Brewers sign Jim Edmonds to minor league deal, big league invite

[AJAY]

I love this move. I really think that Jim Edmonds is the type of hitter who would thrive in Miller Park. Let's hope he still has something left.

[Nader Raider Tim]

I've got to admit I like the signing quite a bit. Is Edmonds defense in CF still going to be passable or better? If so it will be nice to have him as a backup plan (potential platoonmate) for Gomez. I would like to keep Gerut as the 4th outfielder. I am expecting or more likely guessing that Hart and Gerut will be in a more or less platoon in RF so I'd rather not have him in CF subbing for Gomez if Gomez flops.

[Harold Hutchison]

I love this move. I really think that Jim Edmonds is the type of hitter who would thrive in Miller Park. Let's hope he still has something left.

From 2008, the bat and OBP skills are there (55 BB in 401PA) and he posted an .822 OPS (20 HR in 401 PA), counting an opening slump with the Padres. If how he hit with the Cubs is any indication (.937 OPS, 49 BB in 298 PA, 19 HR), then the gas may still be there.

 

The question is defense. I'm think it's not just Gerut, it's also Gomez who this is aimed at.

 

Think - Gomez may be a good-field, no-hit type. So.. if he can't deliver offensively, why not have Edmonds available? If Edmonds is at his level with the Cubs, then he'd likely start, with Gomez as a late-inning defensive replacement.

[JohnBriggs12]

Edmonds is done and Melvin is really reaching. It's the Trot Nixon signing all over again. All he's going to do is take away spring AB's from guys that will actually matter later on.

[UeckerAddict]

I'm so rarely right, but I feel a bit vindicated after everyone rolled their eyes when I proposed this signing.

[NievesNoNO]

Good call Ueck. I don't have a problem with the signing as long as he's strictly in a bench role.

[SeriesFinale]

Edmonds is done and Melvin is really reaching. It's the Trot Nixon signing all over again. All he's going to do is take away spring AB's from guys that will actually matter later on.

I'm apt to think this way too--what's scary is when you think about the guys that beat Nixon out. And their possible equivalents this season. Yikes.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm so rarely right, but I feel a bit vindicated after everyone rolled their eyes when I proposed this signing.

What makes you think my eyes aren't still rolling?

 

I didn't like the idea when you proposed it and I like it less now.

[Funketown]

At this point, I'm pretty skeptical that Edmonds will be able to provide much value to the Brewers. His range was painfully brutal in CF for the Cubs in 2008, and I can't imagine it has gotten better. I guess it can't hurt to see what he has in spring training. If his bat is still strong, he could be a good, cheap bench option.

[brewerfan82]

I like it as a low-risk, high-reward signing. I was hoping we'd sign him last year in case Hart had an off-year... Hope he does well and provides us with a threat off the bench!

 

As a side-note, the lefty-dominated bench doesn't bother me at all with our righty-dominated lineup. Are people worried that the other teams will use their lefty-specialists against our pitcher/pinch-hitter spot late in games as opposed to when Fielder comes up? Not to mention most of our games will be against righties, so often one of our "bench" guys will be starting to give a right-handed hitter a day off, resulting in a right-handed bench player. The worry just seems overblown to me.

[Hate those Rodents]

Edmonds is done and Melvin is really reaching. It's the Trot Nixon signing all over again. All he's going to do is take away spring AB's from guys that will actually matter later on.

Couldn't we use the flip side and say "it's the Gabe Kapler signing all over again". Two years ago, this type of move worked. Last year (Nixon) it didn't. This year, it might work and might not. But based on his 2008 season, he was not done being a productive MLB player.

 

 

[Oldcity]

Gross. Baseball-wise, this is meh. But I can't stand Jim Edmonds. The guy oozes with arrogance. I cringe envisioning the first time he slows down on a fly ball so he can dive or slide for it.

[RyDogg66]

Trot Nixon 2.0. I suppose though, throw it against the wall, see if it sticks.

[Baldkin]

Well, who wants to wager on Edmonds getting more AB's then Gerut this year?

 

Sigh.

 

I don't get it. I just don't get it. Would've much rather had Gabe Gross.

[berniebrewer4life]

Meh. We'll see if he has anything left in the tank. I doubt it, so i figure he won't get much playing time.

[Invader3K]

I don't get the hand wringing on this one. It's relatively low risk for the Brewers, and it seemed like they wanted to add another lefty bat as a possible option. Even though his bat stunk in '08, he was still able to put up an OPS over .820 in 400 plate appearances.

[sheethead]

I don't think he makes it to Milwaukee. Something is going to give in ST.

[TooLiveBrew]

Even though his bat stunk in '08, he was still able to put up an OPS over .820 in 400 plate appearances.

 

This comment confuses me. Can you clarify? Did you mean '07?

[wishicouldhit]

With these recent move i have become confused who will be on the bench (IF&OF) for the brewers. Can someone list the probable possibilities? I prefer to have Heether and/or Iribarren,

[Invader3K]

Even though his bat stunk in '08, he was still able to put up an OPS over .820 in 400 plate appearances.

 

This comment confuses me. Can you clarify? Did you mean '07?

No. I'm going off the stats on baseball-reference.com.

[homer]

All he's going to do is take away spring AB's from guys that will actually matter later on.

Like who?

[TooLiveBrew]

Invader3K wrote:

I'm going off the stats on baseball-reference.com.

So if he put up an .820 OPS, how did "his bat stnk"?

[Invader3K]

He only hit .235.

 

His total 2008 slash line: .235/.343/.479/.822

[TheCrew]

No risk + high reward = good move

[TooLiveBrew]

Dave Cameron wrote a piece for FanGraphs just earlier today, entitled "The New Inefficiency?". Here's an excerpt:

 

We’re currently in the midst of an age where a lot of teams are operating on reduced budgets, and have shifted towards trying to keep costs down by going with more inexperienced talent whose salaries are deflated by their lack of service time. Teams like Tampa Bay and Oakland are continually attempting to replenish their farm systems to ensure a never ending pipeline of cheap, effective major league players that they can pull from.

 

As more teams have turned to this model, young talent has become increasingly expensive to acquire.

...

This has led to yet another winter where guys over 35 are having a hard time finding jobs. It’s not just Johnny Damon, though he is a good example of this effect. Over the last few years, we’ve seen numerous productive-yet-old players pushed into retirement against their will, ranging from the likes of Kenny Lofton, Ray Durham, Frank Thomas, and Jim Edmonds.

 

Edmonds, of course, is now attempting to get back into baseball, and seems like he may be able to convince some team to give him a job. But he had to publicly ask for a minor league contract at the Cardinals FanFest event in order to begin the discussion – no one was beating down his door.

 

Teams have become cautious with the contracts they give to aging players, not wanting to get burned paying too much to a guy who may end up not having anything left in the tank, but I feel like we’re passing the point of caution and shifting towards a market failure. If a guy is a good player at 35, you should not expect him to be useless at 36. Yes, you regress his projection for aging, but players who go from good-to-terrible in a single season are the exception, not the rule.