Some things to read while tying up loose ends.
As they wrap up the third week of the offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers now know at least one more pitcher will have a locker in Maryvale this spring. @AdamMcCalvy reported on Thursday that the Brewers had re-signed 2014 Huntsville reliever Manny Barreda, avoiding minor league free agency. It’s not clear at this point if his new contract includes an invitation to major league spring training, but I wouldn’t rule it out.
Barreda turned 26 last week and 2014 was his eighth professional season, but also possibly his best one. He joined the Brewers’ Double-A roster in July after being released by the Yankees and posted a 1.99 ERA over 22.2 innings with 20 strikeouts. Including his time in the Yankees organization, Barreda posted a sub-3 ERA in 2014 (2.96) for the first time in a full professional season.
The Brewers will get a chance to monitor Barreda’s progress this offseason as he pitches for Culiacan in the Mexican winter league. He’s already made three appearances for the Tomateros and has allowed two runs on two hits and two walks over 2 1/3 innings.
Meanwhile, the Brewers face what’s likely to be a much more expensive decision regarding Aramis Ramirez. On Thursday, Noah Jarosh of Brew Crew Ball spotted a report saying Ramirez would like to remain in Milwaukee for another season and perhaps beyond. Ramirez and the Brewers have a mutual contract option valued at $14 million for 2015, and the team would have to pay a $4 million buyout if Ramirez exercises his half but they opt not to. It’s also possible the Brewers and Ramirez could work out a multiyear deal with a lower average value.
Ramirez turned 36 in June and had one of his worst offensive seasons in 2014, posting his lowest slugging percentage (.427) since 2002. Barring another free-agent acquisition or a breakout spring from Jason Rogers, however, he likely remains the organization’s best option at third base.
With that said, bringing Ramirez back would bring the Brewers’ projected 2015 payroll up to roughly $100 million without making any additions to a bullpen that’s likely to lose Francisco Rodriguez, Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny this winter. Nicholas Zettel of Disciples of Uecker has a look at how a strong bullpen helped the Royals reach the World Series, and has some suggestions for ideas the Brewers could take away from that success.
Mike Fiers will come to spring training as a possible member of the Brewers bullpen, but will also likely compete for a spot in the starting rotation. John Sickels of Minor League Ball has a look at Fiers as a onetime “sleeper” prospect making a major league impact.
In the minors:
- First baseman Nick Ramirez and second baseman Hector Gomez combined to go 0-for-6 but each player did draw a walk in Glendale’s 5-1 loss to Salt River in the Arizona Fall League on Thursday (box score). Despite the rough day, Ramirez is still hitting .263 with a .333 on-base percentage and .632 slugging in his first five games with the Desert Dogs and leads the team with two home runs.
- Farther south, 2014 Hutnsville Stars pitcher Tyler Cravy got the start for Margarita in Venezuela on Thursday and allowed three runs (two earned) on just one hit over four innings in the Bravos’ 9-5 loss to Caracas (box score). This was Cravy’s first winter ball appearance after a season in which he posted a 1.63 ERA over 17 appearances between the Arizona League, Huntsville and Nashville.
Around baseball:
Astros: Have reportedly hired former Rangers third base coach Gary Pettis to an unspecified coaching position.
Diamondbacks: Hired former broadcaster Mark Grace as their new assistant hitting coach.
Pirates: Are expected to extend a qualifying offer to catcher Russell Martin.
Rangers: Hired former Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister as their new manager.
Rays: Signed reliever Michael Kohn to a major league contract.
Of course, the big news around baseball on Thursday was the San Francisco Giants beating the Cardinals 6-3 to win the National League Championship Series. Former Brewer Travis Ishikawa was the unlikely hero, hitting a three-run walkoff home run in the ninth inning to give the Giants the victory. Eric Stephen of SB Nation has video of the event, if you missed it.
With the early series win, Giants pitcher Jake Peavy will get a few extra days to let his mouth heal up. Peavy had emergency dental work done on Thursday after chipping multiple teeth while attempting to open a pack of gum in the dugout. If the Cardinals had won and the NLCS had continued, Peavy likely would have pitched Game 6 in St. Louis.
Thursday night’s game lasted 3 hours and 3 minutes, making it one of the quickest games of the postseason. Scott Lindholm of Beyond the Box Score reports that the average nine-inning playoff game has reached more than three and a half hours this October, and has a look at how the length of postseason games has changed over time.
I’m not sure anyone feels all that badly for the Cardinals, who were eliminated on Thursday but have still reached the League Championship Series round in four consecutive seasons. They also likely have a strong chance to contend for a fifth consecutive berth in 2015, as just three of the 25 players from their postseason roster (reliever Pat Neshek, catcher A.J. Pierzynski and infielder Mark Ellis) are eligible for free agency.
So now we’ll wait a few days and let the suspense build before the Giants and Royals open the World Series in Kansas City on Tuesday. David Pinto of Baseball Musings notes that a pair of second Wild Card teams will meet in the Fall Classic, and has some suggestions for how baseball could make it tougher for non-division winners to advance. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is the latest to look at the extensive group of former Brewers that have been a part of the Royals’ epic run.
Elsewhere in former Brewers:
- In addition to the Grace move mentioned above, the Diamondbacks also announced that former Brewer Henry Blanco will serve as their bullpen catcher and coach in 2015. Blanco played 16 MLB seasons between 1997-2013, including 2000-01 as a Brewer. 1994-96 Brewer Turner Ward is also a member of that staff.
- Bill Berg of Reviewing the Brew says the Zack Greinke trade was still worth it for the Brewers, despite the fact that two players who went to Kansas City in the deal have helped the Royals reach the World Series.
- Another former Brewer on the Royals is outfielder Norichika Aoki, and Carson Cistulli of FanGraphs wants your help predicting the contract he’ll receive as a free agent this winter.
- Demetrius Bell of Talking Chop has a look back at Hank Aaron’s 1957 season with the Milwaukee Braves.
Finally, with help from Brewerfan.net and the Baseball Reference Play Index, we’d like to wish a happy birthday today to:
- 2014 Nashville Sound Jose De La Torre, who turns 29.
- 2012 Brewer Edwin Maysonet, who turns 33.
- 1986-90 Brewer Glenn Braggs, who turns 52 (Today In Brewer History).
- 1977 Brewer Rich Folkers, who turns 68.
Today is also the 32nd anniversary of the Brewers beating the Cardinals 6-4 to take a 3-2 lead in the 1982 World Series. Follow the link for that event’s entry in Today In Brewer History at Brew Crew Ball.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to check out this party.
Drink up.
Don’t forget to follow Kyle on Twitter @BrewFrostyMug, and check out and “like” the Mug’s Facebook page. The Frosty Mug runs mornings Monday-Friday and is brought to you by Legends of the Field, a sports memorabilia company you can trust.
