There are many talks throughout baseball that the Milwaukee Brewers will be inclined to move the 5'11", 270-pound first baseman after the 2008 season.
With a big-money contract on the horizon for Fielder, the Brewers may not have the cash to give to him, or they might feel it is financially irresponsible to do so. Even if the Brew Crew trade Fielder, they have enough organizational depth to replace Fielder offensively.
Corey Hart can move back to his original position of first base, and Matt LaPorta could get the call up and replace Hart in right field.
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Now the question is: What do the Brewers get for a guy like Fielder? With a rotation in flux, and the possibility of Ben Sheets leaving after 2008 as a free agent, it would make the most sense for the Brewers to go after a starting pitcher.
One interesting name that seemed to make sense was the Giants' Matt Cain. Despite a 7-16 record in 2007, and a 4.39 ERA in 2008, Cain is still a legitimate ace pitcher and still has a huge upside.
It will be difficult for the Giants to part with such a pitcher. However, if they get Fielder in return, they could acquire the big bat that they have desperately needed. Such a hitter would not only win ballgames by protecting Aaron Rowand in the lineup, but also would put fans in the seats, much like a guy named Barry did.
I don't expect this to be done by the deadline. However, it could be the blockbuster that lights up the '08-'09 offseason.
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5 months ago
This is an interesting thought. I didn't know the Brewers were thinking of moving Fielder, but I guess with his contract demands it makes sense.
Matt Cain is a logical trade candidate for the Giants. He was dominant early in his career and still has the stuff to be dominant, which most major league clubs I'm sure recognize.
Unfortunately he's hit an extended run of hard luck with the Giants, first with poor run support and a shaky bullpen, and now with inconsistency (the first most likely caused the latter). Cain probably just needs a change of scenery to return to form, and the Giants definitely need a big bat.
The only question mark is whether Fielder would block the Giants' top prospect Angel Villalona, also a first basemen. But Villalona is only 17, so he's at the least two years away from the majors and maybe more. Given that, I'd do the deal.
from 5 months ago
Villalona is only a Low-A ball this year, so he is at least two years away at the very least.
from 5 months ago
Yeah, but look at the Giants roster this year—it's littered with guys who were in low-A ball just a year ago. It's not out of the question if Villalona starts playing better (so far he's been so-so) that we'd see him in San Francisco at the end of next season. Still, it's much more likely his first call-up will be somewhere in the 2010 season.
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