12:34pm: Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports tweets that in addition to the Brewers, the Rangers and Astros are also showing interest in Norris. Of course, the Norris fit only makes sense for the Brewers if Lucroy is moved to another club, and he has since exercised his no-trade clause and squashed a would-be deal to the Indians.
1:01am: The Padres are still pushing to move Derek Norris by Monday afternoon’s non-waiver trade deadline, tweets Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller tweets that the Brewers are among the teams currently speaking to San Diego about Norris.
Milwaukee’s connection to Norris is somewhat of a surprise at first, but there’s plenty of logic to the match. First and foremost, if the Brewers’ reported agreement to trade Jonathan Lucroy to the Indians is ultimately finalized (Lucroy must first agree to waive his no-trade protection), Milaukee will be left with a significant hole behind the plate and very few options. Martin Maldonado could see an increase in playing time, but as a career .217/.291/.341 hitter in 934 plate appearances, he’s not well-suited for an everyday role. Looking down the pipeline a bit, the Brewers have Josmil Pinto and Manny Pina, each with some MLB experience under his belt, at the Triple-A level. and each is hitting well. However, Colorado Springs is an exceptionally hitter-friendly environment, and Pinto comes with noted defensive issues.
Beyond the lack of a long-term option on the brink of MLB readiness, the Brewers could simply look to opportunistically acquire Norris while his value is down. The 27-year-old was a well above-average contributor relative to his catching peers from 2013-15, but his bat has taken a huge step back in 2016, as he’s hitting just .193/.253/.360 on the year. Norris got off to a dreadful start and looked to have righted the ship in May and June, but his bat has gone dormant once again as of late. That, however, only figures to drive down the price, especially considering the fact that San Diego has top prospect Austin Hedges doing his best Mike Piazza impression in Triple-A El Paso (.352/.395/.684 with 17 homers in 210 plate appearances). The Padres would seem to be highly motivated to move Norris, who is earning a reasonable $2.925MM this season and controllable for another two years via the arbitration process.
One would have to imagine that the asking price on Norris has dropped considerably since Opening Day, and if that’s the case the Brewers could look to buy low in the hopes that a change of scenery and a relocation to the first hitter-friendly park of his career can get him back on track. Norris has, after all, spent his entire big league career in the offense-suppressing confines of O.Co Coliseum and Petco Park. But, even if Norris doesn’t ultimately rediscover the form that saw him bat .256/.333/.405 from 2013-15, he could provide a serviceable stopgap behind the plate while the Brewers trot out an inexperienced pitching staff in the midst of their rebuild.
Norris’ hitting problems wouldn’t be solved by moving to a hitter’s park. His hitting problems this year are due to an increase in strikeouts, a decrease in walks and some bad luck, as he’s hitting a whole bunch of hard line drives right at fielders.
Would think that his recent nosedive in production (again) would have lowered the club’s interest in moving him before the winter.
After they ***t the bed with how they managed Hedges’ service time last season, they really should keep him in El Paso for the rest of the year to avoid giving up future control, and there’s certainly no way Norris’s market could be worse in December than it is now as long as he doesn’t break himself into 50 pieces (which is an admitted possibility with him).
It would have been nice if he could have waited to start sucking until next week., but given that he didn’t, almost better off holding him and seeing if he can get back on track again at the plate to drum up a bit more interest on the trade market this winter.
They will leave him in El Paso even if they trade Norris.
Just as they didn’t bring up Renfroe to take over for Kemp.
They will most likely bring back Hector Sanchez for the rest of the season and play Bethancourt regularly.
Yep, Blash is coming up followed by Sanchez (who is terrorizing AAA pitching) as soon as Norris is dealt. I’m with you on Norris…the guy is averaging a 1.8 WAR over 5 seasons and I hate to see him go..
The Mets should trade him Plawecki for their best reliever.
Let’s get the Brewers’ newly acquired San Diego State product Greg Allen for Norris.
Can’t have too many speedy outfielders who get on base at a .400 clip IMO.
I think the jays neednhim tell thole to pack his bagss and flick off he can’t hit any worse then him and maybe he can hit 12 or 13 HR in the rogers center at least u can give martin more them every 5th day off before he falls apart. Like every 10 days martin plays 7 bud can cath dickey always they alternate on some 1 else
ment say Norris lol bud was stuck in my head lol was thing bud Norris but I know its Derek norris
What do you mean? Clear as mud!
Norris for Gallo straight up.
That doesn’t get things started.
Youre right.
Gallo tate brinson profar and 100 million for norris.
That should get things started in the right direction.
That will at least get Preller to listen. Maybe throw Odor or Mazara in there. That could probably get things done.
No chance the Rangers do that!!!
More like Tate for Norris, straight up.
Norris to Houston for Joe Musgrove. Been saying it for weeks now, cmon Preller get-er done.
Would be a decent deal but I’d like to see the Braves get him for Andrew Thurman and Willians Astudillo.
Your on crack sandiegorocker
It’s time like this where I wish there was a sarcasm font… Of course Norris alone won’t net Gallo, would take at least a one of Hand/Buchter plus another piece or two to land Gallo.