Those following the Brewers at a distance may not have paid much attention to their tempered approach to the offseason. It’s easy to look at their winter and see a modest collection of stopgaps to stanch the roster bleed of departing vets like Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas. Look a littler closer, however, and you’ll find President of Baseball Ops and GM David Stearns created a two-year window of flexible and affordable contracts to keep Craig Counsell’s squad in contention, writes Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
With Christian Yelich and Josh Hader, the Brew Crew have some of the best high-end talent in the game, but they’ve done a nice job filling out the infield with one-and-one contracts for Brock Holt, Eric Sogard, Justin Smoak, and Jedd Gyorko. Along with trade acquisition Luis Urias, the Brewers found a grab bag of roster pieces to power their infield engine in a wide-open NL Central. Holdovers Keston Hiura and Orlando Arcia join the extensive group of infielders vying for playing time.
Though Arcia is still just 25-years-old and has notched some big performances for the Brewers in recent seasons, his grip on everyday at-bats is loosening. Urias’ injury has provided Arcia with a last-ditch opportunity to prove his mettle. He certainly brings attitude and flair to the diamond, but two seasons of a .228/.277/.333 line dims the outlook on Arcia’s offensive potential for sure. Still, of the newcomers in the clubhouse, only Urias really threatens Arcia’s everyday status at short.
Of all rostered Brewers not named Yelich, Hiura has the highest ceiling. Thus, the onus lies largely (if unfairly) on his shoulders to make up the offensive production left behind by Grandal and Moustakas (who put up a combined 7 oWAR last season per baseball-reference). He put up a robust .303/.368/.570 line in just 84 games as a 22-year-old after being called up last season (139 wRC+). His power numbers have fluctuated throughout his professional career, but the hit tool has consistently played, and the Brewers are counting on Hiura to do some damage from the middle of their order.
The final piece of the infield puzzle for Counsell is long-time face-of-the-franchise Ryan Braun. Braun could see a majority of his time at first base with Avisail Garcia and Ben Gamel lining up with Yelich and Lorenzo Cain in the outfield. The exact formula for the rest of the lineup has no shortage of variables, but Counsell has proven himself an adept engineer. Importantly for Milwaukee, if any of the newly-acquired pieces fail to meld, they’ve maintained the flexibility, financially and structurally, to pivot.
Besides for these few moments in the playoffs Orcia has been a putrid hitter in his career
The author already said this so I’m not sure why you felt the need to restart the obvious. I appreciate Stearns and Counsell giving Arcia a couple seasons to “figure things out” before looking for other options. By adding Urias, Sogard and Holt this offseason, Arcia will finally be pushed to step up or be demoted.
This roster shake up shows Stearns’ ability to adapt to fluctuations in the market
Ironically, the author of the article also stated everything you said as well.
Except for the part where you mentioned that someone else “restarted” the obvious, lol.
I know. I should just stop posting if Haudricourt and the ‘author’ of this are so bankrupt of original ideas that they have to steal them from fans and present them as their own work.
Pathetic. They’re just parrots.
I obviously agree with everyone above.
He actually had a GREAT rookie season for his position.
Hit over .270 with 15 HRs.
Juice caboose!
Holt 3.25 + option
Gyorko 2.0 + option
Healy 1.0
Sogard 4.5 + option
Smoak 5.0 + option
That’s 15.75 for 2020 plus more next year if all 2021 options are picked up.
Seems like a lot of money for a bunch of players that other teams passed on, esp Sogard and Smoak.
Just wondering how the money could have been spent differently to help the team.
The holt signing seemed unnecessary for a team with little financial maneuvering
With as little as Thames ended up signing for, I would’ve much rather brought him back than sign Smoak.
10-4 to that..
I just cannot understand any of these signings considering age and recent performance, except for Healy. He is the only one (at age 28) that could actually
break through, again.
If you are only basing future production on last season’s numbers your projections will rarely paint an accurate picture of a player. Most experts will look at the last three seasons to evaluate a player and by doing so with these infield signings would realize they are
all considered league average or better players.
all considered league average or better players.
Also is depth. If the Brewers are still in the race, they can trade from that depth for a back up catcher or middle reliever who might benefit from a change of scenery. If they’re out of the race, they instead trade for long shot minor league players. The quantity only matters if they don’t have room on the 40 man roster or a young stud is losing big league experience.
Smoak is much better defensively.
Sadly, that’s wrong about Thames. Defensive metrics don’t track a very simple stat that would paint a picture of Thames as a plus defender.
They don’t considering fielding throws from INFers.
Thames is not only most masterful at picking balls than Aguilar ever was, but he had an uncanny ability to read when the throw was off and was agile enough and smart enough to get off the bag and not let the ball get by (and a high percentage of the time, he was able to take the bad throws of Arcia and Hiura and get the sweep tag out on the runner blazing by).
He’s more maligned defensively than he deserves and all defensive metrics in all sports are still largely crap.
Smoak has been better than Thames over the past 3 years. Really the only thing Thames is better at is that he can play the OF passably. Outside of trying to play through a quad injury in the 2nd half last year Smoak has been about a 125 wRC+ for the past 3 years.
Thames is a disaster in the OF.
The options mean little as they’re unlikely to be picked up unless they perform this year. You don’t get much big league talent for 5 mil and under. Most that are under 5 mil are stars looking to re-establish, younger players pre arb or early arb, or non everyday utility players. So these are low risk gambles that are basically right in market range. It’s odd to be so heavy loaded on infielders, but none of this is an overpay by any means. They could have taken a low risk flier on some of the pitchers looking to come back from injury, but not signing 2-3 of these guys was never going to make a difference in their potential offers to Grandal, Moose or starting pitching.
Wrong
The options all have buyouts.
My question was what the Brewers could have gotten for 2020 for the 15.75 M pointed out above.
To compare, Avisail Garcia is costing them 10M for 2020. I would have preferred another solid starting option like him for the money.
What starting options out there do you think the Brewers could’ve signed for $15MM who wasn’t overpaid in either AAV or years?
Well , some names/signings to consider as no question full time infielders–
All going into their age 30 season —
–Starlin Castro — 2yrs 6M per
–Didi —1 yr 14M
–Cesar Hernandez — 1 yr 6.25
I don’t think any of the Brewer FA infielders signed would be considered sure fire full time infielders.
Here’s a complete link to all the FA signings w/ years/salary/new team —
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/
1. Castro isn’t an everyday player anymore and will be platooning with Cabrera at 3B.
2. Didi has an offer on the table from Milwaukee but choose to reunite with Joe G in Philly. And this was prior to their flurry of signings.
3. Cesar Hernandez plays the same position as Huira so he’s not an option.
4. I appreciate the link to all signed free agents but I’m guessing over half of them on that list weren’t interested in signing with Milwaukee for one reason or another. As fans, we need to stop assuming that if player X signs with team A that team B (our team) could’ve signed the same player if we had made the same offer. Unless a player like Donaldson comes out and says his previous team will be given the opportunity match any offer.
I’m sure we could’ve resigned Moose for 4yrs/$64MM but that’s an obvious overpay and not something Stearns is willing to do to appease the fan base.
So again, I’d like to know which free agents you think the Brewers could’ve realistically signed instead.
Also if you are spending $15MM on one “no question full time player” this leaves little remaining payroll to fill out your remaining roster spots. And considering how many holes the Brewers needed to fill (C, 1B, SS, 3B, utility IF, two SP and multiple RP) it isn’t the smartest way to build a roster.
You seem to be projecting just a bit —
Castro looks to open at 2b for the Nats, and has played 3B as well –his numbers blow Sogard away, esp using 3 year averages. Castro at3B for Brewers would be better than anything signed (plus he is 3-4 years younger)
And you can only be guessing as to who looked at signing with whom and why they did not — money talks. Why do you think Sogard and Smoak signed with Milw.?
So instead of a point counter point, are you saying the Brewers got the best players they could for the money spent???
Agree w/ point on Cesar, but I was throwing out better players than what the 15.75 has brought in.
I believe the Crew was in play for Didi, but were outbid.
Castro is penciled in as a super utility type for the Nationals. Kendrick is at 2B, T. Turner at SS, and Kieboom is being given the start at 3B and is poised to run with the regular job. Maybe Castro could have manned 3B capabily for the Brewers, but he choose the defending World Series Champions. The Brewers had an okay off-season and having room to get help toward the playoffs, when needed. With waivers being closed post the trade deadline they will have a clearer picture to better talent later in the season and funds and prospects to acquire them. They just have to be playoff viable, first.
My thoughts are that they hope to trade some of these pieces to contenders, after they fall out of contention. The Brewers have no top 100 prospects (per several including MLB.com), and will look to restock the farm w/ whatever.
Sorry gang – Braun and Cain getting old, no farm, weak to no controllable players, 50%+ new roster this year — I see Yelich being traded to restock and a 2-3 year rebuilding after this year.
wild prediction — Brewers sold after this year.
Brewers weren’t out bid on DiDi. He choose the Phillies because his old manager is now managing them.
Gigorilla
You missed the point about all the holes that needed to be filled (C, 1B, SS, 3B, utility IF, two SP and multiple RP). With so many holes, how can you responsibly blow all your money on one (or two) players?
For 15 million, you could have gotten ONE player who is slightly better than Garcia. There was really no one on the market at our positions of need in that price range.
You could also have gotten a player the caliber of Garcia, and a 5 million a year reliever, but that would not have moved the needle (and the few players in that price range were just as risky and seeking long term deals).
The Brewers did get Garcia and Phelps.
They threw a tiny amount of money at SIX players to see which one or two have good years in them.
I think Sogard keeps the seat warm at third with Gyorko until Healy gets better and breaks out to become the 3B of the future (and Gyorko is then cut or traded)..
Smoak and Braun will be effective enough at 1B.
Hiura becomes a star and Arcia or Urias becomes the regular at short.
Good plan on the cheap and cutting players later will leave money to be spent and open spots on the roster for upgrades.
Great plan. Great value.
Mo4ever – Please review my first comment about the 5 players = 15.75M.
Navarez was already signed, as was the Urias and Lauer trade.
They also singed 2 other SP who were not on my list.. Please review your comment which is “just a bit outside”.
What I’m saying is if you are looking at players who signed fair market value deals the Brewers did well by not reaching just to sign a bigger named players. The only guys I feel we missed out on were Didi (due to either cost or personal preference) and Howie Kendrick (who clearly wanted to return to Washington). Otherwise I don’t feel there were many solid alternatives once teams finished overpaying for the upper tiered players.
With that being said, I was happy with Stearns approach of finding undervalued/bounce back players who could fill multiple needs and possess solid platoon splits.
As for Castro, I don’t see him as a solid option compared to a Gyorko/Sogard platoon which when using their splits over the past three seasons actually out produces Moose. Heck if you compared Gyorko and Moose’s numbers from 2014-18 it would show you how similar these two players actually are production wise. The only difference is one continued to produce in 2019 while the other struggled to stay healthy and tried playing through nagging injuries. So if you asked me to choose between committing $64MM to one versus $2MM to the other, I’d take the latter and find other needs to address with the savings like DS did.
$15.75 for those five. $16 for just Moose. Its not difficult to figure out.
For that kind of money they could have signed 1/2 of the marque pitchers who were on the market. They are better off with their signings than jumping into the ridiculous money spent on the “big names.”
Yep. Because look at how well Darvish has worked out for all that money.
21 million a year and he’s produced about what a 10 million a year player would have in one year (while being under contract so far for 2, missing more than a whole season with injuries).
That paid off!!
Well said Gigorilla.
Someone wrote that Smoak has produced more than Thames. Well sure, except Smoak isn’t starting over Braun at 1B so with his playing time cut he won’t produce sitting on the bench. He will come in as a defensive replacement and that’s what the Brewers paid for. Expensive defender.
Add the Garcia money and they have about $25.75 and since they are contenders that amount should have been $30-mil for a LF, 3B and utility INF.
I’m guessing you don’t follow the Brewers because Counsell has already stated that Braun will play mostly in RF and spend some time at 1B meaning Smoak will get plenty of starts this season. Braun isn’t likely to start more than 110 games this season which has been the case the past couple of seasons.
So figure the following:
C – Narvaez (110), Pina (52)
1B – Smoak (120), Braun (30), Gyorko (12)
2B – Hiura (150), Holt (12)
SS – Arcia (42), Urias (80), Sogard (40)
3B – Sogard (40), Gyorko (60), Holt (62)
LF – Yelich (152), Braun (10)
CF – Cain (140), Garcia (12), Gamel (10)
RF – Braun (70) Garcia (92)
And this doesn’t account for injuries which are inevitable to occur. So there will be plenty of starts to go around.
If Garcia is on the bench for what he’s being paid by the penny-pinching Brewers then the offseason really was a total disaster. A total disaster.
You will need another Top 3 performance from Yelich again. If he’s only a Top 10 performer in 2020 your team is done. And your fanbase should be all over ownership for wasting a golden opportunity with this core by nickel and diming the offseason. Embarrassing.
If healthy, I’ll bet Garcia winds up with close to 550 PA by season’s end. Those are starter numbers and generally what he has been averaging for most of his career.
As for Yelich, I have no doubt he will be a top 3-5 performer but there are still plenty of quality players on their roster who can produce for them on any given day/night.
And if you are saying making the playoffs every season Yelich has been on the team “wasting a golden opportunity” then what have the Angels been doing with Trout out in LA?
I’m not sure how anyone can say what the Brewers have done under Stearns can be considered anything but impressive. He and Counsell get more out of less than any pair in the league. Stearns’ ability to find value in lesser players is top notch.
And their intention wasn’t to nickel and dime the offseason but once the market proved to be player friendly and guys were being overpaid left and right they were forced to shift directions and find an alternative route to field a competitive team. Which by the analytics they have garnered a roster which projects to outproduce last season’s playoff roster if you compare bWAR and projected bWAR.
You clearly don’t know anything about the game of baseball or how a modern GM manages a team while fighting against the big money interests of the richest ballclubs.
Stearns is a genius who has been forcing MLB to change RULES in every one of the last 4 years (rules about how options work, time spent in the minors when on the shuttle, and now even how many batters a relief pitcher must face, which is the single stupidest new rule adopted).
On the surface, to people who don’t understand modern stats and what creates a winning paradigm, it seems like they’ve gone cheap and are wasting an opportunity.
The intelligent fan realizes that changes have again occurred to stack the odds against small market teams.
Stearns is no doubt anticipating the changes and reacting appropriately in another brilliant off season.
He’s playing chess while ALL of the other GMs are playing checkers.
(and I guarantee that ALL of the players the Crew let go, with the exception of Grandal, will have horrifying regression, and even Moose will be injured a lot as he ages and probably never produce another 30 HR season).
That’s so off base it isn’t even funny.
Both catchers will get injured and Notts will start at least 5-10 games.
Smoak will start 100 and Braun will start about 60 at 1B (probably all 40 games in which the Crew face a lefty).
Gyorko will almost certainly be cut by May 1.(Sogard as well, since he will likely be out produced by Holt). Healy will recover fully by April 1 and very likely start 130 games at 3B and hit 25 dingers.
Braun will start 30 in left and 20 in right to get his 110 starts. Cain, like Braun, is suddenly aging poorly. I see only 120 starts in CF for him, with Garcia and Yelich splitting the rest so that Braun can play some left.
First of all, I did note that none of my numbers accounted for injuries which clearly will occur. But it’s impossible to know when and to who so I just posted a best case scenario.
Second, you had me until stating Gyorko and Sogard will be cut by May 1st since they have no quality IF depth behind these guys unless you are banking on Ronny Rodriguez who is clearly a step down from the two you are looking to cut.
Third, what makes you so sure Healy will be making the jump to the bigs and starting at a position which he defensively has graded out below average at his entire career? He was obviously brought in to be AAA IF corners depth since the Brewers only have Erceg penciled in at this point. Does Healy have the potential to become a starter down the line? Yes he does but first he needs to prove he is capable of fielding the position in AAA and get re-acclimated at the plate since he’s been out for almost a year
Unless Sogie and Jedd are putting up numbers.
Erceg I think we can all agree is now a bust and we lost a big part of that trade (which I’ve forgotten).
Healy is not only the biggest bounce back candidate to me but the most likely with the biggest upside (surely, his power is far greater than Sogard or Gyorko and that outweighs his mild defensive liabilities, which are mitigated by our shifting).
Sign Puig and move Braun to first. OF of Puig/Cain/Yelich with Garcia playing the “Gamel” role from last year and being the first RH bay off the bench (Smoak – an underrated switch hitting 2nd bat)….and this is a far better team.
Garcia is very underrated right now. Look at his power numbers in a non hitter friendly park. Defensively is where I think he will surprise people. He has an absolute cannon for an arm. The fact that Yelich moving to the other side should say something.
Thats probably the worst idea posted so far.
4th place !……..about 82 wins.
Brewers won’t finish .500 this year. They lost too much high end talent, and replaced it with guys who are more middle of the road.
Last season’s lineup was extremely feast or famine when it came to run production which is shown in their numbers (7th in HRs yet 17th in total runs). They have over 1600 at-bats to players who had a sub .650 OPS. The current roster will get n base at a much higher clip while still having enough players who can drive them in with 20+ HR potential (Yelich, Hiura, Braun, Garcia, Smoak, and Narvaez).
Narvaez looks like he might have more ceiling if he gets primary C all season.
Saying Moose was high end is laughable. 250 hitters are a dime a dozen and the home run numbers have been more than compensated for. The only big loss was Grandal.
Need to keep in mind some (most?) of these infielders have minor league options remaining. That helps make sense of the surplus. Also because the individual contracts are relatively low cost, cutting ties is easier.
I know the Brewers were supposedly in the red last year but hopefully that was mostly because of the 60 million spent on the spring training updates , along with the buying of two of their minor league affiliates. Now the many of one and two year deals that the Brewers did could work out perfect for them especially if Erceg and Nottingham can go to AAA and put it together to force their way back up and cement themselves into being very productive third and first baseman for the next 5 years.i get it a very big if but if we could work this team into having first Nottingham, second Huira, short Urias, and Erceg at third. Now I’m not expecting them all to be all stars right away but if they can grow together with all of them being quality and productive players. I could see 2 of them being all stars and the other two being a top 10 at their position. Now I get it I’m going to have a lot of trolls who are going to jump on me. But this team had a lot of streaky offensive players last year. I love Moose and over all his offensive numbers were decent but in reality he did slump in 3+ months. Then we got very little offense at short and first last year. So if this happens and Peralta, Burnes and Lauer become main stays finally in the rotation were going to be in very good shape along with financially great shape. If not were going to be making a lot of trades in July, doing a mini retooling. Either way I believe in Stern.
You should apply for the open writing position.
You should get a pinball machine that works.
He’d need to work on punctuation and paragraph structure.
The 64 million for the new facility and the costs of buying the minor league franchises were not considered part of the operating budget that took a loss.
Erceg and Nottingham are done. Career AAAA guys.
I like what Milwaukee did. Lots of flexibility, if managed properly, works in baseball. Signing a big front line starter was never in their plans. I think they’ll finish 2nd behind reds and are in the wild card hunt
People are severely overhyping the Reds. Every year they have great expectations, every year they fall flat on their faces.
Absolutely they are and I’m going out on a limb that all third base worries will be solved by this years Trent Gisham which will be Jake Gatewood.
I was going to join in your excitement until you mentioned Gatewood.
Grisham may end up being a good, but not great, player, but Gatewood is not even good enough to be a career AAAA guy and a utility player. I don’t think he has a major league career at all and gets fewer than 500 ABs in his entire career. Jake is just bad and can’t hack at the MLB level.
I had hopes once for Erceg and Notts, but they too seem like busts.
They definitely will need some breaks too finish well, not much pitching but still a few bats prob 3rd or 4 th in central
I predict they will have both the best starter and reliever ERA this year. Woodruff was 3rd in all of MLB in soft contact rates and lowest in HR rates. Hauser is every bit as good. Lindblom will be the 3rd and likely author a sub 4 ERA. If Anderson and Lauer are terrible, it could be the break out year for Burnes or Peralta to replace whoever falters.
Looks like the best starting staff in MLB and they already have THE best reliever and have emerging stars like Devin Williams and Ray Black to join Knebel.
Easy division title. Pirates suck. Cubs and Cards are average at best. Reds moves are overrated and they always manage to screw it up.
‘The Brewers’ Infield Picture’ – is a mess…
Even with the best pure hitter I’ve seen in 20 years at 2B? A former MVP about to play a lot of 1B? A competent back up at First? A budding star in Urias?
It’s not a mess at all. It will sort itself out. 3B doesn’t matter as much when your 2B hits 35 HRs and gives you 3B production from second. The guys they signed to play 3B actually have above average total WAR, so we’ll be fine.
Don’t mind Unicorndog, they are just a troll searching for likes. Just posting the same thing in every article.
I am in mourning because the Brockstar is not in Boston n very jealous he’s with the Brewers. Your team is getting a terrific player on n off the field, not a media star but a fans star. Please give him the fans love he deserves it. I’ll always miss him in Boston.
Good grief. Give it a rest.
Just move on already is getting annoying
who is the brockstar – Marc Wahlberg?
As a Brrewers fan, looking at Brock Holt, he is only a spot starter or late D replacement, If you want a clubhouse leader, sign David Ortiz as your ‘motivational clubhouse guy’ for 2 mil a year.
Holt allows Sogard to shift over to SS more often if Arcia struggles and Urias is still rehabbing. He’s also someone who can lead off (if Cain struggles) or hit in the two hole which allows Yelich/Hiura more opportunities to drive in runs. I see Brock easily getting 2-3 starts a week depending on match ups.
Holt and Sogards numbers are pedestrian when averaged over the last 3 years. You are paying for OBP only — their offensive numbers are offensive.
I see he isn’t gonna get the love he got in Boston. Not every player is a Mookie or Judge. Some players come through when you need it most, on n OFF the field. He’s a good person in a sport that has arrogant players n fans. I’ll miss him, n no I won’t shuddup.
You must be underrating OBP then. Most of Grandal’s charm offensively was his ability to walk and get on base.
Garcia is very underrated right now. Look at his power numbers in a non hitter friendly park. Defensively is where I think he will surprise people. He has an absolute cannon for an arm. The fact that Yelich moving to the other side should say something.
The fact 20 different people responded to this post.,No one outside Milwaukee really cates.
What’s amazing is I didn’t see half the comments coming from cube fans.
As for who they got, and the money spent, forget the stuff about whether they lost money last year…
It would have taken roughly $135 MILLLLLLLIONNNNNN to convince Grandal and Moustakas to re-sign. If they are remotely serious about keeping Yelich long term, they’ll need all that plus what comes off the books when Braun is done.
And I don’t think the Sox or Reds will be all that happy with those guys in year 4 of their deals..maybe not even year 3.
Chicken salad !!!
I “cate” a little bit….
The Brewers will likely field over 100 different lineups this year. May even put the o/u on 128. I expect games where Cain leads off, Holt does, Braun does,Urias does, Sogard does. Batting cleanup youre looking at Braun, Garcia, Narvaez, Smoak, Hiura, Gyorko. The analytics are going to influence so many different lineups vs the SP.
People are down on the SPs, but the team has 6-7 battling for 5spots. I’d assume only 3 are locked in. And early reports are positive on Lauer, Peralta, and Burnes. That would push Lindblom and Houser for starts. Bet the over for wins
Another thing is double switches due to Counsell’s pitcher usage.
4 locks.
Woodruff, Houser, Lindblom, Lauer.
The rest are fighting for that one spot.
They didn’t sign Anderson to be a bullpen arm. Leuer has a bit more to prove to lock up his spot.
You may be right, but Anderson is a fat, out of shape bum who looks like another bad signing (like Garza and Suppan). I sincerely hope he’s just depth to take over if Peralta and Burnes falter once again.
My ideal rotation is Woodruff, Houser, Peralta, Burnes, Lindblom.
I hope they are all pitching like aces and we can cut both Lauer and Anderson by May (they actually will have great trade value and we could get the piece we need once we know what position is faltering).
I said all of this in a lengthy post several days ago on this very site (a post about signing Brock Holt).
I received numerous compliments and a suggestion to write for the site (one said I’m better
than Haudricourt).
Then I saw his article yesterday.
Now it’s being quoted here today.
I guess Tom reads this site and he is stealing my material now!
Someone should be trading for yelich
Biggest hole in the infield is Keston….his bat will play but his defense is way subpar….
If only mlb allowed defenses to shift players to help cover up things like this…
I wasn’t very happy with the Brewers offseason until the Brockstar was signed. Thames is a better overall hitter than Smoak, plus if you needed to put him in an offensive surge of players on comeback mode, Thames could be stuck out in Left Field, second base, or right field.
My opinion is that Ben Zobrist is still available out there. He has expressed desire to be more of an every day first baseman, has a career OPS of around .750 and can still play 7 other positions in a pinch. He’s definitely more valuable than Smoak will be.