Some Real Speculation -- Texas Rangers

[brewcrewdue80]

Texas is in Pitching trouble with news today that Martin Perez has elbow issues that the discussin may lead to TJ. As well as Matt Harrison having back problems that will likely keep him out for some time.

 

The team needs some pitching, and they've been looking for team controllable pitching.

 

If I were Melvin, I'd be all over this willing to trade anyone not named Peralta. Lohse/Gallardo/Estrada/Garza/Nelson/Thornburg/Fiers.

 

The prospects atop Texas they possess are Roughned Odor 2b Rank #52 Luis Sardinas SS #67 Joey Gallo 3b #82 All three 20year olds. Then some OF prospects we don't need to think about, a few SP prospects that you would think Texas would keep off limits due to their desire to own young controllable pitching. And a guy I mentioned last year at the trade deadline who sounds like a future 1b Ronald Guzman. He's only 19 so their's time to make progress.

 

Thoughts? Would you take a gamble on Joey Gallo for 3b? Considering there's Delmonico/Neuhaus also in the works? I like Luke Jackson, but can't imagine he's available. It's too bad Odor is a Lefty, because I'd love to have a platoon situation with him and Gennett.

 

If you maybe take on Sardinas you find a potential SS/2b multi position player with more upside than Bianchi.

 

Any other ideas?

[Kelbysdaddy]

if gallo was an option..... yes, you take a chance on gallo. even if he only hits .250, he'll still hit 45 homers. his power is insane. with the rate of pitchers going down to TL surgery- guys like fiers/Estrada/Thornburg/Gallardo will have MUCH more trade value then you'd expect (Gallardo might be the only pitcher we have that could get a guy like gallo though).

[brewcrewdue80]

I think Nelson would net Gallo imo. I just don't know if there''s a good reason to make that trade from the Brewer's side. It'd be different if Gallo was reasonably able to make the club before the end of this season, but realistically, he appears more for end of next season at best. And with our start there's no reason to think ahead to end of next year when Nelson can be the difference for this club this year. I just wonder if Texas would have interest in Gallardo/Lohse or Estrada? Giving them a Pitcher for this year and Next, if that would now be wanted, vs. Team controlled guys. Considering their pitcher injuries Perez looking like TJ which means a return next June at best from him, Texas sorta needs a filler for this year and next year no? They can't just focus on a team controlled arm?

[SRB]

I don't think there's anyway the Brewers would trade for a prospect like Gallo right now. Brewers need MLB offense. But the Rangers are still an intriguing trade partner.

 

Mitch Moreland might be somebody to target. Would you do Estrada for Moreland and then promote one of Fiers/Nelson (or convert Thornburg)?

[brewcrewdue80]

I don't think there's anyway the Brewers would trade for a prospect like Gallo right now. Brewers need MLB offense. But the Rangers are still an intriguing trade partner.

 

Mitch Moreland might be somebody to target. Would you do Estrada for Moreland and then promote one of Fiers/Nelson (or convert Thornburg)?

 

Yeah that's exactly what I'm thinking. Estrada for Moreland and bring up Nelson. But at the same time, who does Texas then play as DH? It's a move that helps them with Pitching while creating a hole at DH. That's why I target the Middle InF/3b because they have extras there and we have extras in Pitching.

 

The big concern with promoting Nelson is how many Innings does he go this year? Will he make it through the Regular Season+in to the Post Season? Or do you just figure he's your #5 guy and he will just be used from the Pen and roll with Peralta,Lohse,Garza/Gallardo as your Post-Season Rotation. Sound correct?

[TooLiveBrew]

I think Estrada can bring back a significantly better return than a mid-700s OPS first baseman.

[DuWayne Steurer]

The Brewers are going to need pitching depth at some point this season. There's just not a lot of seasons (like 2011 for example) where you go through almost an entire season where your 1-2-3-4-5 guys barely miss a beat. (Our rotation missed a grand total of SEVEN starts that year!)

 

That kind of rotational health is simply unheard of. Take into account the fact that we have Matt "glass man" Garza, and other injuries are just inevitable when it comes to pitching. Being 7 deep right now is a great thing to have, and I'd just as soon see them stay that way at the moment.

[TheCrew07]

The Brewers are going to need pitching depth at some point this season. There's just not a lot of seasons (like 2011 for example) where you go through almost an entire season where your 1-2-3-4-5 guys barely miss a beat. (Our rotation missed a grand total of SEVEN starts that year!)

 

That's true but you can also mitigate the risk by moving one of the players with a history of injuries if someone wants him. Given the state of the Brewers' farm system and the expiring contracts over the next 2 years I don't believe the Brewers can go the safe/conservative route and maintain success. Then again I never have.

 

If you have excess pitching and teams are desperate for pitching then the market is in the perfect position to be taken advantage of. The rash of TJ injuries around MLB this season could be a tremendous opportunity for the Brewer organization if played properly, and I'm one to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves regardless of my original plan.

 

This has been single my biggest problem with Melvin and the Brewer organization since 2006, the vision has been extremely singular in nature and I feel we've missed the opportunity to add talent that would better fit the organization's long-term needs over the years. This could be an opportunity to get out in front of the market and fill some long-term organizational needs like the Rays have done. There's no reason you can't buy and sell in the same season, I don't see why it has to be an either/or proposition, it's not like because the Brewers are in it they should only be buyers. In fact I would argue the Brewers should really never be buyers of short-term solutions given the lopsided nature of MLB free agency.

 

I'm not into holding onto depth simply for depth's sake if there are possible moves of greater value to be made.

[Fear The Chorizo]

If the Brewers MLB pitching staff continues to stay largely healthy, and some of their minor league pitching prospects continue to pitch very well, there's going to be a natural position of strength for the Brewers to include guys like Fiers, Pena, Estrada in trade discussions for several reasons.

 

1 - they need to start making room at the higher levels of their minor leagues or the majors for prospects with more upside that deserve promotions. Bradley absolutely needs to be bumped to AA. Jungman likely should shift up to AAA. Nelson or Fiers are deserving of MLB innings. Other pitchers currently in those spots could be moved for position player prospects that wouldn't need to immediately go on the 40-man roster. Another option would be to dangle an arm like Jungmann as trade bait and see what he could get back position-prospect wise...especially if the club doesn't project him to be much more than an average starter at the MLB level.

 

2 - they are also likely to have enough MLB arms getting healthy that would otherwise require DFA-ing or exposing veteran pitching to waivers. When Gorzo and Hendersen are back healthy, what will happen to Duke, Kintzler, Wooten, Figaro, etc? Why not add an arm or two from that group to a pitching prospect to try and get more hitting, too?

 

I don't think making one of these sort of trades makes sense today, but if the pitching continues to perform like it has throughout this organization, the Brewers almost have to try dealing some of these arms. If they don't it's likely they'll be poached via waivers in the near future when some of these roster decisions are forced to happen.

[igor67]

In short yes it would be very nice to deal a veteran pitcher at a premium for other needs. Hopefully either another short term player that really bumps the team up for this year (i.e. a real 1st basemen) or a high quality prospect at a position of need. Gallo fits that description pretty well.

[SRB]

I think Estrada can bring back a significantly better return than a mid-700s OPS first baseman.

 

In a perfect world maybe, but the Brewers are trying to contend this season and currently have sub-replacement players at LF and 1B. I think Davis will turn it around, but Lyle Overbay really needs to be replaced ASAP. I don't know what potential options better than Moreland are out there.

[HiAndTight]

I think Estrada can bring back a significantly better return than a mid-700s OPS first baseman.

 

 

I don't. I think that's about what you're looking at given Estrada's history, and especially given the way he pitches and the park he'd be going to.

 

 

The guy I'd like to target if we're talking about the Rangers is Jurickson Profar. I still believe he's going to be a REALLY special player. He's 21 years old, hadn't shined thus far in the big leagues, the Rangers have players who can replace him(he's on the DL right now which helps).

 

I'd be happy to trade Gallardo for Profar straight up. I doubt the Rangers would. But I'd at least see what they want. He's a HUGE ceiling type guy. I'd certainly trade Garza for him as well as a couple prospects. Not sure how much they like Garza, but before anyone says if they wanted Garza they could have signed him, things have obviously changed regarding their pitching.

[TooLiveBrew]

I think Estrada can bring back a significantly better return than a mid-700s OPS first baseman.

 

In a perfect world maybe, but the Brewers are trying to contend this season and currently have sub-replacement players at LF and 1B. I think Davis will turn it around, but Lyle Overbay really needs to be replaced ASAP. I don't know what potential options better than Moreland are out there.

I would take the best return if I'm moving Marco & not limit it to one or a small number of positions.

 

I agree that I'm not sure what 1B options are out there that'd be better than, say, Kendrys Morales. And that's why I'd leave my options open.

[igor67]

What about Beltre and sliding Aramis over to 1st for the remainder of the season? That should amount to a modest offense bump and a nice bump on defense.

[endaround]

Why would the Rangers hurt their major league team to pick up pitching? Moreland has over 100 PAs already, he's important to them.

[RockCoCougars]

Unless the Brewers completely collapse in the next two months, they aren't going to be dealing veterans, period.

[vegasbrewcrew1993]

Only way I'd trade any of the Brewers pitchers is if the return is elite. The players on this team have more value to the Brewers right now than a few young prospects 2 or 3 years from now. Who knows when the Brewers will be contenders again. They're off to a great start this year and look like they may be able to keep it going the rest of the year. If this team is still playing at or close to .600 then I'd make a big purchase at the deadline. To hell with prospects and the future. How many of these guys are over-hyped and end up being major busts? The Padres and their elite farm system have been scheduled for arrival for the last three years. Turns out that all of their hitting prospects suck. If the Brewers have a legit shot at a championship this year, then you go for it no matter what. I can forgive them for trying. What I can't forgive them is for half-assing things in a championship contender season.

 

Imagine acquiring another hitter? How about another pitcher? This team is really really good. All they might need is one little push to make them the favorites.

 

If the Rangers are desperate enough to offer a solid major league hitter like Moreland plus several other pieces, then I'd consider giving away Estrada. Many fans don't realize how valuable a guy like Marco Estrada is to this team right now.

[jerichoholicninja]

I think Estrada can bring back a significantly better return than a mid-700s OPS first baseman.

 

I would think so too but when your team already has one (or two) of those, why bring in another?

[fondybrewfan]

I would love to find a way to get Gallo. If it could be Estrada and any minor leaguer not named Coulter or Nelson I would do it. He is having a crazy good year at High A; bump him up to AA this year and maybe he could be a mid 2015 call up. His power is incredible and he can take a walk. I doubt he can hit .300+ like he is this year but you don't need to if you can take a walk and hit 35+ homers.

[JohnBriggs12]

Why would the Rangers hurt their major league team to pick up pitching? Moreland has over 100 PAs already, he's important to them.

 

Texas may well write this season off and look to 2015. Beltre is nearing the end (no way they deal Gallo). Rios is a FA and could generate some interest. They have big money tied up in Choo and Fielder so a complete rebuild isn't likely but a rebuild on the fly, certainly. Moreland could be available too.

[Warning Track Power]

Would it be shocking to everyone if Texas quietly put Fielder on the block? Given his play thus far in Texas, I wonder if they would consider a move. If so, would the Brewers be interested?

[TheCrew07]

Why would we want anything to do with his contract? That would be payroll suicide.

[Warning Track Power]

I would absolutely assume Texas would cover some of the deal. If the Brewers could, for example, get Prince at 6 years at around $90-$95 million (he currently has 6 years $124 million left), would Milwaukee be interested? Given the lack of 1B at the Major League level and apparently the lack of faith in Hunter Morris, would Attanasio and Melvin flinch?

[TheCrew07]

I want nothing to do with Fielder given his 4 year trend, but I could see Mark A being interested. I know this season is far from complete but he appears to be aging badly like many "experts" thought he would given just his 3 year trend.

 

[pre]Year Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+

2011 27 MIL NL 162 692 569 95 170 36 1 38 120 1 1 107 106 .299 .415 .566 .981 164

2012 28 DET AL 162 690 581 83 182 33 1 30 108 1 0 85 84 .313 .412 .528 .940 151

2013 29 DET AL 162 712 624 82 174 36 0 25 106 1 1 75 117 .279 .362 .457 .819 121

2014 30 TEX AL 42 178 150 19 37 8 0 3 16 0 0 25 24 .247 .360 .360 .720 99[/pre]

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Generated 5/21/2014.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Even IF the Brewers could get Fielder for let's say, 15 million dollars per year, why would we want a fat, aging, poor-defense 1st baseman, who's trending downward, and give up some of the slim pickings in our farm system to do so, and continue to hamstring the payroll in the process?

 

THere is absolutely nothing in this process that makes sense, aside from the yearly "Let's trade for Prince Fielder!" talk that inevitably comes up, well......just because he's a former Brewer.