post-concussion syndrome that sidelined him for half of the 2006 and the entirety of the 2007 seasons. Doom and gloom loomed earlier this month as the Brewers declined his $6.5MM option and retirement seemed a legitimate possibility for the big Canadian.

Koskie has recovered from his persistent headaches and can be considered an official free agent in the weak 2008 third base market at the moment consisting of Pedro Feliz, Mike Lamb, and Mike Lowell.

The 34 year old hasn't played 100 games in any of the last 3 seasons; however, he still displays 20 HR power when active. That production potential alone makes him a decent 1-year bargain option to be had for conceivably around $4-5MM.

Posted by Nat Boyle

From MLB trade rumors.com

[wcswimmer712]

any chance that we resign him to a cheap, incentive-laden deal?

[AdvantageSchneider]

Am I only one who thinks he's nuts for coming back? According to baseball-reference, he's made $26 million in his career. He should be set for life. Why in the world would you risk taking another spill or a 90 MPH heater to the head and lose your marbles for another year or longer? Makes no sense to me.

 

I don't think the Brewers have any interest, nor should they.

[And That]

I'd take a flyer on the guy, but not at anywhere near to $4-5 mil. I'd consider $1 mil plus another $2 mil in incentives, I guess.

[twobrewers]

Am I only one who thinks he's nuts for coming back?

Seconded. I wouldn't take him back for free - even if he was 100% healthy because I don't want to enable his poor decision to put off retirement.

 

He received a concussion that put him out of baseball (and most of his regular life) for 1 and 1/2 YEARS! And he never even hit his head. He just received whiplash in his brain from a hard fall. There is no reason to think that he wouldn't be susceptible to a similar injury in the future.

 

I loved the guy. But for his sake and his families - it just isn't worth it.

[lukevan]

I'm sure Corey and his doctors will be as sure as they can be about his health before he attempts a comeback. If he is no longer feeling the effects I'd tell him to do what he feels he's capable of.

 

I'd definitely welcome Koskie's wonderful defense back, move Braun to LF and leave Hall in CF.

[JJHardy7]

I hope this goes well for him, but I would like to make one point on signing him and moving Braun. Do we really want to start a guy that hasn't played any baseball for 1 1/2 years, is 34, and coming off a serious injury and move a young talented (but obviously needs to improve his defense)? If the Brewers do move Braun -- which from all indications there is no way they will this year, I really hope they don't make a move like this and move Bruan. They have better options from within -- a younger, possibly more potential in Billy Hall. If the Brewers wanted to move Braun this year, they already would have done so.

 

Maybe Koskie 3 years ago might make sense, but bringing him back to start 3B would be a huge mistake IMO. I'm all for bringing him back at 1 million/year, but no way at 4 - 5 million. We would have invested a lot of money in Counsell and Koskie.

[djoctagone]

corey koskie dfa'd (and brad nelson added to the 40-man roster) per espn.com.

[JJHardy7]

Somewhat surprised that it's Nelson, but nothing too shocking. I don't think Nelson is in the mix to be on the 25 man this year as of now. The Brewers seem to believe in him and he does have one more option year left.

[dadofandrew]

I can't believe Nelson was the first one added, though I guess that doesn't mean he's the #1 guy to be added.

[And That]

I can't believe Nelson was the first one added, though I guess that doesn't mean he's the #1 guy to be added.

With minor league free agency looming, I think he needed to be added before the players still under minor league contract to the Brewers.

 

[JJHardy7]

Is Nelson a minor league free agent? I know he has an option left, so does that mean we just have to sign him to a minor league deal?

[brettac1]

Nelson is an enigma wrapped inside a riddle. First, he had loads of power and poor discipline, then he broke the hamate and lost his power, but upped his walk rate tremendously, then last year he hit 20 HR, but had his walk rate drop more than 50%. He's been around for forever, and they still don't really know exactly what he is.

[And That]

Is Nelson a minor league free agent? I know he has an option left, so does that mean we just have to sign him to a minor league deal?

He was going to be a minor league free agent, until he was added to the 40-man roster. If he's still on the 40-man roster going into spring training, he'll get a new contract like all the other pre-arbitration players on the 40-man roster.

 

[DHonks]

the intriguing aspect is that Nelson asked to play 3b at the end of the year. Perhaps he could attempt to become a supersub type, playing some 3b, 1b, and LF. There's still time, since he's young.

[dadofandrew]

I don't see him as ever being more than a reserve 1B/LF, maybe a Mark Sweeney type. If only he was a better athlete, I might see more ceiling.

[MNBrew]

It would make a potentially interesting (more for the story than the likely productivity) if both Brad Nelson and Joe Dillon were to make the roster next year. With Nelson becoming at least useful if not adept at more and more positions, could he be on his way to becoming a LH-hitting version of Joe Dillon? How odd would it be if we could have this lefty-right clone tandem off the bench?

 

I'm not suggesting this is ideal unless Nelson comes back to his AA-and-before form of a few years ago, and if Dillon proves last year was no fluke. Just thinking out loud.

 

Corey Koskie is a good and decent human being and I wish him well. Twins could sure use him, even if only part-time, and he still lives only a few towns out west of downtown Mpls.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't see any value in having Nelson on the 40 man. Of course I saw no value in adding Munson either.

[gregmag]

The Brewers are making a low-stakes gamble on Nelson's upside. I've made the point before, and therefore won't beat it to death here, that Nelson is a decent candidate for a breakout. He has shown real power, he's still young enough to improve, and his progression from his injury year shows fairly steady improvement. It's entirely possible that what he showed last year is the best he can do, and if so he isn't worth much. But if he can take a step forward -- especially if he can really play some 3b, and I have no idea how he did there -- he can be a useful hitter. It's a decent gamble, IMHO.

 

Also, Nelson's eligibility for minor league free agency forced the team's hand. As Al pointed out, he might not be the first guy they wanted to protect, but he may well have been high enough on their list that the certainty of losing him, as opposed to the mere possibility of losing some others, caused them to make this move.

 

P50 gurus -- I assume this gets Nelson back on the list?

 

Greg.

[JJHardy7]

I saw a few games in Nashville with Nelson and 3B and it wasn't exactly pretty. If people don't like Braun's defense, good luck with Nelson. He can play it, but is nothing more than a blowout type game 3B.

 

I've met Nelson a few times and he's great guy and has a great attitude. I think he'll be a big leaguer someday, but I don't know his impace. I know he's not the world's best athlete, but I wonder if he lost a few pounds would his defense improve?

[JohnBriggs12]

It would make much more sense to me to add Callix Crabbe to the 40 man.

[And That]

It would make much more sense to me to add Callix Crabbe to the 40 man.

They still might do that. They haven't done anything with the guys they still control next season, nor do they have to until a bit before the Rule 5 draft in December.