Brewers sign Gary Sanchez (Deal Official, $3M plus Incentives)

[long ball]

1 hour ago, Redd Vencher said:

Contreras played 108 games at catcher last year, which is 9th most in baseball. Number 1 was Realmuto with 130 games. We're looking at 32-54 games at C for Sanchez and another 50 games as a short platoon at DH with Bauers and Yelich. It's 1 year $7 M with an option, which means it's probably $4-5 M in 2024 with a $2-3 M buyout in 2025.

As for Haase, he actually signed a split contract. ($1.5 M in the majors and like $750 k in the minors.) We assumed the competetion for Contreras' backup was between Haase and Nola.

I hadn't seen that it's a split deal. Looks like he'd still need to clear waivers to get sent down, but there's some financial flexibility there. Hearing this, I think it's less likely they keep all 3 on the big league roster coming out of spring (assuming all 3 are healthy)

[LouisEly]

3 hours ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Sanchez had a 111 wRC+ last year and .342 xwOBA.

The problem is that's the best those numbers have been since 2019, which to me suggests outlier.  The prior year, when he had almost twice as many PA's, his wRC+ was 89.  And there's a reason he only played 72 games last year.

[Weirdos19]

By adding another RHH that hits well against lefties, I’m guessing Adames is gone very soon.

[Bulldogboy]

Sanchez is good pickup as far as it goes for a 1yr deal. If he plays 3-4 days a week and brings some thump against lefties I'm in. I never want to be caught short handed hitting lefties again.

[wiguy94]

10 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

The problem is that's the best those numbers have been since 2019, which to me suggests outlier.  The prior year, when he had almost twice as many PA's, his wRC+ was 89.  And there's a reason he only played 72 games last year.

He also underperformed his xwOBA by 31 points in 222. Here is his DRC+ for each normal season of his career.

2016 - 131

2017 - 133

2018 - 110

2019 - 135

2021 - 104

2022 - 98

2023 - 115

He's a good hitter and he smashes LHP. He had 0.6 more fWAR than Caratini last season in only 40 more PA. 

[Playing Catch]

I can't believe that I'm one of the first to whisper the theory that Quero may be the key piece in a trade for...

[jw5511986]

4 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

I can't believe that I'm one of the first to whisper the theory that Quero may be the key piece in a trade for...

Say sike right now 

[TURBO]

16 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

I can't believe that I'm one of the first to whisper the theory that Quero may be the key piece in a trade for...

 

 

[brewerfan82]

8 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

I can't believe that I'm one of the first to whisper the theory that Quero may be the key piece in a trade for...

Ohtani!?? 👀

[JohnBriggs12]

13 hours ago, TURBO said:

Just adding to our catcher collection...

Hope he was cheap.

If he is going to primarily DH, I was surely hoping for better than this.

He's a little bit of a risk because his lows have been pretty low, but I don't know where you're going to get a guy with a power ceiling in the 30-35 HR range for $7 million.  He's got 173 career home runs, and a .469 career slugging pct.  I think he proved he had more in the tank with the Padres last year.  He's only 31.  That he can catch is a big plus.  On days he catches, you can DH Contreras and keep his bat in the lineup too and keep both guys fresh.  They lost a significant contributor with Caratini gone.  Now they not only replaced the offense that Victor produced, they upgraded.

[bigred]

10 hours ago, Lloyd330 said:

Once again…2024 is the transition year. …when are people going to accept that .

It's easier for some people to cope, by denying reality to themselves. 🤣 

[JohnBriggs12]

12 hours ago, brewers888 said:

I wouldn't pay 7 million for anyone likely to have an OBP below .300 but since its a one year deal it makes little difference. 

He's a power bat on a team that lacks power.  His 19 HR season in less than 300 AB's would have tied him with Yelich for 2nd on the Brewers last year.  If Rowdy had produced to the level Sanchez did, Rowdy would still be a Brewer.  His job isn't to get on base, it's to hit the ball over the wall and drive in runs.  I would expect him to get around 400 PA this year (maybe more if Bauers is a bust) and hit 20-25 dingers with 60-65 RBI.

[homer]

At the very least, the lineups against lefties sort of write themselves with Hoskins at 1B and Sanchez at DH

[Lloyd330]

12 hours ago, brewers888 said:

This is a very strange move to say the least and don't really see the point but since its only a one year deal whatever.

I had the same exact thought

[sveumrules]

Just one more roadblock for Catcher of the Future Wes Clarke.

[Playing Catch]

I think what this probably represents is that the Haase signing, much like the Bauers trade, were mitigating moves in case they were unable to sign a preferred player. They can let guys battle it out in Spring Training, and when there's an injury for the Brewers or some other team, they have some flexibility to trade from their depth. That's probably a pretty sound strategy, although I'd prefer they give up cash (Haase), to prospects (Bauers) for such maneuvering.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

12 hours ago, brewers888 said:

Its great that Sanchez has some power but he really offers nothing else. Hard to get excited about a guy likely to have an OBP below .300 that costs 7 million. 

1. "Complain about Brewers not spending."

2. "Brewers trade star pitcher because they can't afford to sign him to huge deal." Brewers are sooo cheap!"

2. "Brewers spend every cent of money owed to star pitcher this year, but contracts either aren't long enough, or player isn't proverbial 'need-mover', so 'same old Brewers!'"

3. "Brewers actually spend money on known 'name' player", but cherry pick mediocre OBP in criticizing the move."

Brewerfanatic Madlibs 

[Fear The Chorizo]

7 minutes ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

1. "Complain about Brewers not spending."

2. "Brewers trade star pitcher because they can't afford to sign him to huge deal." Brewers are sooo cheap!"

2. "Brewers spend every cent of money owed to star pitcher this year, but contracts either aren't long enough, or player isn't proverbial 'need-mover', so 'same old Brewers!'"

3. "Brewers actually spend money on known 'name' player", but cherry pick mediocre OBP in criticizing the move."

Brewerfanatic Madlibs 

You forgot, "Brewers make trade, but didn't get enough in return after comparing any actual trade package with their cherry-picked or at times nonexistent package that always includes at least one untradeable prospect from a different team. "

 

Or, find a way to insert piggybacking any pitcher even if it means having a 20 man staff on a 26 man roster, along with worrying about how any position player signing may limit  Yelich's playing time at 1B.

 

Brewer offseason in a nutshell 

[Outlander]

A decent signing that doesn't require multiple years like Caratini and is an upgrade over their current backup catcher options. Lack of power was a weakness last year and this should help improve that.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

19 minutes ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

You forgot, "Brewers make trade, but didn't get enough in return after comparing any actual trade package with their cherry-picked or at times nonexistent package that always includes at least one untradeable prospect from a different team. "

Right! Of course, that one was covered in the article section 🤣

[RedStickBrew]

1 hour ago, sveumrules said:

Just one more roadblock for Catcher of the Future Wes Clarke.

[patrickgpe]

1 hour ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

1. "Complain about Brewers not spending."

2. "Brewers trade star pitcher because they can't afford to sign him to huge deal." Brewers are sooo cheap!"

2. "Brewers spend every cent of money owed to star pitcher this year, but contracts either aren't long enough, or player isn't proverbial 'need-mover', so 'same old Brewers!'"

3. "Brewers actually spend money on known 'name' player", but cherry pick mediocre OBP in criticizing the move."

Brewerfanatic Madlibs 

I came here to post just about this same think, guess I will just like it :)

[patrickgpe]

Caratini signed for 2/12. Sanchez is getting 1/7. Sanchez is a better hitter. Caratini obviously better behind the plate. I didn't do a backflip when this was done but I feel better about the backup Catcher job than what I did when I woke up yesterday AM. 

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

1 minute ago, patrickgpe said:

Caratini signed for 2/12. Sanchez is getting 1/7. Sanchez is a better hitter. Caratini obviously better behind the plate. I didn't do a backflip when this was done but I feel better about the backup Catcher job than what I did when I woke up yesterday AM. 

Caratini is/was a fine backup C. But that was basically the extent of his role. 1-2 starts a week at the catcher position. Sanchez has the bat to take a start at DH once or twice a week in addition to the 1-2 starts he'll see at C. On paper at least, that is a net gain.

[Underachiever]

1 hour ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

1. "Complain about Brewers not spending."

2. "Brewers trade star pitcher because they can't afford to sign him to huge deal." Brewers are sooo cheap!"

2. "Brewers spend every cent of money owed to star pitcher this year, but contracts either aren't long enough, or player isn't proverbial 'need-mover', so 'same old Brewers!'"

3. "Brewers actually spend money on known 'name' player", but cherry pick mediocre OBP in criticizing the move."

Brewerfanatic Madlibs 

4. Repeat the same point in multiple posts in this thread, and across different threads, making every thread the same thread.