how 'bout Corey Patterson?

[polwonks]

Lead-off hitter, experience,Hall to left...MLB Rumors speculates 6-8mill/year. Always liked his game-could he fit (as opposed to Jones or Church)?

[colbyjack]

No offense polwonks, but the team that signs Corey Patterson $6-8M/year to play centerfield AND to be their leadoff hitter is doomed beyond doomed.

 

Look at his career numbers, he sucks, and that's being polite. The only reason he's generating $6-8M/year numbers is because Boras is his agent. He'll get a 1-year deal from the team that misses the boat on Andruw Jones, Aaron Rowand, Coco Crisp and Tony Gwynn Jr. I'd rather trade for Gary Matthews Jr.

[DuWayne Steurer]

A guy with a .298 career OBP (.304 last year) doesn't belong in a starting lineup, much less the leadoff spot.

 

Patterson is extremely overvalued because he had one decent year 5 years ago, and he can steal a base for you.

[MNBrew]

I tend to favor exploring options, but Patterson's track record outweighs his potential in my book. No thanks.

[danzig6767]

How about no way

[SmartBall]

Absolutely terrible, he has no business in the bigs much less in the starting lineup of a competitive team

[dadofandrew]

Patterson is not a bad player, given his skills and production, but I do not see him as an upgrade over Gabe Gross, never mind Hall.

[endaround]

Patterson's skills or lack there of make him a bad player. He's a 5th outfielder.

[Fear The Chorizo]

if baseball were played on a track and players were guaranteed to get a strike to hit on every pitch they see, Patterson would be all-star caliber.

 

Unfortunately for Corey, plate discipline, situational baseball, and reading/reacting to batted balls are important parts of the game.

 

Patterson may have developed into a much better player had the Cubs not rushed him through the minors and had him playing in the bigs at least 2 years too soon. I think the other bump in his career was the knee/leg injury he had in 2003 - he was among the team's best offensive players and was playing a very good defensive CF when he went down, and it looked like he was starting to make improvements on the many weaknesses of his game. When he came back the next year, it looked like he forgot any teaching/development he had.

[mdresen]

I still remember seeing the ESPN "ticker" announcing the move that day and a major feeling of dread immediately hit me.

[dadofandrew]

He looks to be about a .310/.430 guy if you leave out his first 3 years, when he should not have been up at all. That can't be far from average for a CF. I don't know his defense, but if ok or better, he's certainly an option, though probably best served to never step foot in the box versus a LHP.

[TURBO]

please, please, NO!

[DuWayne Steurer]

He looks to be about a .310/.430 guy if you leave out his first 3 years, when he should not have been up at all. That can't be far from average for a CF. I don't know his defense, but if ok or better, he's certainly an option, though probably best served to never step foot in the box versus a LHP.

In 2 of the last 3 years, he's put up a SLG% under .400, and he struggles to keep on OBP around .300. As far as I can see with the defensive metrics available, he's probably about average defensively. Given the terrible OBP, and the price tag that's been mentioned, I can't see a reason to even consider this guy, when there's cheaper (and better) options already on the roster.

 

[TURBO]

I'd rather play fat, slow, big-headed Mench...

[DrWood]

patterson might be fine as a 4th/5th OF. Not as someone you count on to start. Certainly not for $6million, unless that's spread out over 3 years.

[dadofandrew]

$6M for a slightly below average CF is about market rate. Not saying it's right, but it is.

[DuWayne Steurer]

$6M for a slightly below average CF is about market rate. Not saying it's right, but it is.

 

I don't disagree with that, but I think a team with the Brewers financial flexibility should rarely pay that kind of coin for a guy who, let's face it, isn't very good. When you have guys like Gabe Gross, Joe Dillon, and Laynce Nix already on your roster (not saying those guys are world beaters) who fit the "slightly below average" tag, coupled with the fact that they're cheap as can be, I don't see a reason to go after a guy like Patterson.

A team like the Mets, Yanks, BoSox, Angels? I can see that, because they never have to worry about having 1/12th of their payroll tied into a backup player.

 

I'm one of the guys who will advocate going and spending market rate or even a bit above on guys who will make your team better when you feel like you have the talent to make a run, which the Brewers clearly do, I just don't think Patterson makes them any better.