Top Notch Starters at Deadline

[Invader3K]

To be honest it wouldn't surprise me if Melvin was starting to put some feelers out there. They're on pace for 99 wins right now (yes, I realize that won't likely hold), so I think realistically the Brewers should be well in the thick of things come mid-season. Doing something sooner than later, kind of like last season, would be ideal.

[wallus]

I would give up Escobar and Jeffress in the right deal. That right deal would be one where we control the pitcher for more than this season of course.

[Invader3K]

If Melvin is going to give up Escobar, I would hope he has a strong feeling Hardy can be retained beyond next year...otherwise we're going to have a gaping hole at shortstop.

[wallus]

If Melvin is going to give up Escobar, I would hope he has a strong feeling Hardy can be retained beyond next year...otherwise we're going to have a gaping hole at shortstop.

There is a lot of time between then and now. Who knows what a trade of Prince or JJ would bring themselves?

[Weirdos19]

Anybody know what Josh Johnson's contract status is???

 

There is where Escobar could go, with Ramirez taking third and Bonafacio on second base. Uggla is sure to be traded, if he gets his average back to respectability.

 

Then sign Johnson to a long term deal. I know he's been hurt, but he is a bona fide ace.

 

Escobar and Jeffress for Johnson?

[kramnoj]

Johnson started the year with 3+ years service time, so he 2.5 years from FA. He does make some sense as a potential target if the need arises.

[ILuvDaBush]

McGowan is out for the entire year, but next offseason, he would be a good "buy-low" candidate for when we're attempting to defend our WS crown.

 

I really think our best trade chip would be Hardy. And I would also say that Toronto would be the ideal candidate for trading Hardy (unless they believe the Scuts is their long-term answer... I don't see them thinking that). Hardy/Braddock/Green would be quite the price but Halladay has consistently been the epitome of a workhorse ace. Peavy...would be a difficult sell. First their new ownership group doesn't look like they're attempting to curtail spending like their previous group headed by the recent divorcee. Also, Peavy would have to okay the trade and severely curtail his earning potential (so we would probably have to give him a new contract). Haren would be another great candidate in theory but Arizona gave up a bounty and a half for him and would expect a comparable package...if not more. That's the same problem with setting your sights on Eric Bedard. We don't have a Chris Tillman or Adam Jones. I wish we did. And unless we're getting Morrow or the King, I'm not tossing out Gamel's name.

 

Thus...I would opine that our best target would be Cliff Lee. He has an option for next year so it would be along the lines of a year and a half of his services. He's amenable to an extention. He's a lefty. He totes a Cy. Outside of McGowan, he would come the cheapest. And if you go by his peripherals, he has been the best pitcher over the last year+. He doesn't have the luxury of youth or upside, but if Lee and Yo headlined our staff for the next two years, supplemented by Bush/Parra (unless Parra is then relegated to the bullpen), and trailed by Looper/Soup Nazi...well I could see us cracking the century mark. The Indians have long expressed a desire to move Jhonny to the hot corner. Ass-dribble and Hardy would form the ideal middle infield for them.

 

As a dark horse, pie in the sky thought, what about Coco Liriano? The Twinkies have an abundance of pitching, could use a SS, and could use a bit more pop in their lineup.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

As a Twins Fan, i can honestly say that I would consider trading Liriano for the right package, however the package might require players the Brewers would be unwilling to give up. The Twins need offense, and lots of it

[jjfanec]

As a Twins Fan, i can honestly say that I would consider trading Liriano for the right package, however the package might require players the Brewers would be unwilling to give up. The Twins need offense, and lots of it

Liriano has done nothing to show me he can still be a top-end starter after his injury. Espn had a great article a few weeks ago on his reliance on his fastball now and on the how hard he is getting hit. He is K/9 is down, his BAA is up, his WHIP is up, and he is giving up a home run a game. I would not give up too much for him right now.

[endaround]

How is Hardy a trade chip? Anybody trading for Hardy wants to win now since he only has one year remaining. If you want to win now you don't give up frontline talent. And the Brewers can't repalce Hardy, not surprisingly Escobar isn't hitting in AAA. You bring him up now and you'll have Neifi Perez.

[The Heartbreak Yid]

Trade for a stop-gap anchor in the rotation (Brandon Webb/Roy Holliday)- will require some significant prospects, but not the same level as Haren/Peavy- short term gain on MLB roster

Somebody doesnt know JP Ricciardi very well. He'll juice the hell out of your farm system for Halladay.

[endaround]

The Blue Jays still have a 4.5 game lead on the Yankees and this may be Riccardi's last shot so unless Toronto takes a nose dive in June I think the Jays may end up buyers

[hauser42]

Aaron Cook or Jason Marquis could options coming from the Rockies. At this point not sure we would have what they need to fill their needs.

IMO Brewer trade chips are Escobar and one of the catchers at this point. Would like to see Brewers move Escobar before his bat starts to show that it will not play in the bigs.

[Invader3K]

I wouldn't be opposed to trading Escobar for the right player(s), I just question what they would do at SS after next year.

[naivin]

How about Ben Sheets?

Opps. Fixed.

[TheCrew07]

I was just wondering...

 

Say we acquire a top of the rotation starter, who would be the odd man out? I can't see them moving Yo, Parra, or Bush out of the rotation but Looper and/or Suppan would be awfully expensive bull pen pitchers.

[TooLiveBrew]

How about Ben Sheets?

Opps. Fixed.

OPS, naivin... O-P-S

[BrewCrewRising]

As a Twins Fan, i can honestly say that I would consider trading Liriano for the right package, however the package might require players the Brewers would be unwilling to give up. The Twins need offense, and lots of it

Wow. Ask and you shall receive.

 

Let me try now: "The Brewers need offense and lots of it. " Let's hope this kicks in for today's game.

 

According to mlbtraderumors.com, Sabean is dangling Matt Cain to see what he can get for him. Also on the main page is buzz about the Brewers being a possible player for Peavy. Another thread here mentions Bedard, and that's an intriguing suggestion since you know Jack Z could reasonably have a higher interest in Brewers prospects than from other teams.

 

So, who would the best candiate be?

 

With Matt Cain, I think the pros are that he's a very good young pitcher, and he's cheap. The cons I think are that the Giants would probably not settle for prospects alone. They'd probably want a major chip from the 25 man. At least that is what is suggested on the mlbtraderumors page. Logically, the Giants should realize that they aren't a real contender this year, and it would be better to have a close to major league ready prospect that you don't have to pay major league dollars this year when they won't contend. But those who gain by Sabean's poor decisions, but sometimes lose by Sabean's poor decisions. I suppose another possibility is a multi-trade team.

 

With Jake Peavy you get a proven stud. But I know people on this board have balked at the idea of trading for Peavy. He's very good, but owes much of his success to Petco. We'd be paying a lot in terms of prospects and salary for the next 3 years hoping that his success is over-attributed to Petco. And on top of that, we can never afford to have him injured. If he didn't work out - and by workout I mean be a complete workhorse stud - it suddenly seems by comparison that we got our money's worth with Sheets and Suppan, even with the injuries and suckitude respectively.

 

With Erik Bedard we'd probably end up paying the least, and could probably just pay in prospects, and would have no long term money on the books. But we'd probably end up overpaying since half season rentals probably get the least bang for your buck: your only means of compensation are playoff success (risky) and compensation picks (risky). You can't trade him later to try to recoup your losses.

 

Personally, I'd like the Cain option the best if it could be done. It would probably be a crazy to deal with (assuming the multi team scenario) as it would be to deal with wondering whether Peavy is going to accept the trade to your team.

 

I know I left out Cliff Lee, but I'm not sold on him. He was great last year obviously, seems to be doing well now, but has inconsistent career numbers. I'd like him, but I don't salivate over him.

 

What do others think?

[ILuvDaBush]

What's the opinion of Aaron Harang? Good contract. Workhorse. Stellar peripherals.

[twobrewers]

What's the opinion of Aaron Harang?

That with Harang, Arroyo, Cueto and Volquez they will be in the hunt for 85 wins and a playoff birth.

 

Unless they collapse, the Reds are more likely to add players than subtract.

[barbados73]

Would the Brewers consider trading either Hardy or Hart in a deal for Cain? Maybe make it something like Cain and R.Wynn for Hart, Suppan, and prospect(to make up for the difference in salaries between Wynn and Suppan. Or if the Giants wanted Hardy more, maybe try to get Edgar Renteria back to give Escobar a little more time.

[southpaw121505]

I'd trade Hart and Suppan for Cain and Wynn, I don't think the Giants would. I like Hart but he scares me.

[BrewCrewRising]

mlbtraderumors.com now reports that the Giants were never dangling Cain. So, any trade involving Cain may not be a realistic trade venture.

[Invader3K]

Just got a tweet that ESPN is reporting Peavy to Milwaukee rumors. I haven't seen anything yet, so not sure if this is anything concrete or rehashing the rumors that have been floating around.

[Weirdos19]

There's literally hundreds of scenarios that could happen. Here's a few "creative" ones from me.

 

A 3-way deal with San Diego and San Francisco:

Giants receive Hart and Suppan

Padres get Cain and Escobar

Brewers get Peavy

 

A deal with Florida:

Florida gets McGehee, Escobar, and Jeffress

Brewers get Josh Johnson and Dan Uggla

 

Straight up deal with Padres:

Padres get Parra, Escobar, and Hart

Brewers get Peavy and Kouzmanoff

 

Giants straight up:

Giants get Jeffress, Suppan, and Hart

Brewers get Cain and Winn

 

Red Sox:

Red Sox get low level prospect

Brewers get Penny

 

Blue Jays:

Blue Jays get Escobar, Lawrie, and Parra

Brewers get Halladay