free agents- minor league contracts

[Crash2303]

do any of these guys make sense to give a minor league contract to- low cost/high upside?

- Jeremy Bonderman

- Juan Cruz

- Kelvim Escobar

- John Maine

- Scot Shields

- Kevin Millwood

- Doug Davis

[MessiahRp]

How about Ben Sheets?

 

He's still out there! :-P

[RockCoCougars]

I don't see the harm in bringing in any guy on a NRI non-guaranteed contract. Back in the 80's and early to mid 90's, it seems like the Brewers had a handful of these veteran guys every spring to fill out the roster some panned out really well (Fletcher, Randolph) and some became decent role players (Reed, Dempsey, Maldonado, Francona, etc.). If a veteran is willing to come to camp to compete with no money guaranteed, what is there to lose?

[paul253]

I wouldn't mind seeing Millwood or Sheets on a minor league deal just to get some competition for Narveson. No offense to Chris but has he really done enough to just be given the #5 spot before spring training?

[MNBrew]

Jody Reed was pretty much the starting 2B and played respectably (108 GP, 465 PA, .271 BA, .362 OBP), so I'd bunch him w/ those who panned out pretty well. I'm not sure how being the starting 2B qualifies him as a role player.

[trwi7]

I wouldn't mind seeing Millwood or Sheets on a minor league deal just to get some competition for Narveson. No offense to Chris but has he really done enough to just be given the #5 spot before spring training?

 

Sheets is out for at least the 2011 season and probably done for his career after his injury last year.

[paul253]

Sheets is out for at least the 2011 season and probably done for his career after his injury last year.

Ah, well Narveson would probably be able to hold him off then for that #5 spot. I'd still like Millwood though.

[JohnBriggs12]

I wouldn't mind seeing Millwood or Sheets on a minor league deal just to get some competition for Narveson. No offense to Chris but has he really done enough to just be given the #5 spot before spring training?

Yes I think a 12-9 record, a 4.70 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, a .254 BAA, and 150 K's in 176 IP over 32 starts since Sept 1 of 09 are more than enough to be solidly entrenched as a number 5 starter. On a lot of Brewer teams over the past decade, those numbers would put you in the number 3 slot going into spring.

[CheezWizHed]

On a lot of Brewer teams over the past decade, those numbers would put you in the number 3 slot going into spring.

 

And yet, on this team, he is the #1 SP target for upgrade. No reason to "settle", just because we did in the past. Those are good enough numbers to compete for the #5, but not good enough for me to hand him the job (if it were my call).

[paul253]

Yes I think a 12-9 record, a 4.70 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, a .254 BAA, and 150

K's in 176 IP over 32 starts since Sept 1 of 09 are more than enough to

be solidly entrenched as a number 5 starter.

 

It's not that I don't think he's good enough to be a #5, but he wasn't exactly consistent last season. As of right now, there are no other real options for that spot. What happens if he struggles in spring training? At this point, unless someone like Rivas really stands out, you have to hand him the job no matter how good or bad he pitches. You mention in the past he may have had to be the #3, but in the past we've always had competition for the rotation. Luckily this year four of the five starters have very good track records and are set but I'd still like to see some competition for that last spot.

Those are good enough numbers to compete for the #5, but not good enough for me to hand him the job (if it were my call).

 

That's exactly how I am thinking.

[dadofandrew]

Any veteran is a nice minor league signing. No risk at all.

[MNBrew]

I wonder if Mark Kotsay might be a possible good move.

[Kelbysdaddy]

maine on a minor league deal would be a good move

[bjkrautk]

Looking at the names, Escobar would have been my value bet (before his time with the Angels, he was one of the players Gord Ash wouldn't trade for Fernando Vina...so our organization should have a long-term read on him), but he's 34 and has pitched 5 innings in the majors over the past three seasons.

[Warning Track Power]

Maine with an invite to Spring Training. He's only going to be 30 this year. Lightning in a bottle maybe, insurance in the event of an injury.

[brewmann04]

I hear the yanks are looking at Millwood .