The Case for [insert name here] series will take a look at various free agents or trade candidates that have the potential to vastly improve the 2009 Milwaukee Brewers.

We will start with Melvin Mora.

Melvin has essentially been on the trading block for the entire season, and MLB Trade Rumors consistently pegs him as a player that could be moved this winter. It would take a pretty good trade package to get him out of Baltimore, but it certainly can be done.

Melvin would be a big upgrade at the third base position. He had a horrid first half, but couldn't have possibly been too much hotter in the second half. Before the All-Star Break, Melvin could not hit the broad side of a barn. His average was a putrid .233 with a .301 OBP – very Bill Hall-esque, no?

In the second half of the season, however, Mora simply went off to the tune of a .376 average and an on-base percentage of .417. That's quite the three month hot streak. Can you imagine if Milwaukee had that bat in September?

What if those post-All Star Break numbers are misleading? They are, but so were his first half numbers. His 10-year career numbers are right in the middle of those two polar halves -- .280 BA, .355 OBP, .443 SLG with a 110 OPS+. Those would easily upgrade the Brewers offensively at third.

His defense is not spectacular, but it has largely been league average throughout his career. Mora's career fielding percentage at third base is .959, while the average percentage is .957. As I said, not spectacular, but not bad either. It would be quite the improvement over Hall's .939 fielding percentage.

Melvin Mora's contract is also team-friendly. He would be signed through 2009 at $9 million, but there is a 2010 club option. Cot's Baseball Contracts does not provide the information as to how much that option is worth, but one can imagine it would probably be around $10 million. That's essentially replacing Eric Gagne in the payroll.

There are a couple things not to like about Mora, however.

His age is getting to be a concern. Melvin will be 37 next season, but his numbers in 2008 seem to say that there will not be too much of a drop-off simply because of age. That is comforting to an extent, but it is something to keep an eye on regarding Mora in a trade.

The other concern is rather minor. I would like to see the Milwaukee Brewers get another left-handed bat in the lineup, and Melvin Mora is a right-handed hitter. That situation can easily be addressed in other places throughout the lineup, but it is, again, just something to be cognizant of when making personnel moves.

What would it take to get Melvin Mora to Milwaukee?

The Baltimore Orioles would almost certainly be open to a package involving prospects, but they would demand Alcides Escobar in the deal. Baltimore attempted to pry Escobar loose this summer in a deal centered around George Sherrill, but Doug Melvin didn't bite. Melvin could, however, build a package around someone like Zach Braddock or Cole Gillespie. It would be quantity in that case then, as neither of those players are impact prospects. This, obviously, is probably not the route Melvin would go in acquiring Melvin Mora from the Orioles.

J.J. Hardy would absolutely get Mora to Milwaukee, but the Orioles would have to include something else in the package. Could Doug Melvin get the Orioles to include someone like Jeremy Guthrie in the deal? How about someone under the radar like reliever Jim Johnson? This would improve the Crew at third base quite a bit and on the mound with Guthrie or Johnson, but the Brewers would be losing production at shortstop. Alcides Escobar looks to be good, but not Hardy good. At least, not in 2009.

What about Rickie Weeks? Could the Brewers move J.J. Hardy to second and plug Escobar in at shortstop? If the Orioles traded Brian Roberts prior to this move, this deal could become a distinct possibility. Baltimore would be in need of a second baseman, and Peter Angelos does like Weeks' potential. The problem then becomes whether or not Weeks is enough to get Mora. Weeks is cheaper and has the potential to be an All-Star second baseman, all while the Orioles could dump salary in their efforts to rebuild. It may not be enough, however, and the Orioles are not an easy team to deal with in a trade.

The Brewers infield could potentially look like this:

1B Prince Fielder
2B J.J. Hardy
SS Alcides Escobar
3B Melvin Mora

That wouldn't be too bad, would it?

That's the case for Melvin Mora. Would you do it? Which trade package would you prefer?