All Quiet

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 17, 2007 1:17 PM CST in Milwaukee Brewers News

Most of the big name free agents have found their new homes, and we've seen a handful of major trades. Yet, with all the players changing uniforms, and all the new faces on the Brewers, we still probably have one too few starting 3B/LF/CF.

As I see it, here are the targets. For now, I'm going to leave out the mega-prospects like Adam Jones and Andy LaRoche, as those would only come back in a Ben Sheets deal, and I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen.

Third Basemen

Trade targets:
- Hank Blalock, TEX
- Joe Crede, CHA
- Scott Rolen, STL
- Edwin Encarnacion, CIN
Free agents:
- Morgan Ensberg
- Pedro Feliz

Left (and center) fielders

Trade targets:
- Josh Hamilton, CIN
Free agents:
- Barry Bonds (just sayin')
- Mike Cameron
- Kenny Lofton
- Trot Nixon
- Corey Patterson
- Reggie Sanders
- Brad Wilkerson

Given how appealing most of those free agent outfield options are, I'd say Ryan Braun ought to be shagging flies already. It's always possible that there are some trade talks flying under the radar, involving names that haven't come up in the press, but I can't think of many outfielders whose teams should be making available, let alone are making available.

Then again, most of those third base options aren't that exciting either. Most of them are the type of one-year stopgap I'd like in left field...but I suppose if Braun is moved to left, he's not going to move back to third in '09. Given the number, if not the quality, of internal LF options we have, I wouldn't mind getting Sanders as a platoonmate for Gross or Lofton as a starter and calling it an offseason. Cash in a starter or two for some mid-level prospects, make sure Braun isn't turning into Roger Dorn, and hope for the best.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Kenny Lofton

I think I mentioned this on another post at some point, but I feel Lofton would fit in well with what we are looking for, i.e., left-handed bat, speed, good OBP, good defense. I would guess with his age he isn't looking for more than a one-year contract, and I'm not down on all the projections and so forth but I would think he should still put up some decent numbers. I think Braun deserves some time to improve at third before hitting the panic button and I get the impression they don't think Gross/Gwynn are ready for the full-time load in left. Signing him for roughly around the $6 million he made last year seems like a lot smaller riske than some of the money we have spent on relievers this offseason.

This just in...Ned Yost has officially announced he will be taking over the Left Field duties for the Miwaukee Brewers in 2008...

by MadJimiBrewha on Dec 17, 2007 1:51 PM CST reply actions

x2

I agree on pretty much every count.

by Trent Durrington on Dec 17, 2007 2:20 PM CST up reply actions

Big Riske

...seems like a lot smaller riske than some of the money we have spent on relievers this offseason.

That was a pretty Riske chance you took to bring up this topic again.

by newguy @ Brew Crew Ball on Dec 17, 2007 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

No doubt

he was feeling pretty friske if he brought it up again.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Dec 17, 2007 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

(off-topic, RJ)

my bcb football team took a turn for the worst-ke this week. i will have to hold on to my claim as the regular season point leader; and that i beat every team at least one week. but it was a bummer that my team had it's worst week ever (in over three months). no tom brady touchdowns? shenanigans, i say! boo!

Jamie is a Softball Champion!

by Jamie in LA on Dec 17, 2007 7:38 PM CST up reply actions

Hmpf.

i will have to hold on to my claim as the regular season point leader; and that i beat every team at least one week.

Well, that and a $1.50 will buy you a cup of coffee. :)

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Dec 17, 2007 8:09 PM CST up reply actions

haaaaaaaaa. yeah totally...

Jamie is a Softball Champion!

by Jamie in LA on Dec 17, 2007 8:11 PM CST up reply actions

but

it won't even buy you an espresso at most coffee shops....

by oaklandbrewerfan on Dec 18, 2007 12:38 AM CST up reply actions

Just a question

Theoretically, if the crew didnt make any more moves, and went into next season with the current roster, what would they do with all their pitchers. I don't think most of them could be sent down to the minors (maybe bush, but im really not sure how this works, if someone could clarify that would be wonderful), and we have plenty of good bullpen arms where we wouldnt want vargas etc in the pen.

by marty22 on Dec 18, 2007 11:46 AM CST reply actions

it would be a disaster :)

I think Villanueva and Parra are the only ones who could be sent down. It would suck to demote two pitchers who are almost surely better than at least two of the pitchers who would stay instead.

Weird, but not weird.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 18, 2007 1:46 PM CST up reply actions

Just be cynical

Sending them down until someone's injured means their service time stalls a little longer and we might sneak another year before arbitration.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Dec 18, 2007 4:24 PM CST up reply actions

but

by leaving our better pitchers in AAA we might also sneak another year before we reach the playoffs...

by oaklandbrewerfan on Dec 19, 2007 2:07 PM CST up reply actions

how about kevin kouzmanoff

i realize he's not the best defensively either, but he could be pretty cheap with headley ready to contribute and kouz coming off a down year. He raked throughout the minors, and raised his avg and obp 40 points over the final two months of last year, showing flashes of his potential. definitely not the ideal choice, moving braun to left by putting a less than stellar defender there, but just a thought.

by marty22 on Dec 19, 2007 11:15 PM CST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

NL Central Standings

	PCT	STRK
Chicago Bleed Cubbie Blue	.000	Lost 0
Cincinnati Red Reporter	.000	Lost 0
Houston The Crawfish Boxes	.000	Lost 0
Milwaukee Brew Crew Ball	.000	Lost 0
Pittsburgh Bucs Dugout	.000	Lost 0
St. Louis Viva El Birdos	.000	Lost 0