Brewer Trading

The word is that the Milwaukee Brewers are becoming sellers today.

Players that could be available are 2B Rickie Weeks ($23mil 2013-14), RF Corey Hart ($10.333mil 2013), CL Francisco Rodriguez (FA, remainder 2013 $8mil contract) and SP Zach Greinke (2013 FA – remainder 2012 $13,5mil contract).

Obviously, the Brewers will be looking to fill these positions with minimal salary, non-arbitration eligible minor leaguers or early-on major leaguers.

No, the Mets will not participate in the purchasing of any of these players; however they do have true prospects and major league ready players that are blocked with current Mets that have a future in Queens. Two are:

                        LF-RF-SS  Jordanny Valdespin

                        3B-1B  Wilmer Flores

Let’s look at the Brewers and what they would have to offer the Mets, by position:

            OUTFIELD – The Brewers have LF Ryan Braun, signed through the year of 4586. 30-yr. old  ($1.25mil in 2013) Norichika Aoki has played well (.285/.357/.430 in 263-AB), CF Carlos Gomez (.233) has been an also-ran most of his career, and RF Corey Hart is in the last year of his contract (.258/.317/.493/.810, 17-HR). There is also 32-year old CF Nyjer Morgan (.229) playing out his contract

John Sickles lists the following OF prospects, their grades, and his thoughts:

            10) Logan Schafer, OF, Grade C+: I really love his glove, should hit for a decent average with some steals, excellent fourth outfielder. (AAA – Nashville – 349-AB, .275/.329/.441/.770, 9-HR, 32-RBI, 2-E)

            12) Caleb Gindl, OF, Grade C+: Doesn't look great in uniform, but controls zone well, has some pop, held his own in Double-A at age 22. (AAA – Nashville – 305-AB,

            15) Kentrail Davis, OF, Grade C: Made better use of his speed this year, but otherwise disappointing.(.249/.301/.393/.695/7-HR, 28-RBI, 0-E).

18) D'Vontrey Richardson, OF, Grade C: Tools guy, Florida State football product, still very raw. Has 70 speed but a sub-.500 stealing success percentage, which is really hard to pull off. (out for season)

OTHERS: Khris Davis, OF; - Rookie/A+ - 125-AB, .352/.4.56/5.76/1.032, 7-HR, 19-RBI

Michael Reed, OF (2012 - 3-teams rookie/A – 144-AB, .264/.371/.333/.704, 1-HR, 18-RBI)

            LEFT HANDED STARTER – The Brewers have one and he’s not that good: Randy Wolf – 19-games, 18-starts, 3-6, 5.60. They obviously have plans for some of the young kids they have drafted.

4) Jed Bradley, LHP, Grade B: He could be a B+ once we see how he looks in pro ball.  – 2013 – A-Brevard – 5-7, 5.01, 17-starts

OTHERS:

Dan Merklinger, LHP;  -  AA-Huntsville  -  20-G, 8-starts, 3-7, 6.32

CATCHER – Jonathan Lucroy (.345/.387/.583/.969) is one of the futures of this team and is signed through the 2016 season. There are others:

            OTHER - Martin Maldonado – R/R – 26-yrs old – .280/.327/.413/.739 -  .265 vs. left, .284 vs. right

            George Kottares – finishing up a $700,000 contract… 2013 will be his ARB-2 year – 217/.414/.373/.788 in 83-AB

Wild Card:  -  Closer – AAA – Jim Henderson  -  6-5 RHP, 34-G, 1.72, 55-K, 47.0-IP,

My deal:

            Mets trade LF-SS-pain-in-the-ass-RF Jordany Valdespin for LHSP Jed Bradley, OF Corey Hart Mets pay like $3mil of remaining 2012 contract), and RHCL Jim Henderson.