M’s Sign Brad Nelson
Over the last year or so, I lobbied for the M’s to acquire Brad Nelson. Several times, in fact.
Well, today, the M’s signed Nelson to a minor league contract. He was DFA’d by the Brewers after starting the season 0-21 with 9 strikeouts – the Brewers wanted to give his roster spot to top prospect Mat Gamel, and Nelson didn’t have much of a future in Milwaukee with Prince Fielder around. He cleared waivers, declined his assignment to Triple-A and became a free agent. He reunites with Jack Zduriencik, the guy who originally drafted him, and has latched on to a team that could use some left-handed power.
The only problem is where on earth is he going to play. Tacoma currently has Clement, Carp, Shelton, and LaHair on the roster – Shelton is playing third base and LaHair is playing the outfield in order to get everyone in the line-up. I guess they could stick Nelson out in the outfield as well, with Saunders sliding over to center field, but that’s not really an ideal solution. There’s no easy way to find playing time for five 1B/DH types in Triple-A at the same time.
Simultaneously, Russell Branyan is making the M’s look like geniuses for giving him a full time job, so unless he’s traded before the deadline, first base isn’t really an open position on the team. Yea, there might be some DH at-bats available if Junior doesn’t find his power stroke again soon, but Clement’s probably first in line for those.
I like Brad Nelson, and I think he’s still got a shot at being a pretty useful major league player. I’m just not sure that the M’s were the best fit for him.
I think we passed ‘crazy sentimental’ on that about 6 exits back.
I think it is as Simple as what positions are the M’s least likely to ever get a top tier Free agent. With the dimensions of Safeco what power hitting first baseman or DH in their prime ever come here?
If we are to assume that the Nelson acquisition is a prelude to a trade, it seems to me that Clement is the logical candidate to go.
1. Clement has no apparent future with the Mariners at C.
2. Clement’s value to the Mariners is therefore as a LH hitting 1B/DH type.
3. The M’s now have a surplus of 1B/DH types.
4. Nelson can do what Clement can do.
Ergo, I’m betting Clement and a pitcher gets traded, probably for a middle infielder.
Isnt Nelson as big as Fielder? He looks like a butter ball that i’m not too sure about him playing in the outfield…
I think M’s should make a major trade or trades with Russell Branyan, Clement,Beltre, Washburn, and anyone else not necessary after this year. TheM’s are not going to win the division this year and I think that Z realizes this and will make trades.
Mets need a 1B with power and Branyan is their man. What else do they need? M’s probably have it.
With the dimensions of Safeco what power hitting first baseman or DH in their prime ever come here?
Maybe the left handed power hitters might consider it. Considering that Safeco was built just for that type of hitter…
Griffey has got to go. Is he producing any more than Vidro did last year at DH. Than God he is not playing in LF.
“OR Yuni and LaHair get packaged and traded for a dozen bats – but really NICE bats, mind you.”
True story, the last player to be traded for bats ended up killing himself not too long after… sad.
You could look it up. And the answer is “yes.”
“Maybe the left handed power hitters might consider it. Considering that Safeco was built just for that type of hitter…”
I think even then not. Safeco would take away most of their opposite field home runs for 81 games of the season. Look what playing in Phillie has done for Raul for instance. 4 of his 13 home runs thus far this year were opposite field shots that would have been long flyouts at Safeco.
If i’m a top talent right handed hitter with power, I don’t sign with Seattle for any amount *looks at Beltre*. If i’m a top talent left handed power hitter, I make them pay me boatloads more than anyone else is willing to pay before I come here.
I just don’t see JZ overpaying for any player, so I’m thinking most of the power guys we end up having will have to come from the draft, trades, or stockpiling somewhat talented players other teams have released. Such as in this case.
[off-topic]
This is off the point [deleted, off the point]
My thought was having Branyan, Beltre, and Carp or Nelson in the lineup together would be better than having Betancourt or Lopez.
Why couldn’t Beltre play 2B or SS decently? Watching him play for years now – he’s got such great range for 3B, would he be that much worse than Lopez or Betancourt who have subpar range? He’s already got a better throwing arm…
To me, that’s the easiest solution to get more bats in the lineup AND Beltre has more trade value as a middle IF.
Gus. Each position has a much different skill set. As a 3rd bagger you are a reactionary fielder. The ball comes to you at a high rate of speed most of the time. You need to have a great first step because anything past 1-2 steps you the ball is by you. You also need a great Arm because you are so far from first. At S.S you need to be both lateral and quick going forward. You are going to the ball not the other way around. You also need to know angles because the ball is slower at you then at 3rd. At second you can have a crap arm but run at good angles and have better then avg speed and be competent because you are so close to the base. In summary a being a great 3rd baseman does not make you an automatic great S.S or a amazing 2nd baseman.
Wait.. I thought “Who” was on first?
Whatever Z has planned I truly hope it includes Branyan. I can’t think of a better time to trade him. There’s no way he’s going to sustain this type of performance all season and the other team doesn’t need to know that.
DC,
If we know that Branyan won’t be able to sustain his current pace, then I’m absolutely sure that every other team knows that about him as well.
That’s the man’s name.
DC, on what basis do you flatly assert that “there’s no way he’s going to sustain this type of performance all season”? Do you have evidence, or are you merely claiming to be Nostradamus’ grand-nephew?
It’s alway so serious in here sometimes. Way to be a Debbie Downer.
Yup, I concur. You gotta be able to do SOMETHING the team needs besides just being a left handed bat.
Clement has been having knee problems, which apparently has affected his hitting, in addition to limiting his playing time at catcher. The decision to bring Adam Moore up from AA probably represents the end of the road for Clement as a catcher within the Mariners organization.
In terms of first basemen in Tacoma, how many do we need? Watching LaHair attempting to play the outfield is a disturbing experience – his fielding skills seem more appropriate for the AquaSox than the Rainers. Even if Z trades Clement and Beltre and the Mariners bring up Carp, we *still* have Shelton, LaHair and Nelson playing 1st base in Tacoma. That’s beyond “excess” — it’s more like “cornering the market”.
Question: is Wilson really a better deal than Betancourt when we take the salary difference into account?
>>In summary a being a great 3rd baseman does not make you an automatic great S.S or a amazing 2nd baseman.<<
This is true, but Betancourt and Lopez aren’t a great SS or an amazing 2B by any stretch… I’m not talking about replacing Adam Everett or a similar defensive whiz here. For all the talk of our improved defense, we are still leading the league in errors, most of which are infield errors. If our IF is going to be subpar anyways, why can’t we get some better hitters in there than Betancourt or Lopez??
So I’ll say again – Branyan to 3B, Carp/Nelson to 1B, and Beltre to the middle IF makes the most sense.
Beltre is already struggling this year, and now you want to move him to a new more challenging defensive position he’s never played regularly before, at age 30, in a contract year?
In what world does that “make the most sense”?
Maybe it’s just me, but I see this signing as a precursor for “The Fire Sale.” I think we have so many pieces to trade before the deadline that Darren Brown won’t have any trouble finding playing time for the folks in AAA because tons of them will be up with the big club.
Someone mentioned trading Branyan and right now it sounds like a good idea but I’d almost keep him around for the entire year. We need some consistant pop in the lineup after the trades go down.
I think Nelson could be a good DH in AL leagues so it’s a good pickup. I just wonder what’s Carp’s future now that we have Nelson, Lahair, Shelton, Clement, Sweeney in the fold.
Someone’s gotta go! Everyone says Yuni and obviously if Wak can dump him for a low level prospect he will. But watch for some of those 1b/DH types to roll out first….
So I’ll say again – Branyan to 3B, Carp/Nelson to 1B, and Beltre to the middle IF makes the most sense.
You want to take a stellar defensive 3rd baseman and essentially turn him into a below league average SS/2B? At the same time you just seriously downgraded your 3rd base defense.
If that makes “the most sense” I am glad Z and Wak are making the decisions for you.
On what basis? We are talking about Russell Branyan and not Albert Pujols, right? I don’t have to be Nostradamus or his grand nephew to make this prediction. His resume speaks for himself. What are you the Russell Branyan fan club president?
so i guess Reyes is now hurt along with Delgado, I’m not aware of the length of either injury, but it looked like from what I read they are pretty limited at both positions. Is there any chance of Yuni/Branyan or Yuni/LaHair for a prospect or two?