Brewers, Overbay Reunited on Minors Pact

Though this offseason has yielded no perfect fix for the first base situation, Doug Melvin has added an additional option at the position.

The Brewers have agreed to terms with a familiar face, inking Lyle Overbay to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.  Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.  Overbay, who turns 37 later this month, joins Juan Francisco, as well as recent Yankee teammate Mark Reynolds, in the mix of Brewers first basemen competing for playing time in 2014.

In December 2003, Overbay and a batch of prospects were acquired from Arizona in exchange for slugger Richie Sexson and reliever Shane Nance.  Over the next two seasons, Overbay would man first base for the Crew.  In 2004, Lyle led the Majors with his franchise-record 53 doubles.

In his two seasons with the Brewers, Overbay smacked 35 homers and drove in 159 runs while batting .289.  Following the 2005 season, Overbay was dealt to Toronto, paving the way for Prince Fielder to take over at first base.

Since his Toronto tenure, Overbay has played for four teams, including a second stint in Arizona.  He is still serviceable, belting 14 home runs and collecting 59 RBIs with the Yankees this past season.

Overbay is the most recent addition to the Brewers' list of low-risk, high reward contracts.  He, Zach Duke, and the previously mentioned Reynolds have all been inked to Minor League deals with invitations to Spring Training.  Nothing is a guarantee, as these players will ultimately determine their own respective fates.

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Barrel Man

Brewers, Reynolds Agree to Terms

Following months of searching, the Milwaukee Brewers may have found a solution for their first base conundrum.

The Crew has agreed to terms with veteran corner infielder Mark Reynolds on a Minor League deal for 2014 with an invitation to Spring Training.  Should he crack the Opening Day roster, Reynolds will earn a salary of $2 million.  The deal is incentive-laden, as Reynolds can earn up to an additional $500,00 in performance bonuses for the season ahead.

Reynolds certainly adds punch to a lineup that missed several of its big boppers for much of the 2013 season.  In seven Major League seasons, Reynolds has spent time with the Diamondbacks, Orioles, Indians, and Yankees.  His best overall season came in 2009, during which Reynolds belted 44 home runs and collected 102 RBIs while playing for Arizona.  Over the course of his career, Reynolds has crushed 202 homers and driven in 568 runs, though his career batting average of .233 leaves something to be desired.

Though Mark's low batting average may be cause for concern, his alarming strikeout totals are etched in embarrassing Major League history.  Reynolds led the National League in strikeouts for four consecutive seasons from 2008-11, having also led the majors in that category during those first three seasons.  His best season of 2009 may have also been his most forgettable, as Reynolds set a dubious single-season Major League record by fanning a whopping 223 times as a D'back.

Despite his historically high strikeout totals and all-or-nothing mentality at the plate, Reynolds possesses plenty of upside as a Major Leaguer.  At 30 years of age, Reynolds still has plenty to offer and, perhaps, something to prove.  Since his Major League debut in 2007, Reynolds has bounced around between several organizations and may be playing for a permanent home.

From a positional standpoint, Reynolds does not have big shoes to fill.  Brewers first basemen struggled mightily in 2013, as evidenced by a combined .211 batting average from the position.  Though Reynolds is an average defender, he certainly won't be a downgrade at first base, a position that endured its share of defensive shortcomings in 2013.

Though this is a Minor League deal, Doug Melvin has strongly indicated that he expects Reynolds to be included on the 25-man roster out of Spring Training.  A platoon scenario is a possibility, with the left handed hitting Juan Francisco returning for 2014.  A third baseman by trade, Reynolds may occasionally spell Aramis Ramírez at the hot corner.  Ramírez played in just 92 games this past season while dealing with a nagging knee injury.

With a thin market for first basemen this offseason, Doug Melvin was limited in options at the position.  Despite a slow start to the offseason, it has been a busy past couple of days for Melvin and the Brewers, who recently agreed to terms with veteran left hander Zach Duke on a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training.  Both Duke's and Reynolds' deals present low-risk, high reward scenarios.

In other news, Milwaukee has reached agreements with its two arbitration-eligible players, pitcher Marco Estrada and the aforementioned corner infielder Juan Francisco.  Estrada will earn $3.3 million in 2014 while Francisco earns $1.4 million.  The deals are performance-based, as both players can earn additional incentives.

Thank you for reading, and have a nice weekend!
Barrel Man