Brewers are well positioned for huge haul in July

[JohnBriggs12]

While most of the threads are focusing on how to replace the irreplaceable Gallardo, realism suggests we look at what can be done in July to turn the Brewer assests, namely quality veteran bullpen arms and a top of the line starter, into a huge haul of top tier young talent, particularly starting pitching. It may turn out to be long term a very productive year despite what is shaping up as a disappointment.

 

Melvin did a very shrewd job of collecting guys this offseason, who even if they can't help get them to the playoffs, will be in demand from teams that are fighting for playoff spots. Torres, Riske, Mota, and Gagne are all types that teams routinely overpay for like the Brewers did for Linebrink last year. Throw Sheets into the mix and you really make things interesting.

 

Add to all that is the salary relief that could be used to lock up some guys or be active in the FA market this offseason.

[PeaveyFury]

The Brewers have certainly positioned themselves very well to re-load regardless of what happens on the year. 6 High picks this season will certainly add to the system regardless. If the team falls out of contention before the end of July, they can get a major haul for the guys you mentioned. If they're still in the running, they can get another serious draft haul from Sheets and Gagne, and possibly Mota if he keeps it up. That's another 6-7 draft picks in the top 2 rounds again next year for Jack Z to work his magic on. It could definitely help prolong the Brewers' run, and also give us ammo to trade prospects for what we need next year around the deadline.

[Roscoe Chill]

Reload? From what? Not trying to be a smart alec, but they haven't done anything with all the expectations that we've had for the last five or so years pointing to right now. Truthfully, they still haven't completed their rebuild just yet.

 

I'm not saying they shouldn't be sellers, in fact I would commit to getting some more pieces (through trades) sooner than most of you around here who will cling on to the mathematical chances of the team being playoff bound. My feeling right now is...it's just not happening this year.

 

First and foremost, it's great to have so many draft picks, but man alive, it's time to draft some COLLEGE pitchers that can be fast tracked with those early picks. I see team's draft picks from one or two years ago already int their respective rotations, meanwhile the Brewers have Mark Rogers. It's frustrating.

 

Oh, and how about a new manager?

[PeaveyFury]

I see team's draft picks from one or two years ago already int their respective rotations, meanwhile the Brewers have Mark Rogers. It's frustrating.

 

Well, from the same draft they got Mark Rogers, they also got Yovani Gallardo, who was also a HS pitcher, FWIW.

[Postseason2006]

If we end up trading guys again and are out of it, Melvin and Yost needed to be unloaded. I have heard continually the past 4 years how we would win since 2004... What a joke.

[Roscoe Chill]

Oh, I understand that Peavey. But what I'm talking about is when teams draft early and pick up starting pitchers that are in the mix soon. I know the Tigers traded him to the Marlins AND that he's not doing so hot right now, but Andrew Miller is an example. Luke Hochevar is in the Royals rotation. Lincecum...Scherzer. Of course those guys weren't available when the Brewers picked, but Ian Kennedy was. And again, I'm not going off how well any of these guys is doing, I'm just saying that they are already in the major leagues, or are available to at least give the ML level a try. This team needs that type of player. Not another high school pitcher that will be ready to contribute when Prince Fielder is on the Red Sox.

[Brewer Fever]

Postseason 2006, your screename sugggests there was a time when the thought of a playoff berth in 2006 was reasonable. That's hard to fathom now. And not only does it seem that the next target for postseason to shoot for is 2009, but I'm starting to routinely contemplate the very real possibility that this wave of talent we currently enjoy will be off to greener pastures without ever making a single postseason appearance in Milwaukee. It's a stop you in your tracks type thought.

[Roscoe Chill]

If we end up trading guys again and are out of it, Melvin and Yost needed to be unloaded. I have heard continually the past 4 years how we would win since 2004... What a joke.

I agree with you on Yost man, believe me I do. However, I think this team (Gallardo injury excluding) was set up to do well the last couple years, it just isn't going to happen. The attitude on Yost last year when they fell apart and lost the division to the Cubs just baffled me. All kinds of people were pointing to this year, and just chalked up last year to a learning year. Hogwash. Yost should have been held accountable last year. This target year for success crap doesn't work because you're always a torn ACL away from being poop out of luck.

So, as far as hearing how they'd be a winner...yeah, I agree with your frustration. However, last year should have given us a taste. And when it didn't happen, that's when a move at the manager level should have been made. Hopefully it's a move that is made sometime soon.

*And I'm not blaming Yost for Gallardo's injury.

[Postseason2006]

Gagme might get us a six pack of Schlitz and some Porko's. He's awful...

[brewmann04]

well the one thing positive is if the crew plays like this they will have to get rid of ned.

ps i agree on eric

[And That]

well the one thing positive is if the crew plays like this they will have to get rid of ned.

This is not a Ned Yost thread.

 

[Never Outhustled]

I know the Tigers traded him to the Marlins AND that he's not doing so hot right now, but Andrew Miller is an example. Luke Hochevar is in the Royals rotation. Lincecum...Scherzer. Of course those guys weren't available when the Brewers picked, but Ian Kennedy was.

Every pitcher you mentioned signed for over slot value, and every pitcher except Lincecum is a Boras client and signed for well over slot value. The Brewers don't sign draft picks for over slot value. It sucks, but our owner simply doesn't fork over that kind of money to build his team.

 

A couple of years ago, Melvin stated the teams research showed paying extra for Boras pitchers hadn't been a wise investment for teams. Its possible thats changed, though Miller and Kennedy have struggled in the majors, and Hochevar and Scherzer have only made a few starts.

 

 

Also, this is Melvins 7th season with the Brewers. Sheets, Fielder, Hall, Hart, Hardy, and Parra (and Jack Z) were already in the organization when he took over. If the team is out of contention by July, then he should be fired, and Jack Z should be promoted immediately. Its Melvin that has made the decision to stick with Yost, and he should be held completely accountable for it. I hope it doesn't come to this.

[Roscoe Chill]

The team still needs to draft some pitchers that will help within a couple years. Or not, and this "window" of all these great young players will close, and we've seen the peak of what the Brewers can do last year...not very satisfying.

[DrWood]

I'm definitely not saying they will; I don't think that, but if they did drop out of the playoff race, they could probably get a decent prospect or two for mota and torres, given their production so far.

[bklynbrewcrew]

Is that what its coming to where we point to what we can get for middle relievers if we drop out of the race. Thats very sad.

[rluzinski]

I doesn't think teams are going to care about their production in April when the trade deadline rolls around 3 months from now. I'd be surprised if either were sporting an ERA under 3 by the time the Brewers would even consider trading anyone.

 

Why would you mention those two guys but not Ben Sheets, anyway? He's the guy the Brewers might be able to get something for. Regardless, I doubt the Brewers will be out of it by enough in July for Mark A. to start taking the team apart. They'd probably have to be 10+ games below .500.

[Fatter than Joey]

They'd probably have to be 10+ games below .500.

 

I agree -- In 2006 we really didn't have much of a shot given our injuries, yet we went out and got Cordero which was a huge need for us at the time. The only difference in this year, is that the Cubs could make us sellers earlier than we care to be if they keep scoring runs like they are -- in 2006, 2007 the Central was very wide open.

[brewcrew00]

Runs scored or not, the Cubs have dropped 6 of their last 9. Obviously that trend won't hold, but it just goes to show how streaky teams can get. I see this year being as wide open as any.

[DrWood]

I didn't see this thread, as I infrequently come to the transactions boards after the season is well underway, but before late season additions/departures are starting. Sorry I posted my thead in a different board, and it is clearly redundant with earlier posts in this thread.

[GAME05]

it's definitely going to be last-second if the Brewers are going to be sellers. but yeah, we've got a ton of players to dump if needs be. i also think Hardy would be a good candidate to trade with Escobar rising in the system. i doubt we'd trade Weeks and replace him with Escobar, just because then we'd be needing a leadoff hitter.

 

though i do think we'll be getting a decent number of college players in this draft, remember that though they do rise through the system faster, you're also generally getting a lower ceiling than high-school players, particularly when it comes to pitchers. i don't think it's necessarily bad that we draft HS guys. pluse we've got Villy and Bush(?) and Parra and Gallardo just starting out, so we should in theory have plenty of time to allow HS pitchers to develop in the minors for a while.

 

although the lack of depth at the upper minor league level makes me think that we're not really in a position to be buyers if we are in contention in June, and to just go with what we've got.

[DrWood]

although the lack of depth at the upper minor league level makes me think that we're not really in a position to be buyers if we are in contention in June, and to just go with what we've got.

There are plenty of players in the system that could be packaged for an extra arm or bat. Before the season, I had Gamel in that group, but no longer as he might be our most promising LH bat.

 

[GAME05]

There are plenty of players in the system that could be packaged for an extra arm or bat. Before the season, I had Gamel in that group, but no longer as he might be our most promising LH bat.

 

According to the Power 50, we've got 2 guys in our top 25 who are in AAA at the moment, Iribarren and Pena, neither of whom are going to excite a lot of other teams. i guess we could dump an OF or two, for whatever that's worth. but then everyone always wants pitchers, and all we've got is Jeffress and a bunch of A-ball guys.

i'm still fine if Gamel is traded. i figure he may very well end up as a corner OF, and we're loaded at that position with LaPorta above Gamel in the system. plus Gamel won't have all that much power for OF or 3B. we could always use LH Brad Nelson as a PH off the bench if needs be this season.

[And That]

I said it during the offseason and I'll repeat it again: no way do I trade Gamel unless it's in a deal for a bona fide major league #2 or better. I don't think the corner outfield is a foregone conclusion for him and that makes his value as a non LF/RF/1B guy astronomical to the Brewers. He's still worth much more to the Brewers than to other teams.

[Gopher74]

But what I'm talking about is when teams draft early and pick up starting pitchers that are in the mix soon. And again, I'm not going off how well any of these guys is doing, I'm just saying that they are already in the major leagues, or are available to at least give the ML level a try. This team needs that type of player. Not another high school pitcher that will be ready to contribute when Prince Fielder is on the Red Sox.

And I think this year we will. I think that a guy like Fields if he's still around at 16 is the type we'll go after. But you also can't discount what the Brewers have done. Go after the

guy with the really high ceiling in the 1st round when we're a couple years away(as has been the case the last time we drafted a High School pitcher in the first round), or go for the college arm without the talent level the high school arms do.

 

When you're ready to compete, that's one thing, but when you're not, it's playing it too safe and that's not a good idea either in my opinion. Of course now we've got the luxury of being able to do both. Grab a couple college arms, closers possibly in particular, and then go after a couple very high ceiling young high school arms.

 

As for the Prince and Red Sox comment, that's overplayed. This organization is put together in a manner in which they'll still be successful while Prince is with the Red Sox if that even happens(which I happen to doubt).

 

[Gopher74]

I said it during the offseason and I'll repeat it again: no way do I trade Gamel unless it's in a deal for a bona fide major league #2 or better. I don't think the corner outfield is a foregone conclusion for him and that makes his value as a non LF/RF/1B guy astronomical to the Brewers. He's still worth much more to the Brewers than to other teams.

I certainly didn't say it in the off-season, but I'm damn sure saying it now. I wouldn't deal for Gamel for anything, but a good young starting pitcher. Not even a guy like Sabathia who's gone after this year(though that'd make me think about it long and hard). And not for a BP arm.

 

And what's more, I'd much rather deal Matt LaPorta as it appears that Gamel's nearly as talented if not more, just as close to being ready, and offers a left handed bat rather than a right handed bat. And, on top of all that, LaPorta's the player that seems to be more highly touted, meaning the return on him would be greater. So not only he Gamel more valuable to us, he's less valuable to other teams. That's a good reason to not deal him.

 

I do however think that the corner OF or 1st is a foregone conclusion for Gamel. I don't see him sticking at 3rd.