Middlebrooks for 3rd ? ... (only at a "you gotta earn it" salary)
Lind &/or Lucroy for top? tier prospects ?
An affordable SP add or two ? ... Henderson Alvarez?, Vance Worley?, Jeff Locke?, Carlos Torres?? (was SP before RP)
???
I don't think the Brewers are a player in the free agent market for anyone close to changing the team in a big way. The new guy has the big salaries he can't deal, so he will build the Brewers like the Astros were built. Through the draft, and a few money ball guys.
I'm a bit surprised the Brewers haven't dealt Lind already to an AL team looking for a left handed DH. I still think it will happen, though the prospects won't be ready to go for a few years.
Quote from: Ghetto on December 04, 2015, 07:08:21 PM
I don't think the Brewers are a player in the free agent market for anyone close to changing the team in a big way. The new guy has the big salaries he can't deal, so he will build the Brewers like the Astros were built. Through the draft, and a few money ball guys.
I'm a bit surprised the Brewers haven't dealt Lind already to an AL team looking for a left handed DH. I still think it will happen, though the prospects won't be ready to go for a few years.
I agree that that's way to do it - just concerned about the willingness of the fan base to watch even worse baseball for 2-3 years. I think they've gotta have decent defense and offense ... so that they're not stumbling around and not scoring at all. They have no choice but to wait on pitching. They can't afford to buy it ... so they'll have to develop it. Lind & Lucroy for prospects 2-3 years away would put them on that path. A lower-ish cost, mid-tier SP or two couldn't hurt either. Add Trevor Cahill to the group I mentioned earlier.
I'd like to see mid level starter from somewhere, but a mid level starter is not cheap. They are still gonna be in the 5-8 million range, and IMO, that ain't happening.
Braun's 20 million is around 40% of the salary total, and Garza is around 20%. Those two are major leeches on the pocketbook for the Brewers. It handicaps them for a while. They also owe Kyle Lohse like 2 million. Very frustrating. It makes no sense how baseball guarantees their salaries. It hurts teams, and especially hurts the small market teams if they miss on a guy.
'They are on the hook for Braun until 2020 and Garza until 2017.
I would not be surprised to see Lind, LuCroy, and Segura moved at some point. We need a 1b, 2b, 3b, and SP of major league caliber. Scooter Gennett is not the future at 2b. It would be nice to find a taker for Garza and Braun.
Braun is too expensive to move - but will earn more of his salary than Garza ... who has been puss.
If he doesn't start out at least acceptably ... I'd just as soon release him - or be willing to pay the vast majority of his salary in a trade ... if you could find a willing partner.
I would kinda like to see them give Middlebrooks a chance at 3rd. He can play "D" - and he was a semi power prospect ... which might redevelop at Miller Park.
And - maybe, Locke ... to get a lefty into the rotation - not great ... but he shows up ... and he shouldn't cost that much.
And - it's time for Peralta to stay healthy ... and pitch to his potential. He and Eddy Lacy should look for a group deal with a nutritionist. Together they make a group.
The Brewers owe Braun almost 100 million. They aren't releasing that contract so he can sit home and collect. He will play regardless of his production, and no one will buy that contract. We are stuck with him, and can only hope he will produce and help the Brewers win games.
I think Lucroy could bring in a prospect that may be ready in a year. There is a need for catchers out there and he is a year removed from a pretty darn year (2014)
I also wouldnt mind Lucroy for another year or at least until the trade deadline. Just think if he starts out hot and stays injury free I see him as a pretty looked at trade material.
We are just plain stuck with Braun and Garza unless Garza starts out really hot and some team wants to take a chance. Braun, no way any team goes after him so we are stuck with him and I hope he returns to an all-star form of a few years ago.
Segura could be a possible guy that teams may want. I see or heard he isnt going to sign a 4 year deal to the team contract so I would guess he is gone either during the year or sometime soon.
Hopefully some of the prospect the Brewers have traded for devolp much quicker than people predict or it is going to be a tough few years to be a fan.
Mariners Acquire Adam Lind
By Steve Adams | December 9, 2015 at 10:55am CST
Another day, another trade for Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto. The Mariners and Brewers have announced a trade sending first baseman Adam Lind to Seattle in exchange for minor league right-handers Carlos Herrera, Freddy Peralta and Daniel Missaki.
As for the Brewers, they'll receive a trio of young arms that didn't rank in the Mariners' top 30 prospect on MLB.com's end-of-season rankings, although each is exceptionally young and has a good bit of time to rise up the prospect ranks in Milwaukee.
Peralta, 19, did rank as Seattle's No. 24 prospect in the eyes of Baseball America one winter ago. He spent his second season with the team's Rookie-level affiliate in Arizona this season, and while he logged an uninspiring 4.11 ERA in 57 innings, he also posted an electric 67-to-8 K/BB ratio while spending most of his time (nine of 11 appearances) as a starting pitcher.
Seattle only signed Herrera, 18, in July of 2014. BA's Ben Badler wrote at the time that Herrera's fastball was topping out at 90 mph as a 16-year-old, but his projectable 6'3″, 170-pound frame gave reason to believe that more velocity would come as he filled out. He also noted that Herrera had a 72-74 mph curve ball in his arsenal. Herrera debuted in the Dominican Summer League this past season, pitching to a 3.26 ERA with 73 strikeouts against just 13 walks in 80 innings.
Missaki, 19, is a Brazilian-born right-hander who, as Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel tweets, underwent Tommy John surgery back in May. Despite his young age, Missaki opened the season in the Class-A Midwest League and looked impressive in six starts, pitching to a 3.41 ERA with a 34-to-5 K/BB ratio in 34 1/3 innings against markedly older competition. He'll presumably be ready to take the mound this summer and could see some more action at Class-A upon a return to health.
The three prospects acquired here demonstrate that new Brewers GM David Stearns is committed to restocking the farm and won't be shy about moving Major League assets for players that are years away from contributing in the Majors. Each of the pitchers acquired has displayed impressive control for a young pitcher, which could be a point of emphasis in future trades as the Brewers look to return to prominence in an absolutely stacked National League Central Division
Seems like more of a salary dump than anything. Young arms are like rolling the dice, though, so maybe one of them will turn into a decent player at some point.
I don't have (or to be fair, didn't have) a ton of confidence in the Brewers developing young arms. Hopefully the new regime will figure it out, change pitching coaches at the lower levels, so we can build a decent staff. With the price of marginal starters/relievers, it is basically the only way the Brewers can sustain success.
All three of the guys the Brewers got for Lind are control pitchers who do not walk people.
Gone are the days of the big strikeout, bashing offense and no control pitching. Moneyball is here.
I still see Middlebrooks as a possibility because the Brewers will go after non-defensiive liabilities as stop gaps to help with the young pitching.
I fully expect the Brewers to sign Danial Nava for their first baseman needs, unless Pedro Alvarez comes on the cheap. Alvarez still is young enough and has potential for the Brewers to gamble in case he breaks out so they can flip him. I also expect that with one starting pitcher. I have been so enamored with getting Henderson Alvarez the moment the Marlins didn't tender him an offer.
Other things I want/do not want to see this offseason:
While demand is high for relief pitching (Did you see Axford just signed?), I do not on any terms want to see losing a person with a plus pitch that is already dominating. Do not trade Will Smith. Four more years of club control and arbitration will not come anywhere near the price relievers are getting nowadays. I love him.
I have never liked Khris Davis so my opinion has always been low....but we need to find a trade partner for him just so we can have a place to stick Domingo Santana and see what he can actually do. BrewCrewBall.com proposed a Khris Davis for Dylan Bundy (he's out of options for the Orioles) and with the Orioles retracting the offer on Chris Davis and potentially having him and Steve Pearce walk...they could use our Khris Davis. I know that's really wishful dreaming, but man it would be sweet if it came to fruition.
I have never understood the Brewers love for Khris Davis. He has a below average arm, and strikes out a ton. He's the guy will have a multi HR game and then go dormant for 2 weeks.
I have no problem with getting guys who will throw strikes, but there are no guarantees with really young pitchers. If they can't throw it by guys, then they have to be smart pitchers. How do you measure that if they aren't in your organization?
We are going to go through quite a few lean years if they fully commit to this.
I've never cared for Davis either. Santana needs to be playing everyday MLB.
I still don't know why they don't bring Braun in to 1B. I think he could be an (at least) average defender ... and his bat matches the position.
While I love the thought of Alvarez's offense at Miller - I don't want to add anybody anywhere with as flawed a aspect of their game as his defense at 1B ... (maybe if they play him at 3rd ... more of a reaction position - but I'd rather see Middlebrooks there). Maybe Nava.
Overall - defense is going to need to take away a few runs ... because they're not going to score many. No matter who the rotation turns out to be ... they can hardly give up more than last years'.
OMG not Pedro Alvarez....This is a worse version of Jose Hernandez of years gone by. High strikeouts little walks..on base percentage of .309 which is pathetic for a supposed All-Star. Horrible fielder and our defense was bad at best last year. Virtually every starting Brewer got on base more than this all or nothing player. One of the worst Brewers ever Logan Schafer had a .300 on base average. Also I understand about the need to get younger but when we trade for guys fresh out of high school its a slippery slope.
Then there is talk of trading LuCroy..he is ten times better than no hit cant run Maldonado. LuCroy is dirt cheap on the payroll as well. As Lombardi said, "What the inappropriate term3 is going on out there"
For the next few years, the reason to go to Miller Park will be the tailgating for sure.
from mlbtraderumors.com (today) ...
"Agent Joe Sambito tells Cafardo that free agent third baseman Will Middlebrooks has gotten inquiries from 11 teams. Cafardo speculates that the Brewers could bring Middlebrooks into their third base mix."
Brewers sign Will Middlebrooks to minor-league deal - By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel Dec. 15, 2015
There was a time not that long ago when Boston fans wondered what the Red Sox would do with third base prospect Garin Cecchini, who was roadblocked at the big-league level by Will Middlebrooks.
Now, the Brewers have both players.
"The baseball world can change pretty quickly," said Brewers general manager David Stearns.
Five days after acquiring Cecchini in a cash deal with Boston, the Brewers signed Middlebrooks to a minor-league deal Tuesday with an invitation to big-league spring training. Middlebrooks, 27, became a free agent when San Diego non-tendered him Dec. 2 rather than enter the arbitration process after a poor season.
Once considered a top prospect, Middlebrooks made a strong debut with Boston in 2012, batting .288 with 15 home runs and 54 runs batted in over 75 games. The next year, he compiled 17 homers and 49 RBI in 94 games, but his batting average slipped to .227 and his OPS from .835 to .522.
Plagued by injuries, Middlebrooks continued to slide in 2014, batting .191 with a .522 OPS in 63 games. After the season, the Red Sox signed free-agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval and shipped Middlebrooks to San Diego.
He continued to struggle with the Padres, batting .212 with a .602 OPS in 270 plate appearances before being optioned to Class AAA El Paso in July.
Cecchini, 24, who was designated for assignment after a poor year at Class AAA Pawtucket, bats left-handed and Middlebrooks right-handed, presenting the possibility they could share time at third base with either also seeing action at first base.
"We look at both of them as guys who can play both corners," said Stearns, who has other internal options at third base in Jonathan Villar and non-roster player Hernan Perez. "We look at them primarily as third basemen but they have that additional versatility."
"The right/left complement is intentional. To be able to have that versatility gives us more options to fill out our roster."
Asked whether it's more likely that manager Craig Counsell would mix and match at third base, Stearns said, "It's too early to tell. In an ideal scenario, you'd like to see one guy emerge and take the bull by the horns and become an everyday, major-league player.
"But we also now have the depth and options for Craig to put the best matchups out there."
As for why Middlebrooks and Cecchini backtracked significantly offensively, "There are probably different reasons for each guy," Stearns said. "Middlebrooks did have success in the major leagues when he first came up, and since then has had success in spurts but hasn't maintained as well as you'd like.
"Cecchini is still a young player. He has been a prospect on the industry radar for a while. We still think that same talent is there and the ability is still there."
Stearns said he had no other personnel moves pending but added, "We remain active both in the center field and first base market."
Both these moves are limited liability, which is great. If they are signed to minor league deals, the money is minimal, and the Brewers are looking at these guys like they are maybes, rather than guys who we are counting on to make use winners long term.
Brewers trade Jason Rogers? I didn't know he had trade value. We now have no first baseman for the big leagues. Can someone say Pedro Alvarez? David Stearns is certainly restocking the farm system and hey...Keon Broxton might be the stopgap centerfielder until Brett Phillips gets to the big leagues. I have no clue what Stearns is going to do next and it's got me excited!
Quote from: ougiqbxy on December 17, 2015, 10:17:04 PM
Brewers trade Jason Rogers? I didn't know he had trade value. We now have no first baseman for the big leagues. Can someone say Pedro Alvarez? David Stearns is certainly restocking the farm system and hey...Keon Broxton might be the stopgap centerfielder until Brett Phillips gets to the big leagues. I have no clue what Stearns is going to do next and it's got me excited!
I'm with you on that. If I know what they're gonna do ... they're in big trouble.
I've got near-term ideas - but not long-term, big-picture kinda stuff.
Stearns getting more than a dirty pair of socks for Jason Rogers might put him in contention for GM of the year.
It seems that they are not even thinking short term, unless it comes almost free (Middlebrooks). While that will make for some pretty lean years for the next five or so, hopefully it makes the Brewers stronger long term.
Dean Taylor never got any credit, but he built the club from the bottom up, and it worked. Then we brought in a new crew (granted with a different major league club) with Melvin, who kept buying short term fixes and selling the future. Maybe it was a cycle the Brewers were looking to do long term, but it certainly left the cupboard very barren. Maybe that is the plan again, in the future. Build for a few years, then buy stopgap pitching talent to try and win it all.
Getting any team to take Garza or Braun would free up so much cash. Those two hold the club back more than anything else.
There might be a market for Braun ... if they eat some of the contract. He's still performing ... just not at that contract level.
Garza is another story altogether. Nobody wants him in their rotation. They'd be lucky to get the league minimum discount they'd get if they cut him ... and somebody picked him up for that ... (assuming he'd take it instead of just sitting).
Dec. 23, 2015
The Milwaukee Brewers made a series of moves on Wednesday, filling up their 40-man roster in the process.
The team claimed three players off waivers: outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis from the New York Mets, catcher Josmil Pinto from the San Diego Padres and first baseman Andy Wilkins from the Texas Rangers.
Nieuwenhuis, 28, is a four-year veteran who's played a total of 273 major-league games. Much of that time has come in center field, so he gives the Brewers another option there to consider in spring training along with last week's trade acquisition, Keon Broxton.
Shane Peterson, Ramon Flores and Michael Reed also will join the fray in center in the spring.
A left-handed hitter, Nieuwenhuis has batted .232 with a .306 on-base percentage over the course of his career. He hit .195 with four home runs and 14 RBI last season in 74 games while splitting time between the Mets and the Angels.
Three of those four homers came in one game on July 12 at Citi Field.
Pinto, 26, has 78 games of major-league experience, all with the Minnesota Twins. He hit .219 with seven homers and 18 RBI in 57 games in 2014.
In 64 games at Class AAA Rochester in 2015, Pinto hit .228/7/31. He had been claimed off waivers from the Twins by the Padres on Nov. 20.
Neither Nieuwenhuis nor Pinto have any minor-league options remaining.
Wilkins, 27, played 17 games in the majors for the Chicago White Sox in 2014, hitting .140 with two RBI.
He joins his seventh organization in this calendar year and third this month alone. He was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on Dec. 2 and again by the Rangers on Dec. 14 after the Mariners cut him loose.
Wilkins hit .293 with 30 homers and 85 RBI at Class AAA Charlotte in 2014 while with the White Sox and .251/18/79 in 126 games split between Class AAA Oklahoma City and Buffalo in 2015.
It's likely Pinto and Wilkins are being eyed for depth at Class AAA Colorado Springs with the Brewers, as they have needs at both catcher and first base.
The Brewers also announced several minor-league moves, most notable the retirement of outfielder Michael Ratterree, a 10th-round pick in 2013.
Ratterree hit just .150 with two homers and 17 RBI in 75 games at Class A Brevard County last season.
Eric Young Jr. signs minor-league deal with Brewers - By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel Dec. 29, 2015
Infielder/outfielder Eric Young Jr., whose father played in Milwaukee during a previous rebuilding era, has signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers with an invitation to big-league camp, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported Tuesday.
Crasnick reported that Young will receive a $1 million salary if he makes the Brewers' roster next season.
Young, 30, would be more of an extra piece providing speed and versatility. He can play second base — as his father did for the Brewers in 2002-'03 — as well as all three outfield positions.
In 557 major-league games with Colorado, Atlanta and the New York Mets, Young has batted .247 with a .314 on-base percentage and .642 OPS. He has stolen 144 bases, including 46 in 2013 while playing for both the Mets and Rockies.
Last season, Young played in 35 games for the Braves and 18 for the Mets, who purchased his contract Aug. 22. He struggled badly at the plate, batting .153 with a .217 OBP.
In 247 games with the Brewers, the elder Young batted .271 with a .340 OBP, 18 home runs, 59 RBI and 56 stolen bases.
The only father-son combos to play for the Brewers were Tito and Terry Francona, and Davey and Derrick May.
None of the guys in the last two posts will make the roster. Not sure what they are making these moves for. Shake up things? Send a message to our minor league guys?
Quote from: Ghetto on December 30, 2015, 09:24:59 AM
None of the guys in the last two posts will make the roster. Not sure what they are making these moves for. Shake up things? Send a message to our minor league guys?
Obviously they are not planning on winning this year so why not sign a bunch of cheap options and see if you can catch lightning in a bottle. Its going to be a long season for the major league club - which I am more than ok with - so sign cheap placeholders and don't burn service time on our future stars in the minors. Its going to be fun seeing how a suddenly stocked farms system plays out the next few years - good time to start following minor league baseball.
I understand the concept, but few of the guys they've signed have shown that they can do anything at the MLB level.
Maybe Young will mentor Gennett.
If we trade LuCroy who is going to be the catcher.....it certainly isn't Maldonado who cant even hit his weight.
I doubt they'll trade Lucroy. His number isn't very high, and he's an above average player. The Brewers got over on his contract big time. Lucroy definitely gave the home town discount.
We couldn't trade Davis for a clubhouse big screen tv?
Quote from: Ghetto on December 31, 2015, 01:05:21 PM
I doubt they'll trade Lucroy. His number isn't very high, and he's an above average player. The Brewers got over on his contract big time. Lucroy definitely gave the home town discount.
Which is why he is one of the few with value if they are going to do a complete rebuild. I would trade Lucroy but only if it was a blow me away offer of prospects. Part of that is I hate to see Lucroy waste what is left of his good playing years on a rebuiliding team with no hopeof winning. By the time they get good he will be gone or too old. If they don't trade him by Spring Training they probably won't - a lot of teams don't like picking up catchers in mid season due to chemistry with the pitchers.
Quote from: easytopin on December 31, 2015, 02:00:52 PM
We couldn't trade Davis for a clubhouse big screen tv?
would suprise me if they don't. Basically have to many outfielders as it is and Santana needs to slide into that slot - just not a CF.
Anybody have one of those outdoor patio wood burners for heat, mainly summer use called a Chiminea?
I have two on different brick patios... love the idea. Have never fired one up though... in 10 years.
What's the secret... ? Gotta start using those things...
Sorry... the 'hot stove' thing just got me thinkin'....
Oh, and the Brewers? Are they still in Milwaukee? Thought they moved to Atlanta. 8)
I hear Hank is on the trading block - pretty old for a rebuilding team. Probably find some mutt from the pound to hold his mascot spot for less dog treats until they develop another dog.
Quote from: DrSnide on January 05, 2016, 02:19:55 PM
Quote from: Ghetto on December 31, 2015, 01:05:21 PM
I doubt they'll trade Lucroy. His number isn't very high, and he's an above average player. The Brewers got over on his contract big time. Lucroy definitely gave the home town discount.
Which is why he is one of the few with value if they are going to do a complete rebuild. I would trade Lucroy but only if it was a blow me away offer of prospects. Part of that is I hate to see Lucroy waste what is left of his good playing years on a rebuiliding team with no hopeof winning. By the time they get good he will be gone or too old. If they don't trade him by Spring Training they probably won't - a lot of teams don't like picking up catchers in mid season due to chemistry with the pitchers.
Texas was in still is enamored with Lucroy, but the Brewers have wanted too much so the Rangers have backed off. I could see them coming after Lucroy very shortly with the interest the Nationals have in finding a new catcher. IMO Lucroy will be gone by spring training. There's a reason the Brewers signed Yosmil Pinto.
Quote from: ougiqbxy on January 06, 2016, 08:03:34 PM
Quote from: DrSnide on January 05, 2016, 02:19:55 PM
Quote from: Ghetto on December 31, 2015, 01:05:21 PM
I doubt they'll trade Lucroy. His number isn't very high, and he's an above average player. The Brewers got over on his contract big time. Lucroy definitely gave the home town discount.
Which is why he is one of the few with value if they are going to do a complete rebuild. I would trade Lucroy but only if it was a blow me away offer of prospects. Part of that is I hate to see Lucroy waste what is left of his good playing years on a rebuiliding team with no hopeof winning. By the time they get good he will be gone or too old. If they don't trade him by Spring Training they probably won't - a lot of teams don't like picking up catchers in mid season due to chemistry with the pitchers.
Texas was in still is enamored with Lucroy, but the Brewers have wanted too much so the Rangers have backed off. I could see them coming after Lucroy very shortly with the interest the Nationals have in finding a new catcher. IMO Lucroy will be gone by spring training. There's a reason the Brewers signed Yosmil Pinto.
They waived Pinto from the 40 man to make room for 1st baseman Chris Carter.
Now Carter is a guy I can start to like. 90 bombs in three years. He can hit a Rob Deer-like average if he can hit that many HRs this season. Be a butcher at 1st for all I care. Just hit bombs buddy. ;D
Quote from: Ghetto on January 06, 2016, 08:41:25 PM
Now Carter is a guy I can start to like. 90 bombs in three years. He can hit a Rob Deer-like average if he can hit that many HRs this season. Be a butcher at 1st for all I care. Just hit bombs buddy. ;D
+1 ... wouldn't be surprised to see 35-40 dingers with half his games at Miller.
He doesn't have much else to offer - but he'll help keep the turnstyles turning.