Hardy dealt to Twins for Carlos Gomez; Weathers now FA

[Cowtipper]

Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports that the Brewers have traded J.J. Hardy to the Twins for Carlos Gomez.
Hardy was a goner with the Brewers committing to Alcides Escobar at shortstop and the Twins have long been a rumored destination for him, so this deal makes sense. Gomez fell out of favor in Minnesota after arriving in the Johan Santana trade, but the speedy center fielder will be given a clear path to everyday playing time in Milwaukee as the replacement for free agent Mike Cameron.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...=278435&spln=1

MILWAUKEE -- On a busy day for the Brewers, the team declined reliever David Weathers' club option and made him a free agent. The option would have paid Weathers $3.7 million in 2010; instead, he gets a $400,000 buyout.

Weathers split the 2009 season between Cincinnati and Milwaukee, going 4-6 with a 3.92 ERA in 68 games. After an Aug. 9 trade to the Brewers, he was 1-3 with a 4.88 ERA while appearing in 25 of the team's final 51 games. The Brewers sent cash to the Reds after the season to complete the trade.

The Brewers have one more option decision looming. Braden Looper's deal includes a mutual option for 2010 that calls for a $6.5 million salary or a $1 million buyout. The Brewers have until Nov. 14 to decide, and general manager Doug Melvin would not tip his hand in a conference call with beat reporters on Friday.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[THE OX]

I don't think Gomez will amount to a pimple on JJ's behind. If he does far better than I expect, he may (IMO) amount to a very small acne outbreak on JJ's behind. I expect JJ to do very well indeed for the Twins, and to kick the Brewers butts during interleague play. Monumentally stupid trade, IMO.

I won't miss Weathers in the slightest. Why the hell he was acquired in the first place completely puzzled me.

Looper probably merits keeping, but as perhaps the #4 starter at best. He certainly is better than Suppan, but gives up altogether too many home runs.

Unless the Brewers land a first-rate free agent starter during the off-season, I expect 2009's disappointment to be merely a foretaste of an even worse 2010.

[Extra Innings]

I don't think Gomez will amount to a pimple on JJ's behind. If he does far better than I expect, he may (IMO) amount to a very small acne outbreak on JJ's behind. I expect JJ to do very well indeed for the Twins, and to kick the Brewers butts during interleague play. Monumentally stupid trade, IMO.

The Brewers traded Hardy before outright releasing him. You either get a return for him or let him walk.

[THE OX]

Releasing JJ outright would have been even more ill-advised, IMO, than the trade which was made. I don't think an outright release would have been in JJ's future. He's WAYYYY too young to release!