Hank Blalock

[Jofis11ep]

I didn't notice if anyone else posted anything about this, if so, feel free to move it but I thought it should be mentioned. Here's the link pertaining to the Eric Gagne press conference but the last paragraph is somewhat interesting. Blalock would be a name I wouldn't be opposed to...

 

http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2007/12/10/torres-is-reporting.aspx

 

"3. The fact that Kevin Mench was designated for assignment, on the heels of allowing Geoff Jenkins to become a free agent, tells you that the Brewers have something else in mind for LF. Look for them to pick up an outfielder or acquire a third baseman and move Ryan Braun to LF. I'm starting to get some vibes on Texas third baseman Hank Blalock."

[Milltownhooker]

Capuano, Tony Gwynn Jr, Turnbow & prospect Gamel for Blalock & Littleton

[giffted1]

I think its very likely that Blaylock will be a Brewer. Melvin is looking for a third basemen and a lefthanded bat...Blaylock is both. He's also a Ranger who was drafted by Melvin.

[dadofandrew]

I was unaware of the Melvin drafting status. That makes more sense now than it did before.

[wallus]

I would be ok with Blalock but you have to wonder if Doug is trying to use him as a decoy to get Rolen. I looked up Blalocks stats and they were about where I thought they would be. He is a lefty and has a solid OBP so I think it makes a ton of sense.

[RU Rah Rah]

What? Melvin interested in a Ranger? You can't be serious!

[TooLiveBrew]

I think this is a smart move by Doug & Co. Set up a guy in whom you genuinely have interest, and start to pursue the trade. But you know Blalock isn't going to be shipped off anytime urgently, so there's no need to worry about your fallback plan if the Rolen deal actually never is revisited. In the meantime, bluffing or not, you tell the Cards, 'You need the deal more than we do.'

 

It's not even mid-December... I think that Rolen/Cappy deal is revisited at least once more before the offseason is winding down.

[tigerbrew]

For me, I prefer to have Blalock than Rolen for a couple of reasons...

1. He is younger with potentially more upside.

2. He is a pretty good all round hitter with a good K to BB ratio.

3. He's a lot cheaper, his contract remaining is about $6M for 08 with a club option for 09 or 250K buyout.

 

Both Blalock and Rolen are recovering from shoulder injuries so that a wash, but Rolen is the better defender though.

[Never Outhustled]

Capuano, Tony Gwynn Jr, Turnbow & prospect Gamel for Blalock & Littleton

I think that is a little strong for a player who had an OPS under 750 2 of the last 3 years. Blaylock did hit well last year, but it was in only 208 ABs. His highest full season OPS is 872, and they was all the way back in 2003.Thats too long ago to even be relevent anymore. Also, remember that his stats are skewered upward from playing in the games 2nd best hitters park.

 

If the Brewers do aquire Blaylock, I'd also like to get Gerald Laird in the deal. He may be the best throwing catcher in the game.

[dadofandrew]

Gwynn has been rumored to TEX twice last July, and they need rotation help.

 

They would seem to maych up wonderfully, and Doug's constant harping about a LH 3B seems very strange.

[trwi7]

Not really sure how I would feel about Blalock, his defense would be an upgrade over Braun no doubt but he was Kevin Mench home/away splits and would need to be platooned because he can't hit lefties. I would hope we would look for something better first.

[twobrewers]

Capuano, Tony Gwynn Jr, Turnbow & prospect Gamel for Blalock & Littleton

That is a ton to give up. As much as people dislike Turnbow, he isn't a throw in player at all. He would get $5m on the open market. Capuano was a former all-star. While he may not be an ace - he is worthy of a #3 pitcher. Gwynn is coveted by a few teams as a lead-off batter/CF. And Gamel is a very legit prospect. (He may not play defense yet - but he can swing the bat better than anyone in our system not names LaPorta)

 

Not to mention, we are full of relief pitchers.

 

I would be very disappointed to lose all of that to aquire Blalock.

[TooLiveBrew]

My perfect deal if you're talking about Blalock would be Vargas + TGJ. Honestly, would it take anything more to get him?

[jlau20]

I'd rather have Blalock than Rolen. Of course it depends on what Texas wants in return, for example, that proposal in the 2nd post seems like a little much.

 

I definitely wouldn't want Turnbow traded at this point, we're starting to get a bullpen together and I think he's a good guy to have around.

[splitterpfj]

Blalock is not my favorite option. Yes, he would be a defensive upgrade, and he's a lefty bat, but his stats have been all over the place, he's coming off a fairly significant health issue, and he doesn't hit lefties well.

 

I would imagine Doug is interested, whether I like it or not, - there's the TX connection, and Blalock fits the recent trend, he's signed for one year, with an option for one more, so it's not a huge risk, if the price is right in the trade.

[jjfanec]

I think we are past seeing relief pitchers thrown in. I am guessing they would target Cappy and Gwynn seems to make sense for them too. I would love for it to be Vargas but I doubt he has that much value

[TooLiveBrew]

Agreed on keeping TBow, unless he's part of a big deal. The reason I prefer Rolen is that he doesn't need to be platooned. Ned-proofing for '08!

[Klements Bratwurst]

As mentioned, Joe Dillion would have to be Blalock's platoon partner. Blalock's line of .226/.280/.349 for his career is like that of Jenkins. He wouldn't be my first choice, but depending on what we give up, I would take it. His line of .292/.358/.504 versus right handed pitchers would definitely work in that platoon role.

 

Acquiring Blalock doesn't "Yost proof" the line up though. There is still that "flow of the game" argument he can make.

 

I would still rather have Rolen, and deal maybe Hall for another left handed bat.

[molitor fan]

Blalock had a .935 fielding percentage last year, and though people villify Braun's defense last year for a reason, I think that Braun has more defensive tools at his disposal than Blalock, who is a stiff defender with a lot of problems charging balls.

[Invader3K]

Well, he had a .901 OPS last year, but it was only over 58 games. What kind of injury did he have last year? He's also younger than I thought, only 27.

 

I think he doesn't excite me that much...I would rather have Rolen's veteran presence at this point.

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm fine with Blalock. Sure he's had some home/road split issues, but I think batting in that Brewer order, he's going to thrive. I hate to give up completely on Braun at 3B though. I'd still start Braun there against lefties occasionally just to keep future options open (such as when LaPorta comes up to play LF).

 

It's time to turn the page on Turnbow. He needs a change of scenery. McClung has similar stuff without the baggage. They could also use a roster spot for a 2nd lefty (either Choate or Stetter).

[TooLiveBrew]

Acquiring Blalock doesn't "Yost proof" the line up though.

 

Nah - I was referring to getting Rolen as 'Ned-proofing'

[Patrick425]

I thought the idea of moving Braun to the OF was to improve the defense. If Blalock is not that much better of a fielder then Braun, then I don't know that this makes much sense. My guess is that the Brewers had 3 objectives when they sat down at the end of the year.

1) Shore up the bullpen.

2) Improve the defense

3) Replace Estrada

Attanasio seems to be the type of guy that likes to meet all goals and objectives that he sets (whether it's business or baseball). He has been successful with 1 and 3. This move does not seem to take care of #2 imho.

[TooLiveBrew]

Whoa nelly - Blalock is a significantly better fielder than Braun. His metric rankings from his full seasons have him in the upper half of the league, iirc. Just because he's not great doesn't mean he's not much better than Braun. Ryan was catastrophically bad in 2007.

[colbyjack]

When Blalock's name was brought up last week or the week before I checked in on a few fan-sites as well as checking around other sites that included some comments from the Rangers about what it would take to acquire Blalock. I read a few places that Blalock was indeed brought up a few times at the Winter Meetings, although it was also noted that the Rangers didn't want to give Blalock away, not wanting to deal him when his value was low.

 

The Brewers are in a similar position with both Chris Capuano and Bill Hall. The Rangers have a huge need for pitching and an outfielder, particularly a CF, missing out on Torii Hunter, Fukudome (supposedly) among a few others. They also were reportedly pursuing LaTroy Hawkins, which could give a potential interest in Derrick Turnbow some credence.

 

I also think Laird would make a ton of sense for the Brewers as a perfect defensive compliment for Jason Kendall as a catcher that can neutralize the opposing running game. The backup catcher on the team has not received much attention, but it is a pretty important role for a team serious about the playoffs, and I guess I don't see Melvin comfortable moving forward with Rivera, Munson and Rottino as his options heading into camp.

 

It does make sense, the proposals above are pretty sound and there is a match to be made.