Brewers sign SS Alex Gonzalez (one year, plus vesting option)

[Ennder]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/03/brewers-seek-middle-infielder.html

 

The Brewers are looking for a middle infielder, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney tweets. The club aims to add insurance behind starters Rickie Weeks and Alex Gonzalez.

 

Elliot Johnson, Chris Nelson, Eric Young Jr., Emmanuel Burriss, Luis Valbuena, Donnie Murphy, Robert Andino and Brent Lillibridge are out of options and could be available in trades later by the end of the month

[Funketown]

Please let them sign Donnie Murphy. Then when he inevitably sucks, we can post things like: DONNIE, YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR ELEMENT!

 

edit: fail

[Matt Breen]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/03/brewers-seek-middle-infielder.html

 

The Brewers are looking for a middle infielder, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney tweets. The club aims to add insurance behind starters Rickie Weeks and Alex Gonzalez.

 

Elliot Johnson, Chris Nelson, Eric Young Jr., Emmanuel Burriss, Luis Valbuena, Donnie Murphy, Robert Andino and Brent Lillibridge are out of options and could be available in trades later by the end of the month

I wonder if the team is concerned about izturis. Anyone know how he's looked?

[dlk9s]

That's one amazing underwhelming list of names (not that I would expect otherwise - just saying). I guess Lillibridge could be adequate.

[trwi7]

I wonder if the team is concerned about izturis. Anyone know how he's looked?

 

I think he's made several errors in addition to his usual crappy offense.

[3and2Fastball]

I wonder if the team is concerned about izturis. Anyone know how he's looked?

 

In general, pretty brutal. He does make an occasional good play in the field but if Gonzalez is hurt for an extended period of time I would think Melvin would trade for SS.

[Madtown343]

Yea that list of names is more than underwhelming... Has EY Jr ever even played SS?

[TooLiveBrew]

No, EY Jr. has not, in either the minors or majors.

[Madtown343]

Hind sight is 20-20, but I do wish we would have spent the 1.5M on Keppinger. He would look good as backup middle infield right now.

[pitchleague]

I'd take Andino but I'm pretty sure the Orioles will hold onto him with Brian Roberts' health being a big question mark for the entire season.

[Matt Breen]

Hind sight is 20-20, but I do wish we would have spent the 1.5M on Keppinger. He would look good as backup middle infield right now.

i might be wrong, but I don't think anyone feels Keppinger is, defensively, a legit SS. I don't think he's played there for more than a handful of games since 2008 - and he was pretty bad, if I recall (as a shortstop).

 

I actually like Keppinger, but we have to have a guy who can step in for an extended period if something happens to Gonzalez.

 

Perhaps I'm wrong about Keppinger - I just seem to remember him being bad at SS several years ago - and that's why he's strictly a 2B type now.

[Madtown343]

You're maybe right. I remember him in Houston and he was a Mark Loretta type player, and played some short also. Might be in his past though.

[Madtown343]

Some talk that Iglesias may win the starting job in Boston making Aviles tradable. Would think he would fit extremely well in that back up middle infielder role who could start if needed.

 

Wonder what he would cost?

[Ennder]

Keppinger is stretched defensively at 2B and 3B and is downright terrible defensively at SS. Which is fine for fill in work but not as a long term backup.

[Warning Track Power]

I really wish we could have brought back Jerry Hairston, Jr. He would be the perfect utility player for the Brewers moving forward. Couldn't imagine us paying him the $3 million per year though that the Dodgers did to be a backup. That was just insanity.

[djoctagone]

i really wish that all of this discussion about potential acquisitions for backup middle infielders was in the thread devoted to potential acquisitions for the bench.

[Baldkin]

I was down in Chicago last weekend, I was reminded that Alex Gonzalez has always been a Brewers secret agent, as well.

 

30 seconds in...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mZfOHoIG-8&feature=related

[trwi7]

That's a different Alex Gonzalez.

[Baldkin]

You are right. Shows I shouldn't trust Cubs fans farther than I can throw 'em.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

Although he was in that series...just on Marlins. He was replaced the inning before in a double switch.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200310140.shtml