Mench on the way out?

[dpapo]

Both Haudricourt and McCalvy have articles in which they mention that Mench may be on his way out. Seems like Melvin is thinking about a few options. Could be Rolen with all the smoke there, but there's already a thread for that. Could be another leftfielder that hasn't been mentioned yet. Doesn't seem like it will come down to a Dillon/Gross/Gwynn Jr. platoon, though he could just be a platoon with a different right hand hitting outfielder.

 

From McCalvy,

..."The Brewers will wait until after next week's Winter Meetings to decide where outfielder Kevin Mench fits in the plan for 2008.

"There's still a couple of clubs that have asked a little bit about Kevin," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said. "They might be interested in Kevin on a one-year deal." Mench remains one option to man left field in the absence of longtime Brewer Geoff Jenkins, who departed via free agency. Gabe Gross, Joe Dillon and possibly Tony Gwynn, Jr. have also been mentioned as possibilities, though Melvin hinted this week that he would like to add to give Yost at least one more option.

"I'm not sure we're going to have a starting guy," Melvin said. "It might be a mix of guys, and the total mix probably isn't here yet."

 

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071130&content_id=2314430&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil

 

And from Haudricout, I already have left a link for it in the Rolen thread,

 

..."The Brewers also are trying to trade outfielder Kevin Mench and might try to include him in any such deal (possible Rolen deal)."

[AJAY]

If Mench isn't traded, I hope the Brewers just non-tender him and let him go. I don't want to waste 3 or 4 million on a guy like Mench. He is not exceptional in any aspect of the game, and I would rather see Joe Dillon or someone else get the at-bats. I would rather throw that money at another bullpen arm or a better outfield option.

[wallus]

He is not exceptional in any aspect of the game

He is quite exceptional at hitting left handed pitching.

[logan82]

$3-$4M wouldn't be bad for next year. We have money, but I agree it would be better spent on bulpen arms. The thing is to get most of those arms we either have to give up other players or multi year contracts. I guess it comes down to wether we think LaPorta will be ready by 2009 and if he is going to be a MLB LF. If Laporta seems to be the answer in 2009 a Mench and Gross platoon makes a lot of sense for one year. Gross is cheap and we only have a one year commitnemt to Mench. Comitting multiple years or players to a one year fillin makes little sense. Of course getting a LF gives us more depth and puts us in a pretty good position to tfade an outfielder in the future. Leaving prospects in the minors an extra year or two wouldn't exactly hurt either. So now you know where I stand.

[Scooter1027]

He is not exceptional in any aspect of the game

He is quite exceptional at hitting left handed pitching.

Bingo. If we are unable to pick up an everyday leftfielder (or 3B that moves Braun out), I have no problem bringing Mench back and doing the platoon thing. He's not an everyday guy, but he does hit lefties very well.

[Invader3K]

I don't have a big problem with Mench as a bench/platoon guy, but if the Brewers get a decent offer for him, they may as well take it.

[Tbadder]

I think Mench needs to be moved and I hope that Melivin can find another Villy buried in A+ ball. I wouldn't non-tender him because he really does bash lefties and that has value in this league. 4 or 5 mil seems cheap right now, though I take your point about the money.

[Fatter than Joey]

He is quite exceptional at hitting left handed pitching.

 

Sure -- however, in reality -- In Yost's scheme -- Mench will get probably as many ABs against RHP as he does, so while he does have the ability to hit LHP well, you have to deal with his .564 OPS against RHP.

 

Certainly an upgrade can be had.

[Boy Jeenius]

Like it or not, Mench has value. He has not played particularly great here, but as a halfway decent MLB player - Mench is an asset. To simply let an asset go non tendered, I would hope, should not be an option. I like the suggestion of a Villy type nugget at least.

[sgtcluels]

who would I boo and then eat my words on?

 

Mench is to expensive for a below average fielder and leftie only. We'll get trapped int the same stuff we had last year.

 

1) Yosting and sending him against RHP.

2) Other managers will burn our bench in the later inning by showing RHP and us countering.

[patrickgpe]

my first hope would be to see him traded this week. I think he has value and would like him to get something in return. A gross and mench platoon though would not be the greatest options in left i believe.

[JohnBriggs12]

If a platoon is a strict platoon, the righthanded portion of it gets no more than 20-25% of the starts. Mench figures to earn enough in arbitration to get paid like a guy getting 75% of the starts. He just isn't a good value especially considering his skills duplicate what they have in spades up and down the lineup. What they are lacking is a guy who can handle the bat, make good contact, hit for average, work counts, run a bit and get on in front of sluggers Braun, Fielder, and Hart.