Gamel has also signed- 1 Year $1.4 million/2021 $2.55million Club Option

[brewmann04]

Their reports from Brad Ford he signed a 1 year deal with the team and option for 2021for the club

[pacopete4]

Well there it is. We won that trade.

[JohnBriggs12]

He might get 600 AB's this year. Somebody has to.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

He might get 600 AB's this year. Somebody has to.

 

Come on Briggs ... of all people, you know better. It is Dec. 2.

[adambr2]

He might get 600 AB's this year. Somebody has to.

 

Come on Briggs ... of all people, you know better. It is Dec. 2.

 

You would think. This is not Briggs' first offseason as a fan.

[jerichoholicninja]

He might get 600 AB's this year. Somebody has to.

 

Come on Briggs ... of all people, you know better. It is Dec. 2.

 

You would think. This is not Briggs' first offseason as a fan.

 

Is this offseason special though?

[Fear The Chorizo]

He might get 600 AB's this year. Somebody has to.

 

Lol...its not officially the holidays until we have a day where this nonsense is posted all over brewerfan.net.

 

Last I checked they haven't yet made a rule where mlb rosters have to be set before Christmas, let alone Pearl Harbor Day. Look around the rest of mlb, there were just a ton of mlb players who became free agents that are arguably better options on the brewer roster than the guys they just outrighted...also there is nothing to stop the brewers from actually resigning these players if they feel like there is a fit. My guess is their roster looks better in opening day 2020 than it did heading into mid september 2019.

[djoctagone]

a reminder that the brewers hold an option on ben gamel for 2021. he has one minor league option remaining.

[Soupbone]

I think it could be any number of outcomes with Gamel. He could be brought back, traded, DFA'd (doubtful). Just depends on what else they do.

[crossface21]

Yeli, Cain, Garcia are the 3 main starters. I'm thinking Taylor is the 4th OF. I don't think Gamel is back.

[JohnBriggs12]

Yeli, Cain, Garcia are the 3 main starters. I'm thinking Taylor is the 4th OF. I don't think Gamel is back.

 

I think they need a "4th starter" in that group. If Braun doesn't return, they need to shoot higher than Gamel. They'll need a LH bat added to the mix who's starter quality. I'm not sure Gamel is quite in that category though he certainly has his moments. I like Taylor but with Cain back his value is more as depth behind Cain, though he could press Garcia if Garcia doesn't pick it up. I can see them trying to upgrade over Gamel but failing and bringing him back.

[MrTPlush]

I’m no expert on 4th starters, but Ben Gamel seems pretty decent. Career .720 OPS and can handle all three positions? Reliable veteran that you know what you are getting for $2.55mil seems like a decent price.

[brewmann04]

Yes i agree can see them keeping Gamel around.

[folly412]

If they find a trade partner for Garcia willing to take on some of his salary, I could see a Gamel/Taylor platoon with McKinney floating between outfield/first base and possibly room to bring back Braun.

 

I don't think that happens though. It feels like that scenario takes a trade-off that de-emphasizes outfield production. By bringing in Cain, Yelich, and spending on Garcia in the offseason they didn't spent on anyone I'd think Stearns more likely to pay again than de-emphasize.

[TURBO]

If Braun comes back, I really hope it is as a DH only... Let him concentrate on hitting.

[Jopal78]

If they find a trade partner for Garcia willing to take on some of his salary, I could see a Gamel/Taylor platoon with McKinney floating between outfield/first base and possibly room to bring back Braun.

 

I don't think that happens though. It feels like that scenario takes a trade-off that de-emphasizes outfield production. By bringing in Cain, Yelich, and spending on Garcia in the offseason they didn't spent on anyone I'd think Stearns more likely to pay again than de-emphasize.

 

The Brewers almost never include cash in a trade. While Garcia was a disappointment, he played out of position for the Brewers, played hurt, etc., demonstrating he's a team first player; no reason to pay another team to take him. Gamel's club option probably gets declined for the reasons you cite above: Taylor and McKinney are on the roster at lesser salaries. All three players profile as back up outfielders.

 

If Braun decides to play and is resigned, Counsell will find room for him resting his outfielders not named Yelich, etc.

[djoctagone]

the world series has concluded. the brewers have five days to exercise gamel's option.

 

if the club declines his option, they still retain control of gamel as an arbitration-eligible player.

[MrTPlush]

Seems like an obvious choice to decline the option. Partially because he is unlikely to make that much in arbitration and also because it will stick him on a contract we can ultimately cancel depending on how the off season goes.

 

Of course they could just do neither and say good bye too.

[Lathund]

Yeah it seems to me like an option that would've been good value for the team had Gamel had a full season at even a slightly higher level, a way to in that case get a solid 4th OF/borderline starter but pay him like a 5th OF. As it is, with the short season and Gamel playing right around his career average, it feels virtually certain to be declined whether they plan to offer arbitration or not. We can expect payroll to come down, and unfortunately for guys like Gamel, Piña or Claudio areas like 4th OF, platoons and middle relievers will be areas where teams will save money by using as many minimum wage players as possible and they'll be at risk. Yelich, Cain, Garcia will start in the OF. Taylor surely did enough to get a shot as the 4th OF and Cain scheduled offday replacement. Mathias or some other utility guy they sign can serve as 5th OF when everyone is healthy. Veteran on a minor league deal (like Broxton this year) as depth for longer IL stints, and then depending on how well they do there's the likes of Ray and McKinney. This is before any potential moves.

 

So yeah, it'll be declined, I'm almost certain. I think they'll try their best to trade him before the arbitration deadline too, but I'm less sure what they'll do if he's still here then. I think it depends on just how strict the mandate to cut payroll is. From strictly the perspective of making a competitive roster they absolutely should, but that may not be the only consideration.

[Jopal78]

Yeah it seems to me like an option that would've been good value for the team had Gamel had a full season at even a slightly higher level, a way to in that case get a solid 4th OF/borderline starter but pay him like a 5th OF. As it is, with the short season and Gamel playing right around his career average, it feels virtually certain to be declined whether they plan to offer arbitration or not. We can expect payroll to come down, and unfortunately for guys like Gamel, Piña or Claudio areas like 4th OF, platoons and middle relievers will be areas where teams will save money by using as many minimum wage players as possible and they'll be at risk. Yelich, Cain, Garcia will start in the OF. Taylor surely did enough to get a shot as the 4th OF and Cain scheduled offday replacement. Mathias or some other utility guy they sign can serve as 5th OF when everyone is healthy. Veteran on a minor league deal (like Broxton this year) as depth for longer IL stints, and then depending on how well they do there's the likes of Ray and McKinney. This is before any potential moves.

 

So yeah, it'll be declined, I'm almost certain. I think they'll try their best to trade him before the arbitration deadline too, but I'm less sure what they'll do if he's still here then. I think it depends on just how strict the mandate to cut payroll is. From strictly the perspective of making a competitive roster they absolutely should, but that may not be the only consideration.

 

Is there a real reason to bring Gamel back? Don't get me wrong, he is a sound fundamental player, versatile in the OF, good baserunner. However, he's going to be 29, is no longer a minimum salary player, and across nearly 1400 plate appearances he is a .261/.331/.388 hitter. Is the difference between Gamel and Taylor so great that it warrants bringing Gamel back? I'd say no, and for a team without a lot of payroll maneuver-ability it's probably best to move on from Gamel completely.

[Lathund]

Yeah it seems to me like an option that would've been good value for the team had Gamel had a full season at even a slightly higher level, a way to in that case get a solid 4th OF/borderline starter but pay him like a 5th OF. As it is, with the short season and Gamel playing right around his career average, it feels virtually certain to be declined whether they plan to offer arbitration or not. We can expect payroll to come down, and unfortunately for guys like Gamel, Piña or Claudio areas like 4th OF, platoons and middle relievers will be areas where teams will save money by using as many minimum wage players as possible and they'll be at risk. Yelich, Cain, Garcia will start in the OF. Taylor surely did enough to get a shot as the 4th OF and Cain scheduled offday replacement. Mathias or some other utility guy they sign can serve as 5th OF when everyone is healthy. Veteran on a minor league deal (like Broxton this year) as depth for longer IL stints, and then depending on how well they do there's the likes of Ray and McKinney. This is before any potential moves.

 

So yeah, it'll be declined, I'm almost certain. I think they'll try their best to trade him before the arbitration deadline too, but I'm less sure what they'll do if he's still here then. I think it depends on just how strict the mandate to cut payroll is. From strictly the perspective of making a competitive roster they absolutely should, but that may not be the only consideration.

 

Is there a real reason to bring Gamel back? Don't get me wrong, he is a sound fundamental player, versatile in the OF, good baserunner. However, he's going to be 29, is no longer a minimum salary player, and across nearly 1400 plate appearances he is a .261/.331/.388 hitter. Is the difference between Gamel and Taylor so great that it warrants bringing Gamel back? I'd say no, and for a team without a lot of payroll maneuver-ability it's probably best to move on from Gamel completely.

 

It's not a question of Taylor or Gamel, if you have the money for it you want both. Think of it more like Gamel vs Ray/McKinney/Mathias. Only a team that gets very lucky with injuries will get by using only 4 OFs, so you want the depth of having 5 capable OFs. Only Yelich is a LHH among the 4 likely to be on the roster without Gmael. Both Taylor and Gamel have options so roster spots isn't really an issue. But as I said in the previous post, when money is an issue skimping on the 4th/5th OF is one place to save money where it might not hurt you a whole lot, so there's a good chance they will. My point is more that it's about payroll than ability; for a 4th OF his likely arbitration salary is very good value, and with noone on the farm likely to make an immediate impact they'd have to do better in free agency, which would be hard.

[wibadgers23]

Gamel’s option was turned down.