2016 Bullpen

[Roderick]

So many changes. Does this sound right (as it stands now)?

 

Bullpen

 

Locks: Smith, Jeffress

Pretty much have a job unless fall off cliff: Blazek, Knebel, Thornburg

Rule 5 guy who will have first shot at a spot: Jones

40 man roster guys: Barrios, Goforth, Pena, Guerra

Non roster invitees who need to be great and get help: Jimenez, Misch, Tillman, Capuano, Boyer

 

 

Assume minors: Barnes, Burgos, Cravy, Lopez, Magnifico, Hader, Houser, Davies/Jungmann (until injury or Garza departure)

 

Edit: Add Boyer to NRI list.

[adambr2]

So many changes. Does this sound right (as it stands now)?

 

Bullpen

 

Locks: Smith, Jeffress

Pretty much have a job unless fall off cliff: Blazek, Knebel, Thornburg

Rule 5 guy who will have first shot at a spot: Jones

40 man roster guys: Barrios, Goforth, Pena, Guerra

Non roster invitees who need to be great and get help: Jimenez, Misch, Tillman, Capuano

 

 

Assume minors: Barnes, Burgos, Cravy, Lopez, Magnifico, Hader, Houser, Davies/Jungmann (until injury or Garza departure)

 

Unless I missed something significant, I think Jungmann is a lock for the MLB team.

[jerichoholicninja]

So many changes. Does this sound right (as it stands now)?

 

Bullpen

 

Locks: Smith, Jeffress

Pretty much have a job unless fall off cliff: Blazek, Knebel, Thornburg

Rule 5 guy who will have first shot at a spot: Jones

40 man roster guys: Barrios, Goforth, Pena, Guerra

Non roster invitees who need to be great and get help: Jimenez, Misch, Tillman, Capuano

 

 

Assume minors: Barnes, Burgos, Cravy, Lopez, Magnifico, Hader, Houser, Davies/Jungmann (until injury or Garza departure)

 

Unless I missed something significant, I think Jungmann is a lock for the MLB team.

 

I don't know. It's Jungmann or Davies. I think both showed enough last year to get a rotation spot but there's only 5 of those spots and 4 have already been claimed.

[Lee16]

I would be pretty surprised if Smith is on the team come opening day, some contender is going to suffer a bullpen injury during spring and come calling for him.

[3and2Fastball]

I'd like to see Jeffress closing. Anyone know why his velocity fell off? He was over 100 mph when he first started playing with the Brewers, seemed to be cruising mid 90's last year.

[AKCheesehead]

From what I got to see of Barrios last year, I'm looking forward to seeing more of it in 2016.

[JohnBriggs12]

You guys are all overlooking Blaine Boyer who despite being right handed held LH hitters to a .169/.231/.205 line last year in a not insignificant 92 plate appearances. He'll battle Jimenez for "lefty" specialist.

[JohnBriggs12]

So many changes. Does this sound right (as it stands now)?

 

Bullpen

 

Locks: Smith, Jeffress

Pretty much have a job unless fall off cliff: Blazek, Knebel, Thornburg

Rule 5 guy who will have first shot at a spot: Jones

40 man roster guys: Barrios, Goforth, Pena, Guerra

Non roster invitees who need to be great and get help: Jimenez, Misch, Tillman, Capuano

 

 

Assume minors: Barnes, Burgos, Cravy, Lopez, Magnifico, Hader, Houser, Davies/Jungmann (until injury or Garza departure)

 

Unless I missed something significant, I think Jungmann is a lock for the MLB team.

 

I don't know. It's Jungmann or Davies. I think both showed enough last year to get a rotation spot but there's only 5 of those spots and 4 have already been claimed.

 

 

Jungmann would have to be awful in Arizona not to have a rotation spot. Remember he's already 26. It's not quite do or die, but he'll get a chance to fail over Davies who's 3 years younger. I wouldn't assume Garza's around for opening day either despite what they've said.

[MenchHead]

From what I got to see of Barrios last year, I'm looking forward to seeing more of it in 2016.

 

I fully agree. Hasn't been pitching long but the guy throws it with some hair on it. Might as well give him every opportunity to stick.

[CheezWizHed]

I'd like to see Jeffress closing. Anyone know why his velocity fell off? He was over 100 mph when he first started playing with the Brewers, seemed to be cruising mid 90's last year.

 

Even with the Brewers after the draft, they were dialing him back to gain control. There are few players that can throw 100MPH AND control it at that speed.

[Roderick]

So many changes. Does this sound right (as it stands now)?

 

Bullpen

 

Locks: Smith, Jeffress

Pretty much have a job unless fall off cliff: Blazek, Knebel, Thornburg

Rule 5 guy who will have first shot at a spot: Jones

40 man roster guys: Barrios, Goforth, Pena, Guerra

Non roster invitees who need to be great and get help: Jimenez, Misch, Tillman, Capuano

 

 

Assume minors: Barnes, Burgos, Cravy, Lopez, Magnifico, Hader, Houser, Davies/Jungmann (until injury or Garza departure)

 

Unless I missed something significant, I think Jungmann is a lock for the MLB team.

 

I only mentioned Jungmann as my assumption whoever ends up the #6 starter will not be in the pen, but would be back in AAA.

 

As for me, I don't think I would automatically give the spot to Jungmann over Davies. If Jungmann doesn't come in showing something, and Davies looks pretty good, Jungmann can go back to AAA as far as I am concerned. Jungmann has not earned the right to an automatic spot. I am not worried about Jungmann/Davies age, if retaining them was an issue, then I would use that also in my determination, but they both have options, right?

 

Whoever goes down will have a job with the first injury or at latest when Garza is gone, as long as they don't implode at Colorado Springs.

[Boomer5]

Im seeing either Wily or Anderson go in a trade soon. Im assuming its Anderson since selling Wily now would be selling very low.

 

So thats;

 

Nelson

Wily

Jungmann

Garza

Davies

 

Smith will almost certainly be traded. The packages for bullpen arms is insane and the Brewers need to take advantage of that before teams come to their senses. He is a guy that projects as an elite LH 8th inning, possible Closer, even possible starter, and he has team control left. This is a big trade chip on a team that doesnt need him.

 

I dont think Jeffries has a closers make up from what I have seen but he would make the most sense due to his stuff. I can very easily seen Blazek or Knebel becoming the closer by May. Here is how I see it assuming a Smith trade:

 

Closer: Jeffries

8th: Blazek

7th: Knebel

Thornburg, Boyer, Barrios, Pena

[djoctagone]

40 man roster guys: Barrios, Goforth, Pena, Guerra

all but pena can be optioned in 2016.

[brewcrewdue80]

With all the trades completed, why the haste to trade Smith? The notion teams will come to their senses and not trade for RPs overvalueing them in offers isn't happening any time soon. Not before Smith's team control is up.

I think in this lost season being able to turn the ball over to Jeffress, Smith, and Kneble and close out wins is a positive for the young pitching. Personally, you find your closer among the three and he becomes the player to be traded, dead-line/next off-season while keeping the other 2. Smith isn't a guy that would be gone " when the team is competitive again" Hes got 4years remaining. It'd have to be lights out in return if I'm trading him. Besides he's great around fans that Will Smith letters promo is fun to continue promoting. Think he's just a great bullpen presence and that could be the difference of a Bullpen ERA under 4 with him here, and bullpen ERA above 5.5 with him gone. I just feel he's a guy with a top 100prospect in return and an upside to get a top 50prospect in return with another strong year especially if he does so as closer. We've been making the proper bullpen trades getting rid of Houser etc. Guys who've not even established a season at ML level.

I'm really curious whom the team throws out there for closer. Smith has the best history to be that guy. But in this 100loss potential team do you reduce his workload when team has 5game losing streaks multiple times in season? And rather save Kneble/Jefferson for those stretches while getting Smith 70games+ as 8th inning shutdown.

The rest of the bullpen isn't as important to me who they use. Just run the hot hand. Team has an abundance of bullpen options beyond those 3. Assuming Thornburg+Blazek as more locks. Pena to me will get let go due to no options and not really deserving of a spot compared to others.

[pacopete4]

Pena, Blazek and Thornburg should all be locks. With a younger rotation you want as many multiple inning guys as we can. All three of those pitchers can do just that.

[homer]

You guys are all overlooking Blaine Boyer who despite being right handed held LH hitters to a .169/.231/.205 line last year in a not insignificant 92 plate appearances. He'll battle Jimenez for "lefty" specialist.

 

Interesting. I wonder if he has one of those backdoor change-ups like Johan Santana (except right handed)

[trwi7]

You guys are all overlooking Blaine Boyer who despite being right handed held LH hitters to a .169/.231/.205 line last year in a not insignificant 92 plate appearances. He'll battle Jimenez for "lefty" specialist.

 

Interesting. I wonder if he has one of those backdoor change-ups like Johan Santana (except right handed)

 

It's a fluke.

 

2014 - .305/.339/.475

2011 - .286/.375/.571

Career - .280/.348/.400

[MKE81]

Opening Day - Jeffress, Knebel, Blazek, Thornburg, Pena, Jimenez, Jones (obviously if he needs to perform relatively well in spring)

 

I think Smith is traded for sure and given other options in pen I think Jones is worth the gamble given the expectations for the team this season. I really like Barrios but think he still needs time to continue to develop at AAA given he wasn't always a pitcher and is still learning. If Magnifico continues dominating out of pen you're looking at him, Barrios, Houser next in line replacing some of these current guys (I do think Houser will land in the pen)

[homer]

You guys are all overlooking Blaine Boyer who despite being right handed held LH hitters to a .169/.231/.205 line last year in a not insignificant 92 plate appearances. He'll battle Jimenez for "lefty" specialist.

 

Interesting. I wonder if he has one of those backdoor change-ups like Johan Santana (except right handed)

 

It's a fluke.

 

2014 - .305/.339/.475

2011 - .286/.375/.571

Career - .280/.348/.400

 

Ah. Thanks. Should have looked that up myself.

[ctmyers]

You guys are all overlooking Blaine Boyer who despite being right handed held LH hitters to a .169/.231/.205 line last year in a not insignificant 92 plate appearances. He'll battle Jimenez for "lefty" specialist.

 

Edit: Mentioned above

 

For sure Jeffress, Smith, Knebel, Blazek and Thornburg. Then the best three between Jones, Pena, Goforth, Guerra, Jimenez, Barnes, Magnifico, Cravy and Barrios. Possibly Boyer or Chapman, but that would require outrighting someone from the 40-man.

[QuevedosTongue]

I'm thinking that Smith will be dealt before the season starts if he pitches really well in spring training. Somebody will have an injury and need that arm. And I assume a 7-man bullpen.

 

So......Smith, Jeffress, Knebel, Blazek, Thornburg, Zack Jones (Rule 5 pick), Ariel Pena (no options)

 

If Smith is gone then someone like Jimenez or Boyer come into play.

[ctmyers]

I'm thinking that Smith will be dealt before the season starts if he pitches really well in spring training. Somebody will have an injury and need that arm. And I assume a 7-man bullpen.

 

So......Smith, Jeffress, Knebel, Blazek, Thornburg, Zack Jones (Rule 5 pick), Ariel Pena (no options)

 

If Smith is gone then someone like Jimenez or Boyer come into play.

 

Even though Jones was a R5 pick, I don't see him as being safe on the 25-man roster. He has legitimate control issues and no success above A+ ball. I could see him getting bumped for Lambson, Jimenez or Boyer on the 40-man after spring training concludes. If he goes back to the Twins, no loss other than 25k.

[CheezWizHed]

While not a lock, I'd assume Jones gets a long leash this year, a la Wang a couple years ago.

[QuevedosTongue]

While not a lock, I'd assume Jones gets a long leash this year, a la Wang a couple years ago.

 

Yes. When I posted my 2016 bullpen, it wasn't necessarily the 7 best RPs, but the most likely to be in the pen to open the season. Pena almost certainly will be, as he is out of options where others aren't. Jones was picked in the Rule 5 draft because there's something they like about him. I assume that, in a season in which results count for virtually nothing, he will make the team and get a lot of chances to pitch. He may develop a vague injury so they can stash him on the DL while they try to develop him, otherwise I'm fairly certain he'll make the team out of spring training.

[Outlander]

He is a rule 5 pick but the second choice and a relief pitcher not a left handed starter so I doubt the leash is as long as Wang's was.