The Brewers are taking a wide-angled approach to finding a first baseman, tweets Jerry Crasnick of ESPN. Among the potential fits are Pedro Alvarez, Ike Davis, Steve Pearce, Chris Carter, and Daniel Nava. One notable name missing from the report is veteran Justin Morneau, although he may still be under consideration.
Milwaukee traded first baseman Adam Lind to the Mariners last week for three minor league pitchers. Lind, a 32-year-old left-handed platoon bat, had just one year of club control remaining. Since he didn’t fit into the club’s long term plans, he was deemed expendable. While some of the names listed above represent a definite downgrade to Lind, the Brewers may be best served by targeting a player they can trade at the deadline.
Alvarez, Carter, and Morneau strike me as the most likely to return value down the road. Miller Park is a home run friendly stadium which should benefit all three sluggers. Alvarez and Carter generally post hefty home run totals combined with a poor batting average. Morneau is a different sort of hitter with high averages and moderate power. Whereas both Alvarez and Carter are entering their age 29 seasons, Morneau will turn 35 next May and has battled serious injuries in recent years.
Nothing is preventing the club from signing two players from this list. In particular, Pearce makes sense as a platoon option for Alvarez. The former Oriole offers some defensive versatility. He has experience in the outfield and even managed to play a decent second base in a tiny sample last season. Similarly, Nava, a switch-hitter, could provide some depth in the outfield while platooning with Carter. Nava has been much better against right-handed pitching throughout his career.
Why spend the money when you’re going to tank for the next couple of years.
Why not try Khris at first and see how he does there.
It’s not like he’s a golden glove at left / he’s got a negative war in the outfield anyway.
Because you could then possibly trade one of those guys for prospects at the deadline. And why move Davis? Just let him hrs and then trade him. Don’t screw up his offense by making him worry about playing a new base
I agree with your point but my thinking was
they have young guys like Tyrone Taylor / Brett Phillips
who could be given a shot at playing in the majors.
So moving Khris to open a spot for them seemed like a better solution IMO.
Neither is ready. And no point in wasting a year with Phillips in the bigs while we are horrible. Save him for the year after or really late next year
Jason Rogers?
Davis was tried in spring training at 1b last season in practice. Sounded like he was pathetic at it and moved back to LF almost immediately
Because most of those potential fits aren’t going to cost much anyway.
They have tried Khris at 1B and according to both he and the staff, it was mostly a disaster. He’s pretty much tied to LF, and with his weak arm he should be a DH. He had a very good bat, but he’s a liability in the field.
Sorry new position
I hope st louis signs morneau
monreau would be great as a Cardinal 1B for two years
I could see Chris Carter fitting in nicely.
I think an Alvarez/Carter or Alvarez/Pearce platoon would go nicely, then they could flip the better performer of the two at the deadline.
Alvarez is too expensive, and isn’t worth your time. Might as well do a Carter/Nava combo. Carter is a year removed from a .227/.307/.491 37 hr 2014 season. Carter may be a bet but it’s a better pick up defensively over Alvarez
I don’t know who the Brewers would give up but the Cubs got a hitter in Iowa next year who is blocked by Rizzo who can hit and own the longest HR in H S even over Bryce Harper.(Vogelbalm) is a pure hitter with a little power good trade and could step in next season and definitely by 2017
Dan Vogelbach?
Seems like he may be similar to Kevin Youkilis hitting wise with that high OBP, aside from batting from the left side of course…he also seems to be limited to a 1B/DH role defensively which would typically hurt his path to the show…but in this case he does have that going for him being that they are “scouring” for a 1B and all
I don’t expect the Brewers to give up anything. They’re accumulating as much talent as they can. Considering they were willing to play washed-up shortstops at 1B when they were contending, there’s no chance they’ll forfeit talent for a 1B in a garbage season.
Why did it take two days for this to be posted? I always thought MLBTR was fast and one of the main reasons I come here. Just waiting for a slow news day to write it up?
That’s a couple posts now referring to Nava as a switch hitter. Didn’t he give it up?
That was supposed to be in reference to the Dan Vogelbach reference how it ended up down here is beyond me…get it together TradeRumors lol
Maybe they’ll go after Mauer. Twins would have chip in a chunk of change but both teams would be better off!
No chance. Mauer has a no-trade clause, and is still owed $23 million for the next three seasons ($69 million total).
Minnesota might not trade him because he’s the hometown boy. The fanbase might hate potentially trading Mauer unless it was to a contender to try and win a ring.
Trade you straight up for Braun
Isn’t Texas trying to unload Fielder? Lol
I’d take Fielder back if the Rangers ate salary or took some in trade. He gets on base.
I read the White Sox are willing to eat much of LaRoche’s salary just to move him. Why not grab him and see if he if he can turn it around and become a trade chip at the deadline?
They should trade for Bour and play him at 1b.
They can take Adam LaRoche off our hands. We’ll install Melky at DH anyway.
The Cardinals have the great slug(ger) Moss or Adams. The Brewers could offer a couple of new baseballs one or both. I would like to see them both go anywhere but STL. Maybe STL would throw in a autograph Heyward bat.
Allen Craig for free? Otherwise any of these would be decent on a one year, then flip them for B level prospects at the deadline.
Put Braun at 1st. He could end up there before his contract is up anyway. Trade Khris Davis. Davis will be a free agent before the Brewers make the playoffs.