Ron Robinsons Beard

I don’t know what ‘negative value’ player means. Take a look around at what’s happening in Major League Baseball. Jordan Lyles a 30 year old journey man with a negative career WAR just got a multi year guarantee with an AAV of 8 million. Kevin Gausman gets released by Atlanta, picked up by Cincy then non-tendered by the Reds only to sign a 1 year deal for 10 million dollars. Happ has been a consistent quality starting pitcher in the major leagues for a long time. Like Sonny Gray he didn’t pitch well for the Yankees (although he was fine on the road in 2019 with a 1.19 whip and 3:1 k:bb ratio). His ‘value’ is likely in the 8-10 million dollar per year window. The Yankees would have plenty of interest in Happ if they’re including 7-8 million dollars in cash, their return won’t be great but that’s not the point. If they send 7 million dollars to a team along with Happ they saved themselves 10 million towards the luxury tax. The complication is the beating option. The Yankees can simply not pitch Happ enough and render his option moot. Such a move doesn’t make sense for an acquiring team so that detail likely has to be worked out before Happ will be traded. It would basically need to be the same situation as what the Angels did with Zach Cozart yesterday. The Angels gave the Giants their 2019 1st round SS (their #3 overall prospect) just so the Giants would take on Cozart's deal. They are getting next to nothing in return. Yeah, if the Yankees eat some of Happ's contract, then that increases his value. But as it stands, he's set to make $17 million this year, is 38 years old, and has an easily attainable option that will pay him a lot in 2021 as a 39-year-old. He's coming off a terrible season. He has negative value. The Yankees would have to add something of significant value to get a team to take on Happ's contract.

Would it be, though? Miley was lights out for the Brewers in 2018, then followed it up with a very good season for the Astros before running out of gas in September.

Exactly. That's the only way a team like the Brewers is going to stand a chance. I'm inclined to maybe sign one back-end starter like Gio or Miley, and otherwise hope that the crew of Woodruff, Houser, Lauer, Burnes, Peralta and Faria can make a jump. It's time to get a rotation of guys who are going to be around awhile. Those screaming that the Brewers "need" to sign a legit #2 are going to be sorely disappointed in this offseason, I'm afraid.

Happ is a negative value player. Unless the Yankees are also attaching Andujar (who would nicely and cheaply fill the hole at 3B for several years) and expect literally nothing in return, forget it.

(Steele) Walker, Texas Ranger LOL

You can't be serious, right?? They need a LEGIT #2 at worst, none of those guys are even solid #4's. How do any of them improve the rotation significantly?? They might as well light their money on fire. If that is your thought process, I hope you are fully prepared for disappointment. Just be willing to say “bad on me” when Miley pitches like a solid #2 for the Brewers next year

Sterling Sharp (RHP in the Nats system) would be fun, if only for the name.

These guys who are free agents coming off a down year or are facing a tepid market aren't stupid. They saw what Moose and Grandal were able to sign for. They know if they choose the Brewers, they are choosing a smart team who is typically going to put them in the best position to get the most out of their talents.

yup, just guys. off topic. Joey, I have been on this site 10 years longer than you and you have only 900 or so posts less than me. I think you may have the fastest post count ever, I mean EVER. The joys of a low-stress desk job

I guess it would depend on if there is a team out there that is attaching extra value to Gregorius simply because he can play SS. But his value might be quashed a bit simply because there doesn't seem to be many teams looking for SS help. I think the Brewers are interested in Gregorius because they see a guy with a decent left-handed stick who is a good fit for the lineup and may be looking at a short-term deal. The fact that he can play a competent SS is a bonus.

I wouldn’t mind having him, but his value lies in being able to play SS, which the brewers no longer need. I guess there aren’t many competitive teams looking for SS help other than cincy, but I see him getting more than his production would be worth as a 3B I think we need to get past attaching values to positions. It's a matter of putting the best lineup together. As long as you can throw them out somewhere on defense and they don't embarrass themselves, you should be fine. The fact that there aren't many teams looking for SS help plays right into the Brewers' lap in this case. Last year there were a lot of teams looking for 2B help, including the Brewers. There weren't many looking for 3B, though. So the Brewers signed a 3B with solid offensive production, and played him at 2B, where his production became elite. I doubt that mattered to the Brewers, though. They just wanted Moose's bat in the lineup. It was thinking outside the box. We may just see it again.

In Gregorius, I see a guy with a little less power and a bit better batting average than Moustakas. Similar OBPs. K percentage is similar. Gregorius is about 1 1/2 years younger. These are very similar players. The Brewers could do much, much worse than Didi Gregorius to fill one of their infield holes.

Also, the guy was never a great outfielder, but he really hasn't lost much out there either. He's managed to avoid the serious leg injuries that typically rob players of their athleticism late in their careers. The talk of moving him to 1B is more to preserve his health and that there is a lot of solid corner OF options available than it is an admission that he can't play a decent LF anymore.

This is where I'm at and I've made this point in past years. If the same number of sluggers are in the lineup, what difference does it make what defensive position those bats play? If the Brewers IF slugs 80 HRs with the majority coming from 2b and SS, it's the exact same production as the typical structure where the majority come from 1B and 3B. I have no earthly idea where this Hiura to 3B nonsense is coming from. If Didi Gregorius is signed, it's either him or Urias playing 3B. Exactly. I think people call into expectations and tradition a little too much at times. Fans expect power from 1B and 3B simply because those are traditionally power positions. But if you are getting 30 HRs from your 2B, and you have Urias and his power upside at SS, why not look at guys who are going to get on base at a better clip at 1B and 3B?

The Brewers shouldn't have to, and won't add anything to a Hader deal to "sweeten the pot". And if they trade him, it isn't going to be for "equal value" according to the trade simulator site. If they can't get a team to give them a massive overpay for Hader, they'll just hang onto him. His salary isn't detrimental yet. Chavis and Benintendi sort of look like "just guys" to me.

Assuming he retires a Brewer. I can see him playing a couple extra years, possibly as a DH for an American League team. If he is willing to take a pay cut, I'm sure there will be a market for his bat... Isn’t he soon to have three kids? He at least has two already. I’m pretty confident he will call it a career unless a LA or other California team offers him a contract. Even then he may not. I don’t think he wants to play that badly or the possible drama of moving teams. Seems like a prime guy to just step away when the time makes sense, but who knows. If he manages to stay healthy and plays well this season, I can't see him calling it a career unless the Brewers win the World Series. Then the Brewers would have a decision to make on that 2021 $15 million option. I always assumed that they wouldn't exercise it, but if he takes to 1B and has a renaissance season, who knows?

He was talking about relief pitching, not starters.

Padres willing to attach a prospect to rid themselves of Wil Myers His stats are underwhelming, but it would probably do that guy a lot of good to get away from that cavernous park. Chance to get a potentially useful player and prospect(s) for paying Myers' big salary. He's signed for three more seasons, and turns 29 tomorrow.

I wouldn't say 3B is more challenging than 2B. It takes a different skillset. A good defensive 3B needs terrific instincts and hand-eye coordination, along with a very strong throwing arm. A good defensive 2B needs quick feet, an accurate but not necessarily strong throwing arm, and top notch athleticism.

Is there any rule about there being multiple pinch hitters in an inning? As if this sport needs to give more breaks to the offense ...

Makes sense he is Hernan Perez 2.0 especially since Perez came from Detroit as well. Unfortunate for guys like Saladino and Perez but they lose a lot of value when they no longer have options. and when they reach arbitration eligibility.

I'm not one of those you are referring to but I just want to point out that I've been given timeout warnings for doing the same thing you're doing here. Just looking for some consistency here. As you know, I've been wrong a lot. Like A LOT! But I certainly try to own it when I am. I just would like a little accountability from those who were absolutely certain that the Badgers stood no chance of getting a Rose Bowl bid. Not really trying to go all "Old Takes Exposed" here, but the certainty that some had that the Badgers wouldn't sniff the Rose bowl with a loss just bugged me.

Right! The last time Attanasio signed a contract that big, he bought the whole team.

So they probably saved between $500K and $1M by nontendering him a week or so ago...that's a lot of hot dogs that don't need to be sold now to bolster that payroll! It may seem insignificant in the land of $100+ million contracts, but value is value. Stearns treats overpaying for a player like Aaron Rodgers treats throwing an interception.

The Brewers coulda done that. What are Stearns and Attanasio waiting for?