Oufield Situation

Hellwig · 11-22-2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Won't be easy: Melvin is pursuing centerfielders Juan Pierre and Dave Roberts on the free-agent market, but so are several other clubs. And, as the two-year, $18 million deal Frank Thomas got from Toronto proved, this figures to be a winter of wild spending on free agents, elite players or not.

With that in mind, Melvin probably will have to make trades, as in the past, to improve his club. He already discussed a deal with Baltimore that would have sent outfielder Kevin Mench to the Orioles for right-hander Rodrigo Lopez, but nothing came of it.

It's not surprising that Melvin is willing to move Mench, who looked awful after coming from Texas in the Carlos Lee trade. Mench made $2.8 million last season and is eligible for salary arbitration this winter.

Melvin can't say so publicly, but he is very open to offers for disappointing rightfielder Geoff Jenkins, who won't be easy to move with a $7 million contract for 2007. Melvin probably will have to wait until free-agent sluggers Alfonso Soriano, J.D. Drew and Lee are signed before clubs start looking at second-tier hitters such as Jenkins.

Link

The outfield is in kind of a mess right now more with the back-ups than the starters. Jenkins is no longer the RF starter and Mench is no longer the left field starter two guys that are probably going to make over 3 million rotting away on the bench. They need to be moved for sure.

Hellwig · 11-23-2006, 01:39 AM

Forget Pierre. He just signed with the Dodgers for 44 mill for 5 seasons.

Roberts should go cheaper but the USA Today reports 12 teams in total are after him.

bedir than average · 11-23-2006, 01:12 PM

And so what would Jeremy Reed be worth? CF capable, has had some troubles hitting in the Majors, but was once a top prospect.

Hellwig · 11-24-2006, 02:26 AM

You can have Jenkins if you take on his almost 8 million dollar salary.

I would say we are looking more for a veteran OF/CF. Who can put up decent numbers and lead-off. Tony Gwynn Jr. will be the back-up CF. Since Gabe Gross will fill in at the corners.

We have our own CF top prospect that didn't turn out too. Dave Krynzel was supposed to be our top prospect 2 years ago and then he got in accident in that off-season and kind of fell out of favor.

By the way what happened to Jeremy Reed after the all-star break? Did he get sent down or did he get hurt?

Kevin · 11-25-2006, 01:48 AM

I find the Brewers to be an extremely fascinating team and one of my favorites to follow. Not because I have any rooting interest but because I find the economic constraints to be very interesting and I'm a huge fan of Prince and Ricky.

Alright, that said: the outfield situation is not that bad. I don't see why Corey Hart can't start and even play center. Mench is there and you'll have Jenkins. It seems pretty solid to me without having to resort to any of the FAs you've been thinking of.

Frankly, the Brewers are just a healthy Ben Sheets and another ace away from contending for the NL Central. IMHO, that's what we should be talking about. Where's the pitching.... seems every Brewer prospect that comes up is a flop.

- Kevin

Hellwig · 11-26-2006, 10:10 PM

Corey will be starting in RF this upcoming season. He is a so-so defender. He doesn't really have the range to play center field on a full time basis. He's getting better as a defender, but it's still his main weakness.

I don't think Jenkins will be back. His benching in second half of the season will make things difficult for him to come back. Mench I'll give the higher percentage of a chance out of the two to stay but his name was in trade talks already this off-season for Roderigo Lopez but the deal fell through.

LF is Billy Hall, so yeah I guess our OF isn't too bad. CF is still a question mark with Brady Clark/Gabe Gross.

Well Kevin we are counting on Yovani Gallardo (our top pitching prospect) to be up before the all-star break. Hopefully he will adjust well to the majors.

And to update Dave Roberts FA status it looks like he is going to go to San Fran.

trwi7 · 11-27-2006, 04:39 AM

I haven't heard his name mentioned but if the Brewers want speed why not Kenny Lofton? He can still steal bases and gets on base. He would also allow Weeks to move down in the order. I'd give him a two year deal.

And imo Jenkins value is going up. With the contracts being handed out in free agency I think a team would be willing to take on Jenkins for only one year at $7 million. He has a proven track record which shows he can hit around .280 with 25 HR's.

Hellwig · 11-27-2006, 03:47 PM

I would like to see Lofton brought in as well. He would solve our lead-off problem and adds a pretty good OBP. I also heard Steve Finley's name mentioned. But I don't know about him.

Quote:

And imo Jenkins value is going up. With the contracts being handed out in free agency I think a team would be willing to take on Jenkins for only one year at $7 million. He has a proven track record which shows he can hit around .280 with 25 HR's.

Very true, he now seems like more of a bargain than Gary Matthews Jr. who makes 10 million per.

645 · 12-02-2006, 12:51 AM

I wouldn't mind to see Lofton. I'd also heard rumors about Finley but I would pass on him.

But you know the Winter meeting are about to start and I'm getting a feeling that something big is going to happen there that will make this discussion mute.

11-23-2006, 01:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	And so what would Jeremy Reed be worth? CF capable, has had some troubles hitting in the Majors, but was once a top prospect. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

11-25-2006, 01:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kevin FanHome Founder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 102	I find the Brewers to be an extremely fascinating team and one of my favorites to follow. Not because I have any rooting interest but because I find the economic constraints to be very interesting and I'm a huge fan of Prince and Ricky. Alright, that said: the outfield situation is not that bad. I don't see why Corey Hart can't start and even play center. Mench is there and you'll have Jenkins. It seems pretty solid to me without having to resort to any of the FAs you've been thinking of. Frankly, the Brewers are just a healthy Ben Sheets and another ace away from contending for the NL Central. IMHO, that's what we should be talking about. Where's the pitching.... seems every Brewer prospect that comes up is a flop. - Kevin __________________ FanHome is Independent Again! Tell a Friend \| Moderators: Read This Thread and That

11-23-2006, 01:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Hellwig Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,708	Forget Pierre. He just signed with the Dodgers for 44 mill for 5 seasons. Roberts should go cheaper but the USA Today reports 12 teams in total are after him.

11-24-2006, 02:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Hellwig Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,708	You can have Jenkins if you take on his almost 8 million dollar salary. I would say we are looking more for a veteran OF/CF. Who can put up decent numbers and lead-off. Tony Gwynn Jr. will be the back-up CF. Since Gabe Gross will fill in at the corners. We have our own CF top prospect that didn't turn out too. Dave Krynzel was supposed to be our top prospect 2 years ago and then he got in accident in that off-season and kind of fell out of favor. By the way what happened to Jeremy Reed after the all-star break? Did he get sent down or did he get hurt?

11-26-2006, 10:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hellwig Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,708	Corey will be starting in RF this upcoming season. He is a so-so defender. He doesn't really have the range to play center field on a full time basis. He's getting better as a defender, but it's still his main weakness. I don't think Jenkins will be back. His benching in second half of the season will make things difficult for him to come back. Mench I'll give the higher percentage of a chance out of the two to stay but his name was in trade talks already this off-season for Roderigo Lopez but the deal fell through. LF is Billy Hall, so yeah I guess our OF isn't too bad. CF is still a question mark with Brady Clark/Gabe Gross. Well Kevin we are counting on Yovani Gallardo (our top pitching prospect) to be up before the all-star break. Hopefully he will adjust well to the majors. And to update Dave Roberts FA status it looks like he is going to go to San Fran.

11-27-2006, 04:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
trwi7 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 140	I haven't heard his name mentioned but if the Brewers want speed why not Kenny Lofton? He can still steal bases and gets on base. He would also allow Weeks to move down in the order. I'd give him a two year deal. And imo Jenkins value is going up. With the contracts being handed out in free agency I think a team would be willing to take on Jenkins for only one year at $7 million. He has a proven track record which shows he can hit around .280 with 25 HR's.

12-02-2006, 12:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
645 Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,010	I wouldn't mind to see Lofton. I'd also heard rumors about Finley but I would pass on him. But you know the Winter meeting are about to start and I'm getting a feeling that something big is going to happen there that will make this discussion mute.