What should the Brewers do?
There is an article today at hardball times, talking about the Braun situation.
His bat is major league ready and he should be in the big leagues now, more even with the crappy combo they have at third base right now.
The thing is, his probably not up now because of service time, they are a small market organization and want to make the most of it.
But i'm thinking, they do have a huge chance to win this season, what if, instead of calling up Braun and Gallardo, why don't they trade them for Miguel Cabrera, they would have arguably the best lineup on the National League, the problem there is a really big chance he would be a half a season rental.
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miguel cabrera still has 2 more years of service
those two years are going to be extremely expensive though.
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by overlord on May 9, 2007 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
interesting
If the brewers are making a serious run in the division and nobody is catching them they'll probably keep them down and call them up in September. If someone is nipping at their heels they'll probably call him up around the All star break to give the team a boost because making the playoffs after lots of dismal years would be a great boost to their fans, income, ect.
by Team Moneyball on May 9, 2007 11:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What would they use
If they want to truly compete this year, they shoudl promote Braun.
by guru4u on May 9, 2007 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Braun and Gallardo for him
by jahs34 on May 9, 2007 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What?
Look, I know that these guys are excellent prospects, but Cabrera might be the most valuable property in baseball right now. Maybe the Marlins won't be able to afford him in the next couple of years, but to think that a combination of these players would get him is, at this point, simply ludicrous.
by jc3 on May 9, 2007 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
Who else could offer this kind of top level MLB ready talent?
by bunner19 on May 9, 2007 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marlins dealt Beckett/Lowell
To me, Gallardo AND Braun certainly doesn't seem like a laughable offer, that the Marlins wouldn't even consider.
by NewKidInTown on May 9, 2007 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trade
If I'm the Marlins, I start with Prince Fielder, then Rickie Weeks (they don't need Hardy). Young, cheap players for now, and at least proven (to a certain extent) in the NL.
If you get Braun, is he a 3B or an OF? That changes his value significantly. Gallardo is a terrific prospect, but he's just a prospect.
People who write on this site tend to overrate prospects, and I think this is an excellent case in point. IMO, Florida shouldn't have a franchise if they need to make a deal like this.
As a side note, I thought that Turnbow + one of them was the real laughable deal. I wouldn't do either, but the one with Turnbow put a big smile on my face...
by jc3 on May 10, 2007 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Most Vauable sure..
by JDSussman on May 9, 2007 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Disagree
IMO, this is the exact type of deal that Florida would be looking for if they decided to deal Cabrera.
by eazyb81 on May 9, 2007 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
laugh track
If anything, it would be the other way around. I can't see why Milwaukee would make that trade.
While Cabrera is worth more than Beckett was at the time, he's at least in the same ballpark.
Gallardo is significantly better than Anibal Sanchez was. Way way way better. And Braun is much more projectable than Hanley was wat the time.
It looks know, like Florida pulled of a heist in that deal and Gallardo/Braun is a better package than Hanley/Anibal.
by Curtis Pride on May 9, 2007 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In a perfect world...
Braun I can see them calling up as early this month. Again, he's someone you would like to see spend a half season at Triple-A refining his defense, but the Brewers' third base platoon is really a problem.
by FI on May 9, 2007 11:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think
Their best option is to not stir the pot too much because their team is doing so well. Leave Braun and Gallardo in AAA until the team starts to slip or someone starts to catch them. Braun still needs some work on his D so let him continue to develop in AAA...Gallardo is ready but let him get a bit more AAA time under his belt.
I'd predict a call up for both near the All-Star break.
by bunner19 on May 9, 2007 11:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Trade
by GregJP on May 9, 2007 12:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Braun callup prediction
Barring injuries or a complete implosion of one of the Brewers current SP, Gallardo will not get called up until much later IMO.
by ASan4HOF on May 9, 2007 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
well, i've got my own prediction.
by wily mo on May 9, 2007 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unfortunately
by Maverick on May 9, 2007 12:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dougie doesn't get down like that
Is this sound decision-making? The Brewers, despite their successes early on, still are a small-market team. Their owner is on record saying that he will spend money at the deadline if it improves the club, but how much money is yet TBD - either way, I don't believe it is enough to afford Miggy.
But I have to agree, a package of Braun/Gallardo (if offered) would be one if not the top offer FLA would receive.
by mjwelch11 on May 9, 2007 12:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Cost
Second, adding Cabrera might not be that big of a payroll addition for the next couple of years. With the contract of Miller, Graffanino, and Koskie expiring after this year, the $2.1 million the Brewers are paying for Brady Clark, and the $6.5 million they can save by going with the $500K buyout on Jenkins contract, they free up $16.1 million in salary for next year. I know there are raises due to other players, but I'm guessing the payroll could be bumped to accomodate M-Cab.
I'm not saying I'm advocating this deal, but it is a fair offer for both sides and could work out money wise.
by gatling on May 9, 2007 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Personally
by sagecoll on May 9, 2007 12:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
extension
I've been kicking around another trade in my head, sending Sheets to Atlanta for a package based around Saltalamacchia. Atlanta's going to hold onto Salty for frontline pitching, and with Capuano already on hand and Gallardo arriving soon, I think the Brewers can afford to deal Sheets given his questionable health going forward (and potentially a hefty extension in the next year or two). Right now I'm thinking Sheets for Salty, Lillibridge, and Bob Wickman (more to even up salaries than anything else) sounds reasonable...
by delomir on May 9, 2007 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Estrada
by bunner19 on May 9, 2007 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I doubt
I imagine the Braves want quite a bit more for Salty, much less Salty/Lillibridge/Wickman.
by Yakker on May 9, 2007 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wait
That's pretty ridiculous. Sure, Sheets has had trouble staying healthy recently - but he averaged over 220 IP from 2002-2004, and his last 2 injury "plagued" years still resulted in 260+ IP and a 3.53 ERA over 2 years. That production, considered a low point for Sheets, is arguably worth more than Salty. He has a contract that is relatively cheap.
Salty, while definitely an excellent prospect, did struggle immensely the first half of last year. He has a lot of ground to cover before he can be declared a safe bet as an above average major leaguer.
Sheets' 3 year average (2004-2006)
167 IP
3.14 ERA
9.4 K/9
1.2 BB/9
by ufoboy90 on May 9, 2007 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sheets v Salty
Sheets has been a fine pitcher. However, for precisely the reasons the Brewers fan identified above as reasons to trade him, I think the Braves would be leery. They value health and inexpensiveness, Sheets has neither (he's "only" due $10M and $11M the next two years, but I do not think the Braves would trade for him unless they felt they could work out an extension, which would be significantly higher).
Finally, taking your stats another way, one sees the following ERA trend (I'm not a big fan of using ERA, but just to compare apples and apples):
- 2.70
- 3.33
- 3.82
- 4.04 (only 42 IPs, but the 4.5 K/9 screams hidden injury)
by Yakker on May 9, 2007 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In a heart beat
by JDSussman on May 9, 2007 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Braves might deal Salty, but...
Besides, I still say Salty sticks around until the off-season.
As far as the Braun goes, I like the idea that they'll call him up to DH in the interleague games. They also might leave him up, since I'm pretty sure that'll be past the service time deadline they'd need to keep control of him for 6 more years, which I think is the more important issue. They'll let him work on his defense in the minors and call him up when they can maximize the service time they can get out of him.
Also, Estrada's a fine catcher. Why would they want another one, anyways?
by mraver on May 9, 2007 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Opinions
Here's why I think a deal along these lines makes all sorts of sense though. Estrada is just an empty batting average with decent defense. That's good by catching standards, but there's room for an upgrade. He's also 31, and furthermore he's a free agent after next year. They're also likely to part ways with Damian Miller, so long-term replacements are needed. Unless Lou Palmisano really has suddenly broken out, the only notable catcher in the system is Angel Salome, who is several years away and has had some injury issues.
From the Braves' perspective, Sheets is way more valuable to the Braves than Salty is unless McCann is hurt very badly, and the way I see it, Sheets is the best they're going to get for Salty. He's about the third-best pitcher who's potentially available in the next few years, behind Johan Santana and in the mix with Peavy, Lackey, and Sabathia, and Atlanta's in the market for starting pitching. Santana's probably too expensive, and I wouldn't count on more than one of the other guys hitting the market come 2008. I don't think any of them will be available in trade either, so aside from Sheets, who else is even available at the deadline? Baldelli? Sheets is the most valuable player that I see potentially being on the market.
Of course Sheets isn't going anywhere if he's hurt, but if he's healthy and pitches well between now and July (though the Brewers would probably keep him if he's totally dominant), there's no way Atlanta wouldn't trade a blocked catching prospect straight up for him (and the Brewers would be right to demand more), save budgetary concerns. That's what Wickman is for. As I understand it the Braves' ownership are pretty budget-conscious right now and wouldn't add $11 million-ish. Wickman makes $6.5 mil this year, which mitigates the hit. He's very mediocre at this stage; I refuse to believe that parting with him would be any sort of impediment to a deal.
by delomir on May 9, 2007 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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