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Another CF option gone

We've lost out on Juan Pierre (phew!) and Dave Roberts (thank you!), and now it looks like Kenny Lofton is also going to sign elsewhere. He's been discussed quite a bit as a "cheap" option to the higher-priced CFs out there, and while he may no longer be a plus defender, he is a decent OBP guy and one who probably wouldn't command a long-term deal.

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Rangers are about to sign Lofton to a one-year deal. This makes it that much more likely that, come February, Bill Hall will be the Brewers center fielder. Lofton looks like the last available CF on the market (unless you count somebody like Shannon Stewart, and if you count Shannon Stewart as a potential everyday center fielder, you ought to find another website where your brand of idiocy is welcome), so that leaves only the trade market to displace Billy.

And the trade market isn't so hot, unless the Brewers want to get in the Rocco Baldelli or Vernon Wells bidding (which isn't the worst idea in the world--I just don't know what we have to offer the Rays that isn't named Gallardo). Given that other teams have considered Brady Clark as an option to play CF for them, it would appear there aren't a lot of great options out there.

Since I've linked you to the handy Free Agent Tracker, it's a good time to take a look and think about who we should bring in on the honorary Rick Helling contract--the 6th/7th starter who gets a MLB deal for $800k. Helling, of course, is still an option, but since Ned pitched him about two innings in the last six weeks of the year, I'm guessing he won't be back.

Other options (I'm not being too picky for inclusion on this list) include:

I think the Brewers have considered Armas before--he's had more DL stints than wins in the last few years (don't bother checking, I made up that stat), but has always had some promise. After Thomson, Helling might be better than any option in that group. Heck, Thomson could be better than Jason Marquis next year, and the Cubs just signed Marquis for $21M over 3 years.

Another wildcard is Carl Pavano. The Yankees, with Andy Pettitte in the fold and Kei Igawa on the way, could move him, and will likely expect to pay a whole lot of his salary. The Cardinals are known to be interested and the Rockies have been linked with him recently as well. I don't see the Brewers getting in on this, but if the Yankees ate enough salary so that Pavano got down in the John Thomson salary range, it would be a tempting risk to take. After all, this guy is only a couple of years removed from a Cy Young-caliber season.

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Bring on Vernon
Vernon Wells has power,exellent OBA....and there's lots to like about this guy.  If the Brewers could get him cheap enough it might not be a bad deal...however, it probably only would be for one year cause he's going to triple his salary when becomes a free agent.  Maybe something like Clark & Mench for Wells.    

by rugger54929 on Dec 10, 2006 9:46 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

there's no way...
we get wells. I think toronto is determined to keep him even if he signs else where.  Anyways, it'd take more than clark and mench...more like braun and mench :)

by Michael M on Dec 10, 2006 9:56 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Trade Hall
Jeff, you planted a seed in my head with your "Whither Bill Hall" article (sorry I haven't figured out how to connect the link).
The trading chit is clearly Billy Hall as he brings the most bounty----and because the Brewers just don't know what to do with him.
The offense would certainly suffer with his loss, but it also puts much needed speed and vg CF defense with Tony Gwynn  (Oh, that he's a spitting batting image of his dad, and not uncle Chris!).   This, then, makes a platoon of Mench/Jenkins viable for LF.  (I, too, think Mench is much better than what he showed in '06, plus he's still cheap).
Hart goes to RF.
The logjam is cleared.
And what do the Brewers receive for one Billy Hall?
Pitching, of course.
As you've painstakingly indicated here, there isn't much available via FA.
A trade is the answer.
Bill Hall, with his versatility, and his favorable salary, can bring a proven starter.
Thinking even larger, a big package deal (with Hall as the centerpiece) just might be the answer.
Think about it.  Quite a reversal for Brewers fans, eh?  We always expect to be on the plus side of a package deal.  
The NL Central is ripe for the taking.  
The Brewers need another starter.
It's time to make this move.  
And don't forget, Ryan Braun should be ready soon to infuse the offense very soon.
Bob Gibson threw 9 pitches: "two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a change-up, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman."

by tvnick5 on Dec 10, 2006 10:16 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

I'm not against
trading Billy.  He's gets a much deserved chance to shine, and we get a crap load in return.  Plus, I mentioned the other day that after this year, he'll be looking for something like 6 years $90mil in free agency, and whether or not he's worth that, Melvin is committed to not being committed -- the Brewers do not want any contracts that that will tie their hands long term like that.  They're not willing to take many chances, and I'd be surprised in they finally change their tune for Bill Hall.  

On the other hand, I am against the fact that SOMEHOW GABE GROSS is not in your plans for the OF after Hall's hypothetical departure.  Gross will hit RHP better than Jenkins in 2007, I GAURANTEE IT.  Plus, he makes the minimum.  Even if Hall is traded, I think you can still move Jenkins for anyone who's will to eat his salary (most of?) and feel good about it.  

Now, if you had at least mentioned Gabe as a platoon in CF with TGJr., I would have been happy, because seriously, the guy is going to kill RHP and for $0.38mil, we need to exploit that.  Gwynn might be fast and glove-worthy, but his bat plain stinks.  To speculate otherwise is a lot of speculation.

And this team needs power, not speed.  Show me homeruns, doubles, and walks, and I'll show you a team that wins.  30 SB don't mean anything when you have an OBP of .300 and a SB% of 65%.

by baumann on Dec 11, 2006 10:07 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

what's up with...
...the ads for "plus-size" women's clothing on this site?  Do they think that hard-core Brewer fans have overweight wives???  Bring back the Heart Like a Wheel DVD people, I feel offended!
Whatever happened to Ramser Correa???!

by TrueBlueBrewCrew on Dec 11, 2006 10:47 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Don't get me wrong
. . .Trading Hall would certainly affect the offensive ledger.  The offense goes from league average to a tick below-----unless Mench and Jenkins and fill-in-the-blanks find "Wonder Boy" (from "The Natural").

As for Gwynn, yeah, I neglected to offer more detail. I'm looking primarily at his plus tools. . . and praying for daddy's wondrous batting skillz to seap into the mix.  As you mention, Gross should be given every opportunity to be a part of the plan.  He's earned a look-see.
Jenkins?  I just don't see anybody taking a bite.  (But we can always hope for someone having a cubbies moment---Marquis for that rate, for that duration?)

To get to the point, the Brewers find themselves with a surplus of credible infielders and a surplus of semi-viable outfielders, at a better-than-decent average pay scale.
Nice problem to have.  
The need is for a starter, and not just any Jason Marquis-like #4 or #5 starter.
The best trading chit is Bill Hall and maybe one of said surplus infielder/outfielder(s).

Make a deal.
The Brewers can win the dvision.

Bob Gibson threw 9 pitches: "two different fastballs, two sliders, a curve, a change-up, knockdown, brushback, and hit-batsman."

by tvnick5 on Dec 11, 2006 12:47 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Speaking of narrowing options
Marty Bokowitz is now also off the market.  According to Yahoo! sports, he just signed with the Cleveland Indians on Monday.
"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Dec 11, 2006 6:04 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

He might be more useful...
...than Darren Oliver next year.

by Jeff Sackmann on Dec 11, 2006 6:16 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

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