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Monday's Frosty Mug

Some things to read while protecting your mate from unwanted advances.

So you've probably heard that CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Brian Shouse all declined arbitration over the weekend. In fact, of the 24 free agents offered arbitration, 22 declined. Bleeding Blue and Teal thinks the Mariners should target Shouse, but as noted below, the Mariners appear to be targeting the entire Brewers organization.

Bleeding Blue and Teal also has the Brewers as a potential 2009 destination for 3B Adrian Beltre. There are worse options out there.

How's your fastball? The Junkball Blues takes a look at the fastball of Ben Sheets, CC Sabathia, Seth McClung and a host of other Brewers.

Here's today's Sabathia Smorgasbord:

  • You've likely heard this one, as Jon Heyman and several other outlets are reporting the Brewers are expected to upgrade their offer to Sabathia, perhaps to include a sixth season.
  • Could the Red Sox be a player? MLB Trade Rumors says team officials will meet with Sabathia. Ian Browne of MLB.com downplayed the possibility anything could happen.
  • Bill Hall says 5 years/$100 million might be enough to keep Sabathia around.
  • Dayn Perry says Mark Teixiera will be a much less risky signing for his eventual team.

FanGraphs thinks the Brewers got a pretty good deal on Jorge Julio, based on his projections for 2009.

We've been talking for months about the possibility of Mike Cameron moving to New York, but I don't know if we've ever discussed the possibility that he could be a Met.

Are you craving more minor league discussion? John Sickels is getting ready to release his list of the top 20 Brewer prospects. Click the link to go discuss your favorite prospects.

Speaking of prospects, TheJay has continued the series over at Recondite Baseball by making leaderboards for errors in AA, giving me the opportunity to point out that Chris Errecart (1B), Mike Bell (2B), Mat Gamel (3B) and Cole Gillespie (OF) were all among the leaders.

So, with the Winter Meetings almost over, the next deadline is Friday, when teams could non-tender players for 2009. MLB Trade Rumors has a list of candidates, including Chris Capuano. Elsewhere on the hot stove:

Angels: Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Teixiera and Jon Garland all declined arbitration, but Darren Oliver accepted.
Astros: Signed Matt Kata to a minor league deal.
Athletics: The team reportedly offered Rafael Furcal a four year deal, but will move on to other targets now that he's rejected it.
Blue Jays: A.J. Burnett declined arbitration. Joe DelGrippo says his mechanics make him a high injury risk.
Braves: Team officials sound pretty optimistic about John Smoltz's chances to return in 2009 after watching him throw off a mound this weekend. They're also aggressively pursuing Raul Ibanez at the winter meetings.
Cardinals: May still be in the running for Jake Peavy after all. They're also showing interest in A.J. Burnett.
Cubs: Signed former Brewer C Mark Johnson and two others to minor league deals.
D-Backs: Brandon Lyon declined arbitration and is likely headed elsewhere. With him and Adam Dunn gone, the team might have money to re-sign Randy Johnson after all.
Dodgers: Manny Ramirez, Derek Lowe and Casey Blake all declined arbitration. Also, Joe Torre downplayed a rumor that Andy Pettitte could come to LA.
Giants: Are downplaying their interest in several big-ticket free agents, but especially Manny Ramirez.
Indians: Signed Tomo Ohka to a minor league deal.
Mariners: The team has to be hoping one of the jilted suitors for Pirates SS Jack Wilson will turn their attention to Yuniesky Betancourt. Also, Raul Ibanez declined arbitration.
Mets: Oliver Perez declined arbitration.
Rangers: The team may be looking to trim payroll, which I guess makes them a less likely suitor for Ben Sheets. Also, Milton Bradley declined arbitration.
Red Sox: Jason Varitek declined arbitration.
Reds: Re-signed Mike Lincoln to a two-year deal. Also, they may or may not have reached a deal to trade Homer Bailey to the White Sox for Jermaine Dye, depending on which source you believe, and David Weathers accepted arbitration.
Rockies: Brian Fuentes declined arbitration.
Tigers: Have reportedly reached a deal to acquire C Gerald Laird from the Rangers. They could also be looking to sign Kerry Wood.

Obviously, we're still a while away from knowing which players made the Hall of Fame on the BBWAA ballot, but Dugout Central is reporting Joe Torre, Dick Allen and Ron Santo will be elected by the Veterans' Committee. UPDATE: THEY'RE WRONG. Meanwhile, Dan Plesac, one of three former Brewers on the BBWAA ballot, has accepted a job with the new MLB Network. He'll get to play in their new mini stadium.

I'm still somewhat behind the curve on defensive metrics, although I'm trying to learn. If you're also learning, you should probably check out Dave Cameron's post on the goals and limitations of defensive stats.

We'll always have enough Tigers, Lions, Bears and Wildcats, so I for one applaud the voters for renaming the Winston-Salem baseball team The Dash.

In what can only be considered good news for the game, baseball continues to become more of a global sport. Just this offseason, the Pirates have signed players from South Africa and India, and the Rays are opening an academy in Brazil.

Meanwhile, if you're looking for a job that pays next to nothing a little closer to home, the Brewers are hiring interns.

Oh, and this doesn't work. Trust a voice of experience.

Drink up.

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Comments

Display:

I would do unspeakable things if we got Beltre

He’s an absolute monster defensively and is average or slightly above offensively. He’s seriously worth +20 or 30 runs defensively.

---
Juuuust a bit outside!!
http://www.rightfieldbleachers.com

by jhmoore on Dec 8, 2008 10:42 AM CST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I was also going to say this
Bleeding Blue and Teal also has the Brewers as a potential 2009 destination for 3B Adrian Beltre. There are worse options out there.

Change “are worse” to “aren’t better” and I agree with this.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by Jordan M on Dec 8, 2008 10:49 AM CST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Updated

To note that Dugout Central’s sources on the HOF ballot were wrong.

I don't specifically articulate my motives, because that wouldn't travel as well as a boo does.

by KLSnow on Dec 8, 2008 1:08 PM CST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Sabathia

I’m trying to temper my optimism that 6 years, $110-120 mil, and an opt-out clause after 2 or 3 gets it done. That would be such a perfect scenario.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by Jordan M on Dec 8, 2008 1:12 PM CST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Indeed

I definitely wouldn’t complain about basically getting CC for a 2/3 year deal assuming the market for aces continues to climb, the economy turns around, and he doesn’t implode. Not entirely sure how opt outs work, but would we then get 2 draft picks from the signing team if he takes the opt out?

Congrats 08 Crew on a fine Wild Card achievement! What do you say we keep the next postseason drought to something a little shorter than a quarter of a Century.

by MadJimiBrewha on Dec 8, 2008 3:22 PM CST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yes, we would-- he's a free agent, of course you'd have to offer arb

The possibility of getting Sabathia on what would amount to a 2 or 3-year deal if he stays healthy is incredible. If he doesn’t take the opt-out and his skills do decrease to 4 era or so in the last few years, you have to realize that a replacement pitcher like Suppan can get $10 per year in 2006, what will a well above-average pitcher get in 2012? The risk is that he blows out something major. But then again, you take that risk with any free agent pitcher and with a healthy Sabathia, we’re WS contenders in the next 3 years.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by Jordan M on Dec 8, 2008 3:28 PM CST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Plus

Let’s say we have a losing record near the end of his contract, the Crew could pull off a trade like Cleveland did with us and replenish the farm system when it is all said and done.

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Dec 8, 2008 3:30 PM CST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I don't know about you...

But I’m not planning on the Brewers being a losing team in 2011.

I don't specifically articulate my motives, because that wouldn't travel as well as a boo does.

by KLSnow on Dec 8, 2008 3:47 PM CST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I don't plan on it, but you never know

Braun gets injured, and one other pitcher goes down, and the Cubs/Cards or Stros are way up…

It is kind of the view I have of the Cameron contract in 2009, if for some reason we are in not in a position for the playoffs, we can make trades to improve the team for the future.

I don’t plan on it, but it is a good worst case scenario. Our prospects are coming to maturity the next few years, so I think the Brewers will have great teams- the chances of them every single year to be in the playoffs or legitimatly in the wildcard race is low.

The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.

by Kyguy922 on Dec 8, 2008 5:29 PM CST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Re: Oliver accepting arbitration

It sucks to be a Type A free agent sometimes.

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

by TheJay on Dec 8, 2008 4:27 PM CST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

It would be crazy if a player like him unknowingly turned it down and then found out his old team didn’t want him back. He’d probably have to retire or go to Japan, no one would sign him.

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by Jordan M on Dec 8, 2008 6:20 PM CST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Adrian Beltre

Yes please.

"You have no honor!" - McClung to Fukudome

by zsxander567 on Dec 8, 2008 4:33 PM CST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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