Rumors have circulated that the Brewers can’t afford both Geoff Jenkins and Carlos Lee and there has been some speculation that the former could be traded to make room for a new contract for the latter.
Jenkins, the longest tenured Brewer, likes it right here in Milwaukee.
“Like I said when I signed my contract, I think we’re on the verge of doing some big things here,” the Brewers rightfielder said in a recent interview. “I wanted to stay here because of (J.J.) Hardy, (Rickie) Weeks, (Prince) Fielder and the young talented kids coming up.”
Jenkins is signed through 2007, with an option for 2008. He is making around $8 million a season. Lee, who has entered negotiations with the Brewers about an extension, will likely demand $10 million to $12 million per season, if not more.
So, rumors on talk shows and elsewhere have circulated that Jenkins could be traded to make salary room for Lee. Jenkins doesn’t address those rumors, but makes it clear he likes his current role with the club.
“I actually enjoy being one of the veteran leaders of the team now,” said Jenkins, 31, who has spent more than seven years in a Brewers’ uniform. “I’ve been around here in the organization for so long that I can help the younger players with what is happening.
“I remember what it was like, and am willing to help the young players in any way I can.”
It seems like not long ago that Jenkins was a young, talented player straight out of USC, where he was the Pac 10 Player of the Year in 1995, an All American in 1994-‘95 and a selection to Team USA in ’94.
Jenkins came up through a farm system that at the time didn’t have much to harvest.
“For a while Ben (Sheets) and I were it from the system, but that has changed,” Jenkins said. “I think you have to give credit to Gord (Ash, the assistant general manager) and Doug (Melvin, the general manager) and the others who have helped build the system.”
Jenkins signed with the Brewers in 1995 and made it to the big leagues in 1998. He blossomed in 1999 with a .313 average, 21 homers and 84 RBI and hit .303 with 34 homers and 94 RBI in 2000, when he was named the team MVP.
Stints on the disabled list in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 hampered Jenkins somewhat, but he made the All Star team in 2003 and has played in 157 and 148 games the last two seasons.
Jenkins, who has always been a streaky hitter, has avoided any marathon slumps this season. Last year, he struggled through the first half of the season, and then exploded for a .332 average with 16 homers and 53 RBI after the All Star Game.
This year, he has gone through a couple periods of struggles, but has bounced back each time. He also has hit in the clutch. On May 17 and 18, he had the game-winning hits. He had at least one RBI in seven straight games. Jenkins also has climbed to fourth on the Brewers’ all-time home run list.
“I’ve just tried to be consistent,” Jenkins said. “Any player is going to have peaks and valleys over the course of a season. I’m just trying to get through the valleys and try to be more consistent.”
It helps to have hitters like Lee and Fielder batting behind him. “The overall talent on the club is the best since I’ve been here,” he said. “When you have better players, everybody benefits. You don’t feel like you have to do too much.”
Originally a leftfielder, Jenkins has been a solid outfielder in both left and right. He’s earned the reputation for having one of the most accurate throwing arms in baseball.
“Right field is a little different than left, but it wasn’t that hard making the adjustment,” Jenkins said. “I’ve always prided myself in playing good defense.”
Off the field, Jenkins has served as a role model. Jenkins is married (Jen) and is a family-oriented guy. He lists his father, Jack, as the person he respects the most outside of baseball. He also said he followed in his brother’s footsteps while playing baseball, football and basketball at Cordova Senior High School in Rancho Cordova, Calif.
He’s been involved in Milwaukee charities and was the Brewers’ Roberto Clemente Award nominee in 2004. In 2003, he received the Michael Harrison Award for Community Service.
A special area at Miller Park is named “Jenkins Jungle” as part of a charitable contribution Jenkins makes for tickets for kids through Brewers Charities. The Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers of America gave him the “Good Guy” award last year.
“I’ve enjoyed my years with the organization and the community,” Jenkins said. “I think we could be close to doing some real exciting things on the field.”
Brewers’ principal owner Mark Attanasio is said to be a real Jenkins’ fan. Melvin also will say privately that the club hopes to keep both Jenkins and Lee.
Keeping both players will require Attanasio and his partners to dig deep into their pockets. With the injured Sheets also carrying a long-term, healthy contract, that might not be easy. Certainly in the past, it would have been virtually impossible.
But, this is said to be a new era in Brewers’ baseball. Jenkins, a hold-over from the old era, hopes to remain a vital part of it.
Gregg Hoffmann is a veteran journalist, author and publisher of Midwest Diamond Report and Old School Collectibles Web sites. Hoffmann, a retired senior lecturer in journalism at UWM, writes The State Sports Buzz and Beyond Milwaukee on a monthly basis for OMC.
