Matt Breen
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Everything posted by Matt Breen
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Well, this was a surprise. It certainly makes us better in 2014. Can't argue there. It gives Nelson another year in the minors, which is okay. You can slot Thornburg into the bullpen (or Estrada), but remember that injuries almost always happen. To have another guy (or two) is critical. If we need a starter for whatever reason, I'm much happier bringing out Thornburg or Nelson than Figaro or Gorzelanny. Look what St. Louis did last year - despite losing Carpenter for the year, and parts of the season for Garcia and Westbrook - not to mention their closer - they used their depth to keep things going. Now we need some young guys to continue to perform (Segura, Davis, Scooter) and some of the older guys to stay healthy (A-Ram, Braun). I have to admit, it makes things really interesting for next year. I'm not sold this is a good team, but with some luck, they might just surprise. The rotation could be solid - perhaps middle of the pack in the NL. No superstars, but just guys that go out and give you 6 innings and a mid-to-upper 3.00 ERA. Garza, Yo and Lohse are probably more #3 types, but as a group, they can succeed - especially if Peralta can join them. It's not a sexy bunch, but they could be solid. -
Best place, by far, is the Iron Horse Hotel. It's fantastic. It isn't cheap, however, so if money is tight, don't even check out the place.
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I think Barton would be a really good option. Left handed (which we need), excellent defender (which we could really use with our mediocre infield defense), gets on base (always good), cheap (I think he's scheduled to make about $1 million this year), age 28 (prime age to breakout so there's some upside to him). Of course, he comes with little power and a mixed bag for performance. But give him the chance to play every day and see if he can regain his 2010 form (when he had a 4.8 WAR for Oakland). I don't expect him to be a 5 WAR player, but if he could be a 2.5 WAR guy - it's a big plus. He certainly has a higher upside than Michael Young. I don't know what he'd cost to get, but I don't think it would be huge. You let Morris spend another year developing in AAA. If Barton falters, you're not on the hook for anything. If he does well you have him for a couple of more years. The big thing is which Barton do you get. He was bad in 2011-12. I haven't seen him much, so I don't really know why he flopped so badly after a great 2010.
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You're looking at the $1 million buyout vesting if he gets 400 plate appearances. The 11.5 million would vest if he accumulates 600 PAs and is healthy at the end of 2014. Thank you for the clarification. Appreciate it.
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Rangers sign Shin-Soo Choo: 7-yr/$130mil
Matt Breen replied to Eye Black's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
John Sickels has an interesting look at Choo's career, and the guys he's compares against as a major leaguer. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/12/21/5233676/shin-soo-choo-signs-seven-year-contract-with-rangers-prospect-retrospective The list of comps isn't attractive for the Rangers. Basically, he says the second half of the contract is 'troublesome'. Still, Choo might last longer than he would for other teams since the Rangers play in such a hitter's park. Seven years for any player is dangerous. Seven years for a guy past 30 is really dangerous. -
Yuni's more like a minor league deal type guy at this point. Especially with 1B still potentially getting addressed.
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If Scooter looks half-way decent in camp (and isn't hurt), I think the Brewers will get rid of Rickie in spring training. I don't think they have any intention of keeping both Rickie and Scooter. The club will hope Rickie looks decent in camp. They'll hope someone will want him due to injury or whatever. If so, they will trade him for nothing but a million or two dollars in salary relief (because that's the most we're going to get for a guy coming off major surgery and two bad seasons and is a bad defender). The team doesn't want Rickie for a couple of reasons. 1. Scooter and Weeks are strictly 2B. If either of the guys could play some other positions, you might have a platoon. But locking in two guys into 2B handicaps the team's roster flexibility. 2. Rickie's 2015 option of $11.5 million vests if he gets 400 plate appearances. The club wants no part of that. Rickie might outhit Scooter next year, but unless he returns to his 2010 form, he's not worth $11.5 million. If Rickie doesn't draw any suitors, the team will cut Weeks before the end of camp. They'll use Bianchi (or someone like him) to get 20-30 starts at 2B against lefties. Otherwise, Scooter will be the man.
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Ha! Didn't noticed that. Nice to know.
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Ha! Didn't noticed that. Nice to know.
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I think you nailed it. Ike has never adjusted. I also wonder if he's gotten obsessed with hitting HRs. I'd be happy if we got Davis for something cheap (like Fiers). I don't want to lose Thornburg, however. Perhaps the new scenery, including a friendly park, would rejuvenate him.
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Fangraphs says that Fiers name has come up with regard to trading for Davis. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-market-value-of-post-hype-first-basemen/
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Article from BA about Wang. Quotes, so forth. Pretty interesting. http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/with-open-mind-brewers-grab-pirates-lefty-in-rule-5/
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Article from BA about Wang. Quotes, so forth. Pretty interesting. http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/with-open-mind-brewers-grab-pirates-lefty-in-rule-5/
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http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/giants-to-sign-mike-morse.html Takes another 1B candidate off the table for the Brewers - although I don't think they Crew were ever that interested in him.
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MLB to ban homeplate collisions starting in 2014
Matt Breen posted a topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/12/11/catchers-blocking-home-plate-banned-concussions/3991229/ No details on the new rule, and how it will be accomplished, enforced, etc. But no catcher has to face being run down by Prince Fielder. -
I'd rather just move Braun to 1B and let Gindl have RF. All the other options are mediocre or too expensive. May as well see if we can get average play out of Gindl rather than pay someone $5-10 million to produce mediocrity.
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And the Mariners incentives were upwards of $13 million - based on Rosenthal - who compared the deal to Napoli's 2013 deal with the Red Sox - $5 million guaranteed and incentives to reach $13 million.
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Logan Morrison to SEA, Carter Capps to MIA
Matt Breen replied to torts's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
Or Yuni can slot into the position quite nicely. -
Sad to see Corey go. He was a good player for us. I'm sorry it didn't work out, but I'd rather not overpay for him. Between his age and injury issues, he was a risk. The AL might be best for Corey. He can slide into the DH spot if his knees have problems.
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If Hart comes back, Francisco would probably be a nice player to back up 1b/3b (not that he's very good at either position). But he's lefthanded, has some pop, is cheap, and can fill in for an extended period if (when) someone is hurt. Tyler Green would also fill the same void, but who knows how he will be next spring. Green or Francisco, a lefty back up to 1b/3b is a nice way to fill your bench (along with Bianchi or someone like him to back up SS/2b).
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I don't think Jungmann ever showed the promise Pomeranz did. Pomeranz was a top 25 rated minor leaguer - put up some great stats in A ball (but a small sample size). He was rushed after that - and even though he put up decent ERAs in the upper minors, he was hittable. That got worse in the majors. I haven't seen Pomeranz lately, so maybe he just looks like crap. But I would think he would be seen as more promising than Jungmann - who just looks blah. Just a guess. I agree that Anderson is a great buy low guy.
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As pointed out the Logan Morrison trade thread - Hart would be a nice story, but this team really needs a left handed bat. Right now, we just have Scooter (assuming he starts at 2B). 1B is the only place open. In 2013, we had the best OPS in the NL when facing lefties. When facing righties, it was 9th. Hart would be great on one level, but I think the team really needs to find a left handed bat to fill 1B.
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In the NL last year, the Brewers had the best OPS vs lefthanded pitching. Against righties, we were ranked 9th. I like Hart, and it would be nice to see him back. But we really need a left handed power bat in the line up. Right now we only have Scooter in the line up who is a lefty (not counting Francisco). Maybe Morrison isn't the answer - but I think a lefty is really critical.
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Mariners sign Robinson Cano: 10 yrs./$240mm
Matt Breen replied to TURBO's topic in Milwaukee Brewers Talk
The Mariners should go mental. Trade for David Price (walker and franklin would be a good starting point) Outbid everyone for Tanaka Sign Napoli, Choo and Balfour Rotation of Price, Tanaka, King Felix, Iwakuma and James Paxson Zunino is the catcher. Napoli 1B, Cano 2B, Miller SS, Seager 3B, Choo RF, Saunders CF, Ackley LF, Montero and Smoak battle it out for DH. Balfour closes. Of course, you're taking on $85-90 million in salary. But what the hell. Seattle has only $36 million in salary obligations for 2014 - and no arby cases. -
I guess my post was too literal. No one sees Smith putting us into contention. My point is that the team isn't good enough to contend right now. If Smith proves to be a solid, back-of-the-rotation guy, we are still average, at best. We have spent an asset (Aoki) to acquire a guy (Smith) who provides value when we need it least (now), and will unlikely provide big value in the future. I would have rather spent the asset on a player that (potentially) provides more value than Smith - but 3-4 years from now, and thus help us actually be contenders at that time. Getting low level minor leaguers is a huge risk. Perhaps too much risk. It's not like anyone is going to trade us Buxton for Aoki. But perhaps you can find a lower level guy that can turn into a Corey Hart or Paul Goldschmidt - guys who weren't highly thought of at the lower levels. Again, finding that gem in the rough is difficult. And perhaps the guy simply flames out, then you wasted your asset on nothing. But that's the risk you take. Of course, the state of the team is a person's opinion. I don't think we are that good. Perhaps if the planets align and everything goes right, we can contend next year. But that's not usually what happens. For every bad thing that happens, a good thing occurs. I think the team's talent level is very average. We need to take every chance to infuse the minor league system with guys with upside - guys who can become more than just average in the majors. Again, that's my opinion.
