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J.J. for Carlos Gomez: A Good Trade for the Brewers?

By Dan O'Donnell

Story Created: Nov 6, 2009 at 12:22 PM CST

Here's the email I received from the Brewers media relations department:

 

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Brewers today acquired outfielder Carlos Gomez from Minnesota in exchange for shortstop J.J. Hardy.  The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.

                “Carlos brings to our club great speed, athleticism and energy at a position that we needed to fill,” said Melvin.  “His defense will serve as a key component to us improving our pitching.  At only 24 years of age, Carlos can further develop the offensive aspect of his game and give us a different look to our lineup.”

                Gomez batted .229 with 3 HR, 28 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 137 games with Minnesota this season.  He made 86 starts in center field and committed just one error.  The highlight of his season came on October 6 vs. Detroit when he scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning of the Twins’ victory in the American League Central tie-breaker game.

                In 2008, his first full season in the Major Leagues, he batted .258 with 7 HR, 59 RBI and a team-leading 33 stolen bases in 153 games, including 143 starts in center field.  He set a Twins single-season record with 30 bunt hits, leading the Major Leagues, and produced 50 infield hits overall, which ranked second only to Ichiro Suzuki (52).

                Gomez was acquired by the Twins on February 2, 2008 as the key player in the deal that sent two-time American League Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana to the Mets.  He joined the Twins after being ranked as the Mets’ third-best prospect by Baseball America heading into that season.
               
                Hardy, 27, batted .229 with 11 HR and 47 RBI in 115 games with the Brewers this season.

                “J.J. has been a steady performer for the Brewers,” said Melvin.  “His professionalism and popularity with our fans and his teammates made this difficult, but he has been given the opportunity to go to a great organization to play and perform at the high level he is capable of playing.”

 

So what do you think, Brewers fans?  Was this a good trade for the Brewers?  Leave your comments below and we'll read some of the best of them on the air this afternoon!

18 Comments

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  1. Tom - Nov 06, 2009 12:48 PM

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    I'd say considering the season Hardy was coming off and the fact we're still handcuffed by Soup and Hall's contracts, it was a good trade. We owed Hardy 7 mil, and Cam had a 10 mil contract, so we just opened up 17 mil to spend of pitching, can't say that looks bad.

    Gomez hasn't really flourished yet, but we should keep in mind that even Hardy himself wasn't a stellar hitter his first 2 seasons. For all we know, Sveum may give him a hitting renaissance a la Weeks and Counsell.

  2. Jack - Nov 06, 2009 12:50 PM

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    Strange trade this. It was made so quickly that it seems like Melvin feared someone else would grab Gomez first. But Gomez has been so poor at getting on base (to take advantage of his speed) that Melvin could have listened to other offers for a few weeks and Gomez would have still been available. Bearing in mind that this move shows Cameron the door, it's a huge downgrade offensively. I hope that Melvin has better plans for the money he saved than the contract-year specialist Jarrod Washburn.

  3. Jack - Nov 06, 2009 1:31 PM

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    Tom, this was a move whose sole purpose was to free up salary for free agency or a contract offer to Fielder. Don't get excited about Gomez. He's had almost 1,100 major-league PA's to "flourish" and his OBP is a paltry .292. Even in the minors his BA was just .278 and his OBP just .339. Yes, he's got some speed and a good glove, but he doesn't hit for average, power or draw walks and he strikes out a lot for his skill set. Anything you get from him offensively is an unexpected bonus.

  4. dk - Nov 06, 2009 1:51 PM

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    I like this trade. Hardy wasn't doing much. Gomez can bat 2nd. He'll see some pitches to hit in front of Braun and Fielder. We need to give him a chance. If he sucks, he can trade Escobar (who can fend for himself) for the 7th spot. With Mcgahee at 3rd and Mr. X playing catcher, The brewers should only be annihilated by the Astros, Cardinals, and Cubs.

  5. William - Nov 06, 2009 1:59 PM

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    I think it was a very good trade ... for the Twins! They get rid of a backup outfielder for whom they have little use, and pick up a starting shortstop. There's a fair chance that the Brewers will end up with essentially nothing out of this deal.

  6. Adam - Nov 06, 2009 2:04 PM

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    Sure the move to Gomez in center should open up some payroll to spend on other positions, but my bigest beef is that Melvin is still the one in charge, its a bit like the GOP in 2008 saying we messed it up so let us fix it. If it wasn't for Melvin handcuffing himself with the Hall and Suppan contracts we wouldn't be needing to acquire a project in centerfield, we have a couple of years left with Braun and Fielder together and instead of "going for it" we are stuck patching things up, thanks Doug

  7. Terry Fraser - Nov 06, 2009 2:14 PM

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    This is a good trade, a risky trade, but a good one. You are picking up the key component of who the Twins traded Johan Santana for, he's that highly regarded. He's had two years of growth now, and should be ready to turn some of his potential into results.

  8. Coozbagger - Nov 06, 2009 4:12 PM

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    Yeah, if Doug Melvin says it's a good trade, than it must be a good trade. He hasn't been wrong yet?

  9. Jay - Nov 06, 2009 5:06 PM

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    I think it's a solid trade. Gomez is still developing as a hitter, and it will benefit him to play every day. He'll probably hit in the 9 hole and provide a pseudo-leadoff situation at the bottom of the lineup along with great defense. Eventually, he'll migrate into a leadoff role. Escobar should leadoff this year. I don't understand the need to put Weeks at the top of the lineup.

  10. DAVID LEE - Nov 06, 2009 6:25 PM

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    THIS TRADE IS A JOKE. I THOUGHT THIS FORMER ALL STAR WOULD AT LEAST GET US A NUMBER 3 OR 4 PITCHER. ANOTHER AWESOME TRADE BY MELVIN. THE BREWERS GOT SCREWED AGAIN JUST LIKE THE CC TRADE(RENT OF PITCHER). THE INDIANS NOW HAVE A STARTING CENTERFIELDER, LEFTFIELDER/FIRST BASEMEN, PITCHER,AND ONE PITCHER ON THE DL. BOY MELVIN THAT WAS THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY YOU JERK

  11. JBird - Nov 07, 2009 6:46 AM

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    Why so harsh on Melvin, everybody? This is the guy that got us back to the playoffs after 26 years. If you look at it objectively, I think it was a good trade. Just understand that Gomez is your #8 hitter, not coming in to lead off. He will play great defense, make a lot of plays on the bases with his speed, also. It was inevitable that we were trading Hardy and we filled a need with an exciting young, cheaper player. Now, lets go get some pitching.

  12. brewerfever78 - Nov 07, 2009 9:11 AM

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    Melvins biggest mistake was waiting so long to trade Hardy. For those complaining about what he got in return, remember this is JJ Hardy, the Brewers backup shortstop. We got a starting centerfielder, which I believe we need more than another #4 pitcher. Time will tell with this trade, but as of now I am not unhappy with it.

  13. Chuck - Nov 07, 2009 10:32 AM

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    I think Melvin is beginning to be another Thompson. I definitely think we could have gotten more for Hardy. I think he is a good player who had a bad year. A number 3 or 4 pitcher or as someone mentioned, "How about Nyger Morgan of the Nationals" or pitcher Matt Garza of Tampa Bay. But it is a start. How about getting rid of Weeks, Hart, and Parra. Maybe even pick up Felix Hernandez from Seattle or left hander Clayton Richard of San Diego. We do need a power hitting right fielder. A Brewer Fan

  14. Chuck, of Marshfield - Nov 07, 2009 10:35 AM

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    I forgot to mention, what catchers would be available?

  15. Dave - Nov 07, 2009 10:36 AM

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    I'm a Twins fan who is just checking to see the Milwaukee side of the trade. Gomez is an exciting player, but he has no plate discipline. Most fans in Minnesota hate to see him leave, but he's a real project. Hopefully someone in Milwaukee can get him to fully concentrate on his at bats and stop swinging at every pitch.

  16. David Lee is an idiot - Nov 07, 2009 5:06 PM

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    hey David Lee, you are a freaking idiot. Hardy for a Number Three pitcher? What the hell are you smoking?

  17. Dennis Stephens - Nov 07, 2009 7:19 PM

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    Gomez is friggin 23 years old people. The majority of 23 year olds are playing A or AA ball. We are badly lacking OF prospects at the high levels of our minor league system. Cain isn't ready. You need to roll the dice on toolsy prospects. Cameron getting a little old and this guy will get to more balls than he did. Now we have money to spend on pitching. He has got big upside.

  18. Reality People! - Nov 08, 2009 10:12 PM

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    Matt Garza or Nyjer Morgan for Hardy?! Are you serious? How can anybody who knows baseball at all be so clueless? Hardy hit .229 last year! There is no way the Rays are trading a young stud like Garza. Why do so many Brewers fans WAY OVERVALUE our players? Maybe we should should have traded Hardy to the Cardinals for Albert Pujols and then if we only package him with Suppan and Gamel they might "throw in" Carpenter! What world are you people living in? They were lucky to get Gomez for him.
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