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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - GM: Prospects not on table

Having already traded top prospect Matt LaPorta for CC Sabathia last season, Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Tuesday that he had no intention of dealing third baseman Mat Gamel or shortstop Alcides Escobar this season for pitching help.

“Highly unlikely,” said Melvin, who is on the hunt for a starting pitcher. “It’s almost impossible. You never say never but it’s not my focus at all. Those young players are valuable.”

After LaPorta was dealt for Sabathia, who led the Brewers to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years, Escobar moved up to the top spot in the organizational prospect rankings by Baseball America magazine, with Gamel at No. 2.

As badly as the Brewers need starting pitching help with Dave Bush on the disabled list and Manny Parra in the minors, Melvin said the price would be too high if he included Gamel or Escobar. Gamel has been with the Brewers since May 14 and is batting .244 with two homers and 12 RBI in 32 games.

Escobar, 22, is batting .295 with 18 doubles, four triples, three homers, 24 RBI and 26 stolen bases at Class AAA Nashville, where he is rated one of the top prospects in the minors.

Baseball-Birthdays.com Posted: June 24, 2009 at 10:15 AM | 10 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: June 24, 2009 at 12:32 PM (#3230730)

There is no scenario where Melvin trades Escobar. None.

This is not hyperbole. Doug Melvin regards Alcides Escobar as the anchor for the Brewers defense for the next decade.

2. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: June 24, 2009 at 12:36 PM (#3230735)

Maybe he should trade Hardy for some pitching, then.

3. The Kids Are Enright (1k5v3L)

Posted: June 24, 2009 at 01:04 PM (#3230776)

Wonder how MIL's $1m arm, 1c brain pitching prospect is doing these days? Is he available?

4. zonk Posted: June 24, 2009 at 01:10 PM (#3230784)

While I think Melvin is right to hang onto both Escobar and Gamel, Vlad's right... as much as Hardy is underrated, he's expendable with Escobar. With Hart starting to hit, I would think the Brewers could carry Escobar's bat if need be.

Of course, I suspect the return on Escobar would be better than Hardy... but who knows.

5. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: June 24, 2009 at 01:36 PM (#3230828)

Vlad/zonk:

Hardy is the likeliest candidate for the obvious reasons. However, I think trading JJ for pitching gets you little given the market, etc so propose the following:

--Elevate Mike Rivera as personal catcher for BOTH Dave Bush AND Manny Parra

--Make run at Cleveland for one of their bats in return for prospects not named Escobar

--Make absurd offer to LA of Mike Cameron and prospects for Kemp hoping Coletti/Torre really are that crazy

Focus on bludgeoning one's way to the playoffs.

Get Kendall away from Parra. Jason's intensity just makes Manny nervous. Parra has always pitched well with Rivera at all levels. Manny and Mike will be a far better combo. I think Parra wets himself like a scared puppy every time Jason comes out from behind the plate.

6. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: June 24, 2009 at 01:49 PM (#3230859)

"I think Parra wets himself like a scared puppy every time Jason comes out from behind the plate."

Understandably so. Jason can get pretty intense.

7. Al Kaline Trio Posted: June 24, 2009 at 04:47 PM (#3231206)

What about JJ to the Red Sox, they need a SS and have a lot of SP.

8. Tripon Posted: June 24, 2009 at 04:53 PM (#3231224)

--Make absurd offer to LA of Mike Cameron and prospects for Kemp hoping Coletti/Torre really are that crazy

Yeah, that's not happening. At all. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever.

9. Not The Real Fausto Carmona (Dan Lee) Posted: June 24, 2009 at 05:11 PM (#3231254)

Make run at Cleveland for one of their bats in return for prospects not named Escobar

DeRosa will definitely be on the block and I wouldn't be surprised at all if Martinez was moved if the right offer comes along.

Funny thing is, Escobar doesn't really fit any of Cleveland's needs and I'm not sure the Indians would really seriously go after him. He's probably a better ballplayer than Valbuena, but there are other pressing issues that need to be taken care of. Third base, for one. I'm thinking Gamel would look nice with a cartoonish racial stereotype on his ballcap.

10. Argu!!!! SATAN!!!! (Sessile Fielder) Posted: June 25, 2009 at 03:19 AM (#3232192)

Even without public denials, it's obvious that Escobar isn't getting traded and that Hardy is on the block. Whichever pitcher is acquired in trade (and make no mistake, there will be a trade, in the offseason if not in July) is going to cost a bunch, and trading Escobar would just multiply that cost since it would necessitate locking up Hardy as well.

Wonder how MIL's $1m arm, 1c brain pitching prospect is doing these days? Is he available?

Is that a pathetic Jeremy Jeffress joke?

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - GM: Prospects not on table

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