Brew Crew Ball: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: Backing the Pack for NC State Fans!


July Trade Rumors (of course)

Is Bill Hall on the block? It's too early to know for sure, but it looks like the Padres want him to be. They need a third baseman like the Brewers needed a new backup catcher (worse, maybe!) and they have a few decent prospects to use as bait.

The first question is: can we do with Billy? That depends, of course, on JJ Hardy's status, and just how we feel about his offensive skills even if he's healthy. Jeff Cirillo has been bashing lefties enough that we don't really need Hall to be Corey Koskie's platoon partner. It's tough to imagine this team without Billy, but it can be done.

Further, if JJ Hardy is the shortstop of the future, Billy isn't really a cog in the next great Brewers team: Ryan Braun is on course to take over for Koskie in 2008, and we have more potential Major League centerfielders in Triple-A than most clubs have in their entire system. If Hardy is healthy--perhaps going on a rehab starting this weekend--Bill Hall is expendable.

I wonder, though, if trading partners view him as the valuable commodity he is. He's a power-hitting infielder with (at least some) defensive skills--guys like that who can play shortstop are rare. Given that the Padres (or whomever) would be trading for more than just a couple months of him, I would expect a quality prospect in return. In fact, if I were running a team, I'd probably view multiple years of Billy as worth more than a Carlos Lee rental.

The obvious, obvious, obvious deal is Billy for George Kottaras. He's 23 years old, hitting decently with some pop in Double-A, and...he's a catcher. If you haven't noticed, I'm a little preoccupied with getting this club a backstop. Kottaras is the player many of us hoped Lou Palmisano would turn out to be. What's more, the Padres have a couple of young catchers in Rob Bowen and Josh Bard: they don't need Kottaras like we do.

I would imagine that Doug Melvin will barely start discussions like this one until the Brewers slide a little bit further out of the race. But, as with my proposed deals to pry Jeff Mathis away from the Angels, we can't wait too long. If the Brewers aren't going to seriously compete this year, it's a prime opportunity to shore up the one area of need for the next year that they will.

0 recs | Comment 7 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Kottaras
I got in touch with Tom Krasovic (the guy who printed the rumor in the San Diego paper) yesterday to ask him about Kottaras (i looked through the Padre farm system, he was about the best they got).

"Suspect defense and durability"  That was the gist.  He did say he can hit though.

by thekranz on Jul 12, 2006 8:53 AM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Kottaras
Sickels:
Kottaras has a strong arm and good mobility behind the plate, although his footwork can be a problem sometimes, inhibiting his throwing.  Still, his glove is good enough for him to start if he hits as expected.

Baseball America:

Kottaras profiles as an offensive-oriented catcher...He's atheletic behind the plate and has plus arm strength...His arm plays only average because of a slow glove-hand exchange and a long release.  He's a bit small for a catcher, leaving some to wonder if he can handle the rigors of a full season.

Sounds like "suspect defense" is a bit of an overstatement, more like "suspect throwing mechanics."

by battlekow on Jul 12, 2006 9:43 AM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

just passing on the knowledge
And Koskie for Kottaras would be very solid indeed!  (i'm still hoping Hall remains as the super-utility guy for the next three to five years)

by thekranz on Jul 12, 2006 10:49 AM CDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Padres
The article also says the Padres are interested in Koskie.  Depending on how stupid they are, that's potentially a much better deal for the Brewers, especially with Koskie's '08 option looking like it's going to auto-vest.

Koskie for Kottaras would be amazing.

by battlekow on Jul 12, 2006 9:45 AM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Costly for me
I really don't want to have to buy a Padres jersey, so I'd prefer if this rumor were not true.

by Marty McSuperFly on Jul 12, 2006 10:18 AM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Noooooooooooooooooooo
I don't care if I have to staple gun Bill Hall's shoes to the ground, he's not going anywhere.  

After Carlos, whom we're (presumably) not going to have after this season, Billy is our best offensive weapon, with apologies to the Dynamic Duo of Rickie and Prince.  Billy Hall is the kind of player you trade FOR: he's durable, versatile, has power, and is underpaid.  Plus he's fairly young.

Koskie?  We can trade him: I think he's proven that last year was an off-year, and he still has a lot of value.  If we can get a decent return, he's a fine choice to trade.  Koskie for a Decent Catcher to Be Named Later?  You bet, even if we have to throw in a little cash.  But Hall?  Sure, Hardy is the "shortstop of the future," but even if he does hit for average, I have a hard time believing he has a bigger upside than Hall does.  If we trade Hall...well, I don't know what I'll do, but it'll be something.  Mark, I know you're reading this, don't do it!  

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jul 12, 2006 3:39 PM CDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Brew Crew Ball is dedicated to providing a friendly atmosphere for intelligent Brewer conversation. Click here to view our Posting Guide and Community Guidelines.
Start posting about the Brewers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Dt021104_1_1024_small
Trevor Hoffman got robbed!
Rex_ryan_ball_toss_small
New Brewers "fan"
U8xcikxxuei8lvi_small
Rumorville: Corey Hart
Ndnca2ybu96ca2zf430caal7kyvcawcctckcaqauabwcahv6yhfcaf3osgpcalt1mjmca8o7n6acakmcz1pcalalgz7camdo2j0caiy8i01camu1gi6calj3xtkcabyqnapcalwwmlgcaic4tau_small
Braves fan here
Newavatar_small
Game Thread #80a
Newavatar_small
Game Thread #79a
Mark-renton_small
Suppan makes it hard to hate him
Cowswithguns_small
Draft Pick Signings [Updated 7/1]
Turtle_small
Rumorville: Brandon Backe
Cowswithguns_small
Brewers sign Dominican OF Jose Pena for $400K

Post_icon New FanPost All FanPosts Carrot-mini

Featured Poll

Poll
Admit it. Before the season you thought Casey McGehee would be...

  506 votes | Results

43 - 38

0

Won 1

81

NL Central Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
St. Louis 44 39 .530 0 Lost 1
Milwaukee 43 38 .530 0 Won 1
Cincinnati 40 39 .506 2 Won 1
Chicago 39 39 .500 2.5 Lost 1
Houston 38 41 .481 4 Lost 2
Pittsburgh 37 45 .451 6.5 Lost 2

(updated 7.5.2009 at 2:51 PM CDT)

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

The Brewers are partnering with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's...
Probably applicable right now.
July 11th Brewers Block Party
Go Cubs Go Parody
"He could be in the big leagues this year, and in the end, I could see him...
Jeff Suppan eBay Auction
Former Brewer note: TGJr
Rumored 2003 Steroid List (UPDATED)
Cardinals get DeRosa
Taylor Green to the DL

Post_icon New FanShot All FanShots Carrot-mini


Moderators

U8xcikxxuei8lvi_small roguejim

Mordecai_brown_small Jeff Sackmann

Cowswithguns_small battlekow

Newavatar_small KLSnow

Turtle_small TheJay

Communist_party_small Jordan M

Contributors

Dsci0355_small kirbir

Picture_069_small tristarscoop

Braun-fielder-gamel_small BrewHaHeather

Official Partner of Yahoo! Sports