Vazquez/Bradley

by Milwaukee's Gr8est on Nov 8, 2009 10:39 PM CST Comment 39 comments

I know people hate reading trade proposals, and scenarios proposed by fans rarely make sense, but I'm interested in what people think, so here it goes:

Javier Vazquez had a phenomenal season with the Braves this year, but there have been reports that the Braves might make him available now that they have resigned Tim Hudson, and they are in need of an OF that bats from the right side. I imagine that 2 seasons of Corey Hart is not enough of a return for Atlanta, but possibly with the inclusion of Casey McGehee a deal could be reached.

Hart + McGehee (?) = Vazquez

To be followed by:

Suppan = Milton Bradley

The Cubs are looking to ditch Bradley and the Brewers will have a new opening in the outfield. The Cubs will save money overall ($21M over 2 years vs $14.5M including $2M buyout) and they might need a starter considering Ted Lilly's health questions and the rumor that they aren't planning to resign Rich Harden.

Bradley had an off year in 2009, but still managed to produce 1.0 WAR, coming after seasons of 4.5, 2.4 and 2.7 WAR in 2008-2006. He is also a switch hitter which will give the Brewers another Left handed batter against RHP.

The Brewers take on Vazquez's $11.5M next season but actually save $5.5M (counting the buyout for Suppan) by dealing Suppan for Bradley, for a total bump in payroll of only $6M, and this doesn't take into account Corey Hart's $3.25M salary from last year which would go up to around $4 or $5M. Therefore, the trades are almost salary neutral next season, which leaves plenty of money to add the pitching Doug Melvin has been talking about. Possibly even enough for the only name we've heard him mention, "Lackey".

This obviously wouldn't be the final two moves for the Brewers, as the team would still need a #3 and #4 starter to fit in between Vazquez/Gallardo and Bush. And I am hoping Melvin will pursue the likes of Eric Bedard, Justin Duscherer and other higher risk/higher reward types that will pitch effectively when healthy and replaced on the staff by someone like Parra or Butler when/if they are shelved for a period of time.

Have at it...pick it apart...

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gerut

Would rather move Jody to right field than take on the cancer of Bradley. Even if it means we keep soup for his last ridiculous salary year.

by Jeo on Nov 8, 2009 11:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

at least a braun / gomez / gerut outfield would be ridiculous defensively

by warwick5s on Nov 9, 2009 12:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Nov 9, 2009 1:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I sure do see..

a lot of Gerut love in these posts. If he was even remotely in Macha’s plans for next year don’t you think he would’ve gotten more than just 177 PAs with the Brewers? The stathead in me would love to see him platoon with CarGo in center and even get the majority of the PA’s. The realist in me sees the Mustache waiving him after a lackluster spring training in favor of keeping the dreadful Riske on the roster…

by balldeagle on Nov 11, 2009 9:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Riske will be on the 60-day DL from the get go next year

Sign Corky Miller

by TheJay on Nov 11, 2009 5:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He had Tommy John surgery, right?

I can’t remember, and a little too lazy to go find it right now.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Nov 11, 2009 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, it was TJ surgery

He probably would be ready to pitch until late next season, at the earliest

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Nov 11, 2009 7:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not upset about that at all

but its still annoying that he pitched so little on a 3 year deal.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Nov 13, 2009 9:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Picking it apart

I don’t think Hart and McGehee would get it done for Vazquez. I hear Atlanta already has a pretty good 3B.

Part of me would love to trade Suppan for Bradley, but a larger part of me doesn’t want to touch that trade with a 30 ft. bat. I think Bradley will have a bit of a bounce back year next season, but he’s still a clubhouse cancer and I wouldn’t want to ruin that magical Brewers clubhouse chemistry that we all hear so much about (however that might not mean anything to DM, because Milton is a former Ranger). I’m also excited about getting Soup’s contract off the books after next season and adding Bradley’s contract would just mean another year of waiting to get a bad contract of the books.

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Nov 9, 2009 10:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Chipper

said that he would consider retiring if his 2010 was a repeat of 2009, and given his injury history and the Braves’ need for a 1B, they could move Chipper across the diamond if it were easier to get a 3B.

In addition, Vazquez has just one year left on his deal, but Hart and McGehee combine for a total of 7 years under team control. The Braves would save a lot of money in such a deal, at least in 2010. I don’t think this is so lop-sided, actually.

If this was close with Atlanta, I might do something like include Angel Salome and David Ross in the deal—Salome would be a cheap young backup for McCann who could give him a platoon break vs. tough LHP, while Ross would give the Crew a veteran place-holder for Lucroy.

I’ve had this exact trade scenario in my head for the last week and think it’s certainly viable.

I’d much rather tell Gamel to start snagging flies in RF, though, than make that Bradley-Suppan swap, if only to know that we’ll have a lot of money to spend next off-season if needs be.

"I've had the time of my afterlife." --Patrick Swayze

by baumann on Nov 9, 2009 11:40 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Touché

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Nov 9, 2009 12:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well thought out

I can’t really poke many holes in it.

Although part of me dies inside whenever I see a trade proposal with 7 years of club control for 1 year of pitching.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Nov 9, 2009 1:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No doubt.

And with the Salome/Ross scenario it would make a 13:2 ratio.

But the thing is I think it would make us better in 2010, and most people would agree that we have to try to compete while Prince is still with us. (That made it sound like he’s terminally ill. I don’t think he is. I hope he lives forever.)

"I've had the time of my afterlife." --Patrick Swayze

by baumann on Nov 9, 2009 3:53 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

which is why I can’t really poke any holes in it.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Nov 9, 2009 5:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If I remember right

Bradley said that he was happiest in Texas because it was a close-knit group of guys and was the only place where the players have tried to make him feel like a part of the team. The Brewers obviously also appear to have a very close clubhouse, so maybe having Bradley in Milwaukee would work.

by NoahJ on Nov 9, 2009 1:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Possibly

Or, he could call Casey McGehee a racist, and then call out the fans when we boo him for it while snapping his bat over his knee en route to calling out the city.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Nov 9, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

… the clubhouse dynamic is certain to change without Cameron, so there’s no telling whether someone would be willing/able to tell Bradley to shut the f*** up at the appropriate moment.

What begins in fear usually ends in folly.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Nov 9, 2009 7:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mr Fielder would like a word with you

by Saltire on Nov 9, 2009 9:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, because kicking Parra's ass clearly got him to come around, huh?

None of us really know who says or does what or plays what role in the clubhouse, but I think it’s safe to assume that the dynamic in the clubhouse will be dramatically different in a year where the originator of the the “untuck” departs. That and the fact that virtually every article I’ve read that discusses the clubhouse dynamic in 08 and 09 mentioned Cameron prominently.

What begins in fear usually ends in folly.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Nov 9, 2009 9:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Cameron, like CC Sabathia, is friends with every single major league baseball player

Sign Corky Miller

by TheJay on Nov 9, 2009 9:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Villa

With both the Cubs and Braves looking to add to their bullpens, including Villa in either deal wouldn’t be the worst move for the Brewers, because it would save somewhere around $2M next season. The Braves could lose both Rafael Soriano and MIke Gonzalez this winter, making Villa’s closer experience attractive. Villa has been a fairly solid arm with the Brewers, but it becomes harder for a team with their payroll to justify paying a reliever that isn’t pitching in the 8th or 9th with the lead more than $1M. And the team should have Braddock and Butler ready to step in.

by Milwaukee's Gr8est on Nov 9, 2009 3:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

In my hours spent speculating on this in the bathroom, this was the other idea that I had, and wouldn’t mind it at all.

"I've had the time of my afterlife." --Patrick Swayze

by baumann on Nov 9, 2009 3:50 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

But why would you add Villa to the deal

if Hart/McGehee would get it done?

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Nov 9, 2009 3:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's a loose process here

Maybe, Hart + Villa gets it done and the Brewers can keep Casey. I’m just talking and listening.

by Milwaukee's Gr8est on Nov 9, 2009 4:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously

I wouldn’t. I meant if we had to, I would concede.

Also, if Hart and Villy would get it done, I’d rather do that and have McGehee around on the cheap. I was just trying to anticipate what the Braves might demand in return.

"I've had the time of my afterlife." --Patrick Swayze

by baumann on Nov 9, 2009 4:29 PM CST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

A different idea

Would Hart be enough to net Kawakami?

"A D+ Grade? That must have been a Wittardo grade"- @73_MC

by BrewHaHeather on Nov 9, 2009 6:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Don't they make Metal Gear Solid?

"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 Nov 9, 2009 6:19 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Roasted.

I don’t have a category for "washed-up guys who may or may not be dominant big-league closers sometime soon."

~Jeff Sackmann

by Charlie Marlow on Nov 9, 2009 7:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gamel and McGhee - Thnking out loud

I’d love to Gamel and McGhee both in the lineup next year. I think Gamel can make a great RF, seems to have similar athletic ability to braun, so it may be a similar transition. PLEASE NO Bradley

Is there any chance Hart+Villa+Salome=Vasquez? The problem is we dont seem to match up well for a second player with the braves. Obviously they need a RF which we have, but they dont need 3B or catcher. Maybe we can trade Taylor Green who is a 3B a few years down the pipeline. if the Braves trade for McGhee now, they are sort of forcing Chipper out!

so Hart+Salome+Green=Vasquez? I love that but maybe Hart+Villa+Green+Salome=Vasquez+prospect would be more palatable for atlanta.

I’d love to see the crew bounce the payroll up to $90 this year realizing that with Soup coming off it will go down next year. The thing is that this is the last year we will definitely have fielder and I think we need to go for it in 2010! If we get vasquez and are sticking to last years payroll we’d only have 2 or 3 million left for starting unless we bump the payroll.

hmmmmm

by JayzTazay on Nov 9, 2009 10:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Keith Law

has said a couple of times that Gamel is not nearly the athlete that Braun is. If Gamel is still a Brewer in 2012, he will likely be the 1B.

by Milwaukee's Gr8est on Nov 10, 2009 9:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

enough with the gamel-to-right bullroar please

(not just you – it seems a common theme around these parts)

by PagsBrewCrew on Nov 10, 2009 6:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think they should play him in the picnic area

Sign Corky Miller

by TheJay on Nov 10, 2009 7:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In appleton, that would put him in prime position to make catches from the Bratzooka.

What begins in fear usually ends in folly.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Nov 11, 2009 8:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Still haven't been to a TRats game

They shoot brats out of a bazooka?

Cards Announcers On Gamel's First Career HR, "That’s all they need is another home run hitter".

by tcyoung on Nov 11, 2009 11:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

by roguejim on Nov 14, 2009 8:11 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

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