The Brewers are facing a decision on veteran catcher Erik Kratz, as Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel details. With Yasmani Grandal and Manny Pina ahead of Kratz on the depth chart, Kratz’s days with the organization seem numbered. The 38-year-old is out of minor league options, and the Brewers only plan to carry two catchers on the roster to open the season. A move to either trade Kratz or attempt to pass him through outright waivers seems inevitable, and president of baseball ops David Stearns was candid about Kratz’s roster status. “We’ve tried to keep him posted on what’s going on,” said Stearns. “…It’s a balance between trying to preserve your injury insurance and trying to assess the market and what’s out there. We’ll continue to balance that, but I imagine that resolution will happen close to the end of camp.” Stearns added that he Brewers are “sensitive to do right by the player” in searching for other opportunities, while Kratz himself had nothing but praise for the professionalism with which the organization has handled the situation.
More on the NL Central…
- Michael Wacha is very cognizant of the fact that this could be his final Spring Training with the Cardinals, writes Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A free agent after the season, Wacha has already watched the Cardinals extend teammate Miles Mikolas (on a four-year, $68MM deal). Wacha called the contract “awesome” for Mikolas adding that his teammate is a “stud pitcher and great off the field.” As far as his own contract status, however, Wacha stressed the importance of not getting caught up in that sort of thing with the season approaching. The 2012 first-rounder was limited to 84 1/3 innings last season due to an oblique injury, but he was sharp when on the field, working to a 3.20 ERA with 7.6 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, 0.96 HR/9 and a 43.2 percent grounder rate. He’ll be the youngest established starter available in free agency next winter, so a healthy season is particularly crucial.
- Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette breaks down the Pirates’ shortstop battle between Erik Gonzalez and 2015 first-rounder Kevin Newman. Gonzalez, acquired from the Indians this offseason, is out of minor league options, so he’ll break camp with the club whether it’s as a starter at short or as a versatile utility piece. However, if Gonzalez beats out Newman for the starting role, it seems likelier that Newman would head to Triple-A for regular at-bats. Pablo Reyes and Cole Tucker are both in the mix as well, although Tucker has yet to even play a game in Triple-A and would seem like a long shot at this juncture. If neither Newman nor Tucker breaks camp with the team, Reyes could also be in line to earn a bench role as a utility piece. It’s a roster battle with numerous layers, which Brink discusses with GM Neal Huntington as well as several of the players involved.
ronnsnow
I’m sorry, Newman is a bust. he’s like Jordy Mercer, but not as good of a hitter or fielder. He is like sugar free vanilla ice cream.
Let Erik Gonzalez and Pablo Reyes handle SS until Tucker is ready, which shouldn’t be long.
geejohnny
A bust? He hasn’t even had half a season yet. Hard for anyone to be called a bust without a few seasons of experience. He’s hit well everywhere he’s been. Wait until the yrs over or more. The Pirates will give him all the time he needs.
Michael Chaney
I agree that it’s way too early to call him a bust, but I also feel that he was overrated to begin with. So it’s not that he’s a bust as much as it is that I think too much was expected of him. I personally see him as being a high-end utility guy or a low-end starter, but probably not a long term answer at short (though I know other people probably feel differently).
He runs well and doesn’t strike out so he has a pretty high floor, but he also doesn’t have power and doesn’t draw walks, so the ceiling isn’t too high either. He’s only had one minor league season with an OPS that was better than .760, and since he doesn’t walk or hit for power, his offensive profile is overly reliant on base hits — any change in batted ball fortune and he’s toast offensively.
AtlSoxFan
I’ve got to disagree. In the whole of mlb only about half a dozen SS broke the 20hr plateau, and beyond that only another dozen or so even reached 10 HRs.
SS simply isn’t a “power” hitting position as a whole outside a select few. Add into that the kid was only drafted a couple years ago and would be expected to still be developing as a hitter… well, it’s too early to throw in the towel.
FWIW: a .760 OPS last year would make him the 8th best SS in MLB (if you count machado who is really a 3b these days, otherwise 7th) by that particular metric, not too shabby!
Michael Chaney
I see where you’re coming from, but I also mentioned that he doesn’t draw a lot of walks either. And there’s a difference between a .760 OPS in the low minors and in the majors.
baseballpun
In these modern, hectic days of fast food, voicemails, and one-night stands, people expect player development to happen too quickly.
Gwynning's Anal Lover
Forget baseball. I would take a one-night stand.
SmokieLink
Modern? I was doing all that 25 years ago. Except for developing players. Although I was a player. If you know what I mean.
smrtbusnisman04a
He was only just drafted in 2015. He’s still developing.
Not every player is Mike Trout becoming an MVP candidate in their 3rd year….
greatone14
This is the dumbest take ever. Let the guy see some major league pitching for a season before you write him off. He’s shown he has pop to the gaps, he can run well, and his glove will develop in due time. Let’s not forget these guys are young they will have time to mold into their value some won’t pan out for us, but that’s how it works. Just go support the team so PNC Park can look like the Wild Card game against the Reds again. This team will be good it’s up to the fan base to show up and support them.
PhilsPhan
LOL sugar free ice cream, love it.
mlb1225
Gonzalez has done horrible in ST., while Reyes has done pretty good during pre season. They should open up the year Reyes as the primary SS for now. Plus, Reyes did well in his september call up last year.
Gwynning's Anal Lover
Gonzalez is the next Freddy Glavis. Neil said.
darkstar61
Realistically, Gonzalez has done terrible his entire career. Not sure what they honestly expect from him, it might not be much at all.
timewalk42
Newman has absolutely no power and his fielding isn’t good enough to hold down a starting job in the Bigs he has good contact and speed but he is destined for a career in the minors I agree the guys a bust at the major league level
PirateCity
It is clearly Cole Tucker’s job to lose next year…. What a good kid. I hope his skills match his personality
anthonyd4412
Kratz to the Cubs makes perfect sense
SmokieLink
No Kratz to Cubs. Caratini. Theo thinks he’s the toast of NL backups.
petrie000
After he gets waived I can see it. If the Brewers want something in return, I don’t…
jgoody62
There will be no market for Kratz until the Red Sox figure out what to do with their tandem. All 3 of their options are better than Kratz, and one of them should be dealt before opening day
AtlSoxFan
Depends on the return ask. I’d easily see a team wanting to get set earlier than waiting for the Red Sox to decide, IF the price were seen to be a relative bargain.
CV hasn’t been travelling/taking as many ABs as Swihart/Leon, leading one to think it’s really one of those two on the block.
Opt A: Swihart has been a hitting machine this spring, and adds value as a switch hitter with at least some positional versatility. You expect those signs of life, plus his prospect history, would mean a fairly high ask. (And many teams may prefer a lower priced Kratz instead for a backup).
Opt B: Leon has been ok this spring, but really it’s his game calling you’re buying, and, he makes 2.5mil which I honestly doubt the Redsox would eat any of given their cbt position. Again, with this one I don’t know if the salary+acq
cost makes sense to hold out for what upgrade he hypothetically represents.
End result: Kratz may be a better option for some teams than you might think.
HarveyD82
Of course theyll start Gonzalez. He’s the highly touted second coming of honus wagner. plus Newman isnt old enough. theyll keep him buried in aaa until he’s 28
willymogarcia33
Well, obviously Tucker isn’t breaking camp, as he was already sent to minors camp.
SupremeZeus
The Crew should check w/ the Dbacks about Kratz. The Snakes like to carry as many catchers as possible on the 25 man.
joew
LOL @ people calling Newman a bust. Other than a semi-brief period when he cracked the top 100 prospect list.. he hasn’t be a HUGE deal. He was never a prospect you look at and be like oh yeah this guy is going to the all star game for sure.
His ceiling is a solid starter that hits for some average and will use his speed to get to an extra base here and there. Hes doing fair in spring and should probably break camp with the team, then again so should Reyes.
Something to also keep in mind.. if Newman is sent down, it could take ABs away from Tucker who is the the guy we really want to get up in there at the tail end of the season.
Mendoza Line 215
I believe that Newman played college ball so he is not particularly young. He does deserve more of a chance than he got at the end of last year and I agree that he is not a bust.I do think that he was rated higher than he deserved.I thought that Jordy Mercer was a fairly good shortstop although he lacked the range of many of the best fielding shortstops.I think that Newman has a ceiling of Jordy Mercer.
Cole Tucker seems to be liked by many but let’s see if he can do well in AAA first.It is a potential problem with him and Newman if the latter is sent down but my guess is that they will keep him up to share time. with Gonzalez..
grizzled sports vet
Correct. Newman did play in college. I think he is 26 this year.
SmokieLink
Cubs need to sign Wacha next year.
SmokieLink
P.S. Rob Manfred sucks. Pitch clock. 3 batter minimum. Lower the mound. Move back the mound. DH in the NL. Computer umpires. Runner at second to start extra innings.
What’s next? Don’t run out home runs? Don’t run at all? Have the computer figure out where the runner ends up based on ball trajectory and throwing angle?
Manfred is the biggest frakking tool of a commissioner in history. Has he ever even played organized baseball?
darkstar61
Playing organized baseball is not important at all, in any possible way – some of the greatest baseball minds in history never did that either
Agree with everything else you said though
petrie000
Manfred may actually be the best commissioner ever if only because of how horrifyingly low his predecessors set that bar…
StlCardsfan4life
If they lower the mound or scoot it back pitchers injuries will increase…mlb doesnt need that! Also 3 batter min is stupid! What if he cant get anybody out?! Freaking crazy
Cardinals17
If Wacha stays healthy all season, the Cardinals will resign him before he hits free agency.