Hot Stove Rumors Thread

[moneyman255]

Once again who is more valuable to the Brewers? It has to be Zack Greinke. Being able to resign Zack Greinke should be the number one priority.

Sure you can fit Prince Fielder's contract into the payroll in 2012, but that's with Ryan Braun making 6 million. The long term situation would be a mess, and the organization simply wouldn't be able to resign Zack Greinke or other big name players in the future.

So why would the Brewers offer Fielder 5/100 even though they need to know they need to fit Greinke's contract in? Why would Melvin meet with Reyes agent when he knows it's going to take 5/75+ in order to sign him and he knows he needs to fit Greinke's contract in also?

The Brewers have a new TV deal in place, the fanbase of the Brewers is growing every year. Mark A and Melvin know that they need to make a splash in order to keep the fans coming. Getting a former great cub, and getting a former MVP would off-set losing Fielder.

Wolf's contract ends after next season as well. Mark A has said that he doesn't have a set "budget" he said if a move makes sense, he would be willing to go for it.

The last thing the Brewers would want to do imo is lose Fielder and then have to depend on two rookies in Gamel and Green. What if they flop and Brewers go back to a 80 win team?

I gurantee that the Brewers end up with A-Ram and a new SS by the end of the meetings. Maybe Melvin feels Rollins wants too much or goes back to Philly, but then he would focus on Furcal. Betancourt is the last resort right now.

[EmpireWF]

For Reyes:

The Mets were willing to go five years, $75-85 million with a sixth-year vesting option, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post and SI.com’s Jon Heyman.

oh well

[moneyman255]

Reyes deal done. 6 years, 106 million.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Gob overvalues Grienke, you won't sway him.

I would never let the possibility of losing Grienke stop me from keeping Fielder or signing Reyes. You end up with at least one year of both guys together anyway, and who knows, possibly more.

Rollins & Ramirez are longer in the tooth, but it still gives you at least one more shot at taking a run at this thing.

If you look at Gob's history in these threads, he rips just about every FA deal. He's pretty conservative.

[Guest]

Going to give props to the Marlins for actually spending money for once, but Reyes is not going to be worth that contract in three years. I wouldn't give anyone a $100 million contract whose biggest asset is speed and who has yet to have a 20 home run season. I said the same thing about Carl Crawford last off-season and predicted that Reyes would get a similar deal. At the very least, the Marlins will be getting a few prime years out of Reyes which makes the deal better than the Crawford (and its less money annually.)

[Warner2BruceTD]

I am on the record stating that Reyes has already had his career year, but again, like with the Heath Bell move, I like what the Marlins are doing. New stadium, new manager, new attitude, going "all in" and telling potential free agents this year and beyond that Miami is the place to be and will commit big money to win.

If this were another team, I may have a different outlook. But this is ok for Miami. Not all value is black & white, each situation has layers and is different. Same reason I don't knock the Yankees or Phillies for basically spending any amount of money.

[Guest]

I am on the record stating that Reyes has already had his career year, but again, like with the Heath Bell move, I like what the Marlins are doing. New stadium, new manager, new attitude, going "all in" and telling potential free agents this year and beyond that Miami is the place to be and will commit big money to win.

If this were another team, I may have a different outlook. But this is ok for Miami. Not all value is black & white, each situation has layers and is different. Same reason I don't knock the Yankees or Phillies for basically spending any amount of money.

I agree too, and that is what I wish the Orioles would do. They could easily have an off-season similar to what I posted and boom, you have a team that can push .500 at the very least and fan interest would be back immediately with Fielder. Problem is, for whatever reason, they don't want to spend the money, but don't want to sell the team completely off to restock their farm/assets either.

I do have my limits, and one of my biggest issue is players like Reyes and Crawford whose primary assets are speed. What happens when they lose a step? Like I said, Reyes will be good for about half of that deal, and as you said, there is some value, but I think it is laughable to give him $100 million, especially with some time missed with lower body injuries. My other issue is spending huge on free agent pitchers as well- I would be very hesitant to give out a $100 million to a pitcher as well, even if you factor in other layers, etc.

[Warner2BruceTD]

It feels like we've been down this road with the Marlins franchise.

[Goober]

So why would the Brewers offer Fielder 5/100 even though they need to know they need to fit Greinke's contract in? Why would Melvin meet with Reyes agent when he knows it's going to take 5/75+ in order to sign him and he knows he needs to fit Greinke's contract in also?

Because Doug Melvin is an idiot? He has no care for the long term future of the franchise. Total win-now mentality. The playoff run was great, but I want that to be a consistent theme in Milwaukee. As the smallest market in baseball, that's hard to do when you give out large long-term contracts to players past their prime, ask for only major league talent back in trades and don't invest heavily in player scouting. It has been a forgone conclusion by anyone familiar with the Brewer's payroll that by signing Fielder or Reyes the team will be unable to resign Greinke.

The Brewers have a new TV deal in place, the fanbase of the Brewers is growing every year. Mark A and Melvin know that they need to make a splash in order to keep the fans coming. Getting a former great cub, and getting a former MVP would off-set losing Fielder.

Yeah, they have a new tv contract, but Rickie Weeks is getting a 6.5 million raise, Corey Hart 2.5, Ryan Braun 2, Shaun Marcum 4, Yovani Gallardo 2.25. That covers more then Fielder's salary from last year, but you still have several arbitration raises and several holes to fill.

Wolf's contract ends after next season as well. Mark A has said that he doesn't have a set "budget" he said if a move makes sense, he would be willing to go for it.

And the players I mentioned above get even more expensive.

The last thing the Brewers would want to do imo is lose Fielder and then have to depend on two rookies in Gamel and Green. What if they flop and Brewers go back to a 80 win team?

I gurantee that the Brewers end up with A-Ram and a new SS by the end of the meetings. Maybe Melvin feels Rollins wants too much or goes back to Philly, but then he would focus on Furcal. Betancourt is the last resort right now.

Yeah the 33 year old one year removed from a .241/.294/.452 season would be a great signing.

Gob overvalues Grienke, you won't sway him.

I don't think it's any mistake that the Brewer's only two successful seasons in the last 25 years coincided with the additions of CC Sabathia and Zack Greinke. We've seen the Brewer's have a great offense and no pitching to many times and it has never worked.

I would never let the possibility of losing Grienke stop me from keeping Fielder or signing Reyes. You end up with at least one year of both guys together anyway, and who knows, possibly more.

Once again, it's all about long term success. You can sign Reyes or Fielder and give it one last go. But then in 2012, you have a rotation of Gallardo/Narveson/Fiers/Peralta/FA journeyman. I'll pass on that. Greinke will likely demand a yearly salary smaller then Reyes or Fielder, and I'd be much more comfortable giving him a long term deal then either hitter.

Rollins & Ramirez are longer in the tooth, but it still gives you at least one more shot at taking a run at this thing.

If you look at Gob's history in these threads, he rips just about every FA deal. He's pretty conservative.

Rightfully so, has everyone already forgotten how much contracts to Bill Hall and Jeff Suppan restricted the Brewer's ability to compete in the past few years? When you're the smallest market in baseball you aren't going to win by signing players on the wrong side of 32. It just doesn't work that way.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I'm not really ripping you for being conservative, i'm trying to sell moneyman on the idea that you have a mindset, and you aren't coming off of it.

[EmpireWF]

I am on the record stating that Reyes has already had his career year, but again, like with the Heath Bell move, I like what the Marlins are doing. New stadium, new manager, new attitude, going "all in" and telling potential free agents this year and beyond that Miami is the place to be and will commit big money to win.

If this were another team, I may have a different outlook. But this is ok for Miami. Not all value is black & white, each situation has layers and is different. Same reason I don't knock the Yankees or Phillies for basically spending any amount of money.

Same reason no one can knock the Mets when they gave Pedro that 4-year deal.

[Rudi]

Im lowkey excited for the winter meetings. I need my baseball fix.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Im lowkey excited for the winter meetings. I need my baseball fix.

Yeah man, i'm pretty excited about seeing Walt Jocketty do nothing like usual.

We have a million of these so-called prospects, it's time to move a few for something we can use. Is there any reason to carry Rolen, Francisco, & Frazier for another year? Do we really need Grandal at this point? C'mon Walt, go get somebody.

[nflman2033]

Yeah man, i'm pretty excited about seeing Walt Jocketty do nothing like usual.

We have a million of these so-called prospects, it's time to move a few for something we can use. Is there any reason to carry Rolen, Francisco, & Frazier for another year? Do we really need Grandal at this point? C'mon Walt, go get somebody.

Yup this standing pat shit gets annoying as fuck, I understand not wanting to mage a bad deal, but you got take some chances.

[Obst]

The Phillies are actively trying to trade third baseman Placido Polanco, a rival executive tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. That'd open up third base for free agent Aramis Ramirez, for whom the Phillies are reportedly strong players.

The Orioles are interested in free agent first baseman Prince Fielder, confirmed GM Dan Duquette. However, Duquette also told Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com that he doesn't want fans to get their hopes up.