April 9, 2008
I saw a little chatter out there today about this possible trade. In the next few weeks the Brewers will have a few major decisions facing them and the trade route is one way the Brewers could deal with them. In a week or so Yovanni Gallardo will be back and a pitcher will have to go. Looks like Bush will be the guy kicked out of the rotation, but he always seems good for about 2 innings so I see him as long relief. The odd men out appear to be Scott McClung and Derrick Turnbow. McClung could possibly be sent down to the minors, if he clears waivers, but another team could pick him up off the waiver wire and the Brewers would get nothing. Turnbow has been relegated to the recesses of the bullpen. It seems that Yost doesn't want him to pitch in case any team we might trade him to would be watching.
The other decision coming up soon will be when Mike Cameron returns from his Gulag. One of three guys in the outfield has to go; Gabe Kapler (not a chance, he'll be with the team in october), Tony Gwynn (has a minor league option, but is proving to be quite a solid pro), or Gabe Gross(um...). I'd like to see Gross hit the road along with Turnbow. Not only do I not like these guys as players, but I think they might actually be of some use to another team. Enter the Tigers and the possible Inge trade.
The talk has been of the Brewers sending Turnbow and Gross to Detroit for Inge. Brandon Inge is a utility type of ballplayer (think Billy Hall minus 20-30 points batting average.) He plays outfield, third base, and catcher. He's got a lifetime .241 average and can hit a few home runs. (27 hr, 83 rbi in 2006. He carries a 3 year $6.5 million a year contract. This would be a really stupid trade. He costs too much, he strikes out too much, and the Brewers would have to open up a roster spot for him. (probably Joe Dillon)
The best thing the Brewers could do here would be to trade Gross and Turnbow to whatever sucker was willing to take them, but in doing so pick up no more overpriced garbage in return. They should try to get 2 or 3 A or AA prospects or a couple bags of new baseballs, whatever.
Of course, as with previous Brewers pundit trade rumor posts, this is just total speculation, but isn't that what these fan blogs are about?
Trade them to the Cubs (Turnbow sort of looks like a Billy Goat)
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