If Still Contenders in July, Do You See the Brewers Buying?

[Roderick]

I would rather trade someone like Jungmann to the Pirates for Wang

 

Melvin just said the other week that he has been told by scouts that Wang wouldn't make it through "waivers" or whatever it is to get back to the Pirates to make a trade. Another team would claim him to put him on their 25 man roster.

[adambr2]

"Buying" implies that you have something that you can use to spend. Maybe we can scrape enough together for some bench help, but I don't see much else.

 

Nelson is the only one in the system that probably has substantial value, and I think they're smart enough not to part with him for a rental.

[PrinceFielderx1]

I'd swap Weeks contract for Adam Duns. Pay Chicago 10-15 million, and have them eat the rest. We instantly upgrade 1B and we have him next year also. Imagine Dunn homers in Miller Park RF.

[HiAndTight]

I'd swap Weeks contract for Adam Duns. Pay Chicago 10-15 million, and have them eat the rest. We instantly upgrade 1B and we have him next year also. Imagine Dunn homers in Miller Park RF.

 

Dunn might be having a resurgent year, but I wouldn't count on him keeping it up, and if he did, certainly not through next year. Though he could very easily hit .220/.320 and give us 35 HR's. The problem is he's so bad defensively that I'd rather just roll the dice with Hunter Morris.

 

If the Brewers make a trade I believe it's going to be more along the lines of a Martin Prado from AZ, a guy who can play 3rd to backup Aram, 2nd, 1st, LF and RF. Not sure what it'd take to get him, but it won't take a Jimmy Nelson. A guy like Prado isn't going to put up a .900 OPS, but he can hit .280/.350 and do it at a number of positions.

 

 

"Buying" implies that you have something that you can use to spend. Maybe we can scrape enough together for some bench help, but I don't see much else.

 

Nelson is the only one in the system that probably has substantial value, and I think they're smart enough not to part with him for a rental.

 

 

I don't think these teams are going to by prospect rankings. I think that teams are looking at players like Coulter, Tyrone Taylor, and a number of other players as pretty valuable prospects. They obviously scout players to see how they're progressing, and many of our young guys are really having great starts and have a lot of tools. Mike Fiers is a pitcher right off the top who could have a lot of value for a team looking for immediate help in someone's rotation and in their rotation down the road.

 

I think you're really underrating the farm system. We have plenty of talent to put together a deal to fill a couple holes. We probably have the talent to make a major move if we were so inclined, but I don't think that makes sense to anyone.

[PrinceFielderx1]

I'd swap Weeks contract for Adam Duns. Pay Chicago 10-15 million, and have them eat the rest. We instantly upgrade 1B and we have him next year also. Imagine Dunn homers in Miller Park RF.

 

Dunn might be having a resurgent year, but I wouldn't count on him keeping it up, and if he did, certainly not through next year. Though he could very easily hit .220/.320 and give us 35 HR's. The problem is he's so bad defensively that I'd rather just roll the dice with Hunter Morris.

 

If the Brewers make a trade I believe it's going to be more along the lines of a Martin Prado from AZ, a guy who can play 3rd to backup Aram, 2nd, 1st, LF and RF. Not sure what it'd take to get him, but it won't take a Jimmy Nelson. A guy like Prado isn't going to put up a .900 OPS, but he can hit .280/.350 and do it at a number of positions.

 

 

"Buying" implies that you have something that you can use to spend. Maybe we can scrape enough together for some bench help, but I don't see much else.

 

Nelson is the only one in the system that probably has substantial value, and I think they're smart enough not to part with him for a rental.

 

 

I don't think these teams are going to by prospect rankings. I think that teams are looking at players like Coulter, Tyrone Taylor, and a number of other players as pretty valuable prospects. They obviously scout players to see how they're progressing, and many of our young guys are really having great starts and have a lot of tools. Mike Fiers is a pitcher right off the top who could have a lot of value for a team looking for immediate help in someone's rotation and in their rotation down the road.

 

I think you're really underrating the farm system. We have plenty of talent to put together a deal to fill a couple holes. We probably have the talent to make a major move if we were so inclined, but I don't think that makes sense to anyone.

 

A major move for who? I agree about their farm, but the only 1B man I would want is Stanton.

[sveumrules]

I'll throw Chase Headley of SD in the mix as someone to keep an eye on as it relates to ARam's health situation. Headley is a switch hitter who in theory would benefit from a move out of Petco and is also a free agent at year's end so he shouldn't require a huge prospect haul.

[endaround]

I'll throw Chase Headley of SD in the mix as someone to keep an eye on as it relates to ARam's health situation. Headley is a switch hitter who in theory would benefit from a move out of Petco and is also a free agent at year's end so he shouldn't require a huge prospect haul.

 

Similar to Headley, there is Chavez in Arizona. Chavez has also played a bit of 1B meaning he could replace Overbay and both provide better offense and more versatility.

[monty57]

I'd guess that if we're in the position to "buy," we will do a deal or two akin to the Komatsu-for-Hairston deal. We have minor leaguers with value similar to Komatsu (Minor League Player of the Year with potential to be a MLB player) who could land us a veteran guy who can take over a struggling position.

 

The "surpluses" we have in the minor league are outfielders and near-MLB-ready pitchers. I don't think they'll trade Nelson, Coulter or Roache, but I could see Taylor, Haniger or any pitcher in AA/AAA not named Nelson used for a Hairston-level upgrade. It's hard to tell at this early stage who might be "sellers," but Someone like Jason Kubel (LF - Minnesota) could fit the bill.

 

Just looking at teams currently in last place (remember it's too early to know who could sell), another name is Ben Zobrist (2B Tampa). He's in the final year of his contract, but he does have a $7.5MM club option for 2015. I doubt the Rays are looking to trade him, but if we were really "all in," they may be a team that would be interested in a big package of prospects for a short-term vet. It'd probably cost us at least Gennett and Nelson, and I wouldn't do it, but it's a possible upgrade that's out there. It would fit into the window the Brewers have with Gallardo/Lohse/Estrada/Ramirez on the roster.

[Roderick]

I'll throw Chase Headley of SD in the mix as someone to keep an eye on as it relates to ARam's health situation. Headley is a switch hitter who in theory would benefit from a move out of Petco and is also a free agent at year's end so he shouldn't require a huge prospect haul.

 

Don't you think the Padres would tag him after the season? If so, it would take a first rounder in value to make that trade.

[HiAndTight]

I'd swap Weeks contract for Adam Duns. Pay Chicago 10-15 million, and have them eat the rest. We instantly upgrade 1B and we have him next year also. Imagine Dunn homers in Miller Park RF.

 

Dunn might be having a resurgent year, but I wouldn't count on him keeping it up, and if he did, certainly not through next year. Though he could very easily hit .220/.320 and give us 35 HR's. The problem is he's so bad defensively that I'd rather just roll the dice with Hunter Morris.

 

If the Brewers make a trade I believe it's going to be more along the lines of a Martin Prado from AZ, a guy who can play 3rd to backup Aram, 2nd, 1st, LF and RF. Not sure what it'd take to get him, but it won't take a Jimmy Nelson. A guy like Prado isn't going to put up a .900 OPS, but he can hit .280/.350 and do it at a number of positions.

 

 

"Buying" implies that you have something that you can use to spend. Maybe we can scrape enough together for some bench help, but I don't see much else.

 

Nelson is the only one in the system that probably has substantial value, and I think they're smart enough not to part with him for a rental.

 

 

I don't think these teams are going to by prospect rankings. I think that teams are looking at players like Coulter, Tyrone Taylor, and a number of other players as pretty valuable prospects. They obviously scout players to see how they're progressing, and many of our young guys are really having great starts and have a lot of tools. Mike Fiers is a pitcher right off the top who could have a lot of value for a team looking for immediate help in someone's rotation and in their rotation down the road.

 

I think you're really underrating the farm system. We have plenty of talent to put together a deal to fill a couple holes. We probably have the talent to make a major move if we were so inclined, but I don't think that makes sense to anyone.

 

A major move for who? I agree about their farm, but the only 1B man I would want is Stanton.

 

 

I have no idea as I haven't even given it a thought beyond the fact that I think it'd be foolish for the Brewers to try and do so.

 

They have more talent than I believe adambr is suggesting and I think teams form their own opinions(which are fluid obviously) and we put too much emphasis on prospect rankings.

 

However in order to land someone like Stanton, you're giving up Taylor, Nelson, Coulter...a package like that and probably more. Stanton is a nice player, but I have no interest in giving up 18-24 years of service time of young, talented, quality players for 2 more years of a very good player, but one who has not developed into the superstar that many have been waiting for(though...he's pretty damn good).

 

 

 

This is a flawed roster. We don't have an ace. That presents problems in series vs teams like the Dodgers. We have 5 good starters, not one great one. Meaning we'd be in trouble going up against a Kershaw/Greinke/Ryu trio(and who knows who they add) or vs Wainwright, Wacha and whatever young pitcher is throwing 98 and dominating this post-season.

 

Beyond that, one big bat is not going to give us an elite offense. It'd give us a very good one, but we'll have a very good one if we can get guys playing to their potential and make a tweak.

 

 

The Hairston-Komatsu type trade is exactly what I was thinking(though Taylor and Hanniger are two players I wouldn't even give up). This year(I know I'm repeating myself) guys like Prado, Chavez, guys who can play multiple positions but aren't superstars are what we should and hopefully will be looking for.

 

 

If you take out the best players in our system and guys with high ceilings AGAIN after several poor drafts just when our young guys are starting to play well and are making our system look better, you might end up with a marginally better team this year and a 60-some win team in a couple years.

[danzig6767]

Nelson, Coulter, and Taylor are probably the only really good trading chip we have and I have no interest in dealing them for a short term fix. Jungmann, Bradley, Fiers, Roache, Haniger, Etc aren't going to bring impact talent back. I would be really afraid of DM doing something stupid and trading Nelson, Coulter, or Taylor; they are the closest thing to impact prospects we have and we desperately need to hang on to them.

If a trade is made at the deadline, i think it will fall in one of two scenarios

 

1. A position player on a bad team making decent to good money in the last year of his deal that the other team would be happy to mainly just shed the money.

 

2. A position player who can help some, but isn't good enough to demand a top notch prospect in return. Kinda like what say Baltimore gave up in the K-Rod trade.

[vegasbrewcrew1993]

HiandTight said

I have no idea as I haven't even given it a thought beyond the fact that I think it'd be foolish for the Brewers to try and do so.

 

They have more talent than I believe adambr is suggesting and I think teams form their own opinions(which are fluid obviously) and we put too much emphasis on prospect rankings.

 

However in order to land someone like Stanton, you're giving up Taylor, Nelson, Coulter...a package like that and probably more. Stanton is a nice player, but I have no interest in giving up 18-24 years of service time of young, talented, quality players for 2 more years of a very good player, but one who has not developed into the superstar that many have been waiting for(though...he's pretty damn good).

 

 

 

This is a flawed roster. We don't have an ace. That presents problems in series vs teams like the Dodgers. We have 5 good starters, not one great one. Meaning we'd be in trouble going up against a Kershaw/Greinke/Ryu trio(and who knows who they add) or vs Wainwright, Wacha and whatever young pitcher is throwing 98 and dominating this post-season.

 

Beyond that, one big bat is not going to give us an elite offense. It'd give us a very good one, but we'll have a very good one if we can get guys playing to their potential and make a tweak.

 

 

The Hairston-Komatsu type trade is exactly what I was thinking(though Taylor and Hanniger are two players I wouldn't even give up). This year(I know I'm repeating myself) guys like Prado, Chavez, guys who can play multiple positions but aren't superstars are what we should and hopefully will be looking for.

 

 

If you take out the best players in our system and guys with high ceilings AGAIN after several poor drafts just when our young guys are starting to play well and are making our system look better, you might end up with a marginally better team this year and a 60-some win team in a couple years.

 

I disagree about Stanton not being a star. He's not a Ryan Braun/Molina/Trout/Harper/Andrew McCutchen kind of star, but he's in the level right below them. His numbers would look a lot better if he had better hitters around him. He's sort of forced to go for the HR every time since all the other hitters in the Marlins lineup are weak. Trading for Stanton would be way too much though. This is something I'd only do if the pitching on this team stayed at an elite level. If you trade for Stanton, it means you're going all in. I think a guy like Martin Prado would be a great addition. He's not a name, but he does a lot of the little things very well. Trading for him would allow the Brewers to put Ramirez on 3rd. Reynolds would be the #1 bench option for the team.

[logan82]

we put too much emphasis on prospect rankings

How often do you see big trades made for unranked prospects?

[JohnBriggs12]

Texas is going to be hard pressed to stay in contention. They have Alex Rios on the last year of his deal ($13.5 million team option for 2015). Some controllable pitching (Fiers) might interest them plus say Roache. Though Rios has a well earned rep as a guy who dogs it occasionally, he might be worth considering to boost the offense and defense down the stretch without damaging Davis' development necessarily.

[vegasbrewcrew1993]

Texas is going to be hard pressed to stay in contention. They have Alex Rios on the last year of his deal ($13.5 million team option for 2015). Some controllable pitching (Fiers) might interest them plus say Roache. Though Rios has a well earned rep as a guy who dogs it occasionally, he might be worth considering to boost the offense and defense down the stretch without damaging Davis' development necessarily.

 

Do you think they'll panic and overpay for potential SP's in July?

[PrinceFielderx1]

Hiandtight,

 

Taylor, Nelson and Coulter for Stanton?

 

 

I'd do that in a heart beat. Then sign Stanton to a long term deal. Done.

[SRB]

Hiandtight,

 

Taylor, Nelson and Coulter for Stanton?

 

 

I'd do that in a heart beat. Then sign Stanton to a long term deal. Done.

 

Taylor/Nelson/Coulter would get us, like, Andre Ethier or somebody. Not Stanton. Not in a million years.

[RockCoCougars]

Nelson, Coulter, and Taylor are probably the only really good trading chip we have and I have no interest in dealing them for a short term fix. Jungmann, Bradley, Fiers, Roache, Haniger, Etc aren't going to bring impact talent back. I would be really afraid of DM doing something stupid and trading Nelson, Coulter, or Taylor; they are the closest thing to impact prospects we have and we desperately need to hang on to them.

If a trade is made at the deadline, i think it will fall in one of two scenarios

 

1. A position player on a bad team making decent to good money in the last year of his deal that the other team would be happy to mainly just shed the money.

 

2. A position player who can help some, but isn't good enough to demand a top notch prospect in return. Kinda like what say Baltimore gave up in the K-Rod trade.

 

I think you are dead on. I'd expect to see them go for both an Adam Dunn/Josh Willingham type for scenario 1, and some versatile infielder who fits scenario 2 (a Hairston type player). I think a lot will hinge on the health of Ramirez and Braun. If Aram has lingering injuries, they could pursue a 3B or go after a 1B and shift Reynolds to 3rd. I saw Eric Chavez' name mentioned above, and that would make a lot of sense. I really don't see any need for pitching at this point, though I wouldn't be surprised if they added a bullpen arm depending on injuries.

[sheetskout]

I know this won't be popular, but Corey Hart would be a free agent again after the season and I don't see the Mariners contending frankly. I wouldn't be shocked if the Mariners tried to deal him back to us to net a prospect if they fall back.

[SoupTown]

The other interesting comment re Hart by one clever poster was the incentives that kick in at PAs, like 400, 500, etc. They are MILLIONS the incentives.

 

So, it may by that Seattle want to punt Hart to save those few million. And the Crew may be willing to take on Hart for the part salary and those incentives. When you think about it, only a contender with a need at first base would consider picking up Hart. So maybe we will be in a box seat to pick him backup.

 

This is the exact sort of overpay I was talking about earlier. One can say Hart is not worth 5 mill for half a year. But he may be worth that to the Brewers. Hence an overpay 'bargain'.

[Invader3K]

Corey Hart is an interesting idea, but the downside is that he hasn't been exactly stellar so far this season. In 36 games he is hitting .210/.292/.355. I wouldn't give up much of value to get him at this point.

[TheCrew07]

This is the exact sort of overpay I was talking about earlier. One can say Hart is not worth 5 mill for half a year. But he may be worth that to the Brewers. Hence an overpay 'bargain'.

 

I'm going to come off sounding like Monty but why should the Brewers ever overpay for anything? I've yet to see you rationally justify an overpay. Why would we overpay for for a 32 year old with a .647 OPS? What does Hart bring that the other 2 guys at 1B don't? If you want to trade for him that's fine but why should Milwaukee give up or take on more salary than he's worth? There's no guarantee he'll ever be the .800+ OPS player that he once was, he may have a year or 2 of nice production like that as he approaches his mid 30s but his knees might also be shot as well. There's very little upside with this move, it's not bold or aggressive, it's just wasteful.

 

On a personal note I wouldn't want to bring him back simply because I don't want to read threads suggesting we should extend him hoping he regains his past form. Many posters and DM have a history of being unable to let to go of players they have a familiarity with... better the devil we know than the devil we don't type of thing. We should be looking to walk away from players in their early 30s, not extend our relationship with them. It was a good move to walk away from Hart and let him sign in Seattle and it would be wise to stay away from him in the future as well.

 

Every dollar spent matters so much more to a team like Milwaukee, the smallest market in the game, than it does the largest markets like NY. Every misspent dollar limits the ceiling of the team, are we really so desperate to prove the franchise is relevant that we need to keep overpaying for bad production from FAs? Overpaying for talent is the absolute worst way to operate a franchise regardless of sport, even in small doses. There is a better way than constantly trying to recycle someone else's castoffs into some useful every day player. It was necessary from 2003-2006 but we should be long past that philosophy by now... and before someone says it, Wang isn't a castoff, the Brewers astutely pilfered him from another organization, that's a completely different concept.

[homer]

I'd just as soon have Morris brought up and DFA Overbay than trade prospects for a power bat off the bench.

[HiAndTight]

This is the exact sort of overpay I was talking about earlier. One can say Hart is not worth 5 mill for half a year. But he may be worth that to the Brewers. Hence an overpay 'bargain'.

 

I'm going to come off sounding like Monty but why should the Brewers ever overpay for anything? I've yet to see you rationally justify an overpay. Why would we overpay for for a 32 year old with a .647 OPS? What does Hart bring that the other 2 guys at 1B don't? If you want to trade for him that's fine but why should Milwaukee give up or take on more salary than he's worth? There's no guarantee he'll ever be the .800+ OPS player that he once was, he may have a year or 2 of nice production like that as he approaches his mid 30s but his knees might also be shot as well. There's very little upside with this move, it's not bold or aggressive, it's just wasteful.

 

On a personal note I wouldn't want to bring him back simply because I don't want to read threads suggesting we should extend him hoping he regains his past form. Many posters and DM have a history of being unable to let to go of players they have a familiarity with... better the devil we know than the devil we don't type of thing. We should be looking to walk away from players in their early 30s, not extend our relationship with them. It was a good move to walk away from Hart and let him sign in Seattle and it would be wise to stay away from him in the future as well.

 

Every dollar spent matters so much more to a team like Milwaukee, the smallest market in the game, than it does the largest markets like NY. Every misspent dollar limits the ceiling of the team, are we really so desperate to prove the franchise is relevant that we need to keep overpaying for bad production from FAs? Overpaying for talent is the absolute worst way to operate a franchise regardless of sport, even in small doses. There is a better way than constantly trying to recycle someone else's castoffs into some useful every day player. It was necessary from 2003-2006 but we should be long past that philosophy by now... and before someone says it, Wang isn't a castoff, the Brewers astutely pilfered him from another organization, that's a completely different concept.

 

 

 

1st, The difference would be that Hart's actually been a very productive big league hitter the last two years he played. Reynolds and Overbay have not been. Using a very small sample size doesn't change that.

 

2nd, really? You don't want him brought back because you're concerned about threads talking about re-signing him?

[HiAndTight]

Hiandtight,

 

Taylor, Nelson and Coulter for Stanton?

 

 

I'd do that in a heart beat. Then sign Stanton to a long term deal. Done.

 

I don't know. What exactly makes you think Stanton is going to sign? But if you're asking me, no, I'd rather not strip down our farm system again so we can pay a guy...what 8 years 180 million dollars? Sorry, not a big fan of that. The Milwaukee Brewers are more than just this years team.

Taylor/Nelson/Coulter would get us, like, Andre Ethier or somebody. Not Stanton. Not in a million years.

 

The Marlins didn't exactly get a kings ransom for Cabrera and Willis. The two prospects they got back, Maybin and Miller were rated highly, though both were awful in limited major league time. Again, I'm guessing the Marlins use their own scouting farm more than they rely on how highly a publication has a prospect rated.