Brewers Rumors

Brewers Owner Doesn’t Intend To Dismantle Team

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 25, 2010 at 2:51pm CDT

Brewers owner Mark Attanasio told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that he doesn’t intend to rebuild completely just because the Brewers aren’t in contention. The Brewers know that players like Corey Hart and Prince Fielder will appeal to other teams, but the sluggers can also help the Brewers achieve Attanasio’s goal of winning in 2011.

“We think we have a very good team,” he said. “Our intent isn’t to dismantle the team simply because we may not make the playoffs this year.”

Attanasio said he hopes the Brewers keep Fielder this summer, since he’s a “big Prince fan.” GM Doug Melvin, who will be the one fielding offers for the first baseman, has satisfied the team’s owner, though the Brewers' pitching has been largely disappointing since 2008. Attanasio said he’s pleased “from an overall standpoint” with Melvin’s work and that the Brewers will address their 2011 option for manager Ken Macha after the season.

Poll: Should The Brewers Deal Fielder And Hart?

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 24, 2010 at 8:25am CDT

Corey Hart leads the National League in home runs and Prince Fielder already has a home run title. Both realize they could be dealt given the Brewers' 31-40 start, but that doesn't mean GM Doug Melvin will decide to trade them away. Each slugger is arbitration-eligible one last time in 2011, so the Brewers could hold onto them for next year. But given the team's need for pitching, Melvin could listen to offers. Hart's value might never be higher, but Prince isn't hitting for quite as much power as usual, so the Brewers have some decisions to make.

Should the Brewers trade Fielder and Hart?

Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.

Odds & Ends: Pomeranz, Marlins, Everett, Valentine

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 23, 2010 at 9:44pm CDT

Links for Wednesday…

Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that fifth overall pick Drew Pomeranz is scheduled to go to Cleveland on Monday to take a physical and "hear the Indians' sales pitch." Hoynes says there have been no negotiations to date.
Marlins' president David Samson told Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald that they're "not ready to say for certain that trade didn't work," referring to the Miguel Cabrera blockbuster (Twitter link). Both Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, the two centerpieces of the deal for Florida, have struggled in the big leagues and are currently in the minors.
Upon hearing about Boston's interest in his services, Adam Everett said "I haven't heard that, but great team, great city, and it sounds interesting," according to FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi (via Twitter).
Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweets the leaders in wins above replacement, or WAR, from last year's free agent class. Andy Pettitte tops the list, followed closely by Livan Hernandez and Aubrey Huff.
Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post notes (via Twitter) that the Marlins spoke with Bobby Valentine this morning. The Marlins' opening interests Valentine.
Prince Fielder and Corey Hart tell Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that they realize they could be traded. Morosi says the Brewers should trade Hart for pitching, but Hart would prefer to stay in Milwaukee.
Kenny Williams told Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune that the White Sox could become buyers.
Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that the Blue Jays could trade pitching away this trade deadline (Twitter link).
Chris Iannetta told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald that he did his best to ignore rumors that the Red Sox were interested in him.
At this point, Pedro Martinez doesn't want to think about whether he'll play this year. He told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald that he doesn't know anything right now.
Steve Gould of the Baltimore Sun reminds us that 2009 first rounder Matt Hobgood is still a teenager and says Orioles fans should be more patient with the tall righty.
MLB.com's Fred Claire shows that the Orioles are looking for the kind of stability that was once found in Baltimore and that the Angels now have.

Brewers Agree To Terms With Second-Round Pick

By Mark Polishuk | June 22, 2010 at 5:13pm CDT

Milwaukee has "come to terms with" second-round draft pick Jimmy Nelson, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Nelson, a right-hander from the University of Alabama, was taken 64th overall by the Brewers and is the highest-picked of the club's selections to have signed thus far. First-rounder Dylan Covey is the only one of Milwaukee's first six picks that has yet to agree to a contract.

Nelson was 107th on Baseball America's Top 200 pre-draft rankings. The pitcher was described as a "big-bodied potential innings-eater [who] can dominate off heavy fastball."

Brewers Release Brian Bruney

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 22, 2010 at 3:39pm CDT

The Brewers released Brian Bruney, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (via Twitter). Bruney signed with the Brewers earlier in the month, after the Nationals released him.

Bruney pitched 3.1 scoreless innings at Triple A Nashville after signing with Milwaukee. The right-hander's control evaded him at the big league level this year; he walked more than a batter per inning in 19 appearances with the Nationals. Bruney, who has struck out nearly a batter per inning in his major league career, had an acceptable walk rate as recently as 2008.

Brewers Outright Chris Smith

By Luke Adams 2 | June 20, 2010 at 9:27am CDT

The Brewers have sent Chris Smith outright to Triple-A Nashville, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The move clears a spot on the roster for Todd Coffey, who is returning from a stint on the disabled list.

After Smith recorded an impressive 1.71 ERA and 12.4 K/9 in 23 appearances as Nashville's closer, he was called up when the Brewers parted ways with Jeff Suppan. The 29-year-old appeared in just three games for Milwaukee, allowing a pair of runs in 3.1 IP.

Brewers Release Mike Jones

By Mike Axisa | June 19, 2010 at 8:28pm CDT

The Brewers have released minor league righthander Mike Jones according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Jones was the team's first round pick in the 2001 draft.

The 27-year-old Jones has battled major arm injuries throughout his career, including shoulder surgery in 2004 and Tommy John surgery in 2007. Despite more than eight full years in the minors, Jones only threw 623.1 innings and never reached the big leagues. He owns a career 3.75 ERA, though he's dealt with control issues in recent years.

Milwaukee gave Jones a $2.075MM signing bonus when they selected him 12th overall back in 2001.

Olney’s Latest: Rockies, Lee, Diamondbacks, Royals

By Mike Axisa | June 19, 2010 at 10:32am CDT

In today's blog post at ESPN, Buster Olney speculates about some possible trade targets for the Rockies now that Troy Tulowitzki is going to miss the next six to eight weeks with a fractured wrist. Among those mentioned: Dan Uggla, Craig Counsell, Julio Lugo, and Cesar Izturis. Uggla would obviously be the most expensive, but Colorado would boast a dynamic offensive middle infield once Tulo returns.

Here are the rest of Olney's rumors…

Sources tell Olney there is no clear signal from the Mariners indicating that they're ready to trade Cliff Lee, but presumably that will come soon. He compares a potential Lee trade to the CC Sabathia trade, meaning that the sooner he's dealt, the more Seattle will receive in return.
The Diamondbacks continue to gather intel about possible trades, but they are not close to making another deal at the moment.
The Royals have a pair of outfielders in Rick Ankiel and David DeJesus who could be fits for the Red Sox. J.D. Drew suffered a hamstring injury yesterday, and Boston was already without Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeremy Hermida, who are both on the disabled list. Mike Cameron is playing through an abdominal tear as well.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Lee, Orioles, Gomes, Loewen

By Mike Axisa | June 18, 2010 at 11:05am CDT

On this date back in 1996, catcher Chris Anderson delivered a run scoring single for the Hudson Valley Renegades of the short season New York-Penn League. It was the first hit ever recorded by a member of the then-Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization. Anderson was the team's 66th round draft pick that year, but he never made it out of A-ball and hit just .170/.236/.298 in 432 plate appearances before calling it a career in 1999. Every team starts somewhere.

Here are a few links from the baseball blogosphere…

U.S.S. Mariner dubs the Twins as the favorites to land Cliff Lee this summer.
Camden Chat likes the Orioles' draft haul, but thinks it could have been better.
Bernie's Crew uses Milwaukee's roster to show that the later rounds of the draft can be productive as well.
More Hardball looks at the bang Jonny Gomes has provided for the Reds' buck.
Liam McGuire's Blog wonders if Adam Loewen is the second coming of Rick Ankiel.
1 Blue Jays Way interviewed Tom Filer, former big leaguer and current pitching coach for the Altoona Curve, Pittsburgh's Double-A affiliate.
Baseball Opinion examines the best and worst picks of the 2005 draft.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.

Amateur Draft Signings: Tuesday

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 15, 2010 at 5:08pm CDT

We'll probably have to wait a little while for Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and Jameson Taillon to sign, but teams have agreed to deals with some of the players selected later on in the draft. The players listed below signed today. Click here for the list of picks to sign yesterday and here for the updated list of first rounders to sign:

The Rangers signed four picks, reports ESPNDallas.com, including third-rounder Jordan Akins and fourth-rounder Drew Robinson.
As reported earlier, Toronto signed 14 picks, including supplemental rounders Aaron Sanchez and Noah Syndergaard.
Thirteenth-rounder Robby Price is the highest-drafted of the five Rays picks who signed today, reports Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.
Eight more Orioles picks have signed, says Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. Riley Hornback (12th round) is the highest selected of the new signees.
The Brewers have signed fourth-rounder Hunter Morris and two other draft picks, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
LoHud.com's Chad Jennings reports that the Yankees have signed 13 picks, with eight-rounder Kyle Roller the highest-drafted of the bunch.
The Padres signed second rounder Jedd Gyorko and fourth rounder Chris Bisson pending physicals, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock (via Twitter).
The Royals signed seven more draft picks, including eighth rounder Michael Mariot.
The Pirates signed six late round selections, according to MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch (via Twitter).

Mark Polishuk also contributed to this post.

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