12:46pm: The Mariners are indeed in on Hart, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, who notes that GM Jack Zduriencik drafted Hart when he was Milwaukee's scouting director back in 2000.
12:38pm: USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweets that Hart is torn between re-signing with the Brewers or signing with another team, which could be the Mariners.
9:39am: Hart is currently weighing offers from multiple teams, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (on Twitter).
WEDNESDAY, 7:24am: The Brewers are still waiting on word from Hart, but feel like they've done all they can do and are optimistic about their chances, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
TUESDAY, 8:25pm: Free agent first baseman Corey Hart could agree to terms with a team tonight, MLB.com's Adam McCalvy tweets. Earlier this week, a report indicated that the Brewers were prioritizing re-signing Hart. They also have a need at first base. Hart, meanwhile, has said he would be willing to take less money to stay in Milwaukee.
Hart missed the 2013 season and has recently had surgeries on both knees. He hit .270/.334/.507 for the Brewers in 2012. The Brewers currently have Juan Francisco atop their depth chart at first base.
LazerTown
Someone would really like take a flyer on. He could be a real deal, and get qo end year.
Tommets
I wonder what other teams are in the running for him.
Stevil
Seattle would seem to be in the running. They need a DH, they need right handed bats, they need a deal with a low base salary so they can still afford to address other holes. Hart makes a lot of sense for them.
Dbacksfan44
He would take a discount for the Brewers, so they would probably be in the running
Stevil
Well, yeah. It’s in the article. Of course the Brewers are interested.
Matt Galvin
Rays or Pirates.
Dave Pierce
Pirates? Don’t see the fit.
Dbacksfan44
I say Brewers resign him
RoadWarriorUSCA
I say the Brewers resign him.
drwheelock
I want Seattle to land him bad!
skrockij89
Jack Z drafted him while he was in Milwaukee. So it would make sense.
Nick Beahm
He would be a perfect fit for DH/1B as a right handed hitter with power. We need someone for the role that Kendrys played last season and I would prefer we let Kendrys walk and sign with someone else and get a draft pick and pick up Hart.
Nick Beahm
He would be a perfect fit for DH/1B as a right handed hitter with power. We need someone for the role that Kendrys played last season and I would prefer we let Kendrys walk and sign with someone else and get a draft pick and pick up Hart.
tedsfrozenhead
yup, a player with 2 bad knees and didn’t play last year is just what Seattle needs
N.K.T.
Hope it’s Pittsburgh, they need something
AlphaICaesar
Mets should be in the mix.
BadBJay
I was thinking the exact same thing… but they already spent their savings on Granderson haha.
AlphaICaesar
Don’t the Coupons have a coupon?
BadBJay
I can’t verify this but I think Granderson paid for his salmon dinner with Alderson.
AlphaICaesar
Best Sizzler meal ever.
AlphaICaesar
Alderson filled up on free breadsticks.
Robert Mango
well, u can say that, or you can say the yankees bought that meal, i mean he did get paid around $15 million last year and watched all abut a couple of games on TV
Tommets
Not exactly. They only have a $75 mil payroll and Sandy said it will be over last year’s which was $84 mil
BadBJay
Just playing around. But I don’t pay attention to what Alderson says. It’s the other 10 Met GMs you have to listen to.
AlphaICaesar
I think they need to bring in Hart or Morales. Collins was on Zaun today saying they need someone to drive in runs from the 1 bag, and those two could fit the bill.
Tommets
I think something is going to happen at 1B and then they’re going to trade Davis/Duda in a package for a SS or pitching.
AlphaICaesar
They really don’t want Tejada out there, so I wouldn’t be surprised if something happened there.
Tommets
I hope so.
BadBJay
Ick. Morales needs to stay on the west coast. If the Mets sign him, the fans will have a bonfire at CitiField… the bad kind.
AlphaICaesar
You’re assuming fans are going to CitiField, which is yet to be proven.
Tommets
I hear ya.
heemtj
Seems pretty obvious he will be a Brewer. A player of his caliber willing to take a discount to stay makes it a no brainer on Milwaukees end.
Nick Beahm
Seemed pretty obvious that Cano was just using the Mariners and never really considered them…
Mil8Ball
Thank you for comparing Hart who is looking at a 3mil gap to Cano…who got 75mil more from the Mariners. Way different
Nick Beahm
Haha I’m not saying Hart is basically Cano… I was saying free agency is completely random and unpredictable. I believe Hart will be Brewer, certainly sounds like he enjoys it there. I just think he would LOVE it in Seattle is all, as in I want the Mariners to sign him.
Robert Mango
or maybe he’s saying h’ell take less to stay in MIL to drive up his price to other teams. Like they can’t just barely beat the Brewers, they’ll have ot put a few more million on the contract to get him.
Nick Beahm
Success.
Nick Beahm
Seemed pretty obvious that Cano was just using the Mariners and never really considered them…
Jeffy25
I can see cards surprising here….
rovert22044
This would be a great signing for the Astros. We need a power bat in our lineup. I just don’t see Luhnow making the move. We need pitching more than anything.
thysonstro
Anything to get Wallace off the roster.
rovert22044
This… I have to agree with. haha Wallace is the perfect AAAA player.
Justin Anthony
Is he willing to play right field in the right situation?
AlphaICaesar
If I had two new knees, I’d probably prefer 1st base for a little bit.
Benny
Who would want to put him in RF?
Stevil
Jack ran Ibanez and Morse in the outfield last season for Seattle. But yeah, he’s a DH at this point.
toddcoffeytime
He’s actually a pretty good first baseman, believe it or not.
Stevil
His stats suggest otherwise.
daveineg
Don’t know which stat you are referring to but the general consensus watching him there in 2012 was that he made a very smooth transition and looked very comfortable there.
toddcoffeytime
What stats? He has played at first for one year, which would not provide a large enough sample to make any conclusions based on UZR, DRS, etc. He does however pass the eye test, which I thought I was implying previously
Stevil
So, you recognize that his UZR and DRS aren’t good, regardless of small sample size, yet he passed your “eye test”. How is that suppose to be convincing for anyone?
Now you have a guy with one year of experience at 1B who’s missed a year and returns with questions about his knees. Do you really think his defense at first would likely improve?
Not that it matters, because it appears they don’t intend to play him at 1B.
Don’t get me wrong, I actually like this signing. And I certainly hope he does well wherever he’s played. But he would seem to be best served as a DH, maybe filling in now and then at 1B or RF.
toddcoffeytime
No, I did not recognize that UZR and DRS are bad. They are tools, ones which are most effective when given a 3+ year sample size along with fan/expert scouting reports (aka the eye test).
His one year at 1B, which i saw quite a bit of, was pretty good. He’s got a huge reach and made a lot of plays on errant throws that most cannot. Not much to offer as far as range, which i’m sure is still the case after two knee surgeries.
I never said he would “likely improve,” just that he’s a pretty good defensive first baseman; which anyone who’s watched him play enough would likely agree with.
Stevil
HIS UZR and DRS. Keyword: His. And the small sample size was already noted. You’re not going to find an argument from me about advanced stats being tools. That’s exactly what they are. But even with limited games played, it’s still worth examining the numbers.
You’re still going back to the eye test. You’re free to do that, but I don’t recall having the same thought. Passable? Maybe. Good? Probably a stretch.
Having said that, I’m not a fan of Smoak’s defense. If it were a choice between the two, Hart would get my vote. But I’d prefer to see Smoak shipped, Morrison at 1B, and Hart at DH, with a real center fielder brought in, so Ackley and Saunders can cover the corners.
phillies1102
If anyone wondered who is exactly the replacement player when considering WAR, that player is Juan Francisco.
mrnatewalter
Turning down a higher deal in favor of a lower one in Milwaukee isn’t as big of a deal as it seems… I doubt there’s a big difference in the highest offer and the lowest offers.
Stevil
You’re probably right. With incentives, the offers shouldn’t have much of a gap, even if the base salary is off by a million or three.
mrnatewalter
My thoughts is Hart gets a deal around $3-4 a year… I don’t think anyone is lower than 2/yr or higher than 5/yr…
Scot Forler
No way. someone is going to give him at least 7/year
mrnatewalter
He hasn’t played a game since 2012… he might make 7/yr (if he does, it’s Milwaukee that gives it)… but I wouldn’t give him more than 5.
Mil8Ball
If Milwaukee gives 7mil someone offered more…the Brewers know he will take a discount, they wouldn’t be very smart to be the high bidder.
Mil8Ball
5mil is my guess. His situation is a lot like Shaun Marcum was last year. 5-7mil is a good range though.
Nick Beahm
If Bloomquist gets $2.9 and Morse is demanding $7-9 a year, I doubt Hart will be signed for $3-4 a year
Novak
Most of the predictions I’ve seen with the Brewers signing him have his (discounted) price at 6 or 7 million plus incentives.
Novak
Most of the predictions I’ve seen with the Brewers signing him have his (discounted) price at 6 or 7 million plus incentives.
Stevil
You’re probably right. With incentives, the offers shouldn’t have much of a gap, even if the base salary is off by a million or three.
Sam Henzler
As much as I would like to see the Pirates as a sleeper, I don’t see it. Not the money, but I think the Pirates are going to grab a lefty first baseman. I would love Hart playing in Pittsburgh. I can see the Giants, Yankees, Brewers, Red Sox, Mariners, and Rays as the fits, personally.
GetTheRunnerOver
Hart would be a good backup for Tex
Sam Henzler
He could also be a pretty good option at DH and Right Field. If the Rangers can’t get Cruz back and don’t want to spend money on Choo, I would think Hart is a better option than Kendrys Morales.
d
I’ve wondered why he hasn’t been linked to the Rangers. Has the power that Texas wants is cheaper and would actually net Texas a draft pick if they let Cruz walk
Bobby A
Heard a rumor its the Jays.
So i guess we wil ltrade lind
dc21892
If they could hide his defense in LF and his knees are finally healthy, he could be a fit for Boston. Nava would shift to RF,
Victorino to CF. Not saying it’s the best choice, but it could be an option. I’m kinda hoping we get to see what JBJ is made of though.
GetTheRunnerOver
I doubt he would ever see the outfield. Especially if Ichiro stays put
drwheelock
Just not very many power RHB’s out there, and Seattle is desperate for RHBs. I can see Seattle stepping up on this one, and then see Smoak (LHB) dealt in a package deal. And then resigning Morales to DH as a switch hitter for us.
Tim Bowers
That would be dumb. Resigning Morales, and giving up that pick? They already lost one by signing Cano, they won’t want to lose another.
Chris Koch
You don’t lose a pick when you resign your own player.??
Edgar4evar
You lose the pick you’d be gaining if they signed elsewhere. Morales is very likely to sign a deal with someone and when he does, the M’s get a pick. Unless they sign him first.
Chris Koch
gotcha. considering it’s a 35ish pick you’d gain different than losing your top 10pick as I was thinking he was thinking.
trenigro
Seattle please!
heemtj
Corey Hart loves wearing sunglasses at night
Mike 97
Pick Texas please.
Tim Bowers
I see the M’s stepping to the plate, and overpaying for Hart.
3 years 36 million
Edgar4evar
I tend to agree and I’m ok with this plan. I’d rather overpay for Hart, who is probably undervalued, than pay market for an overvalued player like Cruz. Who, frankly, the M’s would probably still have to overpay for.
Matt Galvin
Giants need a LF and so does Baltimore.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
He’s conferring with Burnett…
Chris Koch
Something that hasn’t been mentioned about Hart is that if your team doesn’t have Spring Training in Arizona you are out of the mix. He wants to remain close to his family. If your team does Spring Training in Florida, you probably need to overpay by 5mil on the 2nd best offer.
John Kreese
Good info. I read he’s from Kentucky. Family relocate?
Chris Koch
As a Brewer Fan, Corey had a full no trade clause over these last few seasons to any team that had Spring Training in FL. It made Boston/NYY a mute trade partner.
Anyway headed to Seattle.
Evan
Angels maybe?
abes_seed
I’d love to see the Angels get Hart to replace Trumbo… especially if you can get him for around the same price we were going to be paying Trumbo, maybe a tad more. I think if Hart is healthy, he will outplay Trumbo, so it would be like we just signed two young pitchers for minimum dollars.
GoForThree
Hart has his scales out. Seeing as how he has had issues the past couple of seasons and he’s never been on a championship team, i hope it’s not all about the weight of the money.
Jonathan T.
This is taking forever.
chicowalker
He should really be thinking about a 1B/DH role. It’s admirable that he wants to return to the Brewers, but with his knees, he’s probably just not a guy that can play a lot of games in the field.
toddcoffeytime
Well he will be playing 1B, for what its worth. Getting days off against some RHP, so it’s pretty much a wash.
chicowalker
Yeah. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get 30 or 40 games as a DH either.
disqus_pNhzKcF3Cp
rangers
wyattpv13
Angelssss, please
LetsGoBucs92122
Hart would be a nice addition to the Mariners lineup. I wouldn’t mind seeing the M’s getting back to being a competitive baseball team for more than 1/5 of the time.
drwheelock
That would be a SOLID sign for Seattle. They could FINALLY sit Smoak against LHPs! And run with Hart either at DH or RF.
tedsfrozenhead
Mariners need proven players who will contribute today. They don’t need players who missed last season due to injuries and has problems with not 1 but both knees. It is a loser move that GMZ will likely not take since he needs to win this year to keep his job.
BadBJay
He’s not going to win in either Seattle or Milwaukee. It will be a quality of life decision he will have to make.
ray_derek
Agreed
Razalnek
M’s probably offered more $$, plus he can DH there. I know Hart loves Milwaukee, but he’d probably be Gonzo after this year anyhow. I bet he goes to Seattle.
Hometown Discount
Obviously, loyalty is not one of Corey’s better assets.