The Brewers have some more flexibility with righty Junior Guerra than had generally been realized, as MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy tweets. Milwaukee GM David Stearns says that the hurler has one option season remaining.
It seems that Guerra was granted an additional option season at some point in the past, though the details aren’t perectly clear. Players presumptively may only be optioned in three seasons, but in certain circumstances will be granted a fourth year. (Of course, whether or not it’s more beneficial to the player or his current team is not always immediately evident.)
Fourth options are given where a player misses all of an option year to due injury or has all three options burned before he has finished his fifth season as a professional. The latter provision seems to apply to Guerra’s unusual background. He appeared in the minors in 2006 and 2008 before reappearing in affiliated ball in 2015, kicking off a series of three campaigns in which he spent time on optional assignment.
In any event, the news means that the Brewers won’t be forced into a tough decision on Guerra’s status, either at the end of camp or during the season. Instead, the club can make its determination on whether and how he’ll be utilized in the majors based upon merit — along with a healthy consideration for the contract situations of other options.
Guerra, 33, struggled to a 5.12 ERA last year after a remarkable breakout effort in 2016. As the Brewers plot their staff for the season to come, he may or may not end up being seen as the best choice to take a rotation spot to open the year. With Wade Miley and Yovani Gallardo among the hurlers battling for jobs in camp, it’s certainly possible that Milwaukee will best be able to preserve its depth by holding Guerra in the minors to open the year.
At this point, the team’s course is hardly clear; indeed, there’s ample speculation about the possibility of acquiring another hurler altogether. But Guerra’s option year adds to the slate of possibilities for the Brewers front office.
I wish sites like sportrac or cot’s would list the number of minor league options remaining for players
Roster resource does
Miley has looked good but Juni G has definitely outpitched Gallardo. Arrieta or Cobb would look better than any of them and allow the Brewers to try Brent Suter in the rotation. But if a DM is to be believed (and that’s a big if) the Brewers are done.
Spring training means nothing remember? Tommy Milone made the team with a 12 era and neftali made the team with a 10 era in spring. Sorry Junior. Slithering stearns found a way to screw you over.
i dont think theyhad options
That’s a pretty poor example. Both of those guys pitched pretty bad in Milwaukee before being sent packing.
Suter doesn’t belong in the major leagues. Lefty that throws 85-87 with little movement. It’s only a matter of time before guys get a scouting report and destroy him.
Agreed
Stearns has shown that he likes constructing his roster with different types of pitchers that have different skill sets and give you many different looks. Suter works for short periods because of the crafty lefty/quick pitch stuff that he pulls. But he will never give you 150 innings. However he is a poster boy for the type of pitching staff the rays are talking about.
He actually has a lot of movement and he hides the ball well, thats how he gets by throwing only 85-87. Fangraphs has a good interview with him. He said when he threw harder he lost a lot of his movement and had worse results.
Perhaps. That’s some advanced metrics analysis there, though. Over 103 major league innings he has an FIP of 3.88, a WHIP of 1.3, with very low walk totals (2/9). He’s a very good athlete and is extremely intelligent. He knows how to pitch, getting strikes basically at every extreme part of the zone without hitting the middle while still keeping those walk totals low. We shall see.
Guerra lost velocity last season. Unless that was because of injury, I have my doubts.
If he can regain the velocity, however, he makes for an interesting name to watch.
It was due to injury. His main problem was that he couldn’t control his splitter at all. It was either in front of home plate or sitting at the waste screaming “hit me!”.
We’re talking about a 33 year old, who was a 31 year old rookie, who failed multiple drug tests in the past. Clearly on the juice. Gets to the majors. Has to stop juicing. Gets hurt like every single guy ever who stops saucing. The velo won’t return. If it does at age 33 it’s clear he’s back on the needle.
This Brewers rotation is going to be a delicious train wreck in 2018.
That is certainly a possibility, but this time last year nobody predicted their staff being as good as they ended up. As always, its why they play the games.
You know some of you guys that are so smart and think that you know it all wish you kept track of your predictions. I’m guessing Stern and Counsell are right a helluva more times then you lol
The brewers are a joke of an organization. Plain and simple. They haven’t had a first rounder worth anything since Braun.
Keston Hiura will make you eat those words!
Hope so. Can’t take another first round brewer bust. Bradley. Jungmann. Arnett. Heckathorn. Frederickson. Williams. Kirby. Etc. etc. etc.