The trade of Norichika Aoki to the Royals for southpaw Will Smith was "was coaxed primarily by Aoki's agent to assure more playing time," Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes. Khris Davis' impressive rookie season put him in line for a starting job in 2014, and with Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez locked into the other two starting outfield spots, Aoki was looking at a reduced role with the Brewers next season.
Here's some more Brewers news from Haudricourt's chat with Brewers GM Doug Melvin…
- Melvin reiterated his stance that the Brewers' lack of major offseason moves is due to the belief that the team will improve simply with the continued development of young players and the returns of suspended or injured stars like Braun or Aramis Ramirez.
- The Brewers pursued James Loney, who instead re-signed with the Rays for a three-year, $21MM contract. "We knew if he had the same deal he was probably going to go back to Tampa," Melvin said. Indeed, Loney said that he chose the Rays' contract over similar offers from not just the Brewers, but also the Pirates and Astros.
- Melvin cited some interest in Justin Morneau, who signed with the Rockies last month, but the GM sounded as if he wasn't particularly enamored with the free agent options at first base. "The list wasn't very good. It's one of those years where the position we needed, there were fewer opportunities to get someone," Melvin said.
- In also noting that the trade market for first baseman was thin, Melvin acknowledged he had at least had discussions with the Rangers and Mariners. "There just aren't available guys. Texas, at this point, is not willing to talk about [Mitch] Moreland. Seattle is not interested in moving their guys. So, there aren't a lot of choices."
- The Brewers didn't have much available payroll space this offseason but extra money would've been there if the situation warranted. "We haven't increased it that much, but if the right player was there I would go to (team owner) Mark (Attanasio) and say it's the right player," Melvin said. "When it comes to payroll, we're always guarded to make sure that we don't put ourselves in a hole or a bind that we can't get out of two years from now or three years from now. Our payroll will be in a much better position next year in that regard." The Brewers have only $39.1MM committed for 2015 as Ramirez, Yovani Gallardo and Tom Gorzelanny all come off the books next winter, plus Rickie Weeks seems unlikely to receive the 600 PA he needs this season to trigger his $11.5MM vesting option for 2015.
I have to think Texas would move Moreland in the right deal, but are probably being offered a pittance.
That would be correct, any new word about Jeff Baker as MM right hand complement yet.
Moreland isn’t worth much more than a pittance.
Maybe kendrys morales end up with Milwaukee when it’s all said and done. boras convinced them to sign Lohse pretty late in the offseason last year.
I thought Weeks had a player option not a vesting option. OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!!
I will be happy to look for you be right back.
The article says he has a 600 AB vesting option
According to bbref 2015 is a team option for 11.5mm if he gets 600 p/a in 2014 or a combined 1200 p/a in 2013/2014 in 2013 he got only 399.
Thanks
No problem, glad to help.
That’s incorrect. If he reaches 600 PA in 2014 the option vests. If he does not it becomes a team option with a $1M buyout if he reaches 400 PA in 2014. This is from Cots.
So the M’s do not plan on moving Smoak then?
@ “The trade of Norichika Aoki to the Royals for southpaw Will Smith was “was coaxed primarily by Aoki’s agent to assure more playing time,” Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes. Khris Davis’ impressive rookie season put him in line for a starting job in 2014, and with Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez locked into the other two starting outfieldspots, Aoki was looking at a reduced role with the Brewers next season.”
Seeing as how the Brewers have a vacancy at 1B, they could have moved Braun to 1B and had an OF of Davis LF Gomez CF Aoka RF. Remember, Davis made his MLB debut last year and only played in 56 games last season and only had 153 PA. He played very well as a rookie in his 56 games and showed good power hitting 11 homeruns. What if he has a sophomore slump in his first full season? If this was to happen and they still had Aoka, then Braun could move back to LF and they could have a platoon at 1B of halton and francisco, but since they no longer have Aoka, their OF will have Davis in LF Gomez CF Braun RF and a platoon of Halton and Francisco at 1B. And if Davis does have a sophomore slump then now who plays LF? Caleb Gindel? or does Francisco play everyday at 1B and Halton everyday in LF? Either way, you can see how they would be in a better situation of they still had Aoka both as far as starters and depth go.
Been a pleasure chatting with y’all for the last hour, have a great day.
I’m starting to think a Michael Young signing for first base wouldn’t be that bad.
he has been great throughout his career. will get some HOF discussion eventually. I’m not saying he is a HOF or Is NOT but he sure will be talked about when his time comes. Sure, he is well into his 30s now and is clearly not as good as he was 5 years ago but he is still a well above average defender at 3B, 2B and now 2B even if he no longer is up for Gold Gloves and he can still get on base for you. I have always liked Michael Young a lot.But at this stage of his career i hope you have a Plan B for 1B because I do not see him lasting 162 games. he will prob be on the DL at some point and he will get his days off to rest. between those two things, i hope you have another guy capable of holding down 1B for 40-80 games.If you are referring to the Brewers, I guess a Halton and francisco platoon would pass for that 40-80 game period.
He’s not a Hall of Famer. That’s the discussion.
I emphasized that I NEVER SAID HE WAS or WAS NOT . But what I DID SAY was that he will at least be talked about when he becomes eligible.
I really don’t think he’ll even be in discussion. He was a great player in his prime, but he fell several years short of having a Hall-worthy career. Biggio had a far better career than Young and he won’t get in until multiple years of eligibility have passed. I doubt Young ever sniffs it.
No kidding. Biggio should have gotten in this year over frank Thomas….. I think young will get considered. I think he was great for enough years to get consideration
A-Rod unfortunately along with Bonds and Clemons was a Hall of Famer without steroids.But they took them, got caught and will probably never get in
Are you one of those people who think Roger Clemons and Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa are not HOFrs? If so then I disagree with you on Clemons and Bonds and agree on Sosa. I believe that with the steroid guys you need to find out when they did them and when they did not. Clemons and Bonds were HOF caliber before steroids. Bonds probably would not have hit so many Homers and Clemons probably would not have lasted as long, but if you take out the years they were on steroids they are still HOFers. Sosa on the other hand was an average player before he started doing steroids. This is why I believe Clemons and Bonds are Hall of Famers and Sosa is not.
I typically don’t differentiate between the two. That’s a pretty subjective way of deciding who gets in and who stays out. The voting is already a huge joke; might as well make it as easy as possible for those boneheads.
i agree that it is a joke. the hall of fame was supposed to be for the best of the best of all time. Cy Young and Bob Gibson types, in more recent years there have been guys who have gotten in who are only half the player Gibson, Koufax, Mantle, Ruth, Cy Young etc. were
Casey Kotchman, mark Reynalds, jeff baker, michael Young and Travis Hafner are the best FA options left out there for 1B. I would have to say this would be the order from best to worst of how much they would be worth to the Brewers: Young, Raynalds, Baker, Hafner, Kotchman
Here is the evaluation: vs LHP Here is how they hit (Best To worst in 2013 exception of kotchman because he only appeared in a handful of games in 2013 so i basd him off of 2012)— baker, Young Reynalds, hafner, Kotchman
vs rhp—-Young, reynalds, Hafner, Kotchman, Baker
Defensive evaluation- Reynalds, Young, Kotchman, Baker,Hafner
For a platoon your best bet is: Baker vs LHP Young vs RHP
For a starter: Young
For enough of an upgrade to make it worth it: none.
There isnt a forum for this and i want to see what people think so im putting here. Are you one of those people who think Roger Clemons and Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa are not HOFrs?
If so then I disagree with you on Clemons and Bonds and agree on Sosa. I
believe that with the steroid guys you need to find out when they did
them and when they did not. Clemons and Bonds were HOF caliber before
steroids. Bonds probably would not have hit so many Homers and Clemons
probably would not have lasted as long, but if you take out the years
they were on steroids they are still HOFers. Sosa on the other hand was
an average player before he started doing steroids. This is why I
believe Clemons and Bonds are Hall of Famers and Sosa is not.
You miss one of the things when voting for HOF…player integrity and what they did off the field.
For cheating and lying they all get F’s. So no HOF
Breaking news: there are all sorts of liars and cheaters in there. Heck, they’re going to put in LaRussa. I can’t imagine having less integrity than him.
what they did off the field should mean nothing. Mantle was an alcoholic off the field , does that mean he should not be in the HOF? …. If the player was HOF caliber while not on steroids/ PEDS then he should get in. if he is HOF caliber with the steroids but not without then he should not get in.
Drinking alcohol doesn’t enhance your performance, therefore it’s not cheating, therefore don’t bring that up. To me, a cheater’s a cheater. Yeah, I agree Bonds and Clemens were going to be HOFers without the steroids, but they did a lot of damage to the game of baseball through their cheating and lying. It’s obviously a subjective call, but in my eyes bringing them into the HOF is a slap in the face to the integrity of the game.
Yeah melvin no 1b were available. Just morrison, davis, morse, valencia, morneau, loney, mcgehee…. with more rumored to be available. Carp, moreland, middlebrooks.. and that’s just off the top of my head. All of which are better options than betancourt who u better not even think of re signing. Geez, even fielder was available. Loyal brewer fans deserve better than this. You and mark a should be ashamed
When did Valencia,McGehee,Middlebrooks become 1b options? Being 3bmen.
All 3 could play 1b. Middlebrooks could be moved to 3b full time next season when ramirez is gone and morris may be ready. Mcgehee has played a fair amount of 1b
Middlebrooks hasn’t logged 1 professional inning at 1b. He’s struggling with his bat and you believe moving him to 1b where he’s going to have to learn how to play won’t affect his batting while doing so? Rather then spending 1-2hours in the cage he’ll be spending 1-2 hours on the field fielding grounders, taking throws and probably learning where he should be on the field in different circumstances.
Valencia is a RHB in a Platoon not an everyday starter when the majority are RHP.
And McGehee? His last 3 years in the Majors was about as good as Yuni Betancourt, where is he an upgrade from even Juan Francisco?
I believe Young will be signed to play 1b when it’s all said and done. Probably in week 1 of Spring Training after seeing the in house 1b bat some live pitching. Either they’ll look good enough to remain 1b options or Young will be given a 1yr deal probably in the 8mil-11mil range spending about all the available funds you believe as cutting payroll.
Actually he has 9 innings at 1b. Whoopie, I know, but hes a young athletic 3b. He can play 1b. And yes he struggled but even while struggling and getting only 300 some abs he still managed 17 homers and still has loads of potential.
Mcgehee was just another example of available 1b options. Over last 3 years he hit 45 homers in limited abs – more than yuni and will carry a better obp and play a better 1b. Even so, just a stop gap measure and a sign melvin is doing something.
Valencia is a platoon guy.thats correct.
I listed 10 guys and there were/are probably 5 more available and u have a problem with 3 of them?
When did Valencia,McGehee,Middlebrooks become 1b options? Being 3bmen.
Late to this conversation but I hope to see anybody but Juan Francisco starting at 1B (unless of course it’s Yuni B).
I wouldn’t mind a Juan and Halton platoon at all.
I think the Brewers screwed up in the Nori deal. They should have kept Nori in right, moved Braun to third, and Aramis to first.
Braun was moved to the OF because he can’t play 3B. He turned himself into a very good outfielder. That was never going to happen. Aoki’s a nice player, but he’s in his 30’s and was going to get expensive after this year. They badly needed a lefty arm and Smith could turn out to be a steal.