Trading for Francisco Mejia from the Tribe.

[HighHeat19]

What are the odds that we still try to pry Mejia from the Tribe? I would really like to see DS still try to acquire the young catcher. As I see it now we have a couple of options:

 

Chris Carter & Trent Clark: The Tribe doesn't have much in the fold for a power hitting DH after Napoli who is scheduled to be a FA after this year. CC is also 5 years younger and costs half of what Napoli did. The Tribe also will still be looking to contend next year. The former 1st round OF may swing the deal.

 

Jonathan Villar straight up: Yes, I would trade Villar straight up for Mejia. This trade would also give the Tribe a little flexibility.

 

Tyler Thornburg straight up: The cost of great relievers keeps going up. Possibly thrown in Guerra if the Tribe kicks another piece as well.

 

I would really like to see Mejia in a Brewers uni.

 

On a side note: I just don't see Lucroy coming back to Milwaukee in 2018. No matter how well the Brewers perform next year. That foreseeable catching position looks very thin moving forward. And Nottingham just doesn't have what it takes to be a backstop looking at his defensive numbers.

 

Thoughts?

[FVBrewerFan]

Other than Villar, if the Indians would have gone for those deals it would have been done.

[HighHeat19]

Other than Villar, if the Indians would have gone for those deals it would have been done.

 

Not necessarily. Chris Carter would of had very little value to them this year. However, next year with Napoli hitting FA, that can make a huge difference.

 

Tyler Thornburg made his best strides this year after Jeffress was traded and has proven that he can handle the closer role.

 

The real key from the deadline fiasco is that you now know that Mejia is not an untouchable.

[adambr2]

I would do Carter / Clark or Thornburg in a heartbeat.

 

However, I think Mejia's availability had a lot more to do with them trying to land Lucroy for the pennant race and next year more than anything else. I don't see them looking to deal Mejia now unless they're blown away. They're still a build from within type franchise, and they're not exactly rich with catching talent at the MLB level.

[MadThinker88]

To get one of the top catching prospects IN ALL OF BASEBALL (ranked that way before the season and now) & top 100 prospect overall, you need to offer much more then ANY of those packages..

 

Even if the Tribe does not resign Napoli (50/50) or Raji Davis (25/75) they would be regaining Michael Brantley to the lineup mix. There are also a handful of other prospects on the hitting side that should be ready to make an impact.

 

Personally I don't think the organizations match up very well in a 'Mejia' deal unless a 3rd team is in the mix...

 

I've written on this board before that Yandy Diaz and Giovanny Urshela should be targets for the Brewers but the way Diaz played this year, I suspect he will be part of the Tribe roster next season.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't see Cleveland dealing him either. Brewers are in catching wasteland, much as they were in the previous decade. They have a great system but there's no real "catcher of the future" you can point to. Nottingham maybe, but he'll need to show more next year.

 

Zack Collins (.885 OPS in high A) was there for the taking in the draft and they passed on him. Even if he doesn't stay behind the plate and ends up at 1B, his LH bat there would fit a need in the Brewer system.

[Greenleaf1]

I think catcher will just not be our position of strength the way it has been with Lucroy for the past 5 years when we go back to competing. It's more likely at this point that outfield and 2B/SS provide us with our all stars, and that whoever we have behind the plate is more of an average to slightly above average player (which not everyone can be an all star).

 

Susac/Pina both have the potential to stick there in that role. Should find out if either one can do it next season.

[pacopete4]

Brewers are in catching wasteland, much as they were in the previous decade.

 

I know you are passionate in your analysis but this is just over the top, looking for someone to call you out on it. Just stop it with this stuff.

[rwa12]

I think Susac will be the stopgap for awhile. I'm fine with just bringing in defensive catchers. IMO, if you can't have a top guy like Lucroy, there isn't much difference in the bottom 80%.

[MKE81]

Brewers are in catching wasteland, much as they were in the previous decade.

 

I know you are passionate in your analysis but this is just over the top, looking for someone to call you out on it. Just stop it with this stuff.

Lucroy was in our system from 07-10. Maldy in system from 07-11. Half of the past decade there hasn't been any issues with the catching, especially at the MLB level. In between then and 2016 there's been steady fill-ins, guys who play a role but aren't going to be quality MLB players starting or backing up. And that's fine because there's nowhere for them to go anyway (not that we shouldn't draft and develop given can always trade players but they did draft and try to develop and some of those guys are now OFs).

 

This year there was plenty of talent at various levels. At the MLB level next year there's Susac (top 100 in 2015 and blocked by Posey), Pina (solid entire minor league career who seems like he can be a quality backup) and Maldy still as of now with McKenry and Pinto also in AAA. Have you seen the catching talent at the MLB level across the board? It's typically not good that's why it's extremely difficult to find a top notch catcher.

 

Not to mention Nottingham, who was Top 70 on BP list heading into this year playing 3yrs younger than age at AA, which was an aggressive assignment. That doesn't just affect offense because there's still a learning curve on the defensive end too. His defensive numbers were relatively fine heading into this year. He'll do much better next year in AA then continue to grow from there. One bad season and everyone throws in the towels on these guys it's insane. Nothing but a bunch of box score evaluators. This system has more depth at catching right now than the past 5yrs and people are still complaining.

[Roderick]

IMO, if you can't have a top guy like Lucroy, there isn't much difference in the bottom 80%.

 

My thought exactly. Between Maldy, Pina, Susac, Pinto, Nottingham I wouldn't even be looking for a catcher in a trade. When we are trading and the best player available happens to be a catcher, fine. Otherwise, I am looking for other positions to fill.

 

You can always find the Zaun, Miller, Kendall for a year or two when we get back to competing and we have a weakness at catcher.

 

As it is, Maldy's batting (using OPS) is better than what 7-8 clubs are sending out there for the most part every night and he has to be at least the middle of the pack for defense.

[And That]

Brewers are in catching wasteland

Jacob Nottingham, Max McDowell, Mario Feliciano, Jose Sibrian, and Dustin Houle disagree. Maybe even Carlos Leal too, somewhere.

 

Of course if they could get a great deal on Mejia, they'd be nuts not to take it, but catching isn't anything they need to be singling out as a need.

[jerichoholicninja]

Too rich for my blood. Pretty much every catcher in MLB sucks aside from like the top 3 or 4. Putting any resources other than a draft pick into one is a waste in my opinion. Keep churning through guys like Maldonado and Susac and eventually they'll develop/luck into someone who's actually talented.

[MrTPlush]

Pretty much every team has a wasteland at the catchers position. If you have multiple promising catcher prospects that is incredible. They just don't exist. Mejia may be one, but he would cost a ton and a huge risk like any other catcher. If we find one great, if not we are like the majority of MLB.

[Austin Tatious]

Brewers are in catching wasteland, much as they were in the previous decade.

 

I know you are passionate in your analysis but this is just over the top, looking for someone to call you out on it. Just stop it with this stuff.

 

Briggs is a good poster and can defend himself, but I interpreted his comment as meaning that prior to Lucroy, the Brewers struggled at catcher. He wasn't including Lucroy.

 

Being concerned about the catching position is a very valid concern.

[pacopete4]

Brewers are in catching wasteland, much as they were in the previous decade.

 

I know you are passionate in your analysis but this is just over the top, looking for someone to call you out on it. Just stop it with this stuff.

 

Briggs is a good poster and can defend himself, but I interpreted his comment as meaning that prior to Lucroy, the Brewers struggled at catcher. He wasn't including Lucroy.

 

Being concerned about the catching position is a very valid concern.

 

No his comment was completely over the top and really only stems from being upset Davis netted Nottingham, who he feels was not enough for Davis because he loves him. Which is fine but don't pout. The Brewers just sunk two higher picks into the catching position and like others have stated, Maldonado/Susac/Pina ect... are more that passable and better than a lot of what other teams have at the MLB level.

[Austin Tatious]

Brewers are in catching wasteland

Jacob Nottingham, Max McDowell, Mario Feliciano, Jose Sibrian, and Dustin Houle disagree. Maybe even Carlos Leal too, somewhere.

 

Of course if they could get a great deal on Mejia, they'd be nuts not to take it, but catching isn't anything they need to be singling out as a need.

 

Every minor league system can rattle off some names and pretend they have half a dozen prospects at any position. We have hopes for Feliciano and Payton Henry in particular as they are so young, and hopefully some of the folks you mentioned can upset the projections and develop. Maybe Nottingham can develop as he's still young for his level. The cold hard reality is we do not have any likely average MLB catchers that you can point to based on anything we have seen. So, you're left with blind hope. Thars ok for fans I guess, but we need an infusion of talent at catcher in a more realistic view. After top of rotation pitcher, catcher is a screeching loud need.

 

The Brewers ought to take a long look at JJ Schwarz in the next draft at catcher. You may even be able to get him underslot, but that sure as heck should not drive the decision.

[adambr2]

I am not overly worried about the catching position right now. I actually think Susac will end up being at least a league average starting catcher. Anyhow, we're at a point of talent acquisition right now, nothing more. When it's 2019 and we're winning 90 games and putting out terrible catchers, then I'll start worrying about the position.

[FVBrewerFan]

Doesn't matter who the catcher is the next couple years. After that, they will have plenty of money to spend on an avg catcher in FA. Can't expect an All Star at every position anyhow. That's worst case. Best case Nottingham develops, or eventually one of the young catchers. I just don't see it as a problem, especially not for at least two more years.

 

Side note, they got Pina and Pinto for nothing. That combo would have produced avg production at the position this season.

[MKE81]

Brewers are in catching wasteland

Jacob Nottingham, Max McDowell, Mario Feliciano, Jose Sibrian, and Dustin Houle disagree. Maybe even Carlos Leal too, somewhere.

 

Of course if they could get a great deal on Mejia, they'd be nuts not to take it, but catching isn't anything they need to be singling out as a need.

 

Every minor league system can rattle off some names and pretend they have half a dozen prospects at any position. We have hopes for Feliciano and Payton Henry in particular as they are so young, and hopefully some of the folks you mentioned can upset the projections and develop. Maybe Nottingham can develop as he's still young for his level. The cold hard reality is we do not have any likely average MLB catchers that you can point to based on anything we have seen. So, you're left with blind hope. Thars ok for fans I guess, but we need an infusion of talent at catcher in a more realistic view. After top of rotation pitcher, catcher is a screeching loud need.

 

The Brewers ought to take a long look at JJ Schwarz in the next draft at catcher. You may even be able to get him underslot, but that sure as heck should not drive the decision.

So we can't point to Susac? He was Top 100 in 2015 and the Giants #1 prospect. Has MLB experience and will most likely be our starter next year. He can be above average. Piña can be a strong backup. The average catcher at the MLB level is a dime a dozen. It's not a position to focus on as others have mentioned, especially at the MLB level

[Greenleaf1]

Susac is a legimitate catching prospect who's worth a long look next year. Pina's year at AAA this year was too good to ignore, and he deserves a long look as well.

 

Maldonado would be ideal to keep as a backup in the event that only one (or neither) of Susac/Pina don't work out. I think all things being equal in spring training, Pina/Maldonado start the year and Pina gets a chance to prove himself. If he can't do it, then if Susac is doing well at AAA he'll get a shot too.

 

Even if all this weren't true, and we were stuck with just Maldy next year, it doesn't matter. Either one of our catching prospects will develop over the next couple years, or we'll fill the void via trade or free agency when we're back to competing. We have plenty of other areas of strength in our minor league system, and at least a few interesting guys to look at next year at catcher. Would having Mejia be nice? Of course, but I'd much rather have Brinson/Ortiz right now, and you can't have everything.

[pacopete4]

Andrew Susac will by 27 by the time the next regular season begins. If next season isn't dedicated to him being the starter and proving his prospect status worth, then when would be? Seems very silly to have a guy like that go back down to AAA next season. He should be given the year to prove he is the next in line for that position.

[Greenleaf1]

The only reason I'd say you start Susac at AAA is if we want to keep Maldonado. Susac is the only one of the 3 with options left, which works against him. I'm not saying he has to stay down for long, but I don't think the Brewers will start the year with 3 catchers unless all 3 really do well in Spring Training.

[pogokat]

I think the maldy era will come to an end in a few weeks.

[Roderick]

 

....... The cold hard reality is we do not have any likely average MLB catchers that you can point to based on anything we have seen. So, you're left with blind hope. Thars ok for fans I guess, but we need an infusion of talent at catcher in a more realistic view. After top of rotation pitcher, catcher is a screeching loud need.

 

The Brewers ought to take a long look at JJ Schwarz in the next draft at catcher. You may even be able to get him underslot, but that sure as heck should not drive the decision.

 

Your #1 catcher is going to play 70% of the games, whereas when you have a solid positional starter he is going to start 90% of the games, right? That is ~32 games or 28% more games played.

 

Also the catcher position has more injuries than other positions (no stats, just assuming ).

 

They are involved in each and every play, so you want to make sure you have a decent defensive catcher regarding past balls and framing.

 

So, to me, my quick "moneyball" calculation is to not spend assets on the catching position. Give me someone like Maldy and I would be happy. A catcher for $2M that will be at least league average defensively and not be one of the worst 20% of the hitters at catcher. If Susac and/or Pina can be close to average defensively and we can save even more $, with a chance for a better bat - all the better.