Rolen Trade, Latest: Glaus/Rolen swap (reply #795)

[splitterpfj]

IF he's healthy, this would be a great add, a solid hitter, an outstanding fielder, and it moves Braun to what should be a better defensive fit too. Again, IF, the team believes he will be durable, I'd love this, the only thing I wouldn't like is the seven right-handers in the starting lineup, but that wouldn't stop me from doing it.

[splitterpfj]

Rolen had bounced back to post a strong 2006 season, but in 2007, his numbers were way off, check this out -

 

R HR RBI AVE OPS

55 8 58 .265 .729 Scott Rolen

40 10 54 .278 .699 Johnny Estrada

 

39 million guaranteed is nothing to sneeze at, proceed with caution.

[DHonks]

johnbriggs12,

 

I'd take my chances with a lineup of all good hitters much more than a lineup that has righty-lefty balance. Plus, with a righty-heavy lineup, it negates the weapons that many lefty-specialists are. In effect, a team with 2 lefty specialists would be pitching with a short bullpen.

[brains and braun]

Semi-related question:

How hard would it be to trade Suppan and his contract right now? The reason I ask, is because many people saw this contract as a sort of albatross that the Crew would be stuck under. Personally, I think we could get rid of it pretty easily. Soup is probably an attractive option for many clubs, and will be even moreso when other clubs have injuries, etc. My point is, if we acquired Rolen and it became clear that we'd made a mistake, is it unfathomable to think that we could get out from under that contract as well?

[jwill535]

Peter Gammons was on M&M this morning and said that he keeps hearing Rolen to Mil. and that once fiscal terms can be hammered out he could see Rolen in a Brewer Uniform.

[trwi7]

Peter Gammons was on M&M this morning and said that he keeps hearing Rolen to Mil. and that once fiscal terms can be hammered out he could see Rolen in a Brewer Uniform.

 

This would be so awesome. Did he say what we'd be giving up? I'd imagine at least one of our starters, probably Bush or Cappy.

[Hammer]

Wow, Gammons seems to have some serious Brewers goggles on these last few days. I like it!!

[aracko]

Semi-related question:

How hard would it be to trade Suppan and his contract right now? The reason I ask, is because many people saw this contract as a sort of albatross that the Crew would be stuck under. Personally, I think we could get rid of it pretty easily. Soup is probably an attractive option for many clubs, and will be even moreso when other clubs have injuries, etc. My point is, if we acquired Rolen and it became clear that we'd made a mistake, is it unfathomable to think that we could get out from under that contract as well?

My Personal Preference is to keep Soup. He eats innings, got better as the year went on, and knows clutch baseball. His REAL value hasnt come to show yet.

[TCSM]

Wow, Gammons seems to have some serious Brewers goggles on these last few days. I like it!!

you took the word right out of my mouth. Gammons generally just talks about the Yankees, Red Sox, and Cubs.

 

[TURBO]

My only concern about Rolen is his last injury. Is it something that will hold him back, after all, he isn't a young guy anymore, if we spent the cash on this guy, we better be damn sure he is 100% healthy.

[jwill535]

Wow, Gammons seems to have some serious Brewers goggles on these last few days. I like it!!

you took the word right out of my mouth. Gammons generally just talks about the Yankees, Red Sox, and Cubs.

 

Well it was a throw away comment after they spent the 7 minutes discussing who between the Yankees, Red Sox would get Santana. Also mentioned Cabrera to the LAAofA. Was asked if there were any big time all-stars that could be traded, hemmed and hawed and then threw out Rolen.

 

[Klements Bratwurst]

"And I haven't even brought up Rolen's defense at the hot corner (well, I did several posts ago in this thread), as moving Braun's bat, and glove, to left field would be just as big as acquiring Rolen to play the hot corner.

My two cents....I would love Rolen on the Brewers. His defense would be that of a lock down corner in football, at a position where Braun as stated over and over again was so bad, that even a huge improvment would still place him in the bottom of league at his position. Braun's bat would play well in the outfield too.

 

Rolen, has played in big ball games and would be a great veteran presence to mix in with the kids on this team. He fits the mold of a professional hitter that Melvin is looking for with his OBP skills, plus power. You weaken a serious opponent of the Crew if you take him away and give up little (assuming you take on the risk of the contract). This would be similar risk that the Detroit Tigers and Florida Marlins took when they were close to competing and signed Pudge Rodriguez to big deals that brought a veteran in lock down a need on their team.

 

In the McCalvy article the other day, Melvin mentioned that they are considering Rolen. He would be that bona-fide 3rd Baseman that he is looking for and one that Braun would understand being moved to the outfield. Now that we have Peter Gammons seeing some smoke on this, I have to wonder if there is fire??

 

Get it done Dougie!!! (That would be a big take that to the Cubs!)

[fondybrewfan]

Ok so assuming we would have to take the whole salary what do you feel is good compensation for the Cards. They really shouldnt be expecting a while lot IMO. I think Capuano would be more than enough

[twobrewers]

Ok so assuming we would have to take the whole salary what do you feel is good compensation for the Cards.

Claudio Vargas. As was stated, Rolen's offensive production wasn't much better than Estrada last year. He really had a poor year. He is getting old. He is an injury risk. And he is owed 36 million over 3 years. (Ask yourself, would he get that much as a Free Agent given his recent history?)

 

I think Capuano is overpaying. But if the Brewers are confident Rolen's can return to anything close to what he once was - that would be a steal.

 

I just feel that if the Cards would trade him within the division, they must obviously think he is done.

 

Worth pointing out, and I think I mentioned it in this thread a few weeks back now - last I heard was that the Cardinals were looking for a top flight prospect in return. (I would really hate to lose LaPorta, Jeffress, Parra, or Carlos Villanueva in a deal like this)

[Random Note: I was so proud of my wife the other night. While watching the Bucks game she said "Doesn't Charlie Villanueva play for the Brewers?"]

[splitterpfj]

As a 2007 draft pick, LaPorta can't be traded yet anyway, so he's safe. I can't see any way the Brewers would let go of Parra or Villanueva in a deal to add Rolen right now, they aren't going to feed a good, young arm like that to a divisional foe. Jeffress may have made himself available, but he's the only one on your list that seems possible to me.

 

I wonder if this thing could involve multiple players. If they won't pick up money, maybe we're going for an additional player in the mix.

[biedergb]

I can see a Capuano for Rolen deal. Both are players coming off of poor seasons. Cappy seems like the type of player that Larussa/Duncan like -- vet pitcher (ie, non rookie/prospect) with one plus pitch, who can use the defense behind him -- the Cards haven't developed a single pitching prospect under Larussa/Duncan other than Morris and now Wainwright, all the others were FAs, retreads or traded vets. I wouldn't trade Parra, Villy, etc as we need the young/low cost pitchers to offset the price of our position players over the next few years. Capuano is arby eligible, correct? He will be higher cost over the next few years, and that would help offset taking on Rolen's contract.

 

Now that is purely speculation, and just my opinion of what type of deal would make sense to both sides, and not what I think will happen. I also put a Mil-Stl deal in the 40-60 split of happening just because we are in the same division.

[jjfanec]

The unwillingness of the Cards to pick up an of the money is the sticking point for me. I know that means we should have to give them less than what they were first looking at, but that is a lot of money. The only nice thing is that Rolen is a big name player who another team might trade for so we probably wouldnt have him for that whole contract if he turned out to be less than what we were hoping for. I think the seriousness of his injury is obviously important. His numbers were not good last year, and he was hurt two years before that. Kind of a large risk for a guy making what 12 million a year.

[And That]

I'd love to trade Vargas for Rolen because that would mean we'd get the chance to face Vargas a number of times next year. And if they aren't picking up any of the salary, Vargas is about the most they should be able to get from the Brewers.

[JohnBriggs12]

Rolen's a proven run producer when healthy but he's got chronic shoulder problems that affects him at the plate. I'm sure it would mean Hart would bat 2nd, and Rolen 5th, but Corey's on base skills are not ideal for that spot and he turned into a big time run producer in September in the 5th spot.

 

Somebody suggested Gross, Counsell and (OMG) Munson would get a lot of ABs? Where? Maybe Gross in a partial platoon with Hall. Do we want Counsell or Munson getting any AB's. I certainly don't.

 

The guy who's going to see his numbers drop in a lineup of all those righthanders is Fielder. He's not going to get anything to hit from righthanded pitchers. Is Fielder patient enough at his young age to take 150 walks? I don't think so just yet. He might start pressing and going after bad pitches if he's not putting up numbers. Even if he does take the extra walks does it serve the Brewers to have him hit 20 fewer HR. I don't think so. Think about Braun too. Teams will avoid starting lefthanders against the Brewers. Braun kills lefties but vs. righthanders, his numbers are much less impressive.

 

Finally think about the matchups against the best starters in the division. They are virtually all righthanders, Zambrano, Harang, Carpenter, Wainwright, Oswalt, Snell etc. That's not to mention all the other tough righthanders in the league like Peavey, Webb, Hudson, Smoltz, Penny, Lincecum.

[trwi7]

scotty to milwaukee...no!!!! for capuano...nooooooo!!!! if braun is replace dby rolen at 3b, milwaukee's era goes down a quarter run, immediately. from the butcher to the best defensive 3b in baseball...why????

there had better be a lot more coming back from the brewers than capuano. if we were giving up rolen to mil, i'd want gallardo and bill hall and we chip in no money for rolen's contract.

you want rolen, you're gonna have to pay for him, turkeyes!!!

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[1e Corbeau]

The guy who's going to see his numbers drop in a lineup of all those righthanders is Fielder. He's not going to get anything to hit from righthanded pitchers. Is Fielder patient enough at his young age to take 150 walks? I don't think so just yet. He might start pressing and going after bad pitches if he's not putting up numbers. Even if he does take the extra walks does it serve the Brewers to have him hit 20 fewer HR. I don't think so. Think about Braun too. Teams will avoid starting lefthanders against the Brewers. Braun kills lefties but vs. righthanders, his numbers are much less impressive.

I read what you're writing, JB, but really the only changes are Jenkins and Estrada. I guess I don't think many opponents were deciding on tossing LHP at us to neutralize those two players (and that's when Jenkins wasn't being used in strict platoon).

 

Obviously, I want Braun to see as many LHP as possible, but I'm not sure if losing Jenks and Estrada will really change the opponent's strategy when choosing starters or managing their bullpen as much as you suggest. But, that's just my suggestion. I'd prefer another lefty bat for the LF/3B, but I haven't seen that player, yet. Unless we can land Fukudome.

[fondybrewfan]

scotty to milwaukee...no!!!! for capuano...nooooooo!!!! if braun is replace dby rolen at 3b, milwaukee's era goes down a quarter run, immediately. from the butcher to the best defensive 3b in baseball...why????

 

there had better be a lot more coming back from the brewers than capuano. if we were giving up rolen to mil, i'd want gallardo and bill hall and we chip in no money for rolen's contract.

you want rolen, you're gonna have to pay for him, turkeyes!!!

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That guy is basically saying what managment has said or was rumored to have said, a top prospect and no salary. For cripes sake they wanted Hughes from the Yankees!!! Obviously the Cards GM cannot honestly believe they would get someone the calibur or Gallardo or Hughes even if the Cards pick up every cent of the contract? If they want Gallardo they would have to pick up the entire Rolen contract, give us Adam Wainright and another top prospect

[TooLiveBrew]

Yea, it's always funny to me when a team shopping a player acts like the team they're trying to interest called about the player. To ask for anything more than Capuano without eating any of the salary is a joke.

 

Turk-eyes!

[Shawn Sabatke]

According to Rambling's, Gammons claims if the money is right, he expects Rolen in Mil next year. Playing & healthwise, we do have Counsell & Dillon to give him rest. $12 mil is mighty high for 125 games, but those three would help the left side of the infield defensively. I'm at work so I don't have time to delve into Rolen's current contract status, so I'm winging this without all my facts. I'm not a big fan of paying for a name, but we could kill two birds with one stone & get back to concentrating on the bullpen. Any thoughts?

[JohnBriggs12]

"playing and healthwise, we do have Counsell (and Dillon) to give him a rest".

 

Another reason not to like the proposed deal. As it was, Counsell's only PT figured to be late inning defensive replacement and designated sacrifice bunter. Any deal that results in Counsell seeing the field more often is not good in my mind.

 

Look Rolen's shoulder woes has resulted in a dramatic loss in power. To think the Brewers would be getting anything close to the player that earned that big contract is kidding ourselves.