Brewers Not Sweating Hart, Gallardo Contracts
MLB.com's Adam McCalvy has the latest Brewers buzz, after talking with owner Mark Attanasio and GM Doug Melvin. Here's what Attanasio had to say regarding extension talks with Corey Hart and Yovani Gallardo:
"We've had conversations with both players and agents and it's a two-way street. Players are tending to look at being on the upswing of their careers and we're in a downtown of the economy. That's their choice. I'm not saying we're cutting discussions off, because I think we might have discussions with one of those players even as we speak."
Melvin added that talks for the pair are not on the agenda and if he does get something done it'll probably be quietly. Speaking in general, Melvin noted that deals with hitters are easier to accomplish. Hart is under team control through 2011, while Gallardo is Brewers property through 2013.
Ticket sales are up for the Brewers this year, and Attanasio indicated financial flexibility to make midseason "adjustments." I'd say starting pitching is the most likely need.
Offseason In Review: Milwaukee Brewers
Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Brewers. Here's what we wrote about them on October 16th. Changes for 2009:
Additions: Trevor Hoffman, Braden Looper, Jorge Julio, R.J. Swindle, Chase Wright, Craig Counsell (re-signed), Joe Koshansky, Casey McGehee, Chris Duffy, Chris Capuano (re-signed), Wes Littleton. Midseason: Todd Coffey
Subtractions: C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Gabe Kapler, Russell Branyan, Ray Durham, Salomon Torres, Guillermo Mota, Brian Shouse, Eric Gagne
The Brewers' batting lineup remains unchanged for 2009 (GM Doug Melvin decided not to trade Mike Cameron). They ranked 7th in the NL last year with 4.63 runs scored per game. Using CHONE projections and the lineup analysis tool, the Brewers project to score 4.86 runs per game in '09. The projection system sees better seasons from Hart, Braun, Fielder, Weeks, and Hall.
It will be impossible to replicate the 3.86 ERA posted by last year's starters. 329 of the rotation's 983.3 innings came from Sabathia and Sheets at a 2.52 ERA. Yovani Gallardo and Manny Parra form an interesting front two, but Melvin's main import was Looper for $4.75MM after his bid to retain Sabathia fell short. Using a rotation of Gallardo, Parra, Jeff Suppan, Dave Bush, Looper, and Wright, I tweaked CHONE's innings totals and arrived at a projected 4.44 ERA for the '09 rotation.
The bullpen, which posted a 3.89 ERA in 472.3 innings last year, has been overhauled again. Many of last year's offenders are gone, with Hoffman signed to take over closing duties once he's healthy. Julio was also added to the mix. Carlos Villanueva quietly posted a 2.12 ERA and 4.43 K/BB ratio in 59.3 relief innings last year. All in all, the '09 bullpen projects to a 3.84 ERA. The Brewers' defense was third in the NL last year according to The Fielding Bible II. The defense remains the same, except for subtractions of Kapler, Branyan, and Durham.
So perhaps the Brewers will score more runs, but the main difference is obviously their rotation. Right now they project as an 85 win team, which should keep them in the wild card race.
Bottom line: The Brewers did little to replace Sabathia and Sheets. But with a breakout or two and/or another big summer trade, the Brewers may return to the playoffs in 2009.
Brewers Claim Joe Koshansky
Joe Koshansky's time as a Ranger didn't last long. According to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, the Brewers claimed the first baseman today and optioned him to Triple A Nashville. Tony Gwynn Jr. will join him there, as he cleared waivers.
Koshansky, 27 in May (just like me!), hit .300/.380/.600 at Triple A in '08, enjoying the friendly Security Service Field in Colorado Springs. His road line was .253/.340/.515. Greer Stadium, home of the Nashville Sounds, is much different.
Gwynn, 26, hit .275/.328/.331 in Triple A last year. Baseball America liked his defense back in their '07 Handbook.
Brewers Ink Tyner, Will Dump Gwynn Jr.
11:00pm: Gwynn has been placed on waivers.
2:24pm: Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Haudricourt that there will be an announcement concerning Gwynn Jr. on Friday. It appears he will be placed on waivers.
1:33pm: According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Brewers have signed outfielder Jason Tyner to their Triple-A Nashville roster.
Tyner, 31, has spent time in the majors with the Mets, Rays, Twins and Indians. He spent all of last year in Triple-A, where he hit .248 with 12 doubles, a homer and 18 RBI in just over 300 at-bats. Haudricourt surmises that this signing could result in the Brewers waiving Tony Gwynn Jr, who is out of options and unlikely to make the final roster.
Odds & Ends: Minor Deals, Catalanotto, Gwynn Jr.
Your Thursday links, with more to come…
- Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Phillies have acquired RHP Manny Ayala from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. Ayala will probably spend the entire '09 season in the minors.
- According to Steve Holley of Scout.com, the A's have plucked right-hander Rocky Roquet from the Cubs for a player to be named later. He's another minor league guy.
- The Boston Globe's Tony Massarotti would like the Red Sox to pursure Frank Catalanotto, but writes that there's "no indication that they plan to do so."
- Marc Hulet over at BaseballAnalysts.com reviews the production of the 2008 Rule 5 Draft class. It's not a very impressive group.
- SI.com's Jon Heyman explores the Rays' and Phillies' offseasons.
- Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wonders if Tony Gwynn Jr. could be on the way out.
- Even with the loss of Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes, the Rockies will come close to setting a franchise payroll record this season.
Brewers Release Mike Lamb
WEDNESDAY: As expected, Lamb was placed on release waivers according to Haudricourt.
TUESDAY: According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers cut third baseman Mike Lamb today. Lamb can either head to Triple A or become a free agent. Based on his comments, Lamb isn't interested in Triple A. The Brewers have instead decided to go with Casey McGehee in a backup infield role. It's not a big financial loss for the Brewers, as the Twins are on the hook for most of Lamb's salary.
Odds & Ends: Wieters, Padres, Peavy, Price
LInks for Thursday…
- Chico Harlan of the Washington Post says the Nationals will honor a handshake agreement Dmitri Young made with Jim Bowden, and put the first baseman back on the 40-man roster.
- Catcher Matt Wieters has been told by the Orioles that he'll be optioned to Triple A on Monday, according to Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun. Will the Orioles wait until late May to try to avoid Super Two status?
- Reds assistant GM Bob Miller talked to fans in an MLB.com Q&A.
- Check out an entertaining chat transcript with Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times over at Halos Heaven.
- Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star interviewed Zack Greinke.
- Rangers owner Tom Hicks told Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News that the team has not reduced its budget for 2010. The Rangers have yet to set next year's budget, but it's known that some big salaries will be coming off the books. Meanwhile, MLB.com's Barry Bloom notes that Hicks intends to sell a minority share of the team.
- Rays exec Andrew Friedman said the team's demotion of David Price was entirely for baseball reasons, talking to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. R.J. Anderson of DRays Bay supports the decision. Bart Given agrees.
- Tom Haudricourt and Adam McCalvy write about Brewers GM Doug Melvin's irritation with the bogus Jake Peavy rumor.
- Purely speculative, but Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel wonders if Dontrelle Willis could get his career back on track with the Marlins.
- Rockies infielder Jeff Baker, unaffected by the trade rumors, homered twice yesterday.
- John Moores says the Padres sale to Jeff Moorad is "awfully close," talking to MLB.com's Barry Bloom. As you know, Sandy Alderson will step down as CEO when the deal closes (possibly today).
- Padres pitcher Shawn Hill had offers from six teams, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock.
- The Red Sox signed reliever Rocky Cherry to a minor league deal.
- MLB.com's Alyson Footer says reliever Danny Graves asked for and received his release from the Astros.
Trot Nixon Released
WEDNESDAY: Nixon has been released, according to Anthony Witrado of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
MONDAY: Outfielder Trot Nixon, in Brewers camp on a minor league deal, is on the roster bubble according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. They may not even have a place for him in Triple A. Nixon, 35 in April, is hitting .108/.233/.216 in 43 spring plate appearances. He hit .309/.437/.558 in a Triple A stint last year, earning a brief look with the Mets.
Brewers Peavy Rumor Shot Down
TUESDAY, 8:01am: This rumor died a quick death. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who said there's nothing to the rumor and he hasn't talked to the Padres.
MONDAY, 9:34pm: According to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Brewers "are now said to be interested in Jake Peavy." Peavy's agent Barry Axelrod said, "I haven't been asked about the Brewers, although we've heard there was some interest before that didn't come to fruition."
It's possible that this rumor stems only from the speculation of Brewers third baseman Bill Hall. ESPN's Peter Gammons wrote on Sunday: "Hall believes the Brewers will be in on Peavy, when and if he goes on the market." I haven't seen any recent articles actually reporting talks between the two teams. Still, the speculation is logical.
Gammons On Matthews, Teahen, Harang, Peavy
12:07pm: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer asked Reds GM Walt Jocketty about Gammons' Harang note. Jocketty said, "I'm not going to comment on something when he doesn't know what he's talking about."
9:19am: ESPN's Peter Gammons had a new blog post yesterday discussing available players.
- Gammons names Geoff Jenkins ($8MM remaining, limited no-trade), Brian Giles ($9MM remaining, full no-trade), Gary Matthews Jr. ($33.5MM remaining, full no-trade), Marcus Thames ($2.275MM salary), Nick Johnson ($5.5MM salary), Jason Repko, and Jeff Baker as players being dangled. Gammons links Matthews to the Yankees but admits his contract will be an issue.
- Mark Teahen has drawn interest from the Astros, Red Sox, and Yankees.
- Gammons says the Reds "have let teams know that they will wait and see whether they need to move Aaron Harang during the season." It'd be a shame to see the Reds break up that rotation. Harang has about $36MM coming to him over the next three seasons if his 2011 option is exercised.
- Brewers third baseman Bill Hall expects his team to pursue Padres ace Jake Peavy if available this summer. Unlike C.C. Sabathia, Peavy is more than a rental.