Nick Johnson / Ryan Church

[sbrylski]

Obviously we'll all drool over the OBP, but could he potential play LF? He's solid defensively at 1B, but with the leg surgery I'm not sure he could handle the OF. I wanted to bring it up though, as if he could handle left field he'd be great to trade for. He's due $5.5M for both '08 and '09.

[PeaveyFury]

While he's an interesting name, are we really in a position to acquire somebody, throw them in a new position and hope they don't contribute to our already horrific defensive issues?

 

Just saying.....

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

i think Nick Johnson is an Overbay clone... I remember Clancy's (and others) obession with moving Overbay to LF rather than trading him. If we already had Nick Johnson, i'd probably be in favor of trying him in LF, but i don't know that I would sign him at this point.

 

Offensively, he's a bargain at $5.5M (IMHO) however

[brettac1]

He's pretty much been a walking injury over his career. That scares me more than his ability to adapt to the OF. He's a terrific hitter, but I don't think he's a possibility.

[TheBrewer]

Injurys scare me too. We'd be lucky if he could play 1B for us and get 600AB. Obvoiusly 1B is occupied, but moving him to a position where he's going to constantly have to run, and move around, more aregavation on his body, .. highly unlikely he could play the OF. He might be a guy destined for a DH spot on an AL team within the next year or two.

[danzig6767]

Johnson isn't exactly the most graceful athlete out there.My guess is that he'd struggle quite a bit if thrown out there in left field.Given all the other defensive problems on the Brewers,adding yet another one doesn't seem like a good idea.

[JohnBriggs12]

As with the Austin Kearns thread, once again we have the right team, wrong guy.

 

If Johnson comes back, he forces Dmitri Young to LF. In fact Young is reportedly on a strict diet to control his weight so he'll be able to play OF next season.

 

Who is the current Nats LF'er? Ryan Church. Church turned in a solid season (.287/.360/.506 vs. righthanders). and he could very well be the odd man out in Washington if Johnson is healthy and if Nats get Torii Hunter as is rumored.

 

I'd have Church on my list if I'm Melvin.

[sbrylski]

Sure, I like Church. I even brought him up as a target last offseason. But I like Johnson's bat better, and Kearns better overall. If the cost is much more favorable, I would like to see Church.

[kgbaseball]

Church has always been the odd man out in Washington. I've always liked him, and he could be a nice 4th OF for the team.

[Fear The Chorizo]

The Brewers need to upgrade their defense much more than upgrading their offense - Bringing in a Nick Johnson and asking him to move to a new position isn't a good way to improve their defense.

I'd rather try to acquire Church, someone who is an outfielder by trade, and put him in left.

What I'd most like to do is move Hall to 3rd, Braun to left, and play Gwynn in center against righties - Against a lefty starter, Hart can move to center, and Mench could play right. This option require no trades to be made/additional resources to be spent on a larger contract or free agent signing, and lets the Brewers use the additional dollars they'll have from Jenkins', Koskie's and Graffanino's contracts to focus on acquiring pitching.

[colbyjack]

The concerns about Johnson are already detailed above. He hasn't been able to stay healthy, and when he is, he seems restricted to first base. Moving him to a more demanding position doesn't seem like a good way to keep an injury prone player on the field more often.

 

Ryan Church is a nice role player, and would seem to be an upgrade over Gross if that's what the team is looking for.

 

As for Fear The Chorizo's proposal, Gwynn actually hits LHPs better than RHPs. I still think the team is an outfielder away from having a solid lineup from top to bottom (minus the catcher, whoever that may be), as much as I like the idea of focusing the team's resources for pitching.

[lukevan]

Can we please not give Gwynn 450 PA's next season? Pretty please?

[brettac1]

I think Johnson could probably play the OF better than Dmitri Young. I can't believe they're going to move him out there. He was an abomination at 1B. Acta's got to find a way to get some offense going, though, so I can see why they would try him out there.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

Count me in on Church... for some reason, the way he is described, i'm picturing an Eric Brynes type player (though at the fraction of the cost)

[dadofandrew]

I don't consider Church an upgrade to Gross, so I don't like him as anything but a reserve for the Crew.

[TooLiveBrew]

Dave Bush + TGJ + Gross for Church + Cordero. Way out of line?

[Oldcity]

It will take so much more if Cordero was involved. You could take out Church for them and you'd still have to give more.

[sbrylski]

It will take so much more if Cordero was involved. You could take out Church for them and you'd still have to give more.

They have other relievers just as good as Cordero that don't have the expensive closer label - so a form of that trade is possible, IMO.

[TooLiveBrew]

ok, but take into account that I included Gwynn not because I adore him, but between that beat-his-dad's-team hit and rep, he's as high in terms of value as he likely will be. There are some org.'s out there that like this guy. You're likely correct on that more would have to be included, and probably pitching.

[sbrylski]

ok, but take into account that I included Gwynn not because I adore him, but between that beat-his-dad's-team hit and rep, he's as high in terms of value as he likely will be. There are some org.'s out there that like this guy. You're likely correct on that more would have to be included, and probably pitching.

I still like my:

 

Gwynn+Vargas+Jackson for Kearns+Rauch

 

[endaround]

It will take so much more if Cordero was involved. You could take out Church for them and you'd still have to give more.

People keep underestimating the value of starting pitching, especially decent cheap starting pitching.

 

[TCSM]

people like johnson and church aren't the ones who will carry us to the next level. seems like more of these trade proposals and ideas are people who could be used off the bench vs. a starting role.

[JohnBriggs12]

"people like...church aren't the ones who will carry us to the next level."

 

No. Braun and Fielder are though and they are already here.

 

It's about filling the spot vacated (we assume) by Jenkins and constructing the lineup in a way that takes the most advantage of the 3-4-5 spots at which the Brewers have as much ability as any team in either league. Last year's team struggled when Weeks didn't hit from May until late August, and they struggled finding a guy suited to the 2 hole assuming Weeks has recovered and is ready for a fully productive season. The other starters, Hall and Hardy, are fine in the 6th or 7th spot in either order.

 

But with a hole in LF, it's an opportunity to look around for a guy who could hit second. But he has to be available for what the Brewers have to deal and that's key. Church is one guy who fits. Catalanotto is another. He's not great, but his OBP the last 3 years are .353, .366 and .349 and unlike Gross has proven he can maintain that playing on a regular or semi-regular basis. He's also a very decent defensive outfielder (again unlike Gross who was very shaky at times) who can play CF in a pinch. He'd have to be platooned with say Dillon or another right handed hitter, but he's a guy who balances out the Brewer lineup and that's what it needs more than a clone of guys they already have.

[dadofandrew]

As I said before, I see Church to be a bit of a Gross clone, but he does have more of a track record. Catalanotto does not fit the "athletic" mold, but he does have OBP.