What starting pitcher will get traded in the offseason?

[BREWCREW5]

Obviously the crew will have to make some room for Gallardo, Villy and possibly even Parra in the next years rotation. These guys are young, good and cheap. I would assume the crew will/could flip Bush, Vargas and even Capuano. Who do you think is most likely to be traded and what can the Brewers expect to get in return.

 

I for one, would love it if the crew could trade away one of the above pitchers along with Gwynn Jr. and get a nice outfield bat in the place of Jenkins. Thoughts?

[splitterpfj]

Looking at next year's roster, there are three positions I could picture the Brewers trading to upgrade - catcher, left field and closer.

 

I do think one of Cappy, Bush and Vargas will be moved, two of them will be kept around, as this regime is high on maintaining depth, for good reason.

 

I have no idea what players will be made available in trades, but I think the Brewers would be willing to deal any one of the three arms, depending on what is out there.

 

My guess is, Bush stays, it's Cappy if the offer is good enough, or it's Vargas if the player coming back is a short-term answer.

[zzzmanwitz]

I truly think Vargas will be gone before next season. My guess is he is traded in the offseason.

 

Bush is most valuable as a starter, if they have no way of getting him into the rotation, I think we need to try to trade him (as much as i love the guy). If I had my ideal situation, the rotation would be Sheets, Gallardo, Villy, Suppan, Bush with Parra as the long relief man, like Villy was this year.

[chadomac]

Vargas is only signed through this year, soooo... he will NOT be back here next year if he isn't traded midseason.

[PeaveyFury]

Vargas is actually Brewer property through the end of 2009.

[Oldcity]

In order of likelihood I'd go with:

 

1. Vargas

2. Capuano

3. Bush

[BREWCREW5]

I personally think that Capuano would probably bring the most return but it will probably be vargas...

[sbrylski]

My guess is, Bush stays, it's Cappy if the offer is good enough, or it's Vargas if the player coming back is a short-term answer.

 

Looks like I'm "fourthing" this.

[hauser42]

I think Bush gets sent out of town as he would bring some value back. Team is going to need a LFer next year with via trade or free agency.

 

Vargas #2

Cappy#3

 

I think Cappy has more value than Vargas.

 

When considering trades you have to think of the value that the team is looking to get in return.

[Hammer715]

I think and hope it's Suppan. The Brewers back loaded his contract for a reason, and I think the first good offer gets him. When we signed hiim we had a need but since we have found the rookies are pretty good. I would think with Soups salary and Jenkins we could address much needed upgrades at catcher and outfield (left)

[robfuhr]

Could Bush...take Cordero's spot as the Closer...that would open up Gallardo's spot.

 

Bush Closed in College, I believe.

[CportBadger]

Bush wasn't that good in the pen last year. I think he is more valuable to the team as a starter. I think Vargas gets dealt and the rotation is

 

Sheets

Yo

Cappy

Bush

Suppan

 

With Villy, TBow, and Parra as the 3 best relievers. They may trade another guy and put Villy in the rotation as well, if they can make the team better.

[Moose Wallbanger]

I think you guys are nuts to be perfectly honest. We really cannot afford to trade Capuano just yet.

 

One, his value is probably at its lowest right now.

 

Two, when healthy, he has pitched at worst, like a #2 starter. Why would we trade someone like this?

 

Three, contending teams rarely start first or second year starters like Gallardo, Villanueva and Parra would be.

 

Four, Suppan is the obvious choice. Suppan is a great guy who is great in the locker room. However, he is HIGHLY overpaid just like a lot of pitchers out there, and I know I would much rather give the $$$ to Capuano when his contract comes up.

 

I will take Cappy and Bush over Vargas or Suppan any day of the week. Plus not one of them will bring us a top notch OF or C or OF/C prospect that would most likely be the target.

[splitterpfj]

Moose, I agree with almost everything you said, but Suppan isn't going anywhere - because of his contract.

 

When you look at his production vs his salary, he'd be tough to move, as happens often with free agent pitchers.

[markedman5]

plus Suppan has a 2 year no trade clause I believe.

[DHonks]

It seems likely that Vargas is dealt, and either Sheets or Capuano. The franchise needs to weigh the costs and benefits of trying to sign Ben. I've always been very pro-signing Benny, but I look at the A's, and they seem just fine without Harang, Zito, Mulder, and Hudson. It seems that unless the person is an absolute stud, it's better to build a core of position players and try to always have suitable replacements at pitcher. It depends on whether or not they weigh Sheets as a stud.

 

What if we are able to do a deal like Philip Hughes, Bobby Abreu, and a chunk of cash (let's say $4-6 million) for Sheets. Should we do that?

 

The only scary thing about that deal is the extreme youth of the rotation, since Gallardo, Hughes, Parra, and Villanueva are all considerations for the rotation.

[Gopher74]

Bush had one game in which he came out of the pen last year, and it was inbetween starts, so I'm not sure that's the best way to tell if he can handle pitching out of the pen.

 

He goes after guys, he's got a live fastball, and a nice curve. I don't see why he couldn't be a very effective long man next year.

[Gopher74]

As far as the A's, I don't know how you can say they're getting by fine without their big three. The A's letting players go has finally caught up to them.

 

As far as Benny, if you want to win a WS, you're going to have to have that 1-2 punch at the top, and I don't see another pitcher capable of filling that role right now to pair with Gallardo. I like Bush a lot, but not as a ace/number 2 type.

 

We've got to lock Benny up to a Oswalt like deal. 4 years 60/5 years 75. I know he's had a little bit of a bad run of luck here, but he also had a great run of health, and his shoulder and elbow are both totally healthy.

 

 

And to be honest, I don't see the need to trade anyone. I don't see what'd be so wrong with going into next year with;

1-Sheets

2-Gallardo

3-Cappy

4-Suppan

5-Bush

 

LR-Villy/Vargas

LHR/LR-Parra.

 

Just because guys CAN start doesn't mean you can't use them in other roles, and that might be the best way to work Parra in, as the 5th or 6th option out of your pen for a year. He does have a little injury history.

 

Then when someone's REALLY hard up for starting pitching next year unload one of them, or just wait until the year after when Suppan's no trade runs out and you've got the money to sign Benny right there, plus about 5 million(Sheets 11 Million, Suppan 10 Million, Benny would cost about 15, so that actually equals about 6 million).

 

Trade when someone begs you, don't look to make a deal unless you can improve your team. And don't trade a good starter for a good reliver. It has to be a upgrade in order to do it IMO.

[JohnBriggs12]

Remember Sheets could be gone after next season. So it's possible he could be the one that is dealt.

[litesrn]

Agree, briggs - unless Sheets gives some indication that there will be a hometown discount, he may be the best candidate in terms of return.

[prince of roy]

Sheets

Yoga

Capuano

Suppan

Bush

 

Now thats camparable to the chi sox team and the tigers team

 

Buerhle

Contrares

Garland

Garcia

Vasquez

 

and

 

Rogers

Verlander

Robertson

Bonderman

Maroth

 

World Series Champs in O8

[chadomac]

Why do you think we have Vargas after this year?

 

sports.espn.go.com/mlb/ne...id=2747434

 

Was that an extension and it's just not mentioned? I swear I remember him signing just a one year deal in the offseason.

[zzzmanwitz]

He'll be under our control for arbitration until 2009. He doesn't have a contract yet, but we have all the rights to sign him before any other team.

[Diskono]

Any thoughts on Vargas as a closer next year? He throws hard, pitches well (if not better) out of the stretch, and seems to be good at pitching out of jams (forcing popups, getting strikeouts, etc). He'll be cheaper than any free agent closers, and it would be nice to have another option besides Turnbow.