Brewers sign Jason Kendall -- 1 year/$4.25 mil guaranteed, up to 2 years/$10.25 mil possible

[PeaveyFury]

Per Haudricourt, the Brewers have reached an agreement with Kendall. No details yet.

 

http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2007/11/21/brewers-have-a-deal-with-kendall.aspx

[TooLiveBrew]

Ok, so there it is. Thanks, PF.

[Oldcity]

Really hoping this isn't for a ton of money.

[dadofandrew]

Tom and i must have gotten the same e-mail. As previously stated, it's an even swap of SLG for OBP, with maybe a smidge of improvement behind the plate.

 

I've seen a wide range of estimates, so it will be interesting to see what he got, could be anywhere from 1y/$2M to 3y/$15M.

[cooprules]

WSSP just said it was 1 year with a vesting option for 2009. No money details.

[And That]

In an earlier blog entry, Transitive Property made it sound like this was going to be either a 1 or 2 year deal, which made me happy. I could live with 2 years/$7-8 mil, but the third year at the same rate would have been killer. I like the signing - it potentially raises team OBP, which was the Brewers' biggest weakness on offense in '07. Doesn't help the defense much, which is saying something, but it certainly doesn't make the defense worse. And this signing goes a little way to making the roster more Yost-proof.

[RU Rah Rah]

Right, I wonder about the $, too. But it's a done deal, pending the physical.

[PeaveyFury]

Tom H confirms, one year plus option. Speculation that it vests based on games played. Contingent on passing physical next week.

 

Love the length of the deal, still waiting on the money.

 

http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2007/11/21/kendall-s-deal-is-for-one-year-plus-option.aspx

[Paul77]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/ilookback/kendall_Brewers.jpg

 

 

[patrickgpe]

If part of the reason they traded johnny is that they didn't want to pay him 4 million + in arbritration, id guess we are in the 2 years 7-8 million range.

 

question is where does he bat, i am hoping for 7th, but i could see Ned batting him 2nd and dropping JJ down.

[jjfanec]

I like the start of the contract length-wise with an option if Kendall does return to form.

[TooLiveBrew]

And this signing goes a little way to making the roster more Yost-proof.

 

The neverending quest...

 

But does offering him Kendall to bat in the 2-hole really make the squad any more safe? Details tonight at 11.

[Oldcity]

Well a one year deal is a good thing.

[saget]

I've come around on the whole Kendall thing the past day or so. If he can get anywhere close to his career OBP that would rock the house.

[MoneyballMan]

I've become ok with it as well. It sure sounds like there was more to the Estrada saga than we ever understood. And unless we can trade for a young, up-and-coming C, Kendall's probably not a bad option given our need for OBP.

[SoCalBrewfan]

One year plus option is cool, pending the dollars of course...could be way off here but I'd guess $3+M guaranteed with the max possible value around $8M. Reminds me of Rod Barajas: first year at $2.5M, option (which was declined) $5M, with $500K buyout. Or, of course, a shorter version of the Miller deal. Compare the low end deal for a decrepit backup: Lieberthal at $1.25M + option for $1.4M.

[brewmann04]

Ok now we have our Catcher now Melvin can move on to the Pen and What to do in Lf.

Here thinking another Fa signing and Trade to fill those needs.

[jlau20]

For me it's Kendall over Estrada any day for next year. Whatever the team does accomplish next year, I don't think having Kendall instead of Estrada makes the team any worse.

 

The one year with the option is the best way to go.

[brewers255]

When do you think the contract details will be released?

[dadofandrew]

The team never releases that, but they will leak out before the day is over.

[rluzinski]

Instead of being force fed Estrada in the #5 spot, it's time to be force fed Kendell in the #2 spot. Ack. I think a .330 OBP is more likely than a .360 OBP at this point in Kendell's career. Here's my guess for 2008:

 

.265/.335/.335

 

Looks like #8 slot material to me.

[homer]

If he bats #2......I will just.....just.....bite my pillow!

[SoCalBrewfan]

We need a special name for those very special Ned lineups including Counsell and Kendall, which we'll be sure to see from time to time. One that will make it past the cuss filter, that is...

[TooLiveBrew]

Looks like #8 slot material to me.

 

For sure. I hope this issue doesn't become a frustrating one in 2008.

 

SoCal - how 'bout the 'E-double-hockeysticks' lineup?

[hawing]

With the potential for Counsell, Kendall and Hall in a lineup, I think Double Hockey Sticks, or DHS Lineup, is apt; or even just the LL Lineup.

File 'em in the same part of the bf.net lexicon as "forfeit lineup" or "JV lineup."

 

I'm looking forward to determining the Brewers' other catcher so we can coin a Counselninoesque term to describe the platoon.

Incredibly, "counselninoesque" is not in my spell checker.