The Brewers fell to the Reds today by a score of 5-3, thereby officially eliminating the club from the postseason despite having spent 150 days in first place in the NL Central this season. As MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy notes, Milwaukee’s collapse makes the Brewers the first team since divisional play began in 1969 to spend that much time in first place but miss the postseason (Twitter link).
Here are some notes from Milwaukee and elsewhere in the game’s central divisions …
- Ryan Braun could at least theoretically be moved from the outfield to plug the Brewers’ hole at first base, reports MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. Manager Ron Roenicke said that the team had discussed that possibility, but indicated that it was a hypothetical discussion that did not seem likely to go anywhere. If Braun stays in the outfield, the team will both need to find a new first bagger (both Mark Reynolds and Lyle Overbay are free agents) and will face a more difficult decision whether to tender a contract to Gerardo Parra. As McCalvy notes, there are currently three possibilities already on the club’s 40-man roster in Matt Clark, Hunter Morris, and Jason Rogers. Otherwise, Milwaukee could turn to a free agent market that does appear to have a decent number of lumbering slugger types available.
- Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez will soon meet with his agent, Paul Kinzer, to discuss his strategic options, writes McCalvy. Ramirez says that he has yet to seriously consider his future, though generally would like to stay with Milwaukee and is not sure he is interested in committing to multiple years. If he does decide to test the open market, Ramirez would need to turn down a $14MM mutual option (if it is offered in lieu of a $4MM buyout). Though his production is down somewhat this year, the 36-year-old remains a solid regular and would draw plenty of attention on the open market.
- After a rain delay put a premature end to the last start of the season for Phil Hughes of the Twins, the club offered him a chance to make a relief appearance this weekend to notch the last out needed to trigger a $500K contract bonus, reports MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger (links to Twitter). Even more remarkable than that offer, perhaps, is the fact that Hughes declined, saying that he “owe[s] too much to the organization over the next two years to risk getting hurt.” (GM Terry Ryan said that it was not possible simply to give Hughes the cash, since the CBA would require a completely restructured contract, though Hughes also shot down that idea as setting a “bad precedent.”) Needless to say, this interesting tale puts a shine on an already gleaming turnaround year for Hughes.
- The emergence of Hector Rondon as the Cubs’ closer this year makes him an easy choice to keep the role next year, writes MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat. Rondon, 26, took a big step forward in 2014, striking out nearly nine batters per nine (against 2.2 BB/9) while registering a 2.49 ERA. If he continues to rack up the saves — he sits at 27 on the year — Rondon will set himself up for a nice payday when he reaches arbitration eligibility after next season. His continued presence at the back of the pen — bolstered by Pedro Strop and Neil Ramirez, both of whom have had strong campaigns — could keep the Cubs out of the free agent market for late-inning arms.
Braun’s thumb is so bad he might not be able to play OF anymore. The decision likely will be made for them, no?
It affects his hitting.
It impacts his throwing, as well. He can’t feel the ball.
Agreed he throws pretty badly. The throwing if anything else aggravates it.
If its bad enough that he can’t throw well, he can’t hit then. Moving to 1st doesn’t really solve anything.
The years of steroids are breaking down Brauns body already, that’s to bad
Or, it’s just a thumb injury that needs time to heal. I mean, have the “years of steroid use” broken down Nelson Cruz or Melky Cabrera’s body?
I’m assuming you mean Nelson Cruz? And not the Giants wide receiver . And Melky Cabrera is a terrible example he always seems to be on the DL so yes the roids are probably breaking down his body
Sorry, I did mean Nelson Cruz, whose stellar 2014 post-steroid numbers you failed to address. And Cabrera is coming off a year he played 138 games and had the second best season of his career. So again, I suggest you re-think your knee-jerk conclusion.
Cruz’s numbers in 2014 are right in line with what he’s been doing the last several years.
Cruz’s numbers are by far and away the best of his career. In 10 years he has cleared 30 home runs 1 time,
Has never cleared more than 90 rbi, has cleared 150 hits only 1 other time, has never cleared 300 tb, nothing in line about that!!
In the five seasons previous, Nelson Cruz put up a .272/.331/.511 line. In 2014, Cruz is hitting .273/.336/.527. His line this year isn’t even close to the .318/.374/.576 he put up in 2010.
As for Cruz’s counting stats, 2014 is also only the second time in his career he’s topped 600 PA.
2014 hitting environment is not the same as 2010 and you know it.
The production is right in line, in terms of home runs and rbi per game. Meaning his skills are about the same. He has just DH’d more this year and stayed healthy and has played 150 games for only the second time.
He needs surgery. At least attempt to fix it.
The tv guys keep saying how it may not fix it so you know its been discussed. It seems like its worth a shot or start giving him a game off after 2 or 3 which would make sense regardless.
Who cares if it may not help. Right now is a bit of a joke. What is he going to do play with this injury forever? He has had this injury since the start of 2013, it didn’t help him even when he missed the last 65 games and a full off season
Not that much of a downside at this point..
Well, there’s probably a risk of some lost function, but regardless it seems like the thing to do – at least with the info that’s been floated. They sure aren’t very good at “managing” it.
The problem they have is if he gets surgery the timetable would keep him out till May or June if I remember right. The thumb injury is a obvious issue that is greatly effecting his performance. How many times did he sit for three days then have an incredible game and quickly decline afterwards? Way too many times.
What’s your level of certainty on long term steroid use being the cause of his thumb problem?
Lets not forget he wasn’t using the steroids Steve is thinking of. Braun was on PEDS…which isn’t on the level of injecting etc.
Ugh, playing Braun at first would make him even less valuable than he already is. I’d sooner not see him in a Brewers uniform again. (Yes, I know that isn’t likely to happen, but a man can hope, no?)
Regardless of the Braun situation, Gerardo Parra needs to be tendered a contract. He has been excellent for us down the stretch (despite our collapse), and would be a valuable platoon partner for Khris Davis and 4th outfielder. No reason to let him go. None.
Depends if it keeps him healthy or not. Brauns’ value by far comes from his bat. If getting him to 1B would keep him healthier, and bring his offense back up to his previous levels, then that is the way to go.
I was commenting with the assumption that his bat continues at the level of this year, hitting around .270 with maybe 20 homers, give or take one or two. 1B is generally a position that expects more offense than RF, so that wouldn’t be worth much for a first bagger. But, if he fixes that thumb and can return to something like .300 with 25-30 homers, then by all means shift him to first if he can pick it defensively. I think that probably would keep him healthier than the OF. It really all depends on what happens with that thumb, though.
I have 5mil+ reasons not to tender him a contract. It isn’t as easy as you make it 5mil+ for a 4th outfielder maybe in a slight platoon is a crazy amount of money for the Brewers. They want to keep both Gallardo(10mil) and Ramirez(13mil), Broxton has a big contract for next year(9mil), then they need to retool the bullpen(3mil), and after all that sign a real first baseman(5mil).
What are you going to do gamble with an unproven prospect at first to keep a expensive 4th outfielder? Give proven vets the boot in Gallardo or Ramirez?
I’d value a lot of things over Gerrardo Parra at this point. I love his glove and his bat but there simply isn’t a starting spot for him…I wouldn’t tender him a contract if I had to lose something else for it.
Despite him having a half way solid year, I’d be willing to move Yo if they could get a 1B for him somehow.
Would you trade Yo at $13M for 1 year for Mark Teixeira at $45M over 2 years?
Because I can’t see how Yo has a ton of value. Over the last 2 years he has a 20-21 record with a 100 ERA+. At $13M I’m not sure that really brings you a good player unless it’s a player being overpaid like Tex.
Parra at 5-7mil. is worth keeping considering the platoon with Davis potential and the fact that Braun/Gomez have huge injury potentials. Gallardo doesn’t deserve his option being picked up. ARam likely declines his option. No Weeks, No Reynolds/Overbay That is around 41mil off the payroll books. Why would a team be scared to add a great defensive/OF and bat like Parra’s for 5-7mil? They still have 30+mil then with to work around….Okay maybe 24mil with other salary increases like Braun’s. Dump Gallardo you have a 2015 rotation of Lohse, Garza, Peralta, Fiers, and Nelson.+13mil.
Well, of course Gallardo’s option just got picked up. This doesn’t necessarily mean we’re keeping him. Could be just so we retain him as a trade piece for teams that lose out on starters in the offseason. But still, yeah, Ramirez isn’t likely to be back, and with that we’re likely to have a lot of money off the books. Keeping Parra is definitely worth it. It’s a no-brainer, as far as I’m concerned.
Phil Hughes’ season has been unreal (16 walks all year?!), and that’s a pretty classy act to refuse the relief appearance. Respect gained, at least in my book.
Guy has always been classy, even during his rough years in New York.
Huge kudos to both Hughes and the Twins organization.
Good for the Twins and Hughes. Both sides acted with the utmost integrity. I’d still like to see them do something for him. I know clubs give away cars and other things to players from time to time.
I hope somebody mentioned to Adam McCalvy the 2009 Tigers spent 164 days total in First Place in the AL Central and MISSED the Playoffs when they lost the AL Central to the Minnesota Twins in a memorable Game #163
McCalvey on Braun “he still runs well and has a superior throwing arm, traits that would be wasted at first base.”
I want to know what he’s drinking… Braun still takes awful angles on fly balls, despite playing the OF for 7!!! years now, and his arm is inferior compared to an average RF. His arm is far superior to that of say, Khris Davis, tho.
He had some great seasons in the OF IMO. Now its not just the angles, its that he doesn’t catch the balls he gets to. I’d say its much more often that he reads the ball well, takes a good route and doesn’t catch the thing even though he’s in position to.
FWIW, McCalvy works for MLB. Their websites remind me of Pravda.
I don’t know about that. I think that his speed made up for some poor angles he was taking and it would get him to where the ball was but not in a good position to catch it.
Either way, he is nothing more than average at best in the OF imo, so moving him to first wouldn’t be the worst idea to me. Plus it opens up a spot for a gold glove RF.
I think you’d have to look long and hard to find bad “angles” before this season. Matt Clark should be the 1st baseman along with Rogers on the bench.
I’ve probably seen near 1,000 games with Braun, most of which he was in the OF… the bad angles were there the entire time. He took an awkward route to some fly ball several times a month.
I watch every game outside of one or two a season. I’ll stand by what I said but for what its worth, the best OFs ever take indirect routes to spots several times a month.
I guess I was being too nice then, because Braun and best OFs shouldn’t be anywhere near each other.
I know that bullpens are so fickle from year to year, yet the Cubs have have a good chance to be completely lockdown for the next couple years. Not only are the current crop throwing BBs, there are serious depth reinforcements in AAA – to include Vizcaino and Rivero.
I say, have surgery on Braun’s thumb. Tender Parra he will likely sign for around $6M. Have him start the season in RF while Braun recovers. Re-sign Duke, Ramirez, Reynolds and pick up Gallardo’s option. Platoon Clark and Reynolds at first with Clark getting the majority of the ABs. Reynolds can also spell Ramirez at third every fifth day to keep him fresh. This keeps payroll around $95-98MM.
Duke won’t be cheap and please, no Mark Reynolds.
Gerardo Parra is already under contract for next year so the only decision Milwaukee has to make is whether or not to trade him or keep him. You need him since their next best outfielder is Logan Schaefer and he has demonstrated that he can’t hit his weight.
As for Braun, it is a nerve problem so this might be an issue that nags him his whole career. If he can’t return to prior form, the best hope for Milwaukee would be permanent injury that prevents him from playing so they could collect on an insurance policy I am sure they took out when they extended his contract.
Parra isn’t under contract for 2015 but is arbitration eligible for the final time. So the Brewers do have the option to simply non-tender him although I don’t think they should.
I don’t think much is proven from a hitter’s part time at bats.
“it was a hypothetical discussion that did not seem likely to go anywhere”
——————-
do you guys not know what that means?
Yeah, it’ll end up on MLBTR and we’ll all weigh in!
nice.
Imagine if they sat around the lunch table at Brewers HQ saying how nice it would be to have Goldschmidt at first base.
the next day…
Extra! Extra! Brewers have internal discussion about trading for Paul Goldschmidt!
That sounds like some of the rumors that go around. They’ve probably made offhand comments like that. Then some low level management type talks to a reporter and says they were talking about having him on the team. Then Rosenthal or one of his colleagues reports that a trade was being discussed.
Then we’d talk about it on MLBTR!
The Cubs will still need to look at free agency or trade for a 2nd lefty in the pen with Wesley Wright. I’m not sold on Zac Rosscup as being that guy and Jokish and Doubrant seem more like middle men than guys to work the 8th inning of a one run game and match-up against Votto and Bruce. Andrew Miller is the brass ring on the FA market but Zach Duke might be just as good for less money and years.