Tbadder

I don't think the team is a playoff team as it is composed now. So what? Overbuying will kill the Brewers. We're a young team, and with some patience, and being open to opportunity will net us another playoff team in the near future. This is not your father's Brewers. I'm not worried at all, and if we went into next season with this pitching staff I wouldn't fret. I'd just like to see it as it really is.

I'm so glad Melvin's walking away from this thing. It stunk from the beginning and only got worse. Lets keep Cameron. I bet he's a type B free agent, and maybe we can pry a second round pick for him, though that's a bit of a long shot I admit.

This is a good short term signing. Nothing ventured nothing gained. I hope this isn't the only back-up outfielder signing though. I still think they have to prepare for a mid-season trade of Cameron. Now, sign Baldelli gosh darn it.

I hope its Tris Speaker if he's lefthanded. The we can give the Yankess Cameron and pay half his salary.

I hope its Tris Speaker if he's lefthanded. The we can give the Yankess Cameron and pay half his salary.

I hope its Tris Speaker if he's lefthanded. The we can give the Yankess Cameron and pay half his salary.

I hope its Tris Speaker if he's lefthanded. The we can give the Yankess Cameron and pay half his salary.

Because of the what the medical people are saying now, I'd definitely try to sign him. I'd give him a two year deal even. It's risky business for sure, but I got a feeling this is gonna be one of those feel good stories eventually. Of course the Brewer medical people would have to check him out thoroughly and the contract would be incentive laden. I'd just make sure it was more incentive laden than any other team's offer.

Gamel is not a 3rd baseman in my book. In the Brewers book he is, and that's all that counts, but I'm very, very leery. And if I was a betting man I'd say he'll probably be the worst major league third baseman in terms of defense. Again, something the Brewers simply can't afford with the price of pitching nowadays. Hope I'm wrong, hope he works outs the bugs, he's improved some for sure, but he's still rather poor. Green might be the answer, and we'll know a lot better after a full year in AA. But until then I'd rather not count on him, though in truth he may be the only real alternative. If he is real then by all means keep Angel at catcher or jettison via trade.

That's another reason to look at him at third base. How's his quickness? His lateral motion? I really think the greater need is at third.

Count me as one of those guys who wants Melvin to walk away from this deal. Wait for the regular season. Someone will get hurt and need Cameron, and then our return should be better than the drek the Yankees are offering.

Fair enough Logan. That's a good point, and I agree it would be nice to see how he hits AAA pitching. The only thing I don't agree with is Hardy's defensive prowess. I think he's major league average, maybe slightly above (I know there's plenty of disagreement over this) but I think Escobar is gonna be elite, and on a team that will always be pitching poor because of the incredible expense, a truly first class SS is a necessity.

I'd take a chance on anyone who: a) will accept a reasonable to cheap one year contract, and (boldface) b) projects to a Type B free agent

What's up with hating on out best prospect. On a team that has exactly one good defensive player (that we're trying to get rid of) it would be nice to see some way above average defense. I'd also like to see a very young man with a lithe body develop over the years into a 40 doubles 10 triples kinda guy. Escobar has shown real improvement throughout most of his career and dumping him now would be wasteful in my mind. Now if he could really bring a top ten stud pitcher okay, but it my sense that this kind of deal really never happens.

Never, ever give up on intelligent lefties. I think he's got as good a chance as any of carving out a career for himself.

I was listening to XM radio the other day and Kennedy suggested that there was now a Yankee-premium. That things have gotten so bad in New York that the Yankees are forced to give players an extra 20 to 30 percent per contract. I so hope that's true. In the end I believe that CC is a really decent guy and that he's gonna regret doing this to his family. Does it all come down to kissing the rear of the player's union. Is there really that much pressure among the super rich to be super-richer? If it continues one day it will implode.

Package deal, Peavy in the fold after Pie is traded along with others--yes, we are doomed.

I just read on MLB rumors that the quality of the pitching prospect is in direct relationship to the amount of money the Crew kicks in--I guess it's not going to happen after all.

I don't think this would be the worst idea. Especially if we obtain guys that needed only one year at AAA to be major league ready. That would allow our second mini-wave (Gamel, Escobar, possibly Jeffress) entry as well, and that could be followed up with the 3rd wave (AA and A+ players, possibly even Lawrie by then). Coupled with extra picks this year, and some luck, we might be able to create a Twins-like organization and actually be competitive on a consistent basis. We will never be competitive spending money--ever, never.

It really points out the absolute necessity in having a lot of players near the league minimum. very interesting stuff. I think that this number 70 million would be a good number for the Brewers to shoot for. Attendance should be down this year, and with the economy, the ancillary income should take a hit. That kind of number could insulate the Brewers and keep them stable long term. I'd love to figure out a way to get it in the 50 million range, but that's probably asking too much.

I think this could be a great sign if it happens in Feburary. Good idea.

I think Stark was on M & M this morning and projected that many 3-year 21 million dollar deals will be one year 2.5 million due to the economy. This could give the Brewers a ton of flexibility to go after quite a few players that will simply hope for a better contract next off-season. I think you're exactly right. The Brewers will be slow to move and hopefully pick up the pieces near the end to pick up value. They'll get their pitching. it'll just be for whoever is left over.

If Putz can maintain his health this certainly is a one sided deal. But I like 3 of the players Jack got. Sure they're depth guys, but you gotta start somewhere. Heilmann could do with a change of scenery. Endy and Guieterrez (sic) are high effort guys and athletic enough that I'd like to have them in my clubhouse. I wonder if Franklin would be a better CF than Melky Cabrera?

Geez, I just can't believe we're acting like the Brewers have a choice. Simply put they are not going to be competitive next year, and they never were going to be. I don't care how nice it is to have Mark A.'s money around, this is still the smallest market in the league. Our salary base from last year could not be maintained even in the short term. The only hope is the farm system. There's no interim hope. There's no bridge; there's ugly stop-gaps and the farm system. For god sakes we can't even afford to make the kind of contract mistake that Bill Hall represents. We're left to hope that young players can blossom (here's hoping on Melky's star) so that they can walk away later in the further hope that were might catch lightning in a bottle via the draft, or some team trying to make the playoffs overpays. Look, we've already been incredibly lucky picking up New York's 1st round pick and a sandwich. Now lets do whatever we can to make sure Sheets doesn't end up in a Yankee uniform as well. In any case we've got to keep crossing our fingers, because the one thing Milwaukee will never, ever be--is a player. And why would the Yankees give up a young pitcher? If we were Yankees fans would we be all about dumpimg Hughes or Kennedy for a one year, strike out meister who can play defense? I wouldn't be. I'd do what I could to hold onto every young pitcher I got. Oh yeah, and I'd also look to deal with small market teams who have to trade value for unrealized potential that's more than proven it's not gonna happen anyways. Maybe this deal does allow them to sign a pitcher, but that pitcher will be someone like Randy Johnson or Kip Wells or Braden Looper--it's not gonna be anyone who represents the one thing the Brewers are desperate to have, the only thing that can ensure their competitiveness, cheap-productive-long-term talent, the most illusive commodity in major league baseball.

I'd take a flier on Kip Wells if he came cheaply enough. I wouldn't want to give up a single pick under any circumstance. Maybe Colon would be a fit as well. How many years has it been since his major blow-out? His arm might be ready to come back.