Brewers sign Beltran!

AP / ESPN ^ | 12/01/04

[Fatalis]

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a $700,000, one-year contract with catcher Chad Moeller on Wednesday and to a minor league deal with left-hander Rigo Beltran.

Moeller, who batted .208 with five homers and 27 RBIss in 101 games for the Brewers last season, was eligible for salary arbitration. He will back up Damian Miller, who agreed to a three-year deal with Milwaukee this week.

[Carry_Okie]

Total surprise.

What surprise? Your post?

[Fatalis]

The Cubs won't go for Beltran unless they deal Corky.

[notfornothing]

I hear there's talk that Torii's leaving...

[N. Theknow]

Moeller, who batted .208 with five homers and 27 RBIs in 101 games

And he gets $700,000?

Must be just about ready to peak.

[Colonel_Flagg]

For where? He's locked up long-term by the Twins.

[csvset]

Rigo Beltran? I wanted Carlos! Who signed this nobody?

Homer Simpson did sir.

Huh, imagine there being another guy named Beltran.

[notfornothing]

I've read Hunter to the Giants for Marquis Grissom and a young pitcher. Probably just a rumor...

The Twins have a logjam of talented outfielders in the minors at the moment so there's always going to be talk of trades. I'm kind of surprised that Jacque Jones is still around.

Beltran in a Twins uniform does sound nice though, huh? Right after we sign Pedro...

[Colonel_Flagg]

I've read Hunter to the Giants for Marquis Grissom and a young pitcher.

The Twins won't trade the best centerfielder in baseball for a 37-year old outfielder and a pitcher unless he's Jason Schmidt.

Jones is arbitration eligible this year and word is he's gone. I think that's good - he strikes out way too much and he's blocking the path of younger, potentally better players. Jones' ceiling appears to be 25 homers and 110 strikeouts - not worth it in today's market.

It's bad enough we can't afford $4 million a year for Cristian Guzman when our owner is wealthier than George Steinbrenner. Carl Pohlad wants a new stadium and he won't get it by trading Torii Hunter.

Regarding Pedro .. who's your "we"? :)

[notfornothing]

The Twins won't trade the best centerfielder in baseball for a 37-year old outfielder and a pitcher unless he's Jason Schmidt.

Agreed, or at least they shouldn't. You never know for sure though. I've learned to trust TR's judgment in these kinds of things. Who among us saw what a brilliant move the Shannon Stewart acquisition was a couple years ago?

I think if we could unload Torii and his $8 mill salary, give Lew Ford the centerfield job, and get a good but underrated starter in return - like a Mark Buerhle type along with a prospect - it'd be worth looking into.

I'm bummed about Guzman leaving too...for my money he was the best defensive shortstop in the league. Maybe he'll get some recognition playing on the east coast now...

And yes, I'm a lifelong Twins fan...displaced but still a fan...;)

[Colonel_Flagg]

In my mind the jury's still out on Stewart. Yes, he had a terrific second half in 2003 but he was hurt half this season and his deficiencies in the field showed through when he was healthy. Lew Ford is a promising player because of Stewart's injury but I don't think he's a long-term answer - or at least he shouldn't be.

Five-tool players like Hunter don't come along too often. He is the team's only marquee position player, and he's the fans' favorite - trading him would be big trouble at the gate, especially for a team losing some of its other players.

I'd rather see the Twins launch Jones someplace and (finally) give right field to Mike Restovich. Or Jason Kubel. Or Mike Cuddyer, if Rivas doesn't wind up at shortstop.

Our problem is we spend too much time looking for underrated starters (read: Carlos "Boom Boom" Silva) and not enough time retaining what we've got. JMO. :)