Bill Hall designated for assignment

by dtoddwin on Aug 12, 2009 1:58 PM EDT Comment 27 comments

A shocking fall from grace for a 29 year old who hit 35 home runs and had a .899 OPS in 2006. Even more shocking since the Brewers are going to eat about $12 million in salary. If he were a few years younger he would definitely be of interest I imagine. But then again if he were a few years younger they wouldn't be designating him.

I'm sure somebody will take a shot. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.

In another move the Brew Crew also sent JJ Hardy to the minors (and fired their pitching coach). A big day in Milwaukee.

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Bad as they are

Hall and Hardy both have higher OPS+s than Jason Kendall. Lot of black holes in that lineup.

by bucdaddy on Aug 12, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A little surprised

to see them give up on Hardy like that…he’s not really that bad. Just turned 27, has a plus glove at short, his OPS is only .667 but he’s has probably been a little unlucky with his BABIP this year. I wonder if Escobar is really all that much better right now…he’s sporting a Neil Walkerish .762 OPS in AAA this year.

I guess I still don’t get it.

by maguro on Aug 12, 2009 2:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Escobar is supposedly a GG-worthy defender, which helps.

And by sending Hardy down now, they get an extra pre-arb year with him. Don’t know whether that played into the decision-making process at all, but it’s a nice fringe benefit for them at worst.

by Vlad on Aug 12, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you mean pre-FA year for Hardy??

He’s already got 4+ years of service…and went to arb last year??

by Thunder on Aug 12, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

Freudian slip, sorry.

by Vlad on Aug 12, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd take a chance on Hardy

Would a Walker for Hardy swap make any sense? I suppose the recent article about Walker wanting a fresh chance is still in my head. Thoughts?

by Yotum on Aug 12, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great idea

That means FusilliJerry88 would migrate over to the Brewers blog.

by maguro on Aug 12, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahahaha

by Scranton on Aug 12, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not for the Brewers, it wouldn't.

Nowhere near equal value for them. They can do better.

by Vlad on Aug 12, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hardy’s excellent fielding actually makes him about league average this year. He would be a good buy low player now.

by Gorkys n' Beans on Aug 12, 2009 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree completely

But I can’t think of anything that we wouldn’t mind giving up that the Brewers might want in return aside from maybe Maholm.

Worth a call though.

by MrPedriqueIfYoureNasty on Aug 12, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't see it......

as I posted elsewhere, and you can say I’m insane, but I think Cedeno has won the job for next year already. If he continues playing anywhere close to this level it’s his. And we aren’t trading anything to pay JJ Hardy $5 million and take a flyer.

It will be Cedeno’s second year of arbitration and whether we sign him for two years at $3 million or one year at $1.3 or go to arbitration, I think it’s his. And given the job, he’ll sign for one year at $1.3, I would think.

by dtoddwin on Aug 12, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wasn't really sure of Cedeno's status

But knowing this, I don’t mind Cedeno holding down the post for a bit.

by Yotum on Aug 12, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t agree with this, but I do think he has the advantage going into spring training next year. I think Bixler will get one last look and I think Diaz will at least receive a tryout. Of course, I expect him to win the job, but it’s a bit early to tell with these things.

by thegreatchris on Aug 12, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I do kind of think that you're insane =)

I respect your opinion and if Cedeno keeps hitting like he has been that’d be great.

But even in his “off year” Hardy is still worth as much as Cedeno defensively and is worth significantly more with the stick.

Worth more than Freddy too and at 63% of the price…even if he doesn’t bounce back next year , which I think that he will since by all accounts he should be entering his prime years.

by MrPedriqueIfYoureNasty on Aug 12, 2009 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Brewers are going to want something valuable for him.

Would you trade Maholm? I don’t think I would, but something like that is probably what it’d take.

by Vlad on Aug 12, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well........

I’m not arguing whether Hardy is better than Cedeno. I guess the point I’m making is to get Hardy we have to give something up and there isn’t a chance in hell we are going to give something up to get Hardy, pay him $5 million next year and then let him become a free agent. The Red Sox with a desperate need there should do that. We should pay Cedeno $3 million for two years, give him the job next year, let Vazquez walk in two year and have Cedeno and Diaz compete for the job in 2011.

by dtoddwin on Aug 12, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Diaz is on the roster next year, or gone.

He’s out of options.

Carrying him as a backup may be an option, of course.

by Vlad on Aug 12, 2009 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see your logic

I just think that is the sort of gamble that we should be taking right now…and I don’t know if I’d trade Maholm either but I’d definitely scratch my chin for a while thinking it over.

by MrPedriqueIfYoureNasty on Aug 12, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just on pure talent, Hardy for Maholm isn’t bad for us. The problem is whether the Bucs would want to pay him, and whether in our situation we would need the pitcher more. And whether the Brewers are still holding out for top-tier return.

Maholm is just a 4th or 5th starter (arguably 4th even with us), but the only option to really step in is Dan McCutchen for better or worse. We would improve the infield by moving Cedeno to 2nd after a move like this.

by Gorkys n' Beans on Aug 13, 2009 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maholm isn't a 4th OR a 5th.

3.80 FIP this year, 4.10 last year. He’s a #3.

His ERA has been creeping up as the year progresses because we went away from the plus defense behind him in favor of minus gloves like Jones and Young, but the fundamentals of his pitching are quite sound.

by Vlad on Aug 13, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s true, Maholm is good when we have a plus defense. The upside of Hardy is greater though, with just a little bit more risk both financially and performance.

by Gorkys n' Beans on Aug 13, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maholm

He probably could use an offseason of rest. Don’t know if he is hurt or not but even if he isn’t, this defense is going to kill him, as it will Duke. I think Jones and Young are going to remain liabilities out there, and the Milledge will improve. Until then, the pitchers will suffer through some painful outings, as they did yesterday and today.

by RichieHebner on Aug 13, 2009 6:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Keith Law agrees with my assertion that he is a mediocre number 5 as well, IIRC. Even though passable pitching is arguably our biggest need, I wouldn’t shy away from trading Maholm for a package with more upside in the event that other teams are as bullish as Vlad.

There also might be an issue of Maholm being overworked the past few years, as with Snell and Gorzelanny to some extent.

by Gorkys n' Beans on Aug 13, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Keith Law thinks that...

…then Keith Law’s wrong.

by Vlad on Aug 13, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At the very least the front office must be on your side, or else Paul would have been dumped two weeks ago.

by Gorkys n' Beans on Aug 13, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Listen.....

defense is important, but let’s not overlook the fact that when a pitcher gets bombed it’s generally his fault, as was the case yesterday with Maholm. He got rocked.

by dtoddwin on Aug 14, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs