SI.com's Top 50 Free Agents (Fuentes/Byrd Content)

[JohnBriggs12]

Byrd? Filling a 4th or 5th starter spot with a FA has no upside as the Brewers should have learned from Suppan signing.

 

If the dollars are reasonable, I'd take Ibanez in a heartbeat even if it means a 1st round pick. Ibanez is a perfect offensive fit for Brewers and the Cubs. You not only help your team, you prevent your chief rival from getting him. Move Hart to CF or trade him in a deal to get one.

[Ennder]

That is only for teams that were decent too. If we sign a FA from a team that has one of the first 15 picks we do not get their 1st round pick, we get their second pick.

[Trowekamp]

Why not turn Martinez into a closer for $5 million.

[PilprinBuddha]

I'd go after CC first and Perez second. Not interested in Sheets unless it is a Gagne type of deal. Byrd does nothing for me.

 

If neither signs, pursue a trade.

[RockCoCougars]

I'm against signing any of these scrubs (Fuentes/Bird/Ibanez, etc.). They will all be overpriced. Why overpay for mediocrity? I'd rather drop the entire budget on one proven star like CC. Every year, there are plenty of serviceable veterans who slip through the cracks and are available on the cheap in January and February. I'd rather fill the roster out with guys like that on one year deals than give one of these guys a multi-year deal.

[PeaveyFury]

I'm against signing any of these scrubs (Fuentes/Bird/Ibanez, etc.). They will all be overpriced. Why overpay for mediocrity?

 

Fuentes has had ERA's of 2.73, 3.08, 3.44, and 2.91 over the last 4 seasons, all of them in Coors. He's nowhere close to being mediocrity and certainly not a scrub.

 

Overpriced, maybe.

[JohnBriggs12]

That "scrub" Ibanez was 5th in the AL in RBI in 2008, behind Hamilton, Morneau, Cabrera and Youkalis playing for the worst team in baseball.

 

He's averaged 113 RBI over his last 3 seasons. Over those 3 seasons, the Brewers have had one guy surpass that, Fielder with 119 in 2006.

 

How you can describe that as "mediocre" RockCoCougers is beyond my comprehension.

[Ennder]

Why are you using RBI to try to convince someone he isn't a scrub? Ibanez has a lot less of an impact on his RBI than Suzuki does, at least use some stats that matter.

[RockCoCougars]

OK......"scrub" was probably to harsh of a term for these guys, but no way am I giving Ibanez a big contract. He's going to be 37 next year, and is Carlos Lee-escque in the field. Guys tend to start hitting the wall at 37.

 

I don't like Fuentes either, mostly because he is going to get way too much money for a 34 year old closer. The Brewers have had success every year Melvin has been here pulling closers from nowhere, basically on the cheap. He'll probably push 8-10 million for three years, which would be OK for a dominant closer, but not Fuentes. It seems like every time I watch him pitch, he puts himself into some sort of jam before he gets the save.

[southpaw121505]

Since when is Miller Park a pitchers park?

 

Edit: Also like the guy saying we need a 4/5 starter. No, we have plenty of those guys (Suppan, McClung, Bush, Villanueva) what we need is a 1/2 starter to replace Sheets and Sabathia (assuming they leave.)

Those are the two points I was coming to post about. I agree with you 100% that we dont need a 4/5 starter, we need a front end starter to go with Gallardo, Parra, Bush, Suppan (CV,McClung). We dont lack back end guys.

[Buckethead Brigade]

Jon Garland would be a more likely option than Paul Byrd imo. Garland will pitch more innings than Byrd will..but i doubt the brewers are looking for a pitcher that will produce an ERA in the high 4's, when they have players like McClung and Villanueva that can put up better numbers.

[Matt Breen]

I expect few changes from the Crew in 2009 - Kendall, Fielder, Weeks, hardy, Braun, Cameron and Hart in the field. 3B is the one slot up in the air. Hall and Branyon perhaps. There's really no one on the market to fill this slot. Bring back Rivera, Kapler, maybe Counsel. Nothing earth shattering.

 

Rotation: Gallardo, Parra, Suppan, Bush and McClung. Maybe get back Capuano at some point (assuming we can resign him)

Relievers: Torres, Shouse (assuming we can resign), Stetter, Villanueva, Riske - and a mixture of Coffey, DeFelice, Dillard, maybe a minor league FA or two.

 

That all said, we're talking near to $80 million. Not a ton available for spending. Maybe $10-15 million at the most if $90 million is our limit.

 

The rotation we have has little depth - a guy like Byrd would maybe be attractive to Melvin for $3 million or so. There's questions with McClung, Parra and Gallardo, and an innings eater is someone I always thought the Crew would go after to fall back on should anyone falter - or there be an injury.

 

As for Fuentes, at about $10/year he'd fit in the budget for now. I think it's spending too much on a guy who throws 70 innings, but Melvin has shown he's willing to do that with Cordero and Gagne. I guess I'd rather spend the money on an every day play (orlando hudson?). Still, considering how bad our bullpen was, it's tempting to go after a guy like this. (I do think someone will give him crazy money - $13 million or something).

 

I think the team's hitters can do better - and will thus be retained (for the most part). Losing CC and Sheets is brutal, but the team will bank on Gallardo returning, plus improvements from Parra, McClung and Bush.

[Matt Breen]

What do folks think of Juan Cruz? Yes, he costs a first round pick, but I'd rather take a flyer on him at $6 million/year for three years than $10-12 on Fuentes. Cruz's walks scare me a bit, but he can really bring some smoke.