The Brewers are next in our Offseason In Review series.
Major League Signings
- Takashi Saito, RP: one year, $1.75MM.
- Craig Counsell, IF: one year, $1.4MM.
- Mark Kotsay, OF/1B: one year, $800K.
- Wil Nieves, C: one year, $775K. Arbitration eligible for 2012.
- Total spend: $4.725MM.
International Signings
- Elvis Rubio, Estervin Matosļ»æ
Notable Minor League Signings
- Mike Rivera, Zack Segovia, Shawn Riggans, Sean Green, Brandon Jones, Eulogio de la Cruz, Jeremy Reed
Extensions
- Rickie Weeks, 2B: four years, $38.5MM. Includes $11.5MM vesting option for 2015.
Trades and Claims
- Claimed RP Justin James off waivers from Athletics
- Acquired cash considerations from Blue Jays for RP Carlos Villanueva
- Acquired SP Shaun Marcum from Blue Jays for 3B Brett Lawrie
- Acquired SP Zack Greinke, SS Yuniesky Betancourt, and $2MM from Royals for CF Lorenzo Cain, SS Alcides Escobar, RP Jeremy Jeffress, and SP Jake Odorizzi
- Claimed RP Roque Mercedes off waivers from Diamondbacks
- Acquired OF Brett Carroll from Royals for cash considerations
- Acquired P Sergio Mitre from Yankees for OF Chris Dickerson
- Acquired CF Nyjer Morgan from Nationals for IF/OF Cutter Dykstra and $50K
Notable Losses
- Carlos Villanueva, Brett Lawrie, Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Jeremy Jeffress, Jake Odorizzi, Chris Dickerson, Cutter Dykstra, Joe Inglett, Gregg Zaun, Dave Bush, Chris Capuano, Todd Coffey, Trevor Hoffman, Doug Davis
Summary
In recent years, Doug Melvin's attempts to bolster the Brewers' rotation with free agents have fallen short, and the 2010-11 market didn't offer much front-end pitching anyway. So Melvin pulled off a near-impossible feat: he traded for a pair of high quality starters, including two years of control for each. He also hired Ron Roenicke as the team's new manager and extended Weeks one year shy of free agency.
First Melvin dealt for Marcum, giving up only one player in Lawrie. Lawrie's bat makes him a top 40 prospect in the eyes of most experts, so the price was significant. Melvin again showed a willingness to move one of his recent first-round draft picks, as he did with Matt LaPorta in the '08 trade for C.C. Sabathia. This time, the Brewers got more than a rental.
Melvin wasn't done; he aimed to take his rotation from good to great by acquiring Greinke. As I mentioned in the Royals offseason in review, it was surprising to see the Brewers acquire Greinke without sending a top 50 prospect or equivalent young Major Leaguer. Sure, the two trades gutted the Brewers' farm system, but I'm a big supporter of trading prospects in the name of winning now. If you're a team that can't afford to bid on Cliff Lee, this strategy is a strong alternative. The Brewers have a strong rotation, and the entire group will be back for the 2012 season.
The Brewers' offense ranked fourth in the NL last year, and the only change was swapping out one offensively-challenged shortstop for another. When Corey Hart returns the team should have enough offense, though in keeping with his "all-in" mindset it'd be great to see Melvin go after Jose Reyes this summer. Center field was another potential weakness, but the Brewers commendably bought low on Morgan to provide Carlos Gomez with some competition.
Melvin opted not to spend money on the bullpen, instead importing Saito, Mitre, and Green. The pen could be a weakness, especially if closer John Axford continues to falter. On the plus side, LaTroy Hawkins is close to returning. The one questionable trade Melvin made this winter was shipping Villanueva to the Blue Jays for cash. Unless this trade was unofficially part of the Marcum deal, I don't understand why Melvin would move a decent reliever for cash.
One day before an arbitration hearing, the Brewers agreed to a four-year extension with Weeks. The Brewers added three free agent years at $10-11MM salaries, plus a 2015 option that vests based on Weeks' health. On one hand, this is a scary investment for a player coming off his first fully healthy season. He's endured surgeries on both wrists as well as a thumb and knee. On the other hand, the Brewers know Weeks' health better than anyone, and if he repeated his 2010 season they wouldn't have been able to sign him for three years and $31MM.
The Brewers are currently one of four NL Central teams sporting an 8-8 record. My pick for the NL pennant, they'll get a big boost when Greinke and Hart come off the DL. Hopefully Melvin continues to be aggressive this year, because even with a strong rotation in 2012 the club will likely be without Fielder.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Jose Reyes? That’s news to me, but I say go for it!
Dear Zach.
Basketball is fun to play, but your a baseball player. If you wish to play a pick up game, go to your local Game Stop and pick up the newest NBA 2K11 and play an exhibition game.
Why is there no mention of Prince Fielder’s rather massive $15.5MM price tag? That surely affected things a bit and leaves a question mark come 2012, does it not?
Not following…that salary was predictable probably years ago.
I think he is getting Off-Season Review and Contract Issues mistaken.
Guess Brewers can spend more money next year if raises don’t take all of that “massive” 15.5.
“Lawrie’s bat makes him a top 40 prospect in the eyes of most experts”
*Lawrie’s bat at 2B makes him a top 40 prospect. Not top 40 when they realize he’s likely an OFer.
And shouldn’t acquiring Yuniesky be categorized as a “notable loss”?
I agree there is no way reyes goes to milwaukee. There is a chance that some one like peralta/ heckathorn steps up, but a position player would be needed too and every one outside of gamel (who won’t be traded) is hurt. No way i would trade rogers as I still see this guy replacing wolf next year and with health becoming a dominant pitcher. As far as the bullpen, they’ll be fine with or without axford. Many options for closer in saito, loe, braddock, (or my personal favorite kintzler). Btw how is this team tied for first after 0-4, then a sweep from the nats?
You’d be surprised what can be had for cheap. Go look at the Roy Oswalt trade. Not saying those guys were that great, but it all depends on how the other teams are biting. Brewers can’t get in a bidding war obviously, but if they act earlier than anyone else they may have a chance.
chuckled when i saw doug davis’s name
Once again, BA had Escobar at 12 before the 2010 season. 12! The dude had one bad year at the plate in the Majors. He definitely would still qualify as a ‘top 50’ equivalent…
I do think we have the resources to get Reyes if we wanted to but I don’t think Melvin would spend what it would take to get him. But if the Brewers really wanted to upgrade the D at SS, we happen to be close with the GM in Seattle and we might be able to pry away Brenden Ryan by mid season being the Mariners would probably be out of it by then. Jack might want to dump salary. If your a (True Blue) baseball fan and have been watching it as long as I have, you’d see that this Brewers is no joke and when we address the SS problem and when (Morgan finally takes over in CF), the Brewers will no doubt contend for a World Series Championship!!! GO BREWERS……..
The Brewer’s defense is terrible. Their entire infield is below average at best and the outfield collectively have noodles for arms. I am afraid this will come and bite them in the long run. Melvin needs to think about shoring up the defense if he ever hopes to win the NL Central.
Once Hart comes back their outfield arms should be some of the better in the ML. Gomez is a gold glove caliber outfielder but he can’t hit. If he can put it together at the plate then outfield D shouldn’t even be questioned.
As far as infield goes, McGehee and Fielder have made incredible strides on D and should no longer be considered reliabilities. Weeks is better than average as well.
What about trading Prince now? Is Gamels ready now? Maybe swing a deal for Reyes and some prospects for Prince. I know that would hurt the power aspect but it would be a pretty sweet lineup:
Reyes
Weeks
Hart
Braun
McGehee
Gamels
Gomez/Morgan
Nieves/Lucroy
Pitcher
Trading a rental for a rental, and downgrading no less? I think Melvin is a little smarter than that.
If Jemile Weeks wouldn’t have gone to college we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.