On Thursday and Friday, the Milwaukee Brewers made a few player personnel decisions surrounding the futures of RHP Yovani Gallardo, shortstop Rickie Weeks, and third baseman Aramis Ramirez.
On Thursday, the Brewers announced their decision to excercise RHP Yovani Gallardo's $13 million team option for the 2015 season. Gallardo, 28 will be entering his eighth season in 2015. Over his career, Gallardo has compiled a career record of 89-64 with an ERA of 3.69 over 1,289.1 innings. Last season, Gallardo had a career-worse season going 8-11 with a 3.51 ERA over 32 starts. The 28-year old will enter next season most likely as the Brewers ace in their rotation.
Weeks will be entering his 11th season next year in the Majors and it will be his first season not wearing a Brewers uniform. Over his tenure in Milwaukee, Weeks was a one-time All-Star (2011), while hitting for a career slash of .249/.47/.424 collecting 1,009 hits in 4,056 at-bats. While in Milwaukee, Weeks had an extremely hard time staying on the field, over the course of his 10-year career, the 32-year old shortstop has only appeared in 1,142 of 1,620 games. While missing 41 games this season due to injury, Weeks was still able to collect his second best career avergae of .274 while collecting eight homers and 34 RBIs. With a career low in homers, Weeks may have learned to take a more balanced approach at the plate than trying to hit for power at the plate.
The Brewers on Friday also decided to pick up their end of a $14 mutual option with 36-year old third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Ramirez, will have three days to decide whether or not he wants to return to Milwaukee for his fourth season. Over the course of his 17-year career, Ramirez is one of the few remaining power hitters from the early 2000s not be connected to any type of performance enhancing drug use. Ramirez for his career is closing on 500 doubles, and 400 homeruns, while still being 158 RBIs away from number 1,500. Entering next season with a career slash of .285/.344/.496 and 369 homeruns and 1,342 RBIs, with being close to many major career milestones, Ramirez may try to get another year or two under his belt in attempt to get 500 doubles,400 homeruns, and 1,500 RBIs.