Why not Melvin Mora?

[fleehaw]

It seems like everyone who has ever played 3B has been brought up as a possible option for the Brewers. Mora's name has been mentioned, but nothing substantial. Since Rolen is a hot topic, here's an interesting comparison.

 

Last 3 seasons:

Rolen 310 games played, .774OPS, career 96.6%FP and BB about 1:8ABs

Mora 430 games played, .771OPS, career 96.6%FP and BB about 1:10ABs

 

I know FP isn't the best fielding stat, but it's all I had available at this time. If Mora's range is considerably less than Rolen, please post it.

 

Mora is a couple years older, but he's only got 2 years and ~$16M left on his deal (with a team option for 2010). Compare that to Rolen and his 3yrs/$36M.

 

I got to think the price tag for Mora wouldn't be that substantial. It's an option worth exploring and IMO, is a better option than Crede, Feliz, or Huff.

 

Perhaps Bush & TGJ for Mora and some $$$ would work, perhaps not.

[Tbadder]

I think he would command more. Something like: choice of three pitchers--Vargas, Bush, Cappy.

Plus Parra and Gamel

[StearnsFTW]

I think just Gwynn would be enough. Mora's value is very low right now.

 

I wouldn't nind Mora as a fallback option. He will almost certainly still be available come spring training. If nothing better presents itself, I wouldn't mind getting Mora. I sure wouldn't give up much though. Definitely not Bush.

 

Better option than Crede or Feliz IMO.

[Tbadder]

Interesting. Is it only the money and age that makes Mora worthless (worthless enough to equal Gwynn?). How is a guy with a proven, positive track record, even thiough he's on the downside, worth the same as a guy with no track record and little or no potential?

[TooLiveBrew]

I agree that Mora looks like a viable option if we're counting Crede & Feliz as such. Plus, Mora's burned the O's F.O. in the press, so he's a tad more available given that. My only concern is his age, and what it might mean for his SLG%, and consequently, his OBP.

 

We certainly could not get him just for TGJ, but imo it wouldn't take much more than one of our SP chips (Cap/Bush/Vargas) plus someone like TGJ.

[Ennder]

Statistically he was slightly above average defensively last season at +2.8 runs. Rolen was +12.1 runs in a little less playtime.

 

I'd rather have Rolen since he has more upside since his decline seems injury related. Mora's decline feels more age related looking at his stats. But I agree that Mora could be had a lot more cheaply and might be an option.

[DrWood]

as a one-year stopgap, mora would be fine, and I think he'd come cheaply. Problem is, is a one-year stopgap at 3b a good choice? I think you need a guy for two years to justify moving Braun, and I wouldn't want to commit two years to Mora at this stage of his career.

[StearnsFTW]

Well, I may have overstated it a bit when I said just TGJ, but no way I give up Bush or Capuano for him. I'd do Vargas, but I don't see why the Orioles would.

 

Maybe a couple #10-15 type prospects.

[TooLiveBrew]

I agree that I'd be hesitant to deal Cappy or Bush for Mora, but would be fine with Vargas.

[yoshii8]

I wouldn't mind having Mora as our 3rd baseman for this season. He has been an elite hitter as recently as 04'. I think he would bring a .345/.750, and possibly even better w/ the switch to the NL Central. He hits lefties and righties equally, and has the ability to steal some bases. I like him if we could get him for Vargas and a non prospect.

 

 

What would be really cool is going after a Mora and Bedard package, that would make us the favorites to win the Central for sure.

 

How about Capuano/Bush, Parra/Villanueva, and a couple of prospects between Jeffress, Gamel, Gwynn, and Escobar. This won't happen, but it would be cool to have a rotation of Bedard, Sheets, Gallardo, Suppan, and Parra/Villanueva.

[endaround]

As recently as '04? Thats not really comforting when talking about a 36 year old. Its not really this season, its next year when he's likely to now be below average and set to earn $9 million. And thats all assuming he'd waive his no trade clause without forcing the receiving team to pick up his option.

[yoshii8]

Well he did also have an OPS over .820 in 05', and a .760 OPS last year. I was just saying 04' because he almost had a .1000 OPS that year. Hes not my first choice either, but I wouldn't hate having him as our 3rd baseman and #2 hitter. He already stated that he would waive his no trade clause to play for a contender. Hes tired of losing, so I think the fire is still there for him.

[TooLiveBrew]

Mora's not exactly in a free-fall, production-wise, but he's getting up there at 36. I think, as end mentioned, he'd be a decent choice for '08, but '09 could be rough. If it came down to Mora or Ensberg, I'd go with Ensberg. Secretly I guess I'm still holding out hope for Rolen, but I think the money there is an issue. More and more, Pedro Feliz is a name that doesn't make me shudder. No, he's not a #2 hitter, but as long as he wouldn't be a multi-yr. deal, I think he'd help us quite a bit.

[yoshii8]

I'm really hoping for a Rolen deal also. I wouldn't mind Ensberg, but I don't really like the idea of Pedro Feliz being our 3B.

 

If we can't acquire one of Rolen, Laroche, Teahen, Crede, Chavez, Mora then I'd like to after Feliz or Ensberg.

[MNBrew]

If we can't acquire one of Rolen, Laroche, Teahen, Crede, Chavez, Mora then I'd like to after Feliz or Ensberg.

Remember that Melvin in essence said they'd consider moving Braun for a serious, established 3B who upgrades the team enough to merit moving Braun to LF. So I say this:

 

If we can't acquire one of Rolen, Laroche, Teahen, Crede, Chavez, Mora . . . then I say leave Braun at 3B and let LF sort itself out with whomever we have and whomever else we still might get. We don't have to get a 3B. We need to improve the team overall. Feliz and Ensberg are likely lateral moves in spite of whatever statistical analysis suggests they're upgrades in some respect -- they're still downgrades in other respects, which then equates to a lateral move, which then isn't worth it.

 

[TooLiveBrew]

But the 'lateral move' also has another plus, in Braun's impact on d is minimized. It's not like getting above-avg. offense from LF is just as good as at 3B, since Braun still has so far to go on d. His bat will still be stellar from LF, and it'll use his tools more effectively, too.

[Gopher74]

I think he would command more. Something like: choice of three pitchers--Vargas, Bush, Cappy.

Plus Parra and Gamel

I'd have to think that package right there would get you Roberts and Mora. That's an awful lot to give up for a guy like Melvin Mora, especially when it appears that the O's are run by an idiot, and are in full blown rebuilding mode.

I don't think I've got to justify the idiot comment, but as an example, the package the O's got for Tejada right after they turned down Wood and Santana for Tejada last year(I believe that was the proposed deal that Angelos nixed).

 

In any event, Mora would be, in my opinion, a fantastic addition. He's a guy who's going to hit about .280 with a .340-.350 OBP and give you about 15 HR's. All that's just gravy when you think about how much better our defense looks with Braun off of 3rd base.

 

And hey, maybe he's got another 27 HR, .300/.400 season left in him. I seriously doubt it, but if he does, we go from serious contender for the NLC to very likely World Series favorites.

 

But yea, if we're going to give up a package of Chris Capuano, Manny Parra, and Mat Gamel, the 3rd basemen we get in return had better be Adrian Beltre or Eric Chavez who's proven he's healthy. I wouldn't even want to give up a package anywhere near that for Mr. Scott Rolen. That is two starters who will likely be at worst league average this year, both left handers, and one is a power lefty with a ton of potential, and then Gamel who looks as though he'll have a legit big league bat. Just way, way, way too much in my opinion.

[Ennder]

Parra and Gamel would get Mora by themselves pretty easily. Parra alone would most likely do it. Mora is at the end of his career and the Orioles would probably be happy to get rid of his contract.

 

I don't want to trade Parra for Mora though, just saying they'd probably do it.

[aracko]

Teahen made the move to the OF without any issues and I think led the Royals in OF assists. Thats a testimate to how good a former 3rd baseman can be in the OF with a rocket arm.

 

 

 

To me Mora is the ideal situation but I wouldnt want to give up Parra - id give them Bush and one of our top 10 propsects, or maybe Baltimore would be interested in Derrick Turnbow. Chris Ray is hurt and I think they have Danny Baez who is also recovering from Tommy John. They do have Sarfate who I always thought would be a good MLB Closer.

 

 

 

Mora for Turnbow just seems like it would fit perfectly.