Bobby Dalbec

[bensheeps]

While I would love to see the Brewers make a bigger move to add to the offense, I'm not sure we will see something major.

In other threads, debate has come up on whether Keston Hiura should get one more shot or not.  If not Hiura, how about a "similar" player that has excelled in AAA but struggled at times in the majors while being moved up and down with regularity?  Would a "change of scenery" deal make some sense?

Dalbec plays 1st and 3rd (as well as 7 games in RF and 6 games at SS this year in AAA) and hits LHP.  His numbers this year in the minors look very similar to the numbers Jahmai Jones put up vs. southpaws this year.

Jones vs. LHP in Okla City - 57 ab, .368 avg, .500 obp, .737 slg, 1.237 ops

Dalbec vs. LHP in Worcester - 50 ab, .340 avg, .441 obp, .760 slg, 1.201 ops

So why Dalbec instead of Hiura...

1. Dalbec gives you more defensive flexibility (and a better overall defender).
2. Dalbec is only due $714,000 this year before arb eligible in 2024 for the first time.
3. Has shown he can hit LHP

One Red Sox fan site suggested this trade for Dalbec...  https://bellyupsports.com/2023/07/buy-and-sell-three-red-sox-mock-trades/

"After a few years of ups and downs for Bobby Dalbec, the Red Sox seemed to have moved on this season. Tristan Casas and Justin Turner have adequately handled first base, so there doesn’t seem to be any room for Dalbec. 

The Red Sox and Tigers connect to send Bobby Dalbec in exchange for pitching prospect Tyler Mattison. Mattison is the Tigers 25th ranked prospect. For the Tigers, they add Dalbec who can play third or first base. These are positions they don’t have clarity on now or in the short term. Spencer Torkelson is a young corner infielder that offers upside for the Tigers, but has had his struggles since joining the Tigers’ major league roster last season. For the Red Sox, they scrape the remaining value from Dalbec and add the 23-year-old reliever to the mix. Mattison was recently promoted to AA after posting a 3.42 ERA and 45 K’s over 26.1 A+ innings."

 

[jay87shot]

If he would be cheap I would go for him in a second. At this point anyone who has a chance at being decent is a step up from Rowdy. My guess is that they would want a little more than that Tigers trade. He did hit 25 HR's in 2021 and is cheap and controllable. I could see like Strezlecki and a lesser prospect (say Max Lazar) being close. I would still probably do that.

[wntrtxn21]

Dalbec's biggest problem and the reason he's not playing for the Red Sox is the same reason  Hiura isn't with the Brewers, the huge number of strikeouts.  Dalbec is over 35% for his career and actually a little worse against lefties than righties.