Brewers Eyeing Huston Street?

huston street would be a great fit or a lesser deal for alan embree

melvin is in the bay area, have dinner with beane and get the deal done this weekend

Street is exactly what Milwaukee needs. They will need a closer the next 2-3 years anyway, get him. I'd pay full price, it is worth it.

This is the team that budgeted $40 million for Cordero for 4 years, they can afford it.

i dont see how a deal gets done withhout gamel/escobar though

would mil give up one of them?

A's would REALLY want Gamel. A top hitting prospect playing a position where the A's have absolutly no one in the system at? At AA too? Hell yeah.

I think the A's would do Gamel and Escobar for Street and one of Murton, Foulke or Embree any day. Or should I say, Athletics Nation would do that trade-Beane would prob get more.

A's can afford to deal Street because they have three good young relief arms that can probably move into the closer role for them soon: Santiago Casilla, Andrew Brown and the most likely, but currently injured, Joey Devine, the former Braves closer-of-the-future.

Chicago's garbage?? Are you serious?? First of all, lets put this into context. The Cubs DID NOT trade for an elite ace. Yes, Harden is probably the best pitcher in the AL with healthy. However, then when is quite rare. Were talking about a guy who has spent more time on the DL by far, then he has actually pitched in his career. Secondly, Beane managed to get argueably the Cubs top young pitcher, and OF'r with a career .294 AVG. who had value and was drawing interest from other teams, and two other prospects who project to be above average offensive players at their respective positions. Garbage?? Not quite bud. Secondly, this is Huston Street. He has had a couple injuries in his career, but for the most part has stayed healthy and contributed 90% of the time in his young career. He is considered one of the top closers in the AL, regardless of the "off" year he's having. Go take a look at his stats, he's legit. Lastly, the guy has 3 years before he hits free agency. So I think your "lower value" argument is, well, wrong with all do respect. Street is worth at least 1-2 top end prospects depending on the total package. Without one of Gamel/Escobar I dont see a deal getting done. The Brewers are in win now mode, and see Escobar as their SS of the future. Gamel is more expendable, and i'm sure they know Beane is going to want him in any deal. We will wait and see, but I think if the Brewers plan on making it this year, they NEED to get this deal done and will likely deal Gamel to do it.

Isn't Gamel blocked for the Brewers? Bruan is at 3B, right? And he isn't going anywhere. Fielder is at 1B, so he's blocked there. It might be a simualr situation to Cardenas in Philly in that he is blocked and thus ultimately expendable.

If Gamel nets the Brewers something they were prepared to pay $40 million over three years for, why woudn't they do it? And if they can grab another RP like Embree or Foulke to aid them in the deal, I think they go for it for sure, as thats a revamp for the pen not simply a "tweak".

The A's have several good 1B prospects in the minors, but Gamel would instantly take over the top spot in that order ahead of Daric Barton (struggling in his first year in the Majors), Sean Doolittle (promoted to AA, doing well there) and Chris Carter (doing very well in A+ and could get promoted soon).

On the other side of the diamond, Gamel would become the A's top and only 3B prospect and with Eric Chavez injured right now, might even get a cup of coffee in the Majors right now with the A's trying to fill 3B with Jack Hannahan and Donnie Murphy, two should-be-bench players.

It would also allow the A's, if they acquired Gamel, to use Chavez (if he gets healthy) for a year or so at 3B, then either deal him and use Gamel at 3B, move Chavez to 1B to keep him healthy and use Gamel at 3B, or keep Chavez and use Gamel at 1B.

But yeah, to sum it up, I think as with everything dealing with trades, people have to remember that in order to get value, you have to be able to give it up, just as we all saw with the Sabathia trade. And also remember that we all have a tendancy to value our own players more than they may actually be worth, just because they are ours.

"Isn't Gamel blocked for the Brewers? Bruan is at 3B, right? And he isn't going anywhere."

Braun is in LF... mix in a game once in a while.

Unless the Brewers are content with a Hall/Branyan platoon for the next couple of years 3 bag is wide open for Gamel to step in.

CUBBIES2008,

Way to make this about the Cubs here, on an A's/Brewers post.

Zonis, Braun was moved to LF due to his non-ability to play defense. I think a fair deal would be Street and Matt Murton/Eric Patterson for Matt Gamel and Cole Gillaspie. But Zonis you have hit the nail on the head, the A's don't need to make any more trades. Our farm system is probably one of the, if not the best in the league. And we have plenty of guys to step into the closer's role.

No way a deal gets done without Gamel or Escobar.

Houston Street is all a lot of teams need, and hes a hell of a deal. Street is really young, and under team control through like 2011 so any team trading for him will have to pony up a great package. My one thing with Street is that he blows a lot of saves, and last year was not that great along with the mediocre year this year.

Seems from a Brewers perspective, Jon Rauch might make more sense. He will be under team control for the same amount of time but he is only owed $4.9 million over the next two years, Street will prob make at least $6 million in arb. next year alone. Anyways it will be interesting to see what the Brewers do.

And Oakland can have the option of having Hardy as their long-term SS, OR their long-term 3B, switch him over to third, and they no longer need to worry about having a lack of 3B in the system.

I don't think Beane would go for a straight swap of Hardy for Street. He has been collecting minor league talent that isn't even close to arbitration eligible. Of which Hardy I believe just started his arbitration years. So a straight swap of the two seems very unlikely. It will more than likely cost more than likely 2 top 10 prospects and a fringe third to get the conversation started.

The A's aren't going to trade for Hardy because they don't want an arbitration eligible SS who really isn't much of an upgrade over Crosby. Yeah, Hardy is hitting right now but I doubt he will in Oakland. Plus Street's value is just more than Hardy's.

"Jon Rauch might make more sense. He will be under team control for the same amount of time but he is only owed $4.9 million over the next two years, Street will prob make at least $6 million in arb."

Rauch may cost more because of that. His problem has always been walks, but they were down last year and are away down this year. Would be a great pick up if they could get him for around the same price as Street.

I think a lot of people are forgetting that you're trading for 2.4 years of Street, which is why he's going to cost a lot more than someone like Fuentes.

winter meetings beane offered street for weeks..melvin rejected

why are they trading street even though he's 24, 2.5 yrs till FA's?

A's do not believe in paying big money to closers
they are loaded in relievers that could replace street

short term: embree/foulke
long term: casilla/devine/brown/ziegler
in the minors: blevins/carignan/hrod/demel

what would it take? A's dont have to trade street, no urgency like a Sabathia rental. plus along w/ fuentes and maybe rauch those seem to be the top relievers on the market currently. and just a week ago there was rumors of a street/murton to TB trade

that said, i do not see A's trading street if gamel or escobar are in a deal.
i heard they are untouchable, but thats what it will probably take for a 2+ yr cost controlled street.
i know brewers are loaded in AA w/ prospects like OF's and catchers but thats the A's strength of their system also. they need infielders badly. and i cant see beane trading harden/haren/blanton/swisher and then street without having gotten one 3b/ss in a deal which has been the case so far

if not street, maybe a lesser deal for foulke/embree. or to even up a deal in a street trade, A's have lots of solid mid tier prospects to add in like a robnett, powell, mazzaro, etc

remember they gave up inman (pretty good SP) + 2 players for a rental in linebrink

This Escobar character better have an amazing, Ozzie Smith-esque, glove for you his name to be talked up so much, because he's not a very good hitter. The Brewers bullpen is bad, but in the long run, their complete lack of plate discipline is what will be this team's demise. And to no surprise, Escobar has ZERO plate discipline (.327 OBP in the minors....awful).

I wonder what'd it take to land Hardy.

"This Escobar character better have an amazing, Ozzie Smith-esque, glove for you his name to be talked up so much, because he's not a very good hitter. The Brewers bullpen is bad, but in the long run, their complete lack of plate discipline is what will be this team's demise. And to no surprise, Escobar has ZERO plate discipline (.327 OBP in the minors....awful).?

.327 OBP? Hes hitting .339! His OBP is actually .369 http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Alcides%20Escobar&pos=SS&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=444876

And ya Escobars Defense is that amazing. Heres the quote from Rosenthals article. "Adding to the inevitability that the Brewers will trade shortstop J.J. Hardy this offseason: One scout who attended the Southern League All-Star team called it "The Alcides Escobar show," referring to the Brewers' top shortstop prospect. Escobar, 21, might struggle offensively after he reaches the majors, but scouts consider him a defensive wonder. The Brewers are telling teams he is untouchable."

"the brewers wont give up gamel or escobar, Dm said like earlier today that escobar was untouchable, and theres no way the brewers will trade gamel. The brewers have plenty of offensive talent in AA to get a deal done. To answer your question, theres no way DM would include them."

All due respect... you said the same thing for a couple of weeks about Matt Laporta.

nrmax,

I agree whole-heartedly. Brewers fans were saying that there was no way DM would trade LaPorta, look at that he did. If the brewers want Street or Duchsherer they'll have to part with one of them.

Nuggy,

Sadly you are the one who looks like an idiot right now not me. And you'll look even dumber when Billy Beane goes all...Billy Beane on your a$$. As I've said, Gamel and Gillaspie + 1, should get Street + 1.

You have a much better shot at getting Jeremy Jeffress than you do Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar. Matt LaPorta was probably our 4th best prospect which made him expendable.

A more realistic offer is something like Jeremy Jeffress, Cole Gillespie and Taylor Green if he isnt the PTBNL in the Sabathia deal. If Billy Beane wants an arm that can help you immediately theres Carlos Villanueva, Luis Pena, or Tim Dillard that he could throw into the deal aswell.

Melvin isnt an idiot and wont get suckered into giving up Escobar or Gamel especially after what the Cubs did to you.

"Yeah right! Hardy isn't even an upgrade over Crosby. Why would we deal a young top 5 closer for a mediocre SS? As I said, I think Gamel and Gillaspie for Street + 1 should get the job done. If you don't think that'll work, then I think Gillaspie, Brent Brewer, and Angel Salome. Would get it done as well."

Under what definition is Street a top 5 closer??? In the AL alone if money wasn't a factor you'd easily put F-Rod, Rivera, Nathan and Ryan over him. and if your looking for a cheap closer (in the sense of money) You would have Paps, Soria, Morrow and maybe even Sherrill ahead of him. So i really wouldnt see Gamel or Escobar as part of the deal esp. since other cheaper closing options, Sherrill and Rauch i'm sure could be had. Now a deal centering around Gillispe, and Brewer (who is a great prospect A's would be lucky to get him as he has Brandon Phillips potential) is much more likely with one or two more players added.

As far as I am concerned the top closers are very disputable, because they all bring some different stuff to the table. I am going to throw a list together of the closers who I think are elite in the AL. When I say elite I mean they get the job done at a very high rate, I do not mean closers like Borowski who rack em up with a 5.00 ERA.

I understand the top three are very debatable so don't hate please.

1. Papelbon(Dominance, Playoffs)
2. K-Rod (Dominance, struggles at times)
3. Rivera (Best career overall, but age is making him hittable, but not this year.
4. Nathan
6. Jenks
7. Sherrill
8. BJ Ryan
9.Putz (When healthy)
10. Street (Blows a good amount of saves, not very dominant)

Ok, K-Rod and Papelbon could have gone either way, but I am a Red Sox fan. Head to head I think Papelbon would save any game K-Rod could. Papelbon has more control, and overall I think his big games put him over the edge. Plus he is a better dancer!

street's value is in his age/contract plus he's a top 2nd tier guy when on

his issues, he relies on cchangeups to lefties and gets burned. velocity down a bit.

either way, he'd improve the brewers BP, A's dont need him

This is the same thing that happened when we got CC. Check it out!

http://blogs.jsonline.com/brewers/archive/2008/07/19/did-brewers-trade-ford-for-street.aspx

I enjoy watching the brewers trading away their future. If they don't get it done this year, they are going to be losing for awhile. Not to mention some big contracts coming up. Most notingly Sheets and Sabathia this year.

And also i might add that even though the Cubs got an injury prone Rich Harden, theres no telling what could happen to Sheets who is injury prone as well.

In the Brewers defense though, if they do get Street, they are hands down a legit playoff team this year, but i still think they dont have the starting pitching to go all the way if they do