Brewers Reportedly Interested in Free Agent Garrett Cooper

[markedman5]

According to Robert Murray of FanSided, the Brewers have expressed interest in free agent Garrett Cooper. 

Cooper, a right-handed first baseman and corner outfielder, is entering his age-33 season in 2024. Last year he split duties between the Marlins and Padres; he scuffled to a below-league-average OPS with the Marlins before closing out the season with a 102 OPS+ in San Diego over 41 games.

The Brewers still have yet to be linked to any free agents that expect to sign more than a one-year contract while their estimated $90 million payroll remains well under their 2023 payroll of just over $130 million.

 

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[Team Canada]

Could you provide more context besides posting a link?

[DR28]

Team Canada...... We're interested in signing Cooper.... So most likely either Santana or Cooper at 1B.

[Outlander]

1 hour ago, Team Canada said:

Could you provide more context besides posting a link?

Not a lot in the rumor besides the Brewers considering Garrett Cooper.

[vandy54]

I think Cooper and Santana are a little underwhelming (unless they make a flashier move as well). I'm hoping they are going after someone that would make a bigger difference first, like Hoskins... while also keeping tabs on guys like Cooper/Santana as a fallback option. Otherwise, I'm not sure what the hold up would be since you wouldn't think there would be too much standing in their way of signing one of those two.

[Brewcrew82]

Cooper makes sense in a platoon role. Slashed .324/.375/.529 vs. LHP in 2023. We have Bauers and likely Black from the left side.

In an everyday role, though, I'm a lot less interested. I agree that Hoskins and even Santana are more desirable. 

[TURBO]

Gross, just plain gross.

[brewmann04]

if going with Cooper and Bauers why would any brewer fan be optimist

[jay87shot]

I think Cooper would be more an everyday player. He hits righties better than Bauers. Bauers doesn't really have any positive splits. 

To me Cooper would be a solid upgrade, I liken him similar to Santana. Maybe a little less power but better contact. Still solid defense.

At any rate it would be disappointing if this is our big bat addition this year. Way to similar to last year we're we added all bats coming off poor years hoping for a resurgence to slightly above average players.

[patrickgpe]

My preference has always been Dom Smith if they want to go the not that good, cheap 1st baseman route. 

[DR28]

I dont understand the hate for Cooper.... Career slash line of .268/.337/.435

Much better than Jake Bauers as we currently stand.

[patrickgpe]

14 minutes ago, DR28 said:

I dont understand the hate for Cooper.... Career slash line of .268/.337/.435

Much better than Jake Bauers as we currently stand.

No one is arguing that. There seems to be about 5 free agent 1st baseman that have similar projected stats. Pick one 

[DR28]

15 minutes ago, patrickgpe said:

No one is arguing that. There seems to be about 5 free agent 1st baseman that have similar projected stats. Pick one 

I only see Santana or Cooper in our price range... Some big market club is gonna give Hoskins good money, it's too bad... I would love to see him in Milwaukee.

[patrickgpe]

42 minutes ago, DR28 said:

I only see Santana or Cooper in our price range... Some big market club is gonna give Hoskins good money, it's too bad... I would love to see him in Milwaukee.

I didn’t include Hoskins, I see Dominic Snith, Cooper, Cron or Santana all about the same in ability and price. None of the 4 very exciting, but an ok placeholder 

[brewcrewdue80]

Looking at Statcast for the 4 not named Hoskins this sums up for me.

Santana for his Career(entire) has been expected to hit more HRs than he actually hit at AM Fam aside from 1 season where he hit the expected. (Crazy)

Cron somehow hits top 8pct max exit velocity yearly yet almost never averages top 50pct overall exit velocity. Lots of pop ups hurt him. HRs about expected at AM Fam.

Cooper is consistent (tailed off on EV and increase k pct)nd has a +11 HRs at AM Fam last 2 seasons. 

Smith is awful compared to these 3. He's just younger but his class of numbers isn't close. 

Now aside from Santana the other 3 were less PAs so I'm not sure if we're looking at platoon stats with Cron and Cooper.  I'll have to check.  But on looking via statcast it'd be Santana 1, Cooper 2, Cron-3. Bauers-4.      Please no Smith.

Crons numbers are boosted in 21/22 due to Colorado vs expected vs Cooper and Santana. Making his case worse.

Santana has the defense locked down. The HR expected + locked down. 

Coopers splits last 2 seasons were .904 vs lhp and. .666 vs rhp

.628 vs lhp and 788 vs rhp with PAs being about equal both seasons.

We should be sticking with Santana and Cooper as the backup plan.  Cron 3rd if you just want a guy to dfa immediately when Black or someone else steps up to take over.

 

 

[jay87shot]

12 hours ago, patrickgpe said:

No one is arguing that. There seems to be about 5 free agent 1st baseman that have similar projected stats. Pick one 

I don't think it is that much hate for Cooper it is just disappointment that we are going cheap again and hoping for rebounds from guys who are coming off of down years. Especially when our hitting department really hasn't shown the ability to improve players.

No one can argue Cooper wouldn't be an upgrade, just not as big as anyone hoped.

[patrickgpe]

17 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

I don't think it is that much hate for Cooper it is just disappointment that we are going cheap again and hoping for rebounds from guys who are coming off of down years. Especially when our hitting department really hasn't shown the ability to improve players.

No one can argue Cooper wouldn't be an upgrade, just not as big as anyone hoped.

My hope was that the brewers would have leveraged their tradeable assets and get a young 1st baseman. After each passing day, a trade of Burnes / Adames is less likely. I never thought they would get a premium FA 1st baseman, but I wish the FO would acknowledge its an issue that Bauers and Owens are the only players on your 40 with MLB 1st base experience. Especially if they insist on going "All In" by not trading their pending Free Agents. 

[Scooterfletcher]

So dumb.  *** did we trade for Bauers again?  Guys stats at 1b would be below average in aaa.

[brewcrewdue80]

On 1/20/2024 at 12:27 AM, Scooterfletcher said:

So dumb.  *** did we trade for Bauers again?  Guys stats at 1b would be below average in aaa.

 

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2021/1b/

 

Just notice if you go back 2020. Or forward 2022.  The 1b position is awful among seeing translation from the rankings and the minors to MLB.  Andrew Vaughn was oh so needed back in a trade the early Hader trade ideas.  Evan white Bobby Bradley?   This is the reason you sit here contemplating over Santana vs Cooper right now.  Or 1 Rhys Hoskins who played 0 games last season rehabbing, being the guy who should be offered the most years+dollars.  Someone probably holding out for a 4yr deal as long as possible because a 1yr prove it deal could go very wrong with his batter profile.

 

So many reasons why advocate for Yelich to get a 1b mitt and play there. Contreras sooner than later if it's just not Black.