Top Notch Starters at Deadline

[Hate those Rodents]

I think our 1B of the future will come in the first or second round this year in the draft, and likely be ready to play by 2012. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to deal someone less than Green to get Washburn. I have no problem moving Gamel to first and going with your proposed IF in 2012. But I think Gamel will prove to be alright defensively and think we can get a better bat in that infield via the draft than what Green will offer. And I have confidence that McGehee and Heether will be able to do alright for us as subs or starters in case of injury. It just makes sense to me to dangle Green if we can get a Washburn type for him.

[logan82]

I think our 1B of the future will come in the first or second round this year in the draft, and likely be ready to play by 2012.

I admit not being to familiar with the draft, but we don't pick until way late in the first round. I kind of doubt we get somebody who will be ready to play by 2012. Lawrie is by most accounts an advanced bat and he will likely spend at least 2+ years in the minors. Basically I don't think the player you are talking about will be available when we pick.

[Hate those Rodents]

Well Logan, I am no expert on the draft either, but I do think that we prepare to replace Prince with this draft. Heck, many felt we drafted LaPorta to do that. We did not know that we would be trading LaPorta last time before the draft was done. I am betting one of our first three picks is a 1B bat pigeoned to replace Prince. Whether we need a stopgap in 2012, who really knows at this point. But I guess I maintain that, given my confidence in Gamel figuring it out at third and given my confidence that McGeehe/Heether will be more than adequete utility infielders, Green is the guy we should dangle for a starter.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Well Logan, I am no expert on the draft either, but I do think that we prepare to replace Prince with this draft. Heck, many felt we drafted LaPorta to do that. We did not know that we would be trading LaPorta last time before the draft was done. I am betting one of our first three picks is a 1B bat pigeoned to replace Prince. Whether we need a stopgap in 2012, who really knows at this point. But I guess I maintain that, given my confidence in Gamel figuring it out at third and given my confidence that McGeehe/Heether will be more than adequete utility infielders, Green is the guy we should dangle for a starter.

I agree that Green is a good trade chip for us right now. I really don't see us giving up on Gamel at third like we did with Braun. It's a possibility that he could move to first if/when Prince leaves, but I would guess that we would go with a different option there, possibly someone from this draft as you said. If Gamel stays at third, there is no place for Green on this team anytime in the near future.

[Oldcity]

I could get on board with Randy Johnson as well. I think you're likely to get the most bang for your buck there because as you said he'd cost less than other guys because of his age. I was actually hoping the Brewers could sign him in the off-season.

[Invader3K]

Well, supposedly Milwaukee was on Johnson's "short list" this off-season, but he ended up signing with the Giants in order to be closer to home. I'm assuming he has a no trade clause and not sure whether he would waive it to come here or not. While I like Johnson, I wouldn't expect him to be a big upgrade over what we have now at this point.

[TooLiveBrew]

I have to agree with Invader. Fwiw, RJ's heater tops out at around 89-90 mph these days.

[trwi7]

I have to agree with Invader. Fwiw, RJ's heater tops out at around 89-90 mph these days.

From what I can find, he doesn't have a no trade clause and his average fastball is 90.6 according to fangraphs.

[twobrewers]

I looked up Randy Johnson on Cot's before suggesting the idea. They have no reference to a no-trade clause. I find that very surprising - but Cots is usually pretty accurate.

 

I do not believe Randy Johnson would be a big upgrade either.

 

I do believe he will be available at a very reasonable price. I do believe he is great insurance in case of an injury. I also believe he is more consistent that Manny Parra.

[snyttri]

I think it would cost a better prospect to get Randy Johnson than it would for a pitcher of his ability who would not sell tickets. Maybe it would be worth it if a second veteran celebrity in the dugout makes the team more confident.

[TooLiveBrew]

From what I can find, he doesn't have a no trade clause and his average fastball is 90.6 according to fangraphs.

 

Sorry, my comment was based off of watching him in his past two starts. I won't claim to have watched every pitch, but was surprised by how often RJ wasn't even posting 90 on the gun.

[LouisEly]

I mentioned Randy Johnson in another thread - SF desperately needs power and they have a glut of infielders who are both old and not good (Aurilia, Uribe, Renteria), so they may see value in a Heether or Katin. The problem is that San Francisco is only 7 games back of LA, so they aren't going to make this deal any time soon.

[jvrocksaz]

The cost of Cliff Lee may be on the rise!!!

[Invader3K]

Yeah, I don't think there's any realistic way we'll get Lee at this point. He's basically the best starter currently pitching that "might" be available. I'm not even sure Cleveland is actually looking to move him at this point.

 

Probably time to set our sights a bit lower if we still expect Melvin to make a move for pitching.

[TooLiveBrew]

I agree on Melvin needing to shift gears.

 

However, I think if ever there were a time for CLE to sell Lee, it's now. You can't draw up a scenario in which he has more value imho.

[Invader3K]

I guess the more I look at it, I tend to agree. They're in last place in a competitive division, and the chances that they'll crawl back to the top seem slim at this point, especially with Detroit seemingly starting to run away with things. The Wild Card isn't a realistic option for them either.

 

I think from a fan perspective, they might be leery of trading Lee before the off-season. Trading him in the next month obviously signals that they're throwing in the towel on this season, and their fans might react badly. Plus the fact that they would be trading their top pitcher the second year in a row.

 

I think if they do move him, it's going to be for quite the haul, one I'm not sure the Brewers are prepared to meet.

[nate82]

I wonder if John Lackey could be available if the Angels drop out of the AL West race. If the Angels don't believe they can sign Lackey and are out of contention near the All Star break I wonder what it would take to get Lackey from the Angels.

 

I am also wondering if the Rays will put Sonnanstine or Niemann on the block when Kazmir returns. It looks as though Price is going to stay in the rotation for the Rays this year that means when Kazmir returns Sonnanstine or Niemann would have to be traded or be moved to the bullpen. I wouldn't mind getting Sonnanstine or Niemann who I think could be good #3 or #4 starters in the rotation the problem with getting either of those two is that I don't see anyone in the Brewers organization who would be an immediate help to the Rays. The Rays need some help offensively and I don't see anyone in the minors who would be available to get someone like Sonnanstine or Niemann. A rotation of Gallardo, Bush, Sonnanstine, Looper and Suppan wouldn't be the best but it sure would be better than what is currently on the roster.

[Teatoe993]

Sonnanstine has been pretty bad this year. 6.65 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. He looked promising last year, but I won't want anything to do with him after seeing him pitch this year. I think he'd end up hurting the team more than helping.

[TheCrew07]

I've been on the buy Niemann low bandwagon for some time, Sonnanstine hasn't been good, but neither has Kazmir to this point in the season. Niemann's walks are down but so are his strike outs, I like the former and I'm not sure about the latter as I haven't seen him pitch yet in 2009, but his over all results have been better, even though his K:BB ratio is worse. I would have rather acquired him than Wright for example, and I believe I posted that at the time. The Rays are an Ex-Brewer haven, and I like the organization, it just made too much sense to target an arm they were having a problem moving at the all-star break last season, they made it known he was expendable. I've always liked his natural ability and he's been in AAA forever, like Buchholz, except the Rays have dynamite young pitching in front of him.

 

edit. I should add that his ESPN stats are now good enough that he's probably not a buy low option anymore, another missed opportunity!

[Never Outhustled]

I would have rather acquired him than Wright for example, and I believe I posted that at the time.

Sure, but you weren't going to get Nieman for an A ball LF like we did for Wright. Why do you think it was a buy low oppurtunity at all? The guy they moved was Edwin Jackson, in hindsight, he would have been a great addition.

[Invader3K]

I wonder if John Lackey could be available if the Angels drop out of the AL West race. If the Angels don't believe they can sign Lackey and are out of contention near the All Star break I wonder what it would take to get Lackey from the Angels.

FWIW, Lackey had a much better outing yesterday against the Giants.7 IP, 10 H, 10 K, 3 ER, 0 BB. Not sure if we could get him, but it seems like he's coming around from his DL stint.

 

 

[twobrewers]

The Brewers have to at least be kicking the tires on Pedro Martinez, right?

 

Baring a trade, he certainly seems like a better #5 pitcher than any of our players in AAA.

[Never Outhustled]

Lackey would be outstanding, but I think I'd like to wait for someone we can control through 2010. Hopefully Brandon Webb comes back strong, or Halladay becomes available. Gil Meche is another, he working on his 3rd straight season with a sub-4 ERA, and is a workhorse. I'd love to see what Halladay or Meche would do in the NL.

 

Cliff Lee fits that mold too, and the Indians should be looking to break that squad up, fire the GM, and start over.

[RobertR]

Here's a name that should be out there. Paul Byrd. Not a top notch starter, perhaps, but a solid innings eater that's not going to cost anything but money.

 

Robert

[Invader3K]

I wonder with a guy like Pedro if it's a situation like Sheets where the teams know something about him health-wise that we don't. You'd have to think someone would have signed him otherwise by this point, if for nothing more than depth insurance. Maybe his high price demands just really turned teams off otherwise, though.