Stearns' deadline approach

[gregmag]

Khris Davis is the Chris Carter of the outfield. Below average defense, great power, and not much else. Actually, at least Carter can draw a walk.

 

If Nottingham can stick at catcher, this trade will be a win. I don't think Davis has added any trade value since April.

The cratering of Davis' walk rate is really disappointing. I've always liked him, and I hope he can put it together. Right now, though, I'm pretty sure his value has diminished since the offseason. You can't be a so-so defensive LF and put up a .284 OBP, even in Oakland and even if you do hit 19 first-half HRs.

 

I'd say if Nottingham can stick at catcher, or if his bat plays well enough to justify moving him off catcher, we'll be happy with this trade. (Or if Derby somehow emerges as a strong starter.)

[danzig6767]

In retrospect it's kind of obvious that Davis was not a Stearns guy just because he can only play left field and only bat right handed. If he was a switch hitter or had the arm to play right he might still be on the team.

I doubt that Davis batting righthanded was much of a factor in trading him. Instead it was

 

1. His defensive issues. Davis is better suited for the AL where he can DH.

 

2. His erratic walk rates. By now it seems pretty clear that he's roughly a .250 hitter with great power, but his above average walk rate in the minors hasn't translated to the majors for whatever reason. Last year with the Brewers he took 44 walks in 440 at bats, but this year for Oakland he's back to drawing walks at a poor rate.

 

3. As important as anything, i think Stearns really wanted to open a starting position at corner OF for Santana, but unfortunately he's been hurt most of the season.

[Boomer5]

Davis hasnt been great with Oakland though he does have 19 HRs and 55 RBI's at the break for you old school stat folks.

 

Both Derby and Nottingham haven't lit it up down in the minors though so its not like anyone can say the trade is a win, especially since we dont know if Nottingham can play C at the MLB Level.

 

Only the Villar trade was a true win. Diaz may be something interesting in the Segura trade, though we did give up $5.5M for him so he wasnt exactly free. The rest of the moves have been churning moves where we gave up nothing and got nothing back.

 

The team is one game better than last year at this time and the minors may or may not be marginally better than when he took over. We have more quantity but Im not sure we have added that next mega star. We never had problems producing Scooter's and Davis', what we lacked was a Bryant or now a Bergman type that was must see TV everytime he stepped to the plate in the minors.

 

Stearns will earn his grade on the Luc/Braun/JJ/Smith trades.

[BuckyBrewer61]

The team is one game better than last year at this time and the minors may or may not be marginally better than when he took over. We have more quantity but I'm not sure we have added that next mega star. We never had problems producing Scooter's and Davis', what we lacked was a Bryant or now a Bergman type that was must see TV everytime he stepped to the plate in the minors.

 

Stearns will earn his grade on the Luc/Braun/JJ/Smith trades.

 

Pretty early to try to make heads or tails of what Diaz, Peralta, Herrera, Missaki, Wilkerson, Rijo, Nottingham, Derby, and Supak will ultimately be (probably forgetting someone in there). But as you can tell from the list, he is assembling volume of young controllable talent, and has done it by trading guys that are far from stars - Lind, Davis, Segura, Wagner, Rogers, Hill. It's not like that's part of the roster of an MLB playoff team or anything, and you simply aren't getting Kris Bryant or Yoan Moncada for any of those guys.

 

Again, time will tell, but if just a couple of these guys become decent MLB players he's done his job, and I like the odds of that. Not to mention he's also added good MLB talent (Villar, Carter) and took some flyers that haven't panned out to date, but at low risk (Flores, Broxton, Liriano).

 

But I agree, he will ultimately be judged on his biggest trades, which are hopefully soon to come.

[WV Brew]

Only the Villar trade was a true win.

 

How so? While Villar is having a decent year, pretty far above what he has done in either the Majors or Minors, so is Cy Sneed. In fact, Sneed is having a better year than anybody the Brewers have at AA not named Hader. In the long run, Villar is all but useless with Arcia the shortstop of the future. Maybe Villar can play 2nd or 3rd but really he looks like a long term utility type guy. Not worth a starting pitcher. Sneed is striking out 9.9 per 9 innings. His walk rate is up a little but that will likely go down in line with his career norms.

[Boomer5]

Only the Villar trade was a true win.

 

How so? While Villar is having a decent year, pretty far above what he has done in either the Majors or Minors, so is Cy Sneed. In fact, Sneed is having a better year than anybody the Brewers have at AA not named Hader. In the long run, Villar is all but useless with Arcia the shortstop of the future. Maybe Villar can play 2nd or 3rd but really he looks like a long term utility type guy. Not worth a starting pitcher. Sneed is striking out 9.9 per 9 innings. His walk rate is up a little but that will likely go down in line with his career norms.

 

I'm the one who made the statement so I'll address it.

 

I'm not a fan of Stearns work so far. Actually this season so far has been a worse case scenario. He hasn't improved the minors to the degree of adding an elite talent and he has rode Luc and Braun to a meh draft position. I am assuming that will change when they are traded. Those are two huge chips and he needs to bring in some serious studs back.

 

I like Sneed and saw him as being a legitimate back of the rotation guy in Milwaukee or at least quality bullpen arm. That said Villar right now is worth more than what Sneed should become. You have to give Stearns this one. A 25 year old infielder with Villar's offense doesn't come along everyday and for the price of a quality bullpen arm, maybe, that's a good trade.

[rickh150]

I liked Melvin's deals, almost all of them. I really thought that was a strength of his Over the last decade. Rarely did we get fleeced.

 

When you look at DS's deals/FA pickups, it is hard not to like what has been done so far, either.

 

Approaching the deadline, it will be interesting to see DS at work. I thought Melvin had a great personal quality. Other GM's genuinely liked the man ( or so it seemed) because he had care of helping the other team get value and fill gaps. We'll see if DS has said quality to get together and get BIG deals done, and for our favor. From first and second impressions of him, he seems like a guy fairly easy to meet and greet. Yet, to me, he does come across as "much smarter than you" in some smug replies, at least with the media. We'll see how his first deadline goes.

[MrTPlush]

Maybe Villar can play 2nd or 3rd but really he looks like a long term utility type guy.

 

I mean I guess everyone can have an opinion, but you are the only person I think that would call Villar a long term utility guy. He has been very consistent all year hitting .300/.380 with an OPS over .800.

 

If that is our utility player's stats I can't wait to see the full line-up.

[WV Brew]

Maybe Villar can play 2nd or 3rd but really he looks like a long term utility type guy.

 

I mean I guess everyone can have an opinion, but you are the only person I think that would call Villar a long term utility guy. He has been very consistent all year hitting .300/.380 with an OPS over .800.

 

If that is our utility player's stats I can't wait to see the full line-up.

 

Well he's far above his career norms. Maybe you think he will continue to exceed them. Maybe he has turned a corner like Carlos Gomez did. Even so, Scooter Gennett has been a better hitter in his career and is actually a second baseman. I don't see Villar as a 3rd baseman for very long. You have the backlog of Rivera, Arcia and Ortega lined up at short. Are you going to flip them? They didn't get much for Salinas did they? This is why I don't think this trade is so great. They traded a position of weakness for a position of strength which doesn't make sense to me. I would have just run out Rivera this year rather than go on a search for the elusive 73rd win.

[MrTPlush]

Maybe Villar can play 2nd or 3rd but really he looks like a long term utility type guy.

 

I mean I guess everyone can have an opinion, but you are the only person I think that would call Villar a long term utility guy. He has been very consistent all year hitting .300/.380 with an OPS over .800.

 

If that is our utility player's stats I can't wait to see the full line-up.

 

Well he's far above his career norms. Maybe you think he will continue to exceed them. Maybe he has turned a corner like Carlos Gomez did. Even so, Scooter Gennett has been a better hitter in his career and is actually a second baseman. I don't see Villar as a 3rd baseman for very long. You have the backlog of Rivera, Arcia and Ortega lined up at short. Are you going to flip them? They didn't get much for Salinas did they? This is why I don't think this trade is so great. They traded a position of weakness for a position of strength which doesn't make sense to me. I would have just run out Rivera this year rather than go on a search for the elusive 73rd win.

 

Rivera and Ortega both sport career OBP% under .300. That is pathetic. They could release both tomorrow and I wouldn't shed a tear. They will both be luck to have any sort of extended MLB career.

 

We could send Villar back to Houston for a whole lot more than just Sneed at this point. How one could dislike the trade is quite shocking. I think it was a month or so ago there was a report scouts now think Villar is a solid starting SS. I can imagine their view has only gotten better with his stats continuing to excel. I don't know if he can keep his stats quite this good, but the fact he is a former top prospect and he has yet to struggle makes me feel like it could be real. Even if he regresses slightly he is still really good.

 

And what do you mean by "Gennett is actually a 2B?" You are acting like it is a bad thing Villar hasn't been limited to 2B due to a noodle arm like Gennett.

[homer]

In retrospect it's kind of obvious that Davis was not a Stearns guy just because he can only play left field and only bat right handed. If he was a switch hitter or had the arm to play right he might still be on the team.

I doubt that Davis batting righthanded was much of a factor in trading him. Instead it was

 

1. His defensive issues. Davis is better suited for the AL where he can DH.

 

2. His erratic walk rates. By now it seems pretty clear that he's roughly a .250 hitter with great power, but his above average walk rate in the minors hasn't translated to the majors for whatever reason. Last year with the Brewers he took 44 walks in 440 at bats, but this year for Oakland he's back to drawing walks at a poor rate.

 

3. As important as anything, i think Stearns really wanted to open a starting position at corner OF for Santana, but unfortunately he's been hurt most of the season.

 

 

It wasn't because he was right-handed it was because he wasn't versatile. He could only play left field and he could only bat from one side of the plate.

[monty57]

I don't see Villar as a 3rd baseman for very long. You have the backlog of Rivera, Arcia and Ortega lined up at short. Are you going to flip them?

 

Barring something happening in the trade or FA market, it's lining up for Arcia to be our starting SS next year, with Villar at 3B, and Rivera probably being a utility guy. That retains our productive lead-off hitter, and allows Arcia to get his feet wet as a 6-7-8 hitter. I know the "traditional 3B" is a lumbering power hitter, I'll take a guy who provides solid defense, with good OBP and base-running skills. Of course he may falter, and this year may be a fluke, but that's true of most players. He's looking very good this year and deserves a starting role next year, while Rivera looks like a good candidate to be a defense-first utility guy.

 

As important as anything, i think Stearns really wanted to open a starting position at corner OF for Santana, but unfortunately he's been hurt most of the season.

 

This was the reason Davis was traded. We had a surplus, and Stearns traded away the guy that made the most sense to trade. When the trade was done, he was looking to bolster their minor leagues, and he did that, with the key piece being a highly regarded catching prospect, an area where we were thin, along with a SP prospect with some upside potential.

 

I hope that even when we are out of the "rebuilding" stage, we still look to trade the veteran when he's blocking a minor leaguer who is pushing his way onto the MLB roster. There's always risk, but that's a good way to help remain younger and cheaper.

 

I agree that is's a shame Santana has been sidelined with injury this year. When looking at how down we'll be when Lucroy and potentially Braun are traded, it's easy to forget about Santana. We won't be able to make up for the loss of Lucroy/Braun, but a healthy Santana (along with whatever we bring back in trade) will help our offense be a little less anemic next year.

[paul253]

Why not move Gennett and have Villar play 2nd? He seems a better fit there. Is it just because we have nobody else to play third? I actually think Villar could be a long term solution at 2B.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Why not move Gennett and have Villar play 2nd? He seems a better fit there. Is it just because we have nobody else to play third? I actually think Villar could be a long term solution at 2B.

 

 

I think the reasoning is there's not really a trade partner for a 2nd base-only guy who has to be platooned vs. lefties.

[Devinep]

Maybe Villar can play 2nd or 3rd but really he looks like a long term utility type guy.

 

I mean I guess everyone can have an opinion, but you are the only person I think that would call Villar a long term utility guy. He has been very consistent all year hitting .300/.380 with an OPS over .800.

 

If that is our utility player's stats I can't wait to see the full line-up.

 

I could see him as a utility player, but more of a Zobrist-type super sub who plays everyday but at different spots. That would mean improving the current 2B and 3B situations. Maybe by the time of competition in a few years Diaz will be pushing for the 2B job and they've finally got a 3B in trade or free agency

[harrydalton]

Phillips doesn't look like he'll be ready to man CF in 2017.

 

I'd see if Villar could play there until Phillips or someone else like Ray is ready.

[MrTPlush]

Maybe Villar can play 2nd or 3rd but really he looks like a long term utility type guy.

 

I mean I guess everyone can have an opinion, but you are the only person I think that would call Villar a long term utility guy. He has been very consistent all year hitting .300/.380 with an OPS over .800.

 

If that is our utility player's stats I can't wait to see the full line-up.

 

I could see him as a utility player, but more of a Zobrist-type super sub who plays everyday but at different spots. That would mean improving the current 2B and 3B situations. Maybe by the time of competition in a few years Diaz will be pushing for the 2B job and they've finally got a 3B in trade or free agency

 

Me too, but I don't think that is what he was talking about. I think he was inferring Villar isn't good enough to be a starter at any of those positions.

[MrTPlush]

Why not move Gennett and have Villar play 2nd? He seems a better fit there. Is it just because we have nobody else to play third? I actually think Villar could be a long term solution at 2B.

 

 

I think the reasoning is there's not really a trade partner for a 2nd base-only guy who has to be platooned vs. lefties.

 

Maybe they think he can raise his value or they don't feel it is worth it to trade him. I am pretty sure there are teams out there that would trade for Gennett. He provides some decent offense and he has hit LHP well this year.

 

We control him through 2019, he is young, and we have no 2B waiting in the wings yet. Really no reason to trade him.

[BrewCrewBlueDevil]

Lots of free agent CF's in free agency. Might even get Gomez cheap on a one year deal as he tries to reestablish some value? Hopefully Santana has a good second half. Beside Braun the outfield is not good. I am more hopeful for Liriano and am tired of Flores.

[MrTPlush]

Lots of free agent CF's in free agency. Might even get Gomez cheap on a one year deal as he tries to reestablish some value? Hopefully Santana has a good second half. Beside Braun the outfield is not good. I am more hopeful for Liriano and am tired of Flores.

 

At this point I think Gomez might be toast. At least as an above average player. I don't think there is much upside if we were to sign him. He is one of those players who is probably pretty annoying when he isn't playing well.

[monty57]

Hopefully Santana has a good second half. Beside Braun the outfield is not good. I am more hopeful for Liriano and am tired of Flores.

 

That's what years like this year (and probably next year) are good for. We can let these guys play and see which of them have a future with the team. Braun getting traded would leave a huge hole, but there is no better time to let these once-promising young guys play every day to see what they can do. We look to have found a good player in Villar by giving him a shot. Carter looks a lot better than we hoped for. Getting rid of K-Rod and allowing Jeffress to close has made him a household name that could land us a decent amount in trade. If one of our young OFs takes off with everyday PT in the second half, that's all the better for the future.

[Devinep]

Lots of free agent CF's in free agency. Might even get Gomez cheap on a one year deal as he tries to reestablish some value? Hopefully Santana has a good second half. Beside Braun the outfield is not good. I am more hopeful for Liriano and am tired of Flores.

 

 

Why spend on an aging free agent? Maybe he could be flipped, but there's no real shot at Bing competitive next year, so just leave CF to Wren, Reed, Liriano until Phillios is hopefully ready mid season ( also delaying Super 2)

[Oxy]

Khris Davis now has 43 home runs since August 6th of last year.

 

I agree with most everything that has been said in this thread about him, but that's a lot of dingers. The most in the Major Leagues.

[pacopete4]

Khris Davis now has 43 home runs since August 6th of last year.

 

I agree with most everything that has been said in this thread about him, but that's a lot of dingers. The most in the Major Leagues.

 

 

But it's pretty much the only thing he does well.

[madbad2000]

Khris Davis now has 43 home runs since August 6th of last year.

 

I agree with most everything that has been said in this thread about him, but that's a lot of dingers. The most in the Major Leagues.

 

 

But it's pretty much the only thing he does well.

 

And that one thing got his namesake $160+ million from the Orioles this off season.