Monday, October 20, 2008

Brewers Pursuing Peavy?

Would the Brewers trade for two of the best pitchers in less than six months? According to the Boston Globe, the Brewers may make a run at Peavy hoping that he will take charge of their rotation. The Brewers could package a deal involving JJ Hardy and Manny Parra, along with prospect Cole Gillespie, Jeremy Jeffress, and someone like Mitch Stetter to help the bullpen and maybe even the rotation. Adding Peavy's relatively inexpensive salary while dumping Sheets' could potential open up the scenario of Jake Peavy and CC Sabathia pitching on the same team. 

Unloading Sheets, Gagne, Hardy (in trade), and possibly Weeks clears up some money that would go to arbitration for a serious run at Sabathia. What I expect the Brewers to do is look to a five year deal around 100 million dollars, hoping that they can reel him in with the annual salary instead of the total payout. The Brewers could work his annual salary into their payroll so by the end of his contract, the Brewers could pay him 27 or 28 million dollars. 

This isn't out of the realm of possibility. The Brewers do not have anyone that is worthy of a long term contract right now, besides Prince Fielder. However, Fielder made 670,000 this season and is still several years away from free agency (he also might get traded before the Brewers are forced to pay him). It's a big if, but Melvin has always been aggressive - we'll see what happens. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your crazy, no way the Crew trades Hardy, Parra, Gillespie AND Jeffress for a guy that throws every 5 days.

Maybe a different package but not that one.

Anonymous said...

I could see the Brewers trying a package of Alcides Escobar, Jeremy Jeffress, other good prospect, plus a throw in or two like Tony Gwynn Jr, Tim Dillard, or Mitch Stetter. I really do not see the Crew moving anything they need next year like JJ and Parra. If the Brewers feel this is the move that puts them over the top why trade your All Star SS and an important member of the rotation. If it costs JJ and Parra I would hope the Brewers would avoid that.

Why would the Padres want JJ who is due an arbitration raise and is only under control for three more years when you can have Escobar who is much cheaper and under control for six years? If the Padres are in a rebuild mode, prospects are the way to go.