Brewers sign C Luke Maile

[Brewcrewin07]

[Eye Black]

A major league deal, so that seemingly signals what could be coming next for Pina and/or Narvaez on the eve of the non-tender deadline.

[narwhalattack]

Strong defender, career slash line of .198/.252/.304 in 657 plate appearances.

 

So we’re helping our poor-hitting offense by signing... another guy who can’t hit.

[wibadgers23]

So I guess this means either Pina or Narváez are definitely getting non-tendered. Or both?

[ntretts]

I don't see how he is any better than Piña/Narvaez. Why is this a major league deal?

[torts]

World series here we come!!!!

[Eye Black]

I don't see how he is any better than Piña/Narvaez. Why is this a major league deal?

Well he's likely a lot cheaper.

[Eye Black]

So I guess this means either Pina or Narváez are definitely getting non-tendered. Or both?

It seems like a safe bet that at least one of them is getting non-tendered tomorrow.

[torts]

omar narvaez ($2.725 mm)

 

manny pina ($1.85 mm)

 

I can't imagine either of them getting much of a raise in arbitration, can't imagine this guy making anywhere close to either of them

[Outlander]

Not an expert on player options but looks like he would have at least 1 left. With Nottingham and Freitas out of options might be depth at AAA as well.

[PeaveyFury]

Very good defender. Probably the compliment to Narvaez’s bat, if I had to bet and assuming he’s got a chance at the MLB roster. Not a good sign for Pina.

[sveumrules]

Not an expert on player options but looks like he would have at least 1 left. With Nottingham and Freitas out of options might be depth at AAA as well.

 

FanGraphs lists him with an option. I'd imagine he'll be catching wherever the Brewers AAA ends up next year (do we know where that is yet for sure, er no?)

[AJOHNSON104]

Not an expert on player options but looks like he would have at least 1 left. With Nottingham and Freitas out of options might be depth at AAA as well.

 

This was my thought. Would guess that he is depth / 3rd catcher. "Major league contract" only means a 40-man roster spot, not that he is guaranteed a spot in the Major Leagues.

[Soupbone]

Unless there is a trade with one of our catchers in the works.

[umphrey]

I’m throwing Stearns under the bus if he’s a Narvaez replacement

[narwhalattack]

Very good defender. Probably the compliment to Narvaez’s bat, if I had to bet and assuming he’s got a chance at the MLB roster. Not a good sign for Pina.

 

Assuming that Narvaez is able to bounce back from this past season. Forgot where I read it from, but I think I read somewhere that Narvaez wasn't unlucky, he was just flat-out hitting poorly.

[JosephC]

I’m throwing Stearns under the bus if he’s a Narvaez replacement

 

Might be best to save the Stearns bashing until we have a better idea exactly what budget he's been given to work with. The problem may be a bit higher up the ladder.

[TURBO]

Just what we needed, another crappy catcher.

 

Yay off season!

[TURBO]

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the Brewers are in agreement on a one-year deal with free agent catcher Luke Maile.

 

There are no financial terms available yet for this agreement, which is pending a physical exam. Maile, 29, is a career .198/.252/.304 hitter at the MLB level and missed all of last season after fracturing his finger in a July intrasquad game with the Pirates, so the salary is probably somewhere close to the league minimum.

 

RELATED: Milwaukee Brewers

SOURCE: Ken Rosenthal on Twitter

Dec 1, 2020, 7:01 PM ET

[Simba2020]

When one of the most comparable players to him historically is Bob Uecker, that can't be a good thing.

[DR28]

Man, when are we gonna give Notty a decent look.

 

I sure hope Maile doesnt make the team over him.

[Lathund]

I don't see how he is any better than Piña/Narvaez. Why is this a major league deal?

 

Piña and Nottingham are both out of minor league options. So if they were to keep Piña and Narvaez both they would either need to keep 3 catchers on the roster, DFA/trade Nottingham, or keep Narvaez in the minors unless there was an injury to Piña/Nottingham. So this is a deal to have one catcher on the roster with minor league options remaining basically. They were never going to keep all three of the current catchers for the abovementioned reason of options (And probably money too). So it's not about "better", it's about having a 3rd catcher that they could send back down after stepping in for injuries. If Freitas or Piña (or Nottingham) were the 3rd catcher on a minor league deal, Brewers would risk losing them on waivers (or electing free agency, if they had been outrighted before) when they were sent down after their stint in the majors. And of course Nottingham would need to pass through waivers to even be possible to have in the minors to start the year.

 

That's my take on it anyway. I would expect Narvaez and Nottingham to start the season on the major league roster, with Maile the backup in AAA. Some teams like to run 3 catchers, Brewers under the Stearns/CC era don't seem to be one of them. Another possibility is that it is Narvaez + Piña or Narvaez + Maile on the major league roster, and using Nottingham for a trade, but I think that's less likely.

[brewcrewdue80]

Heres the question. Does this mean the 40man is now full?

I dont really get it. Was Peyton Henry selected in rule 5?

[MadThinker88]

Heres the question. Does this mean the 40man is now full?

I dont really get it. Was Peyton Henry selected in rule 5?

 

The R5 draft has not happened yet (I believe it is next week)...

[CheeseheadInQC]

I'm hoping the speculation is correct. I'd much rather he be Feliciano's AAA backup than Narvaez's or Pina's with the Brewers.