Play DM the GM

[homer]

Sheets OR Capuano? That's like trading diamonds or mud. I think it's both.

[RobertR]

Playing along and revising based on comments.

 

Trade Sheets and Iribarren to New York for Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera

Cano's defense makes it worthwhile. I move Weeks to 3B and Braun to LF (And if Weeks truly has Gold Glove skills, he can make the transition to 3B and have Gold Glove skills there. He has the arm.) (You guys sure are complaining alot about a player with a WARP1 of 9.2 in Cano.)

 

Trade Melky Cabrera and Alcides Escobar to Texas for Joaquin Benoit and Gerald Laird

Upgrades the bullpen, meet your new backup catcher.

 

Resign Cordero

4 years, $44 million, savings from the Sheets deal.

 

Capuano plus Turnbow to Colorado for Fuentes

Taking a page from Colbyjack.

 

I'll figure out the cash later, but...

 

Starting Lineup

3B Weeks

2B Cano

LF Braun

1B Fielder

RF Hart

CF Hall

C Estrada

SS Hardy

 

Bench

Laird

Gross

Dillon

Counsell

Free Agent Utility Man (preferably one that can backup 1B) Hinske? NRI to Koskie?

 

Starting Rotation

Gallardo

Suppan

Villanueva

Parra

Bush

 

Bullpen

RP Vargas

RP McClung

RP Stetter

RP Shouse

RP Fuentes

RP Benoit

CL Cordero

 

Robert

[homer]

I don't get the complaining about Cano either. He's entering his prime and doubled his walk rate last year (granted,he went from almost none to some but still) I'd prefer Cano over Weeks at 2B given the vast difference in D but I'd move Weeks to CF instead. In this scenario, I'd suck it up with Braun one more year and get Kenny Lofton as a one year rental.

 

Then the question becomes....what to do with Bill Hall? He's a guy you could trade for some late inning bullpen arms plus some decent prospects.

[endaround]

If you're signing Lofton, why not just kepp Hall, move him to 2B. Move Weeks to CF and still have Sheets.

[RobertR]

Cano's younger and cheaper than Crawford as well. Considering there are unconfirmed reports that the Brewers are considering moving Braun to the outfield, why do the Brewers need Crawford? I don't like to move around players defensively either, but if I've got a lock for vast defensive improvement at one spot, the overall risk is minimal.

 

And again, Cano had a WARP1 of 9.2 last year. If you're targeting a position player, why not target the best one rumored in the deal that also remedies your #1 weakness, infield defense?

 

Robert

[Tedaldtada]

Colby, very nice plan. The biggest plus of all is that you kept the payroll about the same as last seasons, which could set us up to spend more in the future (Prince, Weeks, Braun, etc.). I would have us doing something bigger and better though.

 

Bill Hall, Carlos V., Estrada, and 2-3 of gamel, brewer, escobar, the hurricane, gwynn jr., or any of our top hitting prospects (LaPorta cannot be traded until June right?)

 

for

 

Garret Atkins, Brian Fuentes

 

Colorado has been said to be shopping Atkins so maybe we could get him in a package with Fuentes. I also think we would be giving up a lot in return, but ya gotta give to get. Carlos V's value has never been higher, and what type of player is valued more than a young pitcher with successful ML experience? Yorvit is gone, so they could replace him with estrada and hall could be slapped in between Holliday and Hawpe in the OF. If Col. doesn't like that, i would consider a Sheets + estrada + 1 prospect from above for Atkins + Fuentes as well. I should note that Atkins' splits are not the greatest but his number of homeruns at home and away are almost identical. Besides, I sometimes think that some players just player better at home (remind anyone of the Milwaukee Brewers as a team?) wherever that might be.

 

Let Linebrink and Coco walk and take the draft picks.

 

Let Mench and Jenkins walk.

 

Put in a call to Torii Hunter and offer 4 years 48 million and a chance teach this team how to make the playoffs. (most likely won't bite, but ya never know).

 

Sign Corey Patterson 2 years 15-17 million. He will have a career year one of these years and it would be so 'curse like' if it happened for a team in the same division as the cubs. You have to admit he would be a excellent player if he could carry even a Crawfordesque OBP. His defense is the number one reason I target him though because he could play center for the departed Hall. His speed and upside (however limited it may be now that he's 28) are important as well. I know many think Gywnn is better, but I would expect Colorado to snatch him up in the above trade. Unfortunately for me, DM is looking for proven OBP guys or whatever.

 

Sign Paul Lo Duca 2 years 12-14 million. We know he is a leader at least. Him and Rottino can share time there.

 

Sign Jeremy Affeldt 3 years 10 million. I perosnally like the idea of letting a bunch of AAA'ers fight for the bullpen spots, but if we let Coco and Linebrink go, we have to add at least one more established guy.

 

Lineup:

 

Weeks 2B

Hart RF

Braun LF

Prince 1B

Atkins 3B

Hardy SS

Patterson CF

Lo Duca C

 

Staff:

 

Sheets

Yo (could take a step back, but we need him now)

Suppan

Capuano (has to bounce back a little, right?)

Vargas (Bush would look better in the bullpen)

 

Pen:

 

Fuentes

Turnbow

Affeldt

Bush

Parra

idk, Aquino

 

Bench:

Rottino

Gross

Counsell

Dillon

Nix

 

Last Spot:

Crabbe/Bray/Dillard/Anderson

 

I really like that lineup. If Weeks takes a nice step next season, we could hit with anyone. The rotation is still very solid with benny at the top. If Vargas struggles, we could try Bush or Parra instead and find some different bullpen help. I also like this bullpen. It sure is a lot cheaper than keeping Coco and Linebrink around. Our bench isn't the greatest but Gross and Dillon at least seem serviceable. We could always upgrade the bench for pretty cheap if it just proves to awful to play on with. I didn't check the numbers, but I don't think our payroll would get out of control with these moves. I should also mention that this would improve our team defense, which might turn out to be the thing we were missing all along anyways.

 

Take your best shots!!

[trwi7]

2 years $15-17 million for Patterson? There's no way he's worth that much.

[Tedaldtada]

yeah, you might be right, maybe 12 million is better. I'd say he will get close to whatever Jenkins gets this year.

[JohnBriggs12]

Robert R,

 

Why on earth would the Yankees who are already down one pretty good infielder, entertain the idea of trading Cano? Sure they're the Yankees and they can go out and get somebody, but Cano's pretty special. If the Yankees really want an experienced starter, they'll deal from their strength which is young pitching, not from their already depleted everyday lineup.

[RobertR]

There are a couple of rumors floating around with Cano and Cabrera being mentioned. There's also a rumor about the Yankees being interested in Rolen.

The "logic" probably goes like this. The Yankees need an ace to match up with other teams in the playoffs. They have to give up something to get something and they're apparently not willing to give up their young pitching. That basically leaves Cano and Cabrera as their only tradable commodities as noone is going to take on the contracts of Giambi, Abreu, Matsui, and Damon and Jeter isn't going anywhere.

Considering there are no Aces on the market that are young, there's at least some feasibility to the scenario.

Robert

[pogokat]

Braun to LF, Hall to 3b

 

I'm feeling like this could actually happen this time around...i think the brewers started out with the right mindset, but by September, it was pretty clear that they don't want Hall in the outfield. His bat's just nothing special ut there, and in a down year, he looked like Grip or Jhamms, so he should be moved back to the infield, or possibly traded

 

Capuano and Zach Jackson for Randy Winn

 

Not a real popular trade, but it gives the team a ton of depth in the outfield and improves the defense substancially, though it means we would have someone playing slightly out of position in CF

 

A couple free agent relievers for 3 million per

 

I assure you that Doug Melvin knows he can pick up good releiver off the scrap heap when he needs to save cash. On the other hand, i seriously doubt he wants to risk his neck over Seth Mcclung. I'm not going to guess at names, but i bet we sign a couple guys to jc romero/bob howry type deals

 

TGJ, Mat Gamel and Steve Hammond to DC for Chad Cordero and a low minors reliever

 

I think TGJ is woth ore than we give him credit for and he's a Jim Bowden kind of guy. Fuentes is nice, but I'd rather have Chad Cordero

 

Tender Mench, Estrada, Vargas, Wise

 

they'll have cash to spend, and non-tendering a guy just because he's a bad deal is not a move they need to make right now

 

Charlie Fermaint to ATL for Brayan Pena

 

Both these guys are pretty much donee in their organizations, and i think Brayan could beat out Mike Rivera as the backup to Estrada

 

I'm not going to detail the whole lineup, but i do think we'll see them keep sheets. i also think we won't see too many major deals this offseason.

 

Of course, if the vibe is to move Braun to Left Field, then the sudden desire to get Carl Crawford could be to fill the center field hole long term...

 

Thiss will be a fun offseason just because they've got plenty of money to spend and only one real hole...

[MNBrew]

Bill Hall, Carlos V., Estrada, and 2-3 of gamel, brewer, escobar, the hurricane, gwynn jr., or any of our top hitting prospects (LaPorta cannot be traded until June right?)

 

for

 

Garret Atkins, Brian Fuentes

 

 

Let Linebrink and Coco walk and take the draft picks.

 

Let Mench and Jenkins walk.

 

Put in a call to Torii Hunter and offer 4 years 48 million and a chance teach this team how to make the playoffs.

 

Sign Corey Patterson 2 years 15-17 million.

 

Sign Paul Lo Duca 2 years 12-14 million.

 

Sign Jeremy Affeldt 3 years 10 million.

I like the creativity (which is half the fun) but geez, that's a humongous outlay of cash for free agents.

Re: that Colorado trade proposal, I think you're seriously overvaluing both Colorado guys. 5 or 6 of the Brewers' good chips for two guys, one of whom lost his closing role and the other guy who has a hot prospect about ready to challenge for his job? They're both pretty good. Colorado's GM likely might make that deal. But I imagine Doug Melvin wouldn't, and I'd be right behind him on that. Colorado also already has a CF or two, plus they're set at every other position Hall plays. I'd also think that at most it'd take CV and Estrada + maybe Escobar to make that deal. But I still can't figure where we'd play Atkins because Braun's not moving off 3B this year.

 

Is LoDuca that much better than Estrada for the dollars? Maybe, but I still wanna see what Estrada can do when he's closer to healthy. I'm guessing something more like what made him an appealing trade target last winter. And Rottino is not a #2 catcher. He's a utility guy and #3 catcher. His greater eventual value is for his versatility and respectable AAA, unproven ML bat.

I just have a hard time buying any of these ideas that put up to 3 returning players at new positions. Young guys improve. Don't give up on their defense yet. Aren't they all still 25 or younger except Hall by a year?

 

Just a technicality, but by not picking up Jenkins' option, the Brewers already have let him walk.

 

I think there may be something to your Jeremy Affeldt idea, but I don't touch Corey Patterson with anyone else's 10 ft. pole, let alone my own. He's proven to be Bill Hall with a lower ceiling, and Hall's still making $6M/yr. Patterson hasn't been able to hold a starting job the last couple years. I can't fathom him making more than about $2.5M. I hope he only ever plays in Milwaukee as a visiting player.

 

Finally, as I've noted frequently in other discussions, it's widely known up here in MN that Torii Hunter wants a 5-year deal. It wasn't the money that made him turn down the Twins' 3-yr., $45M offer. It was the years. That said, if he didn't take the Twins up on 3 yrs./$45M, there's no way in heck he accepts 4 yrs/$48M from anyone unless it's February and he's still unsigned. Too many teams are interested for that to happen, anyway. As much as I like him as a player and really hope he re-signs up here in MN, I don't see the Brewers placing him atop their winter shopping list.

 

Somewhere someone also mentioned Molitor coming up as a 2B who made the switch to 3B. Molitor came up as a SS but got moved to 2B when Yount ended his half-season "I think I might play golf" retirement/holdout. After a season-plus run in the OF, Molitor was moved to 3B, where he made PLENTY of errors, and where he lasted not 5 full seasons before becoming a full-time DH in the latter half of '87, his hitting-streak year.

[mothershipconnection]

I'd have zero interest in Patterson unless. Hall was moved to 3B, Braun and Hart were our corner guys, and we traded Gabe Gross away then signed Corey to a one year cheap deal. I don't know that he'll be that much better than Gwynn.

[tigerbrew]

Trade Melky Cabrera and Alcides Escobar to Texas for Joaquin Benoit and Gerald Laird

I really like Joaquin Benoit and would certainly contact Texas about him. The Rangers have depth in relief but may need to add another starter, hopefully a Cappy for Benoit swap might interest them.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'd hope that too, tigerbrew.

noone is going to take on the contracts of Giambi, Abreu, Matsui, and Damon and Jeter isn't going anywhere.

 

Regardless of what the Yankees say, they'd love to rid themselves of that terrible Damon contract. At least, if I were them I would. And they have enough fiscal flexibility to eat enough of the Giambi, Abreu, & Matsui contracts to make a deal work. That team is so in flux I wouldn't be surprised to see something go down involving the Yanks eating some salary dollars to make a trade go through.

[DuWayne Steurer]

In his 6th full major league season last year, Patterson walked 21 times in over 500 plate appearances, while hitting below .270 with 8 homeruns. A career OBP of .298 is simply awful, and he's only been above league average offensively once in his career.

 

I wouldn't offer him more than a million per, and that would only be in spring training if I was desparate to fill a backup spot.

[RockCoCougars]

1. Non tender Mench

2. Let Linnebrink walk

3. Don't break the bank for Cordero. If Houston wants to overpay for him let them. Use the money saved to put towards new contract for Sheets.

4. If Cordero leaves, go after Dotel, who will be much cheaper (half the salary, for half the duration?), or see if Rich Harden is healthy. If so, would the A's be interested in trading him? I think his future is as a closer.

5. Go for the 'steroid' discount and bring in Jose Guillen to play right field (provided he isn't suspended)

6. Sign a catcher that can actually field the position and throw a little to split time with Estrada (Jason LaRue)

7. Go after some vets that can actually swing the stick off the bench (Erstad, Reggie Sanders, Jose Valentin, Cirillo and the like)

8. If Cordero leaves and Dotel can't be signed, sign two reclamation projects from the following: Kerry Wood, Alfonseca ,Chacon ,Byung Hung Kim, Tony Armas to bolster the bullpen. Start the season with Turnbow as closer, and hope for the best...

[TooLiveBrew]

swing the bat... Erstad?

[RockCoCougars]

"swing the bat... Erstad? "

 

He would be a better option than the clowns that they sent up there to pinch hit last year against righties. I'm looking at him as strictly a pinch hitter/back up for Prince every blue moon/emergency outfielder.

 

The "unholy triumverate" of Gross, Gwynn and Counsell were 18 for 91 as pinch hitters last year with 7 rbi. Pathetic any way you slice it.

[TooLiveBrew]

Like Gross & Jenkins? It's not their fault that their manager was Yost & he liked Counsell & Mench v. RHP.

[ILuvDaBush]

First and foremost, I would trade Cappy/Gross/Gamel for Joe Nathan. After that, I would put in a call to the Yanks and the Pirates and see if a three way could be worked out where we send them Sheets and the Pirates send them Snell and the Yanks send Hughes/Kennedy/Cabrera to the Pirates while the Pirates send us Bay and Torres. Finally, offer Wise/Mench/Estrada all arby. But, I think we all know none of this is going to happen.

[twobrewers]

Last year I remember we had a thread in which everyone made a pitch for what they would do to improve the team. I'm going to take a relatively conversative approach, while stealing an idea from JohnBriggs (I hope you don't mind, it was one of the better suggestions I've read here).

 

Trade Sheets and Escobar for to for Carl Crawford. (Sheets to Yankees, Escobar and Hughes to Rays, Crawford to Brewers)

Escobar is a good prospect who is blocked in Milwaukee thanks to JJ Hardy - who the Brewers seem committed to. Behind Escobar we have Brent Brewer as another SS in the wings. Losing Sheets this year would very likely lessen our chances of winning in 2008 - but I believe would increase our chances of winning in 2009+. So I am willing to trade him away, since I believe we will lose him after 2008. (Small market teams can't offer long term contracts to pitchers with injury histories)

 

I also think Capuano is likely to be as valuable as Sheets will be to the Brewers this year. I think Capuano will have a nice rebound year (and make 35 starts) - whereas Sheets will only make 20 starts.

 

Sign Kenny Lofton

With Crawford in the fold we don't need Lofton. But his speed, OPS, and veteran leadership would be very helpful as a 4th outfielder on this team. In case of an injury to our outfield - we would be fine.

 

Let Cordero & Linebrink walk

Cordero is going to be very expensive - and I am not sure he is worth the long term investment. Linebrink will be more reasonable, but I think I would rather have 2 high draft picks and role the dice with another player.

 

Sign Gagne & Dotel

Both are going to have to take one year deals to reassert themselves. SI had predicted Gagne would take a 1 year deal worth 6 million to close. We would have to overpay a little to get Dotel as he would be a non-closer. But given his injury history 1 year and 4 million might do it. (That is two closers for less than Cordero will make. Plus no long term committment)

 

Tenders

I'm Johnny Estrada and Claudio Vargas. I am going to let Mench and Wise go. With Lofton we have no real need for Mench - and they would cost about the same. Wise can come back on a minor league contract, but he just lost it last year. We 100% have to offer arbitration to Estrada. For starters, he is a type A free agent - and might be again next year. Hopefully we can lose him next year and get picks for him. Secondly, you won't find much better on the FA market and they will require a longer committment. Lastly, perhaps his injuries played a big role in his decline.

 

I am moving Vargas to the bullpen as our long man. He pitched pretty well out of the pen last year. He can be a trading chip come the deadline for a team looking for starting pitching.

 

 

 

Starting Lineup (Total: $19.37M):

 

2B: Rickie Weeks ($2M)

LF: Carl Crawford ($5.2M)

3B: Ryan Braun ($415K)

1B: Prince Fielder ($500K)

RF: Corey Hart ($450K)

CF: Bill Hall ($4.8M)

SS: J.J. Hardy ($2M)

C: Johnny Estrada ($4M)

 

Bench (Total: $8.65M)

 

C: Mike Rivera ($400K)

IF: Craig Counsell ($2.8M)

IF/OF: Joe Dillon ($500K)

OF: Kenny Lofton ($4M)

OF: Gabe Gross ($950K)

 

Starting Rotation (Total: $16.10M):

 

SP1: Chris Capuano ($6M)

SP2: Jeff Suppan ($8M)

SP3: Yovani Gallardo ($400K)

SP4: Carlos Villanueva ($450K)

SP5: Dave Bush ($1.25M)

 

Bullpen (Total: $19.55M):

 

CL: Eric Gagne ($6M)

RP: Octavio Dotel ($4M)

RP: Claudio Vargas ($3.5)

RP: Manny Parra ($350K)

RP: Brian Shouse ($1.5M)

RP: Greg Aquino ($1M)

RP: Derrick Turnbow ($3.2M)

 

Total: $63.67M

 

Gwynn is sent down to AAA - and hopefully traded at some point should the need arise.

 

The starting pitching suffers with the loss of Sheets. But we keep our depth should someone falter, we can insert Parra or Vargas back into the lineup. Plus, I believe that...

2008

Sheets > Crawford

2009 - 2011

Crawford > 2 Compensatory Picks

[GAME05]

nice post, twobrewers. that's one heck of an offense, though the starting pitching seems scary-bad. throw in a poor defense behind those pitchers and it has me worried.

 

I'd love to trade someone like Cappy and open the budget a couple million more and bring in a different starter like Colon/Byrd/Lieber or even Cliff Lee. With Parra and Vargas in the fold and having shown they can be effective starters, we have a bit of flexibility to handle injury-prone guys like a Colon. 2/$15 wouldn't be unreasonable for any of them.

[endaround]

Vargas at $5 million makes no sense in the bullpen. Trade him at his highest value coming off of 12 wins.

[TooLiveBrew]

Yea, unless he could somehow instantly become a top-tier RP - which seems doubtful - there's no way you want that in the 'pen. Some GM is gonna fall in love with his W total, so let's jump on that.