Roster update
Now that the studliest of the kids have been sent down, it's time to get serious. There are 38 players remaining in camp, and of course there are only 25 jobs to go around. Most of those 25 jobs are 99% settled, but with Sarfate demoted already, there's at least one bullpen job up in the air.
Here's the major-league roster as it stands right now (I think). Bold names are locks (or close), while italicized names are either trade candidates, guys on the bubble, or guys who would make the roster if a likely trade candidate was dealt.
- Catchers:
- Johnny Estrada
- Damian Miller
- Mike Rivera
- J.D. Closser
- Infielders:
- Prince Fielder
- Rickie Weeks
- J.J. Hardy
- Tony Graffanino
- Craig Counsell
- Vinny Rottino
- Outfielders:
- Corey Hart
- Bill Hall
- Geoff Jenkins
- Kevin Mench
- Brady Clark
- Gabe Gross
- Laynce Nix
- Tony Gwynn Jr.
- Starters:
- Ben Sheets
- Chris Capuano
- Dave Bush
- Jeff Suppan
- Claudio Vargas
- Bullpen contenders:
- Francisco Cordero
- Derrick Turnbow
- Matt Wise
- Brian Shouse
- Jose Capellan
- Greg Aquino
- Grant Balfour
- Zach Jackson
- Mike Meyers
- Chris Spurling
- Joe Thatcher
- Corey Thurman
- Carlos Villanueva
If he goes with 12, I'm sure we'd all like to see Villanueva on the big-league team, but it seems more likely to me that Ned would go with a short reliever, such as Balfour. That's why I was surprised that Sarfate was sent down: I figured that last spot would come down to a competition between Balfour and Sarfate. So perhaps Sarfate's demotion means that Ned is considering carrying a long man, and now it's a competition between Villanueva and Jackson with Corey Thurman as the longest of long shots.
That's the only issue we haven't been talking about for months; at catcher and in the outfield, we're still stacked with too many options for backups, and you gotta wonder what kind of conversations Doug Melvin is having. I would hate to see Gabe Gross start the year in Nashville (if Ned goes with only 11 pitchers, it's probably to make room for him), and I would also hate to lose Mike Rivera for nothing.
Update [2007-3-21 21:33:3 by battlekow]: According to Rotoworld, JD Closser cleared waivers today, possibly indicating the Brewers could sneak Mike Rivera through as well, and definitely indicating there's not a huge market for backup catchers.
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7 comments
Comments
Rottino
by anthony on Mar 20, 2007 9:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He isn't really.
by Jeff Sackmann on Mar 20, 2007 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Our gluttonous excess of catching mediocrity
Plus, with Estrada > Rivera > Closser (AAA), we'd have some respectable depth at catcher. Not the second coming of Gary Carter, maybe, but not a gaping hole of suck, either.
On another note, I can't believe there's been so little interest in Jinxie. Salary shouldn't be an object, as we're going to eat some of it anyway. But you'd think with his success this spring against mediocre lefties and the second halves he's put up in each of the past couple of years (career OPS after the All-Star break: .911), SOMEBODY woudl take him off our hands for a prospect or two.
by roguejim on Mar 20, 2007 10:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Gross
The Brewers are willing to move Kevin Mench, possibly even for prospects. He could fit with the Dodgers or the Pirates.
-- Newark Star-Ledger
Now it's the fact that we are shopping Mench, who can hit lefties, instead of Jenkins that upsets me. Now I know there is no market for corner outfielders. There are certain teams that can and might take Jenks contract. But for mench, we won't get much in return to address trouble spots. We won't get a 3b (Jose Bautista is the option, but do we really want a guy who Ks 110 times in 400 ABs? The dodgers would not give up Betimit for Mench alone) or a CF (too many guys as it is, the pirates won't part with either Duffy or McLouth for mench, and the dodgers wouldnt part with Matt Kemp). Plus we lose our "power" platoon hitter who can hit lefties. So here is how I see the Roster shaking out. I will put on one side what we'll get, and below it what I want in a perfect world.
C
Johnny Estrada
Damien Miller
Based on relative youth alone, Rivera is the better fit, but Miller will break down and we'll get that by june anyway.
Inf
Prince
Weeks
Hardy
Graffinino
Councell
Bill Hall should be in this group, as you can read my advocacy for his 3B dominance, and move Braun to a corner OF position. Rotino is not a good enough player to be anything more than a story, but we are competitors now.
OF
Hart
Hall
Jenks
Mench
Gross
Clark
Because Hall can go back and forth, we will still have the 3 millstones of Clark, Mench and Jinx. A trade will not involve Jinx since no one wants that contract, and Mench isn't good enough to be worth anything. If we do move one of them, by some dumb team feeling the need for something worthless (hi pittsburgh), then Nix will get the spot for his versatility.
Starters
Sheets
Cappy
Suppan
Bush
Vargas
It comforts me that our first line of defense for an injury is Carlos Villanueva, as opposed to Hendrickson or Jackson. Gallardo will suplant the worst of these 6 after the break.
Relievers
Cordero
Turnbow
Wise
Shouse
Villanueva
Aquino
Meyers
That last one is just a shot in the dark. Rivera would be more likely as a 3rd catcher, or even keeping Nix on the roster, but, 11 pitchers is not a situation Ned and Doug want. Plus Balfour has just sucked this spring, and Meyers is getting the job somewhat done.
If we were to trade Mench for anything, I would say relief help would be the thing to grab.
by hyattff2003 on Mar 21, 2007 1:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i really hope rottino stays
i wouldn't be so quick to write off miller yet though. i think he's still got some life in his bat and will benefit greatly from the reduced playing time. the brewers should learn their lesson from last year that you need to have all your bases covered (pun intended, even if it is a bad one). if estrada goes down, are you really comfortable with mike rivera playing every day? plus, we are going to need miller's veteranism for our playoff chase in september.
glad that braun is going to start the year in AAA. we've brought up too many prospects too early, we don't need another one with shattered confidence. but on the other hand, we really are going with a counsell/graffinino platoon at third, aren't we. that...isn't good.
by Griswald on Mar 21, 2007 10:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Damian Miller
by cubbiebrewerfan on Mar 21, 2007 12:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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