The Brewers have struck a deal with veteran infielder Eric Sogard, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic ( Twitter links). It’s said to be a one-year, $4.5MM arrangement that includes an option for another campaign.
Sogard returns to Milwaukee after an up-and-down stint with the club from 2017-18. When last he suited up for the Brew Crew, Sogard proved unable to repeat a strong 2017 season in which he walked more than he struck out and delivered his first-ever above-average offensive effort.
After that disappointing turn, Sogard secured a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays. He earned his way up rather quickly and ended up producing an even more interesting season with the bat. Over 442 plate appearances, before and after a mid-season trade to the Rays, Sogard popped 13 home runs and delivered a .290/.353/.457 batting line.
Sogard’s surprising burst obviously coincided with a general power wave. He also benefited in particular from some wall-scraping dingers that he rode out with a much-steepened average launch angle. We examined the topic in the approach to the trade deadline. As it turned out, Sogard hit just three dingers and slugged .404 in his 119 plate appearances with Tampa Bay, so perhaps there’s added cause to wonder whether that will continue.
No doubt the Brewers have a good sense of how much power to anticipate from Sogard. They’re also amply familiar with his other qualities, including an exceptional eye and contact ability. Sogard delivers well-regarded glovework at second base, the ability to line up just about anywhere on the field, and a track record of adding runs with his legs.
The Milwaukee roster has seen quite a lot of change in the infield already this winter. Mike Moustakas, Travis Shaw, Eric Thames, and Hernan Perez all hit the open market. The club has now added Luis Urias, Ryon Healy, and Sogard as at least a partial slate of replacements.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
seamaholic 2
Umm, are the Brewers aware of the roster limits?
herecomethephillies2018
They cut something like 11 or 14 guys from their roster last year. I think they got room.
Ry.the.Stunner
They non-tendered like five players, they have room.
Francys01
The Brewers are active signing a lot of free agents. Some of them are not top free agents, but still they are trying to compete next season.
Bjd1975
You just another example why I think St Louis fans are classy and knowledgeable.
todd76
4.5 million for Sogard! WOW. Some of the dead hall of famers just rolled over in their graves.
brewcrew08
4.5M for a 2.6WAR player last year. That’s a great deal for MKE.
Ry.the.Stunner
More like $4.5M for a 34-year old who had a career year that he’s unlikely to reproduce; a guy who prior to last year has only sniffed an OPS over .700 once in his career.
iml12
This ^^^^^^
2id
Well that’s it. No need to bother playing out the season since he’s going to suck and the Brewers will finish last.
brewcrew08
Last year was also the most at bats he had in a season in his career. I didn’t know the brewers signed sogard to be a slugger with over a .700 OPS either. I said a 2.6WAR is great value for 4.5M which is exactly what he did last year. Should I base what the brewers pay him off what he did in 2015 or does 2019 make the most sense? Just wondering.
kc38
Uhhhh his career line. If you paid every player off a one year wonder you would have the worst team in baseball
MoRivera 1999
Many, many, many players would not be well served being paid off their career lines. And many teams would in many cases be making a mistake to do so.
Phattey
Dude is a bum
thomps07
As I brewer fan this makes me cringe. Hopefully they waive the bum they claimed from the tigers.
2id
So would the reverse be true? If you have an aging player that has one, maybe half a down year, would you pay on his career line, like you say, or his “regression year”?
brewcrew08
Don’t try to talk baseball sense with him. I’m not sure why he doesn’t understand a guy who had a better wRC+ than machado, Baez, Ozuna, Lindor last year isn’t worth 4.5M. Looking passed the name on the back of the Jersey seems too hard for him.
kc38
8 years of a good career line and half a season of regression yes you still pay. The amount of years of sogards career and a half good year, no you don’t pay. That’s a horrible argument
2id
Yeah you’re an idiot. Cherry pick what I said and twist it to fit your argument. So you would overpay an aging, note that I said aging, athlete who is coming off a down year, hoping for the bounce back? Glad you’re not in charge of a small market team.
dynamite drop in monty
Not the alive ones tho?
MannyPineappleExpress9
Sogard puts them at either 38 or 39 on the 40 man roster. Still room for Corey Koskie or Lyle Overbay!
fishy14
El Cabio
marrtho
Will be interesting to see if he can replicate his 2019 stats. Glad he’s back with the crew.
DimTillard
NERD POWER IS BACK BABY
thomps07
He is dog crap
pdxbrewcrew
So’s your mother.
dynamite drop in monty
Uncalled for.
pdxbrewcrew
So’s your mother.
ihazhomerun
It’s the internet, no such thing!
Frahm_
Brewers making moves
stubby66
Cmon really. Nerd power well at the very least we will be able to sell some merchandise.
Vanilla Good
I can bust out my nickname jersey again without the shame!
Love my Rays
Gonna miss them – both really nice guys – Go #NerdPower and Go #Avi
Karlander
What is with the stockpiling of a average infielders???
Given that needing a significant SP is their real issue and problem , it’s hard to figure. It only makes sense to me if they plan to move Arcia or Hiura in some capacity. Healy and Sogard aren’t bad ball players at all but then there’s Rodriguez and others. Strange.
TGH31
Not with Stearns. This is his MO. Has worked well the past few years. No need to overpay for pitchers, and especially high K pitchers. Exploit the low going rate of groundball pitchers.
seamaholic 2
It’s worked well because they had one miraculous off-season when they flat stole the 2nd or 3rd best player in baseball and also made probably the best free agent signing of a position player in years, to cover 2/3 of their outfield. And that was the same off-season that a promising starting pitcher turned into the best reliever in the game. All credit to them for the 2017-18 winter, but they’ve been coasting on that run of player acquisition luck ever since. With the growth of the Reds, Brewers may be a 4th place team now.
brewcrew08
This logic makes no sense to me. Coasting but they have been arguably the most active team in free agency this offseason? They have signed Anderson, Garcia, Lindblom, Sogard, Healy in the last 10 days alone.
bdpecore
You mean the same season Wade Miley was considered the staff “ace” which also included Davies, Gio and C. Anderson and Lyles?
2id
Such a dumb comment. I love how when the Brewers have success haters attribute it to “Miraculous” and “pixie dust” but when other teams have success it’s talent.
brewpackbuckbadg
18-19 off season was pretty good to. Signed Yaz and Moose for little commitment. This year is questionable but we will see.
kc38
And those moves are winning moves to you ????? Please say yes that those guys are gonna win you a championship lmao. I’m dying over here
brewcrew08
Pretty sure “those type of moves” got the brewers to the playoffs 2 straight years. It’s amazing the brewers can win more than 40 games with their terrible staff and roster right?
2id
How’d the Padres and Phillies do with all their “winning” moves the last two years? Hosmer, Machado, Harper, and Arrieta? Oh yeah, hitting the links and watching the Brewers in the postseason.
kc38
Grandal and moustakas and GG are not sogard and García lmao. Those are big name players not a bunch of one year wonders they do not even compare
2id
I’m going to stop arguing with you because my IQ keeps dropping and I’m completely sober right now. The fact you mention “big name players” tells all I need to know about your baseball knowledge. If it was up to you the Brewers would consist of Arrieta, Darvish, Kimbrel, and the would still be paying Fielder because you know, he’s a big name player.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I see Luis Urias and Healy as better everyday options than Sogard. Sogard is a nice utility player getting paid double what he is worth. Hernan Perez with a slightly better batting average notwithstanding the spike in 2019. I am curious if Scooter Gennett will get a major league offer from any team. 50 home runs and around a. 0.298 average during 2017 and 2018, that’s enough memory of some pop to make someone’s team as a reserve, isn’t it?
brewcrew08
Rodriguez is pacing to get dumped at this point. I wouldn’t be shocked if Healy starts the year in AAA with his options along with Jace. I still think we need a power option at 3rd and 1st but sogard as a back up infielder isn’t bad options at all. I actually like our starting staff more this year already. Give me Woodruff, Brett Anderson, Hauser, Lindblom and Lauer over last year in a heartbeat.
2id
Tell us what significant SP is out there that the Brewers can afford at a reasonable cost without overpaying both in dollars and years? You and other “fans” like you keep talking about adding pitchers without even realizing what’s out there that the Brewers can afford without overpaying.
jbigz12
Milwaukee has 5 starters now anyway.
They have Burnes and Peralta as depth options. I don’t see them paying for Ryu or Keuchel. That leaves what left? Maybe Alex Wood? I think they’re done with signing pitchers. They need to sign a corner infielder. Whether that’s a 3B or a 1B or both. That’s the biggest need.
2id
Exactly. I also think Burnes is too talented to be in the bullpen and I honestly think he will have more than his share of starts and/or innings pitched.
TGH31
I have us with Woodruff/Houser/Lauer/Lindblom/Brett Anderson with Suter/Burnes/Peralta as depth. I would suspect we are done as well. Exception being if someone would take a one year deal at a higher AAV.
ForestCobraAL
Brewers fans have packed their ballpark and now comes the return of goodwill from their owner!
TGH31
Need a good TV deal to make money. Packing a stadium counts for so little in regards to payroll
kwolf68
Yup. PNC field is a morgue most nights yet the Pirates are, from what I understand, very profitable. I am guessing the local TV deal is good enough and it’s funny, I talk to many Pirates fans who say, “I am not helping out Nutting by going to the games…I’ll watch on TV”, which is helping the cheap owner.
I truly hope the Brewers don’t go the way of the Pirates from a few years ago in that they build a terrific young ball club, compete, win, get close, then start to sell off talent because of “cost” and end up in the same shape as the Pirates are now.
ForestCobraAL
Blue Jays have the largest TV market broadcasting to all of Canada at 35 million. That’s close to new York and Los Angeles combined.
bean54446
So after 2 good years welcome back to the basement brewers buying in volume instead of talent does not work in the mlb gonna be very long season
2id
Doubt it. Cards and Cubs have made no significant movies to improve and you could argue the rotation will be stronger than last year. The only team that has clearly improved is the Reds. Cubs and Cards? Not so much
DarkSide830
many said that before 2019 and look what happened.
Rangers29
I like the move, and now I can cheer for Sogard again, since he isn’t a Blue Jay… or ray, but mostly the former.
bleacherguy
You guys gonna get Donaldson?
Jbeck29
No. Bidding to high. Money left has to be for a possible starter.
Rangers29
Our rotation is set, all our youth is in AAA, and JD said that he will be focused on position players now.
bean54446
No way On Donaldson sterns is blowing there budget on all these little signings gonna be nothing left and still have no 3b or 1b
Ezpkns34
Seems he was clearly asking a Rangers fan about getting Donaldson … the username & avatar are giveaways
2id
Reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit is it?
Karlander
No, we are too cheap. We shop at the bargain basement. And loyal fans have thrown tons of cash at the organization in recent years. But don’t rule out a Hader deal that brings a talented SP our way. Loads of decent bullpen guys around. Otherwise Brewers will be sending the team mascot Bernie Brewer to the mound and putting Hank the dog at 3B
Rangers29
No, I’d rather trade for Muncy and then stick Solak at 3rd.
CrewBrew
Whats wrong with having infield depth. People are acting like the two they signed yesterday are going to be on the big league roster right away. They’ll take a look at them in spring, if they do well, then they have a chance to make the team. If not, they go to the minors for more depth at AAA.
People really need to relax
brewcrew08
I think by giving Sogard 4.5MM and a team option that will all but put him on the 26 man which I am fine with. A lefty bat who gets on base, draws walks and doesn’t strikeout. 4.5MM for a guy who had a 2.6WAR last year in 100 games. Sign me up.
kc38
You two are hilarious how blind you are to real numbers and budgets just because your team does soemthing. Idk if your franschise for some reason has tricked you into thinking middle of the pack is a good year but spending 4.5 on a utility middle infielder is not going in the right direction lmao. You have lost 1/3 of your roster and could’ve paid moustakas and saved a little from what they just paid García and sogard and neither will be as productive
kc38
Sorry not saved a little didn’t check the exact number first. But still could’ve signed him
Nate 16
its not that they couldn’t sign him. If your talking strictly one year then obviously Moose is the better bet but they obviously weren’t comfortable paying him 16mil/year for 4 years. Those types of contracts are a nightmare for small market teams and we could already be in trouble with Cains contract if his bat continues to decline and he has injury issues
brewcrew08
Paying Garcia/Sogard a combined 11.5M this coming season and moose is making 16M. I know people don’t understand how small market teams who can’t spend 175-200M a season work but it’s with smart deals. Sogard and Garcia’s combined WAR far out seeded Moose and they filled two positions of need for less money. Just because the names aren’t flashy doesn’t mean they didn’t produce.
2id
Keep up junior. Have you kept track of all the pickups they’ve made in the last week and a half? Yeah they’ve could’ve paid Moose but chose not to. The Reds will regret that final
2id
*final year, maybe two*
kc38
You’re telling a Rays fan that I don’t know how a small market team is run lol, Brewers don’t even come on the same planet as the Rays and your payroll is much much higher
DarkSide830
Moose is overrated anyway. id much rather have Garcia Sogard and a few million then him, and come 2022 you’d rather have a hole in your roster than Moose, mark my words.
$crewBaLL
#MONEYBALL
Twinsfan333
Nice signing. Always been a fan of this guy. Good control of the strike zone, gives you good at bats, positional flexibility, and some occasional pop. Certainly not a flashy signing, but every team needs these type of players. Good value signing
bean54446
Welcome back to the cellar brewers after two good years. You can’t buy quantity over quantity in mlb if you do that your going pretend not contend fining to be a long season .
brewcrew08
4.5MM for a 2.6 WAR. I am confused how this isn’t quality? Especially if he turns into a utility infielder.
its_happening
You don’t pay $4.5 mil for a 26th man (based on your comment above). Also can’t factor the WAR if he’s not starting. Will be hard to duplicate if he’s not receiving playing time. More suitable to call him the 10th man.
brewcrew08
A utility infielder doesn’t necessarily mean 26th man. There will for sure be starts around the infield this year and if he gets 300-350 at bats there’s no reason to think he won’t produce.
jbigz12
I don’t know about Sogard producing. That doesn’t look very likely to me. But playing time shouldn’t be the issue. He’s not competing against a bunch of studs right now. It’s Urias, Arica, and Healy for 2 slots. Even if he doesn’t carve out a role as a starter, he can play some outfield and the other infield slots.
kc38
Pay $4.5 for a guy getting 300 at bats. Sounds useful
brewcrew08
You really just sound like a salty cards or cubs fan right now lol. 4.5M for 300 at bats if he turns out a WAR over 2.0 again is actually useful.
kc38
Again you claim it’s hard to be a small market club and how we have to do business but gonna pay someone $4.5 million to hit half a year. That’s absolutely a waste of money
brewcrew08
4.5M is nothing in today’s league. Guys make that in arbitration by being average at best. You continue to gloss over a guy who had a better wRC+ than lindor, moose, Baez and Ozuna last year isn’t worth 4.5M
Karlander
It’s depth, not high end talent. Yikes.
2id
Then don’t follow them anymore or claim to be a fan. But I’m sure you’ll be back on board in August when they’re still in contention.
DarkSide830
plenty of teams go for quantity over quality and plenty succeed. and for the record, those two things arent mutually exclusive.
MoRivera 1999
Hope it works out for Milwaukee. Always better when they compete with the Cards and Cubs.
SunsetStripper
More dumpster diving
2id
Every team goes dumpster diving. Even the “dynasty” of the team 90 miles south goes dumpster diving. I.E. Hernan Perez
CrewBrew
Sogard isnt even dumpster diving. he hit .290 last season.
Perez is the definition of dumpster diving.
kc38
He hit .266 after being traded to the Rays. He ranked down the stretch and is worth no where near $4.5 mil lol this is a joke
jdgoat
Luckily for the brewers they’re paying him based off his whole season and it’s only like a 3.5 million dollar decision. This is a great deal for a good versatile piece.
kc38
You must be another one of those “fans”
jbigz12
The Brewers have to sign all these bargain bin type guys; they don’t have the prospects who can step onto the roster to fill any of their voids. If they had the steady stream of talent it’d be a whole lot easier. But unfortunately Milwaukee doesn’t have a pipeline like Houston. So you get your Sogard, Healy, and back end of the rotation type signings.
I hope for Brewers fans it doesn’t end up like it did for the Orioles.
Where the lack of a pipeline sunk that once highly competitive team. But the O’s threw out some talented teams diving in the dumpster as well. That division isn’t especially tough and they have Hader/Yelich.
Nate 16
pipeline?
Like recruiting pipeline?
You know that’s not how this works right?
Any teams lack of prospects to step up and fill voids can only be blamed on their organization, not their geographic location. And the O’s did exactly what the Brewers refused to do which is give out big contracts that will hurt them down the road (Moose/Grandal) Chris Davis, along with a poor farm is whats killing the O’s.
Our pitching staff is better than last year, maybe not a ton better, but better. And we are bringing in hitters with potential or know how to get on base. Moneyball baby. We are obviously a couple steps behind the Cards but we can stay competitive without crippling the future.
jbigz12
Pipeline is just a word. I realize that it’s ultimately on the organization for not having that pipeline. But given the fact that there is no pipeline; that is what he has to work with.
Chris Davis isn’t what killed the O’s. The orioles were dead with or without that contract. That’s a false narrative. It’s an abysmal deal but there was no way the orioles could’ve spent his 24 million dollars a year and made the collection of players they had competitive.
When you’re a small market team w a sub par farm; you can try to extend your window doing exactly what Stearns is doing now. By trying to plug holes cheaply. That’s exactly what the Orioles did. You may not know that because all you’re thinking is “Chris Davis”. But that’s exactly how the Orioles were competitive. Signing or making small deals for bargain bin guys like Nelson Cruz, Miguel Gonzalez, Wade Miley, Wellington Castillo, Trumbo, Scott Feldman’s etc.
That’s all you can do when the talent isn’t in your system. The Brewers will face the same issue if they hang onto Yelich and Hader until the final year or two of their deal. As the orioles did with Jones, Machado, Britton, Gausman, Brach etc.
Stearns hasn’t given out money to anyone but Cain. He certainly hasn’t locked himself up. He can pivot if things go south. But if they remain competitive and he doesn’t trade away Yelich/ Hader etc. for talent it’ll be a similar fate. Unless he starts making exceptionally great draft choices and intl signings. Which to date; hasn’t really been the case.
$crewBaLL
people forget Houston sucked for many years and stocked piled top 5 picks in the draft.
DarkSide830
if 4.5 million is dumpster diving then what isnt at this point? tired argument.
rxbrgr
Glad to see he got paid
SupremeZeus
If the Brewers use him strategically in a limited role, nice move. If the Brewers rely on him and view his production as being important to their success, good luck.
CrewBrew
Eric Sogard > Hernan Perez
iml12
Same thing. One million dollar minor league contract vs 4.5 million major league contract.
brewcrew08
Same thing. .290 average with a .350 OPS vs a .228 average and .262 average. Sogard had a better average than Perez had on base in 17,18 and 19.
brewcrew08
OBP*
kc38
Don’t argue with this guys as you can see by the username the brewers can do no wrong to him. The fact that that just paid $4.5 mil for someone coming over a career year but every other year of his career has struggled to have an ops of .700 is worth that to him. He thinks you just spend on players coming off career years because their stats say so. No sense in him
iml12
You clearly didn’t get the sarcasm. The two signings are nothing a like. He should be better with a major league contract and 4 times the pay. Could Pérez be equally as valuable by the end of next year, absolutely. Sogard is fine but this seems like an overpay for a team that is usually pretty thrifty with their dollars.
MannyPineappleExpress9
Argue? You’re clearly not a brewer fan yet like every 5th comment is from you. Why not ramble on your own team’s rumor page. Or focus on your job, or school, or something else if the actual fans of the team and it’s players being discussed bother you so much.
brewcrew08
Did I miss the portion where the brewers wanted sogard to have an OPS of .800 and hit 20 HR? Yes last year was a career year but he was good in 2017 WITH THE BREWERS. It’s great you go to OPS for a guy who isn’t a power hitter. How about his .290 average and .350 on base? The fact he never strikes out and walks a decent clip? Plays 3 positions? There are scrubs nowadays that make more than that in arbitration. For the record Sogard had a better wRC+ than Lindor, moose, Ozuna, Baez and machado last year. 4.5M to take a chance he could repeat or come close to that in 2020 is a great gamble.
MannyPineappleExpress9
As long as hes not the everyday 3b, its not a terrible signing. I just don’t understand why all these “experts” fans of other teams are here repeatedly telling us ANYTHING regarding who Stearns has signed, traded away or for, and then get bent out of shape when fans of the brewers show any level of support.
Just about all of us wanted moose and Grandal back. Most of us understood it wasn’t a sure thing, and that for the deals they signed, it made sense to not match or outbid to retain them.
We also understand why nearly every single player he chose to non-tender was let go. Anyone claiming he made a mistake on Shaw either was in a coma last year, or missed that the 2 sides talked about retaining him, but HE felt a change of scenery was in order.
Thames, as of this moment, is the only real headscratcher..but unless I missed something, hes still out there and could return.
ram85
kc38 why do you care so much? If fans wants to be optimistic about their team then good for them.
stubby66
Honestly I dont like this signing. I would rather sign Matt Duffy just because the ceiling is a lot higher or even Todd Frazier. I get he is a good player and club house guy but there is a reason we moved on from him 2 years ago .
bluejays92
Glad to see that he’s getting paid. Loved him last year with the Jays. Best of luck, nerd.
pdxbrewcrew
This signing is making me wonder more if Urias will be the starting third baseman. With all the shifting the Brewers do, traditional positions aren’t as important. And with Huira’s defense, having a top level glove man like Arcia at short makes sense.
DocBB
Now go resign Scooter Gennett!! LMFAO
stubby66
Not a bad idea with his production it would probably be the same as Moose
MannyPineappleExpress9
The way this is going right now, that wouldn’t surprise me. Well, it might surprise me that scooty would want to come back.
I can’t recall off the top of my head…are villar and schoop signed by anyone yet? Lucroy? John Jaha? Bill Wegman? Hey, hiw about Bill Schroeder (anything to get him out of the booth)?
2id
I was hoping either Jeff Judon or Jeff D’Amico were available. Maybe David Hulse could spell Cain?
braves95 2
Good for him. Cool to see a guy that had spent most of his career just barely hanging onto rosters finally have a good year and get a nice contract out of it.
Nate 16
I like the move
I trust Stearns but this whole situation doesn’t make sense yet. Is Urias their starting 3B or is it Healy? I would have a hard time trusting an unproven player and a guy who had potential 3 years ago and is often injured. Maybe they are going to roll with them and Sogard is some insurance there. I don’t hate the lineup as currently constructed but it would be nice to see a Todd Frazier type of vet who can play 1b&3B
C-Narvaez
1B-Braun
2b-Huira
3B-Urias
SS-Arcia
LF-Garcia
CF-Cain
RF-Yelich
I like Gamel Sogard and Healy off the bench
I think they could be making one more move like Frazier/Keuchel/Wood
Karlander
I think they are going to package Hader and Hiura to the Yankees or Mets. You heard it here first.
pdxbrewcrew
And last. Cause it ain’t gonna happen.
pdxbrewcrew
What is all the fascination on Frazier? A 34 year old who hit above .250 for the first time in four years? Heck, its the first time he’s been above .225 in that time.
I’m fine with a minor league deal with an invite, but he is nowhere close to being an answer at third.
Nate 16
Who said anything about fascination. There is no ‘answer’ out there for the Brewers at 3B. I’m not going to jump on here and say here comes Donaldson, that’s stupid. But a veteran who can hit dingers and provide stability would be a good add. if you look at what we currently have and are currently lacking I would absolutely say he is the answer. I don’t think anyone is jumping out of their seat for Frazier but he fits financially and he can play a position we need help in.
pdxbrewcrew
Lets see. .220 with 15 HR. With Frazier its a solution to our need. With Arcia it means he should be replaced.
Nate 16
Arcia plays exceptional defense and no Frazier isn’t the ‘solution’ Rendon was. That’s not feasible for the Brewers man. Who should they play at 3b then?
pdxbrewcrew
Not Frazier. The point is there are plenty that want to sign him simply because he’s kinda the only 3B out there. But that doesn’t mean we should sign him. A left side of the infield of Urias and Arcia would be better than Frazier and Urias.
Play Urias at third. Much better than $5 M or so for Frazier.
DarkSide830
agreed. im tired of hearing of him as a viable option on a playoff team at this point. that’s part of why NYM couldnt deal him.
Nate 16
And playing an unproven player who was pretty bad in his short stints in the majors as your starting 3b is a really good idea for a team planning to contend
Good idea guys
pdxbrewcrew
Like signing someone just to sign someone is a good plan.
angelsfan4life
Is he already on the trade block? Seems like he is every year.
dray16
Who’s his agent?!?!? How does this guy get a major league deal?
Nate 16
He hit .251 with 21 HR and had a WAR of 2.2
Guessing he would cost 1/5-7 which would be a good Brewers deal considering each WAR was worth roughly 4 million last year which would make Frazier worth over 8mil/yr
dray16
the brewers make no sense whatsoever. tight in money and pay a turd like this
dray16
and why would you want Frazier?? who cares what he’s worth, be sucks too. my point is Milwaukee is a bunch of penny pushers and won’t spend money one players they should and give a bum like this 4.5 million
Vanilla Good
They brought him back because he’s always been a good on-base guy when given the opportunity PLUS he added corner outfield to his resume. He’s basically Hernán Perez but will be on base a lot more often.
Hiro
I’m Sogard he got a contract
brucenewton
Unequal playing fields in baseball. This signing makes sense.
Robertguyette
So Avisail, Sogard, and Anderson are better than Thames, Shaw, and Nelson? Pretty much the same money. Thames and Shaw put up almost the same production, with Shaw’s absolute worst year being factored in. The new players force you to move Braun to a new and uncomfortable position. Defensively we got worse. Offense is a push last year. And we got older. The swap of these three players was a mistake.
MannyPineappleExpress9
They gave Nelson 2 full years to come back from a career threatening injury, and he was a shell of his former self. It sucks, not only was he turning into a really good pitcher before he Gor hurt, but he seemed like a good dude.
Shaw and Stearns (& co) reportedly discussed a deal to retain him, but Shaw opted for a change of scenery (meaning it was more his decision to leave than the team’s). Based on that eye popping .157 b.a. last year, he wasn’t going to be worth the projected $4.7 mil in arbitration either.
As of yesterday I was still reading that there’s a possibility of Thames coming back. So he doesn’t quite fit into the argument..yet.
Also, I don’t think Stearns is done (either 1 or 2 spots left on the 40 man). I’m wondering if he still has a trade up his sleeve. He sure surprised everyone with the Yelich deal. Obviously something of that magnitude is unlikely now, but something for a serviceable corner infielder is possible.
So basically you’re arguing that a .157 hitter is better than an OF’er who can potentially play a little in all 3 spots, and potentially hit .260-.270 with some pop, or an infielder who can play 2b, ss and 3b, as well as LF in a pinch (who could at least put the ball in play at a decent clip last year, unlike Shaw).
And Nelson, who clearly is not physically where he needs to be (or possibly mentally either), is better than Anderson, who should at least be able to start every 5th day, and give the standard 4 1/3 innings before Counsell pulls him?
stubby66
I think Nelson is getting there and we will see him and Jefferees back on minor league deals plus would like to see Chisenhall on a minor league deal too
pdubs2907
I’m the furthest thing from a Sogard fan ($ogo as I ironically call him, but one year, $4.5 mil is fine. He’s a good utility player, who may have found better game in his later years. It’s fine.