Brewers won't exercise Jenkins' option

[chuckcrim]

http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2007/10/29/brewers-won-t-exercise-jenkins-option.aspx

[crewcrazy]

No real surprise here, but it's still kind of sad to see him go. If he does decide to sign elsewhere, at least his last season in Milwaukee was with a winning team, which he really deserved. Best of luck with Detroit, Minnesota, or whoever else decides to give you a 2-3 year deal, Geoff.

[Thurston Fluff]

I liked Jenkins but it's a sign of how far the team has progressed that Jenkins wasn't retained. In years past he would have been retained simply because of his popularity and the team's need to market something other than winning baseball. I'd like to see him land in a place that had some chance of winning. I'm not sure how many good teams would want him as their everyday player though. I'm afraid he may have to decide if he wants to play everyday or play for a winner.

[patrickgpe]

no big surprise, i wouldn't be upset if he came back for about 5 million, but really his offensive numbers can be replaced at a much lower price. I just don't hope we loose too much defensively in left.

[TooLiveBrew]

Expected news, but thanks for the update, ccrim. Go get your money Geoff! Go get your playoffs!

[sbrylski]

I would not have minded the slightest if his option was picked up, but I can understand why it wasn't. His offense will likely be replaced, but in all likelihood his replacement won't have the defensive value Jenkins had.

[Bring Back the Stein]

You think Gabe Gross had a good morning? But whatever happens, we won't get that much better (or worse) slugging or glove there. What we will have is some cash to put into middle relief, right?

[Thurston Fluff]

I don't know how much of a defensive fall off there would be from Jenkins to Gross. Jenkins wasn't quite as good the last couple years as in the past and Gross was good enough to play center occasionally without embarassing himself. Jenkins had the stronger arm but Gross covered more ground.

[Tbadder]

I don't think Gabe Gross should be feeling any better this morning. They just got rid of a guy who's every bit as good as he is. I'd look for a leftfielder from outside the organization to man the left corner next year. Gross is soooooooo not the answer. Good luck Jenks. You're a decent part-time player who has another three four years.

[jlau20]

I'm still holding out hope for getting Jenkins back for 3-3.5 million, it probably won't happen, but I can still hope. If he does end up somewhere else, I really hope we get to see him in Miller Park next year, or atleast the year after.

[JohnBriggs12]

Gross got a chance to show what he could do playing everyday from mid August through mid-September. It spoke volumes that he rarely started after slumping in mid September.

 

He still could end up being the guy, but only after they exhaust efforts to get someone else.

 

As for Jenkins, it was time. He hadn't put up numbers that quite justify his contract the past 2 seasons. He now joins that category of veteran who teams will look to as a fallback guy. He won't be in great demand initially, but eventually teams will not get the guy they want and they'll look at the guys still available and Jenkins will look pretty good.

[JJHardy7]

I think Gross might get a shot. I'm not saying he's going to be able to be the player we need, but I wouldn't forget about him. I think in the right situation he can be a solid player, but he's not a big-time run producer. I'd say he's best in the 2 hole or somewhere near the bottom of the lineup. The Brewers will have to compare what they have in Gross to the amount it will take to improve significantly.

 

I wish Geoff the best...I have this feeling he will be back.

[And That]

The second half to this story is that if there were any doubt that the Brewers were going to go outside of the organization for the 2008 left field starter, that doubt has been vamoosed.

 

Jenks was fun and frustrating to watch over his career with Milwaukee, and I certainly wish him the best wherever he winds up. It was just a shame we couldn't make the playoffs one time for him. C'est la vie.

[ajgodson]

I cringe somehow thinking that Jenkins will get booooed when he comes to Miller Park as a visitor. I know it shouldn't happen, but for some reason MP fans boo every former brewer. I would hate to see it happen to Jenks.

[patrickgpe]

he has been here for 10 years and never made a problem and was pretty adament that he wanted to be back here. I hope he wouldn't get booed.

[dadofandrew]

I would hope they would not boo anyone, never mind every former Brewers player. It's pathetic.

[Invader3K]

I won't boo Jenkins (and I usually do boo former Brewers like Carlos Lee, mainly for fun)...unless he hits a homer against us or something, then I will boo.

[Paul77]

I'll miss him, but it was time.

 

And I'll always remember this (ouch)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/ilookback/jenksouch-1.jpg

[MoneyballMan]

From MLB Trade Rumors (www.mlbtraderumors.com). I apologize if I was supposed to do this as a hyperlink to the article, but it wasn't at the top of the page, so I wanted to source it correctly. Interesting "stopgaps" mentioned for LF. (feel free to move this if there's a more appropriate thread)

 

Brewers To Decline Jenkins' Option

Geoff Jenkins for $9MM? The Brewers prefer the $1MM buyout. Tom Haurdricourt says the Brewers never seriously considered exercising it, though Jeff Sackmann has shown it isn't a no-brainer.

Haurdricourt believes the Brewers will go for a one-year stopgap left fielder rather than move Bill Hall or Ryan Braun there or promote Matt La Porta. Barry Bonds would be an intriguing if unexpected addition. Guys like Cliff Floyd, Luis Gonzalez, Shannon Stewart, or Brad Wilkerson could be considered. Or Doug Melvin could even try to pry Adam Dunn away from the division-rival Reds.

As for Jenkins, the Tigers seem to be the early favorite.

[dvoiss]

I think Melvin said in his interview last week that if Jenkins was let go he would go outside the organization to replace him. That is fine with me because Gross starting in left next year doesn't exactly get me excited. He is a serviceable outfielder and good bat off the bench but I don't know about playing everyday and the Brewers are past the experimental stage of their develoment. A contending team doesn't have time for that. Tori Hunter in center and Hall in left does however get me excited.

[Eddiehitsthefoulpole]

How about Braun in left and A-Rod at third? A person can dream, can't he?

[brettac1]

Or Doug Melvin could even try to pry Adam Dunn away from the division-rival Reds.

 

Definitely the best-case scenario. If that one guy is to be believed who said Attanasio told him that they had a deal done for Dunn at the deadline before the Reds pulled out, then maybe it's a real possibility. I'm all for scoring 700 runs. But they'll probably need to extend him in order to make that happen, which would alter the LaPorta plan (as much of a plan as you can have for a guy who has played at low A so far) and kind of screw things up.

[And That]

But they'll probably need to extend him in order to make that happen, which would alter the LaPorta plan (as much of a plan as you can have for a guy who has played at low A so far) and kind of screw things up.

It would not be possible to field a National League lineup which included Adam Dunn, Matt LaPorta and Prince Fielder. Given how close LaPorta is to Milwaukee and how badly this team needs to improve its defense, Adam Dunn isn't an option anymore, to me at least.