RFB Offseason Roundtable - Long Term Deal?

This Week’s Topic: The Brewers locked up the amazing Ryan Braun to a long-term deal last year. If you were the GM, which young player would you want to lock up long term next?

Jared -

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If I were the GM, I’d offer J.J. Hardy an extension next. He is a streaky offensive player, but his numbers put him among the elite and his position. He does not have great range as a shortstop, but he has a steady glove and a good arm. Alcides Escobar is likely the future at shortstop for the Brewers because he is an elite defensive player, but that is no reason to lose Hardy. If the Brewers reward Hardy’s play with a generous contract, he may be willing to move to another position for the team, likely either second or third base. Prince Fielder will test free agency when the time comes. Rickie Weeks has not met expectations. Corey Hart’s second half last season has raised significant questions about his play. Yovani Gallardo is still a number of years away from free agency. Hardy is the clear choice to lock up long term if the Brewers decide to sign any of their young players this offseason.

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Tyler -

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Players like Ryan Braun only come to an organization once every so often, so deciding to sign him to a long-term deal so early was totally justified. In fact, looking back, it’s kind of amazing for Braun to even agree to terms so early in his (as of now) HOF caliber career. But with such a young team packed of players chock full of untapped potential, the decision of which of these young studs to extend (I did that on purpose, readers!) proves a difficult one.

Call me crazy, but if I were in Doug’s shoes, I would seriously look into inking J.J. Hardy to a long-term deal next. Hardy was the first of said “Baby Brewers” to crack the show and, apart from an injury-shortened 2006 season, has not only played consistently well through his short career, but he’s made improvements each season. I can talk about how he’s hit over 20 HR in each of the past two seasons, and how coveted power is up the middle infield, but I choose to focus on the sum of all skills.

Hardy is a great fielder – not the best range, but c’mon – who, even with the ascension of Alcides Escobar, would play well at any infield position. Yes, sticking him at third might sacrifice some power numbers in looking around the league, but not by much on average. He can, and has, hit almost everywhere in the lineup with proficiency. He’s more apt than some to epic slumps, but when he’s on one of his week-long hot streaks, I don’t know if there’s anyone I’d rather have at the plate.

Financially, such a move would lock up a young all-star and save a good deal of coin to resign or bring in other players. Hardy, the first BrewYouth to go to arbitration, got a scant $2.65 M for 2008 after an all-star showing the season prior. In all, Hardy is an upper middle tier shortstop, would be an undeniable upper tier second baseman and an affordable option in making sure a great player stays in Milwaukee’s infield for seasons to come.

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Bryan -

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I agree that Hardy would be a great player to lock up long term. He’s got a great arm that would work anywhere in the infield and he’s an above-average infield bat. One knock on Hardy is that he’s streaky. Well, name me a shortstop that isn’t streaky? I can only think of Hanley. Even Jimmy Rollins was being booed this past year while he was on a cold streak.

While I would love to see Hardy locked up, the next player I would go after first is Yovani Gallardo. This year Yovani proved a couple things to me. First of all, he proved that he’s seriously tough. Yes, he’s been injured, but he beat everyone’s expectations and came back at the end of the year (not to mention continued to pitch very well with a torn ACL to finish the inning). Not only did he come back, but he had to work through two high pressure starts (one against Pitt and Game 2). I also learned that even though he’s still young, he’s got the stuff to baffle the upper echelon of the National League. His 7 innings against Philly in the NLDS erased many of the questions I had about the kid. Even though he “lost” game two, it was really the horrendous defense that killed the team. I say sign him up for a long deal now so the Brewers can have both a hitting face of the franchise and a pitching face of the franchise.

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