Brewers Trade Brady Clark to Dodgers...

[Handlebar McSkullet]

For Elmer Dessens.

 

From JSOnline:

 

Tucson, Ariz.- The Milwaukee Brewers finally addressed their glut of outfielders today by trading Brady Clark and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for right-hander Elmer Dessens.

 

The Brewers started spring training with six major league outfielders -- Geoff Jenkins, Kevin Mench, Bill Hall, Corey Hart, Gabe Gross and Clark. They only plan to keep five on their opening day roster, so trading Clark solved that problem.

 

Clark, 33, was the Brewers' starting center fielder in 2005, batting .306 in 145 games. He played his way out of the starting lineup last year, when he slumped to a .263 average in 138 games.

 

The Brewers decided over the winter to move infielder Bill Hall to center, making Clark expendable. He had a $3.8 million contract for this season, however, which is why the Brewers had to send some cash to the Dodgers in the deal.

 

Dessens, 36, owns a career record of 46-59 with a 4.41 ERA in 339 appearances, including 135 starts, while pitching for Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Arizona, Kansas City and Los Angeles. He went 5-8 with a 4.56 ERA and 2 saves in 62 relief appearances between Kansas City and Los Angeles last season.

 

Dessens is expected to fill a middle-relief role in the Brewers' bullpen, which means some reliever targeted for the opening day roster will not make it.

 

"Elmer brings 10 years of major league experience to our pitching staff," said general manager Doug Melvin. "His versatility as a spot starter and long reliever should allow him to play a valuable role on our pitching staff this season."

 

Dessens went 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in six relief appearances for the Dodgers this spring.

[Rob]

Horrible trade by the Dodgers.

 

Good to know, though... I was thinking of picking up Kemp in my draft tonight. Now I know better.

[sethuel1]

The Dodgers also had a glut of outfielders.

[Rob]

The Dodgers also had a glut of outfielders.

 

Now it's some sort of super-megaglut.

 

Really, what team needs Clark when it already has Gonzo, Pierre, Ethier, Kemp, Loney, and Repko?

 

Even with Repko down, they had five guys who can play in the outfield, and three of them can conceivably cover center.

[YearofDaCubs]

Dessens isn't good and I think Clark can be used as a trading chip. I like this move by the Dodgers as long as they use him as a chip.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Clark isn't anything great, but Dessens sucks. It's kind of hard to declare a winner here.

[TruffleShuffle]

The Dodgers also had a glut of outfielders.

 

Now it's some sort of super-megaglut.

 

Really, what team needs Clark when it already has Gonzo, Pierre, Ethier, Kemp, Loney, and Repko?

 

Even with Repko down, they had five guys who can play in the outfield, and three of them can conceivably cover center.

 

Loney has raked this spring; Repko hit pretty well as well. I don't think it's a bad trade for the Dodgers just because Dessens sucks and it doesn't matter that they won't have him. Just seems like a pointless trade to me... the Brewers do need relief help but they have enough bad relief pitchers already.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

So they start with a bunch of really good, young, and cheap OFs, overspend for overrated OFs in the offseason to make sure those young guys aren't helping the club as much as possible, and then bring in another guy who really isn't all that great at anything either?

[elinas]

The Dodgers also had a glut of outfielders.

 

Now it's some sort of super-megaglut.

 

Really, what team needs Clark when it already has Gonzo, Pierre, Ethier, Kemp, Loney, and Repko?

 

Even with Repko down, they had five guys who can play in the outfield, and three of them can conceivably cover center.

 

Loney has raked this spring; Repko hit pretty well as well. I don't think it's a bad trade for the Dodgers just because Dessens sucks and it doesn't matter that they won't have him. Just seems like a pointless trade to me... the Brewers do need relief help but they have enough bad relief pitchers already.

Repko could be out for the year.

[Balsa]

Wow. Why even bother?

[WindyCity]

Clark isn't anything great, but Dessens sucks. It's kind of hard to declare a winner here.

 

Considering that the only Elmer worth owning is glue, I think the Dodgers are the clear winner here.

[rawaction]

Luis Gonzalez signing is still the one that has me shaking my head. Also forced Ethier to RF, where he's not as good.

[ToupeeOnFire]

Considering that Brady Clark usually hits fairly well against the Cubs, I approve of this trade.

[Rob]

Luis Gonzalez signing is still the one that has me shaking my head. Also forced Ethier to RF, where he's not as good.

 

The Gonzo, Pierre, and Nomar signings are all a bit strange to me.

 

Kemp and Loney need to be playing at the major league level, and for some reason Coletti signed people to fill in all the positions they can play except for RF... where Ethier is anchored down.

 

I'm honestly surprised he didn't sign Aaron Boone to a three year deal to play third and block LaRoche.

[NewUserName]

Luis Gonzalez signing is still the one that has me shaking my head. Also forced Ethier to RF, where he's not as good.

 

The Gonzo, Pierre, and Nomar signings are all a bit strange to me.

 

Kemp and Loney need to be playing at the major league level, and for some reason Coletti signed people to fill in all the positions they can play except for RF... where Ethier is anchored down.

 

I'm honestly surprised he didn't sign Aaron Boone to a three year deal to play third and block LaRoche.

 

I am glad to see the Cubs are not the only team that just cannot give a job to a rookie without bringing overpriced and overrated veterans for managers to tinker with.

[NCCubFan]

Considering that the only Elmer worth owning is glue, I think the Dodgers are the clear winner here.

Mr. Fudd begs to differ. :lol:

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Wow, Sulley hasn't made it to this thread yet.

[Amazing_Grace]

Clark isn't anything great, but Dessens sucks. It's kind of hard to declare a winner here.

 

The Dodgers won. They got the Brewers, the FRICKIN BREWERS, to send them cash in the deal.

[TruffleShuffle]

I am glad to see the Cubs are not the only team that just cannot give a job to a rookie without bringing overpriced and overrated veterans for managers to tinker with.

 

In the Cubs' defense, they've given Murton a chance and he's proven to be worthy of the starting job, and they also gave Cedeno the chance last year, but he flopped badly. The only "overpaid and overrated" veteran you could be referring to this year, at least as far as position players, is DeRosa, and most people have said that there are significant questions about Theriot (pretty weak hitter through much of his minor league career) and Patterson (defense).

 

The bigger problem with the Dodgers bringing in Pierre and Gonzo is that Kemp, Repko and Loney all have had time at AAA and don't have a whole lot more to learn in the minors. Loney and Kemp are also more highly regarded than the guys the Cubs have left in the minors in lieu of veteran free agents.