The Brew Haus - Kendall a Brewer? Sheets to be Traded?
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The Milwaukee Brewers website is reporting that the club has contacted free agent catcher Jason Kendall, most recently of the Chicago Cubs, in hopes of bringing the 33-year-old on board.
Kendall, who is also currently being chased by the National League Champion Colorado Rockies, is believed to be looking for an opportunity to start, in which case the Brewers will then have to decide if he is worthy of starting over Johnny Estrada.
Kendall batted .270 while in Chicago and hit a combined three home runs and drove in a combined 41 runs in 137 games between Chicago and Oakland, where he began the season. Estrada, on the other hand, hit .278 with 10 homers and 54 RBIs, but ultimately failed the task of being a middle of the order batter behind Prince Fielder and also struggled with nagging injuries throughout the season.
Kendall earned $13 million in the final year of his six-year deal, but I would expect a much smaller deal now that his stock has dropped significantly over the past few years.
Looking at Kendall's career numbers, I believe he would be an upgrade over Estrada. His career .297 average isn't much higher than Estrada's .280, but Estrada's career high in on-base percentage is only three points higher than Kendall's career average. Then there's the defensive side, where Kendall would almost certainly be an upgrade over Estrada, who threw out only six of 79 baserunners in 2006.
Expect the Brewers to strongly consider signing Kendall to a long term deal, as catching is considered one of the Brewers' shortcomings, both at the Major and Minor league levels.
As for other things the Brewers may strongly consider, an article by Ken Davidoff in Newsday earlier this week pegged Ben Sheets as a potential trade commodity this winter, which may come -- as it did to me -- as a huge shock to some.
According to Davidoff, an official with another National League team said the Brewers "could seriously contemplate a Sheets deal," mostly in reference to the New York Mets, who are looking for a top of the line starter.
Sheets, who is entering the final year of his contract and has a limited no trade clause, will mostly not be traded unless the right circumstances come along, that is, if the right players are dangled in front of the Brewers. This is just speculation on my part, but that list of players must include either a relief pitcher, a left fielder/third basemen (depending upon what they do with Ryan Braun, who has been contacted by GM Doug Melvin about a possible switch to left field), or a combination of the two.
It's unlikely the Mets will part with David Wright now that A-Rod is off the market, but would they part with Lastings Milledge to acquire Sheets? Only time will tell.
