Some things to read while changing the subject.
Today is the 11th day of the offseason, and another opportunity to look ahead to some of the tough decisions the Milwaukee Brewers will have to make this winter. Derek Harvey of Brew Crew Ball has a primer on the arbitration process and a look at the four Brewers who are eligible for that process this winter.
The most notable among that group is probably Gerardo Parra, who qualifies for a relatively unusual fourth year of arbitration after being a “Super 2” player in 2012. Parra made $4.85 million in 2014 while having his worst offensive season, and profiles primarily as a bench player if the Brewers intend to continue to play Khris Davis every day in left field and Ryan Braun is healthy enough to play consistently in right. Depending on the Brewers’ other offseason priorities, Parra’s projected $6-7 million salary might be money the team would rather use elsewhere.
Marco Estrada is also eligible for arbitration for the final time after a very up-and-down season. He led all of baseball with 29 home runs allowed despite pitching just 150 2/3 innings in 2014, but posted a 2.89 ERA and seemed to turn things around as a reliever down the stretch. He made $3.325 million in 2014 and would likely be due a not-insignificant raise if the Brewers opt to keep him around.
Brandon Kintzler is one of two players who are eligible for the first time. He’s pitched in 135 games for the Brewers over the last two seasons with a 2.93 ERA, so one could see how he’d make a case to an arbitrator for a big raise despite his peripheral numbers showing a significantly less-effective pitcher. Kintzler made $507,000 as a pre-arbitration player in 2014.
The Brewers’ other first-time eligible player is Martin Maldonado, who is coming off a solid offensive season in limited playing time in 2014. Maldonado also made slightly more than the league minimum in 2014, and as a backup, he’s likely not due much more than a modest increase.
This year’s arbitration class is relatively small, but next winter’s could be a pretty interesting group: Assuming they’re all still on the roster, Jean Segura, Wily Peralta, Mike Fiers, Jeremy Jeffress and Jim Henderson will all be eligible for the first time at the same time.
Jonathan Lucroy also would have been arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter if not for the five-year contract extension he signed in 2012. Lucroy would have been due for a big raise after a career year in 2014, and Mike Pozar of the FanGraphs community says he should be a “no-brainer” to win the National League’s Most Valuable Player award.
Lucroy, by the way, grounded into 13 of the Brewers’ 135 double plays in 2014. Jonathan Judge of Disciples of Uecker has a look at some of the factors that made the Brewers more likely to hit into those plays this season, and the luck that compounded those tendencies.
Lyle Overbay grounded into eight twin killings in his return to Milwaukee for what’s likely to be his final MLB season. John Sickels of Minor League Ball has a look at how Overbay made the transition from 18th-round pick to longtime big leaguer.
Rickie Weeks is also likely to move on from the Brewers this winter, but probably won’t be retiring. Domenic Lanza of Yankees blog It’s About The Money listed Weeks among 10 second basemen who could be free agents.
In the minors:
- The Glendale Desert Dogs’ Arizona Fall League game against Mesa was rained out on Wednesday. They’ll host Surprise tonight.
- Nicholas Zettel of Disciples of Uecker has more on the players representing the Brewers in the prospect league.
- Much further south, the Venezuelan Winter League opens its season tonight. Not all of the league’s rosters have been finalized, but Brewers fans may be interested in keeping an eye on Margarita, which will feature pitching prospects Tyler Cravy and Greg Holle and will be managed by former Brewers catcher Henry Blanco,
Dodgers: Reliever Brian Wilson has exercised his $9.5 million player option for 2015.
Rockies: General manager Dan O’Dowd has resigned and will be replaced by former senior director of player development Jeff Bridich.
Bridich, by the way, is a Milwaukee native. At 37 years old he’ll be one of baseball’s youngest general managers.
Meanwhile, the postseason schedule is off again today while we await the first games of the League Championship Series round over the weekend. The full schedule of games was released on Wednesday and features the Royals and Orioles opening in Baltimore on Friday night, while the Cardinals and Giants will meet for the first time in St. Louis on Saturday.
The League Championship round will be played without the Angels, who finished the regular season with the American League’s best record, and the Nationals, the National League’s top seed. Chris Teeter of Beyond the Box Score has a look at how baseball’s best regular season teams have fared in the postseason in recent years.
Today in former Brewers:
- Michael Trzinski of Reviewing the Brew continued his five-part look at the history of the Brewers with a post on the 1980s.
- Jim Callis of Sports on Earth listed Nelson Cruz among players who have gone from failed prospect to postseason hero.
- Cameron J. Kaiser of Tigers blog Bless You Boys gave Alex Gonzalez an “F” grade for his 10 games on Detroit’s roster at the start of the season.
- Al Yellon of Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue has a look at the possibility that Tom Brunansky could be the Cubs’ next hitting coach. Brunansky currently holds the same job with the Twins.
- Racine, Wis., native Jason Jaramillo, who turns 32. Jaramillo has played three MLB seasons between 2009-11 as a member of the Pirates.
- 1998-99 Brewer Bill Pulsipher, who turns 41.
- 1992 Brewer Jim Tatum, who turns 47.
- 1989 Brewer Ray Krawczyk, who turns 55.
- 1981-82 Brewer Randy Lerch, who turns 60 (Today In Brewer History).
- 1970 Brewer Mike Hershberger, who would have turned 75.
- 1901 Milwaukee Brewer Bill Reidy, who would have turned 141 (Today In Brewer History).
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to feed the dog.
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.
