Rumorville: Bill Hall

by roguejim on Mar 5, 2009 2:59 PM CST Comment 17 comments

As noted by Hyatt here, the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez looks to be out 10+ weeks due to hip surgery. The Yankees, who have spent nearly a quarter billion dollars this season in payroll, are expected to start putting trade proposals together, as they're not likely to entrust their 2009 playoff chances to a free agent third baseman no one else wants.

That Jeff Sackmann character first thought of Bill Hall --- and he wasn't the only one envisioning Hall in pinstripes. In a phone interview with SportsCenter, Buster Olney was speculating on whom the Yankees would try to acquire to play third, and his first --- and only --- thought was C.C. Sabathia's best friend, Bill Hall. Olney also suggested that the Yankees would still be interested in trading outfielder Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady. (You'll recall that Swisher would address two big holes in our lineup: in addition to having home run power, he's also a switch hitter who gets on base.) Swisher plays all three OF spots as well as first base.

Of course, the Brewers have changed a little since the last time Hall was rumored to go to the Yankees, and his trade doesn't make as much sense now as it did then. Consider:

After an offseason of eye-juicing, I believe Hall was expected to get the lion's share of ABs at third. If we trade him, our in-house options to play third are Mike Lamb, Mat Gamel, Casey McGehee, and Craig Counsell. I haven't heard anything to suggest that Gamel is ready to handle 3rd base full-time in the majors. Lamb and McGehee bat on opposite sides of the plate, though, so maybe a platoon would be in order.
The original Hall-to-New-York rumor was an offshoot of the Melky/Mike Cameron rumor. With Braun/Cameron/Hart and Fielder entrenched in the outfield and at 1st base, we don't have a particular need for Nady, Swisher, or Melky for that matter, nor is there a particularly pressing need for Kei Igawa right now. (This is especially the case if Lorenzo Cain will be ready to play center in 2010.) The only way I could see a Hall-for-Swisher trade going through would be if Cameron went as well. If you were wondering, Cameron and Hall will make $16.8 million this season. I have to admit, with opening day only 3+ weeks away, I have a hard time envisioning such a major trade.

I would love to hear confirmation that Cashman has gotten in touch with Melvin again...

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a Yankee goes down...

Better bring somebody in from AAA Milwaukee. Those Brewers, they’re just so cute running around the field like they matter.

"....si si Peeeeedro"

by trippingandy on Mar 5, 2009 3:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If Doug Melvin were younger...

I feel like this is the sort of situation that a GM like Theo would make a whole lot of scenarios out of.

Basically, Hall is a reasonable fit, because the Brewers don’t need him and wouldn’t mind some salary relief, while the Yankees may have a pretty clear need.

The simple version to solve the money problem is, like you say, Igawa. We don’t need Igawa, and we already have a crowded AAA rotation, but I’d slot Igawa in above just about all of those guys, given the chance that he might fare better with new surroundings in the weaker league.

I don’t think we’d acquire Swisher in a Cameron deal — he’s just not a plausible CF. But…this is where the Theo-style scheming comes in.

Acquire Swisher, you basically have a way, way, way better version of Trot Nixon on the bench this year—and you’re overpaying him, but that’s simply instead of overpaying Hall. But then, you have an extra 1B/RF on the team, so next offseason, it’s that much easier to shop Swish, Fielder, and Hart. You only trade one, but it gives you options. So, maybe Hall + something for Swish and maybe Melky, and the Brewers don’t get any better for 2009, but may not get worse (that would be a killer bench), and we have a TON of options for 2010.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Mar 5, 2009 3:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

Do you think Melvin would have proposed a deal like you describe when he was younger? What do you think Melvin the Elder would propose.

It sounds like MtE had agreed to a Melky/Cameron trade, and pulled it when Cashman never got back to him. At the time, though, I think we were a lot worse on paper. I guess, if the Yankees end up sniffing around Hall, it would be hard NOT to talk about Cameron 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 Mar 5, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think of Melvin as being particularly…crafty

compared to the younger generation of GMs. I doubt DM was crafty when he was younger, either, but who knows.

I guess I imagine DM as making moves with one goal in mind at a time — the Melky/Cameron deal was to CUT PAYROLL NOW, the CC trade was to WIN NOW, etc. He thinks maybe half a move ahead — win now with CC, but you also get the draft picks. I’m sure he’d be very good at conducting a fire sale, and we know he’s good at bargain shopping.

I can’t think of a good Theo move to contrast, but most of Billy Beane’s blockbuster trades serve the purpose. He often tries to cut payroll (Mulder/Hudson), sells high (Mulder), builds for the future (prospects for Haren), puts young players on the field right now (Eveland) all in the space of a deal or two. Doesn’t always work, but he’s thinking two or three moves ahead. Something like my Hall/Swisher deal requires that kind of thinking. Not that I’m claiming it’s a brilliant idea, it’s just not something that has one simple purpose.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Mar 5, 2009 5:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think that's the best description of Melvin I've heard

I untuck my shirt!

by Michael M on Mar 6, 2009 12:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hall and Suppan for whatever

The $30+ mil the team saves will give JJ a nice 4-5 year deal.

by Getting Yosted on Mar 5, 2009 3:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Suppan for a case of beer to any team willing to take his contract

Though I don’t think any other GMs are that dumb.

by Brew Angel on Mar 5, 2009 5:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

maybe

we could get some Natty Light pounders

September 15: Not a bad little Monday

by molitorfan on Mar 5, 2009 6:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm surprised more guys like this aren't put on waivers, just to see if anyone will take their contract.

Odds are no one would in most cases, but it only takes one.

"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."

by KLSnow on Mar 5, 2009 6:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They are every August

Usually to try and hide the players teams want sneak through waivers and trade after the July 31 deadline.

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

by TheJay on Mar 5, 2009 7:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

wasn't

Manny R. put on waivers a couple of times?

September 15: Not a bad little Monday

by molitorfan on Mar 5, 2009 7:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep.

I’m surprised that doesn’t happen to more players.

"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."

by KLSnow on Mar 5, 2009 7:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think we have a very good idea of who is and isn't

generally, teams try to keep it quiet. the manny circuses were unique because it was, apparently, in part a message the sox brass were sending to manny.

even in august, teams try to keep it quiet. there was an issue either last year or the year before with some braves player who wasn’t happy he was put on waivers…so all this had to be talked about by front office people, and it usually isn’t.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Mar 5, 2009 9:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

What the hell? Why would the Yankees trade for starting pitching (a crappy pitcher with a crappy contract) when they just spent a bagillion dollars on starting pitching in the offseason? Keep dreaming buddy. You’re stuck with Suppan for the rest of that contract unless most of that salary is eaten.

by gizmo6d9 on Mar 6, 2009 1:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Swisher sounds like Overbay

Maybe with fewer hits, though more walks (and home runs).

"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 Mar 6, 2009 10:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is Swisher good on Defense?

I’ve always thought he was like a slow version of Rickie Weeks or Mike Cameron.

by tcyoung on Mar 6, 2009 8:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I was under the impression that he was considered a very good defensive 1B; a decent corner outfielder, and stretched at CF. The fact that he played CF, though, suggests he probably has pretty good range in the corners.

That said, TotalZone has never had him above +3 for an entire year, and says “no thank you” to Swish’s 2008.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Mar 6, 2009 10:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

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