Trade for pitching....or trade it away? (Sheets discussion)

[Fatter than Joey]

In closing..... I am against trading Sheets unless we get someone we can immediately plug into our rotation -- that doesn't suck

[pogokat]

Prince had just wrapped up his first full year in pro ball when they traded for overbay...he was not a place holder...

 

i remember when the deal occured that we were all talking about overbay, de la rosa and spivey...we didn't think those guys were going to be blocking fielder or weeks...and they didn't...

 

but no one thought capuano was anything more than a 4.5 era guy coming off major arm surgery...he was absoolutely not a major part of that deal...in fact, moeller was trumped quite a bit more, because he was coming off a year where he'd had an 800+ ops as a backup..

 

anyway...

[And That]

I was just perusing a list of pitchers who had at least 140 IP in the bigs last year, and the guys that jumped out to me were Chad Billingsley of the Dodgers and Dustin McGowan of the Jays. Normally, I'd write off guys like as untouchable, but when Ben Sheets' name comes up, you can be a little more greedy. John Maine would also be nice, but with the Mets in perpetual win-now mode, they'll need him in their rotation.

 

Heck, as long as the Rays are looking to make a fresh start, how about Sheets, Wise and a prospect for Crawford and Shields?

[trwi7]

I'd love to get Billingsley or McGowan. Don't know why the Rays would make that trade though. They're not going to win anything so they have no use for Sheets and they give up one of their best trade chips in Crawford and a promising young pitcher. If Sheets bolts in the offseason they'd be left with nothing.

[And That]

I don't understand most of the things the Rays do, so the most illogical thing for them may likely turn out to the most likely scenario.

[Oldcity]

It's fun to think about what they could potentially get for Sheets. Then I realize that Sheets wouldn't be on the team, and it's much more uncool.

[brosto1]

I think the Mets would definitely be a good trade partner, having as mentioned some good young OF in Milledge and Gomez(I haven't heard F-Mart's name mentioned yet) and a couple of young arms in Pelfrey and to a lesser degree Humber. I would really like it if Heilman could somehow be worked into a deal or Joe Smith.

 

Another team that might be interested is a usual suspect, Arizona. They have a good young team with excess talent in the OF and CI, although Chad Tracy's micorfracture surgery on his knee may deplete that depth at CI. If Melvin could somehow deal Sheets and/or other pitching and obtain Carlos Gonzalez and Tony Pena I would be very happy. Gonzalez came on strong in the second half of AA ball and a brief stint in AAA. I am not completely convinced that Arizona would part with Pena, but if they have any confidence in Valverde being able to stay healthy then Pena may be available. They also have two young catchers and perhaps might be willing to part with Montero or Snyder. I just think they have a lot of pieces that they may be willing to deal some to have a big two of Webb and Sheets.

 

If Sheets would get dealt, I would prefer to see him go to the AL, but I just think the Mets, Dbacks, and Dodgers would be the three best trade partners. On the plus side I really think both teams could improve their teams significantly.

[splitterpfj]

Brosto, I also think Arizona is a possibility if Sheets is ever dealt, because they have extra outfielders right now. The problem I see is, I don't see AZ adding a pitcher to the deal, which would probably stop the Brewers from doing it.

[colbyjack]

Yeah, the D-backs don't work because the Brewers without a doubt would have to get a decent, young starter in return, and that's the type of player Arizona wouldn't part with right now. I kept bringing up Dan Haren above because that is the type of arm the Brewers would need to get to justify dealing Sheets at this point of his career, and I think most people would want to see other parts exchange hands as well, parts that would either solve the team's need in LF, C, the bullpen or some kind of combination of those needs. But the starter IMO, and I think most everyone else's, is the most important, even if the team has strength in that area.

 

And that does make the Mets a pretty good match given all of the parameters.

 

For what it's worth, I didn't bring up Fernando Martinez because I'm guessing Melvin would be looking for players ready to make an impact in the big-leagues. He already said he was hesitant to start a first year player in Gwynn alongside Corey Hart, essentially a second year player, and Bill Hall, who will be a second-year outfielder. Carlos Gomez may not help that cause either, but Milledge has been around enough that the learning curve may not be as great for him.

[splitterpfj]

FWIW, Melvin claims Sheets' name never came up once at the GM meetings.

 

He also said he'd be making an offer to Cordero prior to Monday.

[TooLiveBrew]

well, then I guess it's 't-minus' time re. CoCo...

[twobrewers]

Just a question for those strongly anti-trading Ben Sheets...

 

If trading Ben guaranteed that we would have a better team in 2009 and 2010 - while suffering through another season of growing pains in 2008, would you be willing to do it?

[brosto1]

I just mentioned F-Mart because I haven't heard his name anywhere, suggesting that perhaps he isn't available whether he would fit in Milwaukee or not.

 

Does anyone like Dustin Nippert or Greg Smith as starters coming from Arizona in a package centered around Carlos Gonzalez? Personally, I like both of them more than Humber. I think Nippert with an improvement in control could still be a very good starter.

[lukevan]

If trading Ben guaranteed that we would have a better team in 2009 and 2010 - while suffering through another season of growing pains in 2008, would you be willing to do it?

 

In that strictly hypothetical situation, I would probably go for that; there's obviously no way to be sure of anything like that however.

[bucksman4]

I am all for putting Sheets on the market this off-season. When he is on, he's money. A team like the Brewers, though, has to make sure they get the bang for their buck with each high-priced player on their roster, and quite honestly, in recent years we haven't gotten our money's worth with Benny. He single-handedly cost us a playoff berth this season. The Cubs beat us by 2 games. You don't think if Sheets had had another 10 starts, we'd have beaten out the Cubs? Let's face facts: 2005 -- 22 starts, 2006 -- 17 starts, 2007 -- 24 starts. Sorry, but we have to get more than that out of our ace and our highest priced player. Listen to offers, Doug. Hopefully it's an AL team that we can find ready and willing to give up some young talent that can contribute to our team right away.

[lukevan]

You don't think if Sheets had had another 10 starts, we'd have beaten out the Cubs?

 

I don't think so, but it's not unthinkable I guess. Gallardo and Villanueva took the vacated spot in the rotation and pitched pretty well. Sheets would've had to be near perfect to be worth 2-3 more wins in 10 starts than the combination of their "replacement" starts.

[Weirdos19]

You don't think if Sheets had had another 10 starts, we'd have beaten out the Cubs?

 

I don't think so, but it's not unthinkable I guess. Gallardo and Villanueva took the vacated spot in the rotation and pitched pretty well. Sheets would've had to be near perfect to be worth 2-3 more wins in 10 starts than the combination of their "replacement" starts.

 

True. But having Villy in the pen when it was imploding may have saved us a few of those games. So, I say the Brewers would have won at least 4 more games with Sheets in the rotation.

[Oldcity]

I think it's a safe bet to say the Brewers would have won the division with 10 more starts from Sheets. The bullpen was exhausted by the end of the year, and Sheets always goes deep into games. Plus as was pointed out, Villy would have been in the pen as well. It was a huge loss.

[trwi7]

As long as we're placing blame on who lost the division I blame Cordero. If he doesn't give up 3 runs in the 9th against the Cubs then we're playing a one game playoff in Wrigley.

[Oshkoshian]

sheets for alex rios

[Roscoe Chill]

Of course the Brewers would have won the division if Sheets had 10 more starts. And if you don't think so, then you shouldn't be opposed to trading Sheets because he really doesn't make that much of a difference then. Right?

[splitterpfj]

Sheets-Crawford rumor...

 

link

[twobrewers]

Trading Sheets and Capuano for Crawford actually sounds about the right price if you ask me.

 

I think we lose this trade this year - but win in the long run. A rotation of Gallardo, Villanueva, Suppan, Bush, and Parra isn't exactly going to dominate teams this year. (Although adding Rogers would really help)

 

However, we would add Crawford for the long run - and return the same core group of players for 2009 and 2010. This deal would weaken us for one year - and strengthen us for at least 2 to 3 years.

[sbrylski]

To clarify, I think the rumor states we would use one of Sheets or Capuano. Maybe I interpret it wrong though. A lot of people seem to say it would cost both, and I'm not sure if that's because my post in the original rumor thread was confusing.

[brewers255]

That's what I thought too sbrylski.