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Melvin On Second Base Situation

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Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin about the team's second base situation.  Rickie Weeks is out for the season with wrist surgery, but Melvin is not interested in the three free agent second basemen: Ray Durham, Mark Grudzielanek, and Damion Easley.  Durham's agent called Melvin, saying his client would need a while to get ready.  Melvin decided not to pursue Durham, who played for the Brewers last year.  Easley's agent also reached out to no avail, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.

There have been no trade talks, either.  Instead, the Brewers will mix and match with internal options at second base and go back to Weeks next year.

Olney On Trade Scenarios

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ESPN's Buster Olney talks about future trade possibilities in his blog today.

  • Olney's Brewers source says the team is not looking outside for Rickie Weeks' replacement at this point.  Manager Ken Macha doesn't view Craig Counsell as a regular, but he can platoon with Casey McGehee.  And Alcides Escobar will start to work at second base in Triple A.
  • The Red Sox might have to do something to replace David Ortiz at DH if he doesn't show signs of life soon.  Olney speculates on the idea of Boston trading starting pitching "for some talented young hitter – like Matt LaPorta of the Indians."  That would stink for LaPorta, getting traded twice within a year.
  • Olney likes Mark DeRosa for the Mets.  Most writers like DeRosa for any team though.  Olney figures the Indians would seek pitching for him. 

Rickie Weeks Out For The Season

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Terrible news for the Brewers – Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that second baseman Rickie Weeks is out for the season due to a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist.  It's a 4-6 month recovery period.  Weeks, 26, was off to a nice .272/.340/.517 start in 162 plate appearances.

If GM Doug Melvin decides to hit up the free agent market, he can consider Ray Durham, Mark Grudzielanek, or Damion Easley.

Brad Nelson Chooses Free Agency

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According to Dan Walsh of SportsBubbler.com, Brewers first baseman/outfielder Brad Nelson has opted for free agency.  At least four teams are in pursuit.  Nelson had no hits and two walks in 23 plate appearances this year.  He was outrighted to make room for Mat Gamel, and the Brewers also signed Frank Catalanotto recently.

Nelson, 26, hit .286/.380/.480 in Triple A last year.

Odds & Ends: Oliver, Amaro, Scheppers

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Links for Thursday…

  • ESPN's Keith Law has the latest on the battle between Andy Oliver and the NCAA over whether players can have agents and still be eligible for the draft.
  • Yahoo's Gordon Edes writes about the ascension of Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr.  Edes notes that the Phils still do not have a full-time statistical analyst.
  • Former D'Backs pitching coach Bryan Price landed a minor league consulting gig with the Phillies, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
  • Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says it's "believed though not confirmed" that Tanner Scheppers has granted the Pirates permission to draft him again if they choose.  The Pirates did not sign him last year due to health concerns, but now he's looking like a top-ten pick.
  • A couple of powerful prospects got the call: Nolan Reimold with the Orioles and Mat Gamel with the Brewers.  For the Brewers, Brad Nelson now has to decide whether to accept a Triple A assignment.  The Orioles and Brewers are risking Super Two status with these call-ups, but only if the players are not sent back down.

Brewers Sign Frank Catalanotto

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According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Brewers signed first baseman/outfielder Frank Catalanotto to a minor league deal today.  The Cat will begin in extended spring training and then go to the minors, with an eye on a big league bench role.

The Rangers released Catalanotto on April 1st, so they'll pay most of the $6MM owed to him.  He should be useful, having hit .274/.342/.399 last year in 278 plate appearances.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Bay, Holliday, Hudson, Cameron, Mets, Yankees, Rays

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On this date 27 years ago, Adrian Gonzalez was born. The former first overall pick by the Marlins has been traded twice. He was originally dealt to the Rangers in a deal that sent Ugueth Urbina to the Marlins. Later he was dealt to the Padres along with Chris Young for Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka. As we enter the second month of the season, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • Around the Majors looks at Jason Bay and Matt Holliday in an effort to find the best value in the free agents-to-be.
  • Feeling Dodger Blue declares Orlando Hudson the best free agent signing of 2009…so far.
  • The Eddie Kranepool Society thinks it might be time to break up the core of the Mets by shopping Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado.
  • The Fowl Balls makes a case for the Yankees signing Paul LoDuca.
  • River Ave. Blues argues that the Yankees have gotten lazy with the roster and have missed opportunities to improve the bench.
  • Brew Crew Ball writes that Mike Cameron has been a great signing for the Brewers and wonders what the team should do with him as he nears free agency.
  • Over at my home base, Rays Index, we are playing a game with other Rays bloggers (and Tim Dierkes) called "The Tampa Bay Rays Trade Pool," based loosely on "The Dead Pool."

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Brewers Not In On Pedro Martinez

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Yesterday, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote that "the Brewers may be emerging in the hunt" for free agent Pedro Martinez.  However, talking to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, Brewers GM Doug Melvin said he's never spoken to Pedro's agent.

Cafardo learned that the Dodgers haven't been involved on Pedro since the offseason.  He then speculated in his article on the Mets, Rangers, Nationals, Blue Jays, Astros, Rockies, A's, Orioles, Indians, and Pirates.  T.R. Sullivan informed us today that the Rangers "do not expect to get involved" with Pedro.  The Nationals are known to have mild interest.  And here's a Ken Rosenthal's take from Thursday (he downplayed the Angels, Indians, Dodgers, and Mets as suitors).

Bottom line: the Nationals are the only team admitting current interest, and acting GM Mike Rizzo is wary of the price.

Cafardo’s Latest: Stetter, Catalanotto, Pedro

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The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo has a few bits of information…

  • The Red Sox scouted Brewers left-hander Mitch Stetter last week.  The 28-year-old reliever has held lefties to a .170 average and rigthties to a .151 mark this season.  The Sox, who scouted him last week, are simply being thorough and exploring options in case they come to need anothery lefty in the pen, writes Cafardo.
  • Free agent outfielder Frank Catalanotto has received interest, but is holding out for the right fit.  
  • Jacque Jones and Frank Thomas have been working out together in Las Vegas and are both hoping to land MLB roster spots at some point this season.  
  • As Cafardo writes, "The Brewers may be emerging in the hunt" for free agent Pedro Martinez.  The Blue Jays, Astros, Rockies, A's, Orioles, Indians and Pirates are also thought to have some level of interest.  

Tigers Acquire Jason Tyner

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According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers acquired Jason Tyner from the Brewers today. Tyner, 32, will report to the Tigers' AAA club in Toledo to fill the spot of Ryan Raburn, who was promoted to the big league club today.

Strangely, Morosi writes that there were no other players or cash involved in the deal; Tigers Director of Minor League Operations Dan Lunetta says the Brewers simply assigned his contract to the Tigers organization.

Tyner has appeared with four Major League clubs, including two others in the AL Central – the Twins and Indians.

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