Alternatives for shortstop?

[Matt Breen]

Hate those Rodents]What would people think about signing Jerry Hairston to be our SS. He actually can hit pretty well and field. He's 35 I believe, but here's a guy that I think can be a solid starter for us as a stopgap. I have to think, if the plan is to keep Gamel in AAA for another year which is a whole nuther discussion, we will be signing one more infielder to be on the 25 man roster. I really think Hairston would be the best guy.

To be honest, I was looking at him as well, but I'm not sold. He hasn't played tons of SS, so samples are a bit small. His UZR is pretty average (+3.9 last year, -0.8 in 2009, -2.0 in 2008). Again, he didn't play there every day, so samples haven't been huge.

 

His hitting is nothing special the last couple of years (2008 he was great, but that seems to be an aberration from the rest of his career).

 

If you thought his fielding could stay above average, he'd be better than Bettencourt. But they hit about the same. I'd love him as a super utility guy - he plays everywhere - but I don't know if he's that much better than Yuni. And Counsel already has the super utility fielder role.

 

He's not a bad idea, especially if the price is right and there are no other options, but I think we can keep looking.

[JohnBriggs12]

The A's just designated Steve Tolleson. Now he's more of a 2B guy but he has played 191 minor league games at SS. His FP isn't very good at SS, though he was error-less there in 45 major league innings for the A's. His bloodlines (he's the son of Wayne, a nifty little utility middle infielder from the 1980's) suggest he should be able to field. His bat though is intriguing. He's a lifetime .374 OBP guy and was .332/.412/.503 at hitter friendly Sacramento last year. He wasn't bad in 49 major league AB's (.286/.340/.408).

[TooLiveBrew]

Without knowing anything about Tolleson, that sounds like a good suggestion. He'd at least be worth the claim.

[kramnoj]

ZiPs projects Tolleson at a OPS+ of 83, with a 40% chance of being average or better. Hasn't played enough SS to get a rating, but was given a Very Good rating at 2B.

 

Betancourt projects to an OPS+ of 83 with a 32% chance of being average or better.

 

Interesting comparison.

[sveumrules]

Can't believe Punto hasn't landed a deal yet. He can field and get on base, the two things Yuni can't do at all. Platoon him and Counsell and you instantly have the grittiest/scrappiest platoon of all time.

[CheezWizHed]

Platoon him and Counsell and you instantly have the grittiest/scrappiest platoon of all time.

 

You are two coaches too late... http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[JohnBriggs12]

Can't believe Punto hasn't landed a deal yet. He can field and get on base, the two things Yuni can't do at all. Platoon him and Counsell and you instantly have the grittiest/scrappiest platoon of all time.

Punto can't drive in runs though and Betancourt can and whoever hits 7th in Brewer order is going to have a lot of guys on base when he hits.

[miggs721]

I am gettin a Betancourt jersey T just for all the haters out there....This is the Year of the Yuni, 22 HR's 84 RbIS

[flosses like fossas]

mlbtr also has it that several teams have inquired on aaron miles. he's not my favorite option, but he has been a consistent 280 stick and he's played 800+ innings of shortstop with a serviceable (see: better than betancourt) UZR. plus, it would take a notorious brewer killer off the market and give us another utility guy who can play all over the place.

[logan82]

Maybe we are looking at 2 different Aaron Miles'. The one I am looking at looks like a worse SS than Betancourt. -18.1 UZR/150 and -7 DRS career at SS. Doesn't really look like much of a hitter either.

[JohnBriggs12]

Maybe we are looking at 2 different Aaron Miles'. The one I am looking at looks like a worse SS than Betancourt. -18.1 UZR/150 and -7 DRS career at SS. Doesn't really look like much of a hitter either.

Except for the year he failed miserably with the Cubs, Miles has been a pesky hitter. But you're correct, defensively, he's a 2nd baseman playing shortstop. I'd be confident that Eric Farris could do better there than Miles has.

[Hate those Rodents]

I'd rather sign Felipe Lopez and hope he can play SS decent than sign any of the guys left or that have been available since after Thanksgiving.

[logan82]

Except for the year he failed miserably with the Cubs, Miles has been a pesky hitter. But you're correct, defensively, he's a 2nd baseman playing shortstop. I'd be confident that Eric Farris could do better there than Miles has.

Is he gritty too? Don't care if a guy never strikes out or is pesky if he doesn't get results. Bottom line, Miles is a bad hitter.

[JohnBriggs12]

logan3825]

Except for the year he failed miserably with the Cubs, Miles has been a pesky hitter. But you're correct, defensively, he's a 2nd baseman playing shortstop. I'd be confident that Eric Farris could do better there than Miles has.

Is he gritty too? Don't care if a guy never strikes out or is pesky if he doesn't get results. Bottom line, Miles is a bad hitter.

And Nick Punto is? Seriously where did I say they should have gone after Miles? Maybe it's before your time, but the same comments you just made about Miles could have been made about Scott Fletcher who got big hit after big hit for the Brewers in 92.

 

Speaking of SS options, according to MLB trade rumors is referencing a Buster Olney article that says the Mets could well be shopping Jose Reyes as the deadline approaches. Now Reyes is a guy I'd be interested in renting at mid season as a real upgrade over Betancourt.

[docduany]

ESPN insider is reporting that Marco Scutaro is on the block. Any idea what the Red Sox would need or are looking for in return? Obviously our minor league ranks are somewhat depleted and other than reliever I'm not sure what the big club would have to deal either. Another question is would Scutaro be enough of an upgrade from Benancourt?

[The Truth]

For some perspective: Carlos Gomez had a better OBP in both '10, and '09 than Betancourt

[JohnBriggs12]

The Truth]For some perspective: Carlos Gomez had a better OBP in both '10, and '09 than Betancourt

 

Gomez is going to hit 2nd. Betancourt is likely to hit 7th. OBP will be far more critical for Gomez than it is for Betancourt. Betancourt's job will be to pick up some RBI (particularly of the 2 out variety batting behind Fielder, McGehee and Hart. He's shown he's capable of that. Gomez job will be to get on base in front of Braun, Fielder and McGehee. I think both are capable.

[CheezWizHed]

That same ESPN article stated that they were looking for a LH RP. So Stetter is always possible...

[DHonks]

I know the Dbacks have stated they will not trade Drew, but I have to wonder if there's some way we could do this. He would provide a powerful left-handed hitting high OBP slick fielding SS to add balance to the offense and defense. Plus, he's one of my favorite Fall Leaguers to have worked with.

 

Perhaps:

Drew for Peralta, one of the CF's (Shafer, Komatsu, Gindl), Green (Dbacks need 3b help). I know that package doesn't look great now, but it's hard to come up with something that doesn't touch Scarpetta or Rogers.

[kilgore37]

I think for Drew I'd give up Rodgers, if we could work out an extension

[brettac1]

I had a lot higher hopes for Drew when he came into the league than I do now. I thought he'd be a lot more like his brother offensively than he has been.

 

That said, he's still pretty good. And he's an average defensive player, which is also quite the upgrade on a guy like Betancourt. I'd gladly plug him into the second spot of the lineup and feel a heck of a lot better about the offense.

[DHonks]

I still think Drew will develop 25-30 hr talent. His effortless swing generates tons of power. One day it will all click, and it sure would help if he were on good teams.

[brettac1]

I thought almost that whole DBacks team would be really good, and it just didn't work out like that, unfortunately. Their playoff run was a really fun when they were all youngsters.

[Robideaux]

What about Everth Cabrera?

 

He's still young (24) and I am assuming he is signed to a cheap contract. The Padres seem to have soured on him and replaced him with Jason Bartlett. His fielding is a question mark at this point--the metrics don't love him, though its a pretty small sample size. His hitting is a question mark as well (high strikeout rate, no power), but he does have some history of getting on base (.340+ OBP his rookie year, .384 career minor league OBP).

 

I have absolutely no idea what it would cost the Brewers to acquire him, but I can't imagine the price would be astronomical. I'd rather take a chance on a 24 year old with question marks than a 29 year old that we know is terrible. At the very least, if we got him, we could jettison Kotsay or Almonte and use him in the utility role until Yuniesky falls on his face.

[southpaw121505]

I'd love to find a guy like Drew that can help now and down the road. We have nothing at short now or in the future.