Free Agent Relievers

[ZBTMP]

While I have reasonable confidence in Knebel/Barnes, Id still like to see the Brewers bring in another reliever with upside. Names I like that shouldnt break the bank too bad:

Koji Uehara- 42 but still striking out a ton of batters shucks, 1 year $4.5 mil to the North Side

Casilla- His high profile meltdowns may keep his market down, but he is still has the third highest projected WAR of any reliever

Personal Favorite:

Drew Storen- He has been pretty bad for the last year and a half but pitched better for the Mariners. His velocity is a bit down, but he isnt that far removed:

2014: 1.12 ERA! in 56 innings

2015: Had sub 2 era and 27 saves at the all star break. Reds, 1 year - 3 million + incentives.

Thoughts?

[JosephC]

No particular names in mind but I agree with this concept. The bullpen has become the most glaring hole on the roster IMO, there will be some reasonably priced quality relievers on the market. I would sign one or two with the intention of them pitching well and staying with the club, but if the Brewers signed someone like Storen and he had a big bounce-back year he'd be a solid trade chip in July. I would think the Brewers will be well short of Attanasio's payroll ceiling, and couple veteran relievers on 3 of 4 million dollar salaries seem like the most logical investments to make.

[reillymcshane]

but if the Brewers signed someone like Storen and he had a big bounce-back year he'd be a solid trade chip in July.

I think you got it.

 

Give someone a chance to rebuild their value - then deal them off if it works. Veteran relievers doing well at the deadline are always valuable.

[brewmann04]

the brewers always seem to find a reliever to bring in to camp and find a surprise.

[NievesNoNO]

I'd take Uehara or Storen. I'd add Hochevar and Salas to the list of guys I'd like to see them make a play at.

[Bnowell4evr]

Neftali Feliz is a guy I'd like to take a flyer on. He seems like the kind of guy you could flip easily if his HR% comes down to his normal rate.

[brewmann04]

I agree on storen buy low possible high reward

[yoshii8]

I would be excited to see Feliz and/or Storen brought in.

[MillerParkSouth]

I for sure think we'll sign one of the remaining bounce back guys. We have a need and a unique opportunity to give guys a chance to close. If we can bring a guy like Storen or Feliz in and they have success closing out games, we could flip them for a nice prospect this summer.

[MadThinker88]

Jeff Manship (RHP) should be a target.

 

Had a great 2015 and solid 2016 for Cleveland. Was non-tendered at the deadline. Could be someone that is sneaky good and able to be a decent trade chip to flip at the deadline in July...

[Roderick]

I'm not against it, but would really wait to be able to drive the price down on the veteran. And if none end up left that we are intrigued by, then you still have at least twelve options (from 40 man roster) for the eight slots.

 

Barnes, Blazek, Marinez, Cravy, Knebel, Torres, Suter, Scahill, Parker, Magnifico and 2 of: Nelson, Anderson, Peralta, Jungmann.

[MKE81]

I'm not against it, but would really wait to be able to drive the price down on the veteran. And if none end up left that we are intrigued by, then you still have at least twelve options (from 40 man roster) for the eight slots.

 

Barnes, Blazek, Marinez, Cravy, Knebel, Torres, Suter, Scahill, Parker, Magnifico and 2 of: Nelson, Anderson, Peralta, Jungmann.

I'm all for signing 1-2 bounce back vets or vets who have had a solid track record. For me, I want to see Barnes, Knebel, Torres, Marinez, Magnifico for sure. I'm very curious to see how Suter will do in spring out of the pen full time (don't even bounce back and forth) as I think he can contribute. Blazek has had some success as well. Parker I think will be gone at some point. Scahill, Cravy I want nothing to do with. Stearns will add some guys here for sure and that's where Scahill, Parker types can lose their 40 for an upgrade.

 

Maybe it's wishful thinking given he's never seen AAA but I'm very intrigued by Ramsey. Excited to see how he does in spring. He's just dominated everything so far and is 27 all year next year (people have asked questions surround his injury in 2015 and it was his lower back - Marlins thought it was a minor injury but it actually kept him out all season).

[rwa12]

Agreed, the bullpen especially, is a great place for reclamation. How many times have we executed this flip with KRod? Like 17 now? Relievers can live off their name for seemingly far longer than position players.

[dacbrewers]

I'm not against it, but would really wait to be able to drive the price down on the veteran. And if none end up left that we are intrigued by, then you still have at least twelve options (from 40 man roster) for the eight slots.

 

Barnes, Blazek, Marinez, Cravy, Knebel, Torres, Suter, Scahill, Parker, Magnifico and 2 of: Nelson, Anderson, Peralta, Jungmann.

I'm all for signing 1-2 bounce back vets or vets who have had a solid track record. For me, I want to see Barnes, Knebel, Torres, Marinez, Magnifico for sure. I'm very curious to see how Suter will do in spring out of the pen full time (don't even bounce back and forth) as I think he can contribute. Blazek has had some success as well. Parker I think will be gone at some point. Scahill, Cravy I want nothing to do with. Stearns will add some guys here for sure and that's where Scahill, Parker types can lose their 40 for an upgrade.

 

Maybe it's wishful thinking given he's never seen AAA but I'm very intrigued by Ramsey. Excited to see how he does in spring. He's just dominated everything so far and is 27 all year next year (people have asked questions surround his injury in 2015 and it was his lower back - Marlins thought it was a minor injury but it actually kept him out all season).

 

Two guys who were as good as anyone in relief work last year were Suter and Cravy. Suter era in relief work was 0.00 and Cravy was 0.81. Saw Thornburg make some recent comments about it being tough going back and forth between a starter and reliever, which is exactly what has been going on with Suter and Cravy. Magnifico was closing for AAA but since the Brewers are searching a closer, I don't see him in that role. I can see Marinez or Torres taking over as a closer if we don't sign someone but I think 2 FA relievers will be signed. Moves were made before the season started last year, I look for more of the same.

[ZBTMP]

****

After trading all of those closer-types within the past 12 months, the Brewers are suddenly a solid landing spot for late-inning relievers seeking a home.

 

"There are a lot of relievers who like our opportunity, who like the potential to pitch in high-leverage innings," Milwaukee general manager David Stearns said Wednesday at the Winter Meetings.

 

"We'll leave here having a very firm sense of what that market looks like."

****

No, the Brewers are not going to sign Aroldis Chapman or Kenley Jansen, but there are plenty of options in the next tiers: Santiago Casilla, Neftali Feliz, Greg Holland, Sergio Romo, Fernando Salas, Drew Storen, Koji Uehara, Brad Ziegler are all free agents, as is Joe Blanton on the heels of a career year as a setup man for the Dodgers.

LINK

[JohnBriggs12]

Definitely some solid veteran names on that list to choose from.

[MKE81]

I'm not against it, but would really wait to be able to drive the price down on the veteran. And if none end up left that we are intrigued by, then you still have at least twelve options (from 40 man roster) for the eight slots.

 

Barnes, Blazek, Marinez, Cravy, Knebel, Torres, Suter, Scahill, Parker, Magnifico and 2 of: Nelson, Anderson, Peralta, Jungmann.

I'm all for signing 1-2 bounce back vets or vets who have had a solid track record. For me, I want to see Barnes, Knebel, Torres, Marinez, Magnifico for sure. I'm very curious to see how Suter will do in spring out of the pen full time (don't even bounce back and forth) as I think he can contribute. Blazek has had some success as well. Parker I think will be gone at some point. Scahill, Cravy I want nothing to do with. Stearns will add some guys here for sure and that's where Scahill, Parker types can lose their 40 for an upgrade.

 

Maybe it's wishful thinking given he's never seen AAA but I'm very intrigued by Ramsey. Excited to see how he does in spring. He's just dominated everything so far and is 27 all year next year (people have asked questions surround his injury in 2015 and it was his lower back - Marlins thought it was a minor injury but it actually kept him out all season).

 

Two guys who were as good as anyone in relief work last year were Suter and Cravy. Suter era in relief work was 0.00 and Cravy was 0.81. Saw Thornburg make some recent comments about it being tough going back and forth between a starter and reliever, which is exactly what has been going on with Suter and Cravy. Magnifico was closing for AAA but since the Brewers are searching a closer, I don't see him in that role. I can see Marinez or Torres taking over as a closer if we don't sign someone but I think 2 FA relievers will be signed. Moves were made before the season started last year, I look for more of the same.

Suter had 12.1 IP as a reliever that's such a small sample size. But given that he deserves a shot at a pen role in spring no doubt. Cravy was great last year as a reliever too in 22IP but the year before he got rocked in that role. He's inconsistent for me. I'm not saying he doesn't deserve a shot and I think he's fine as a AAAA player but he's not a guy I want in the pen over some of these other guys or FA vets we sign. I do agree that players suffer from bouncing back and forth from spot starting and being in relief. But that versatility also is a plus for them.

 

Magnifico isn't going to close for the Brewers but having closer experience the past 2yrs in AA/AAA is a plus. We all know he dominated AA and he pitched better than his AAA numbers suggest. Between 2 outings he gave up 10 ER in 1.2 IP. That implodes an ERA. Remove those 2 outings and his line was 60.1 IP, 51H, 18ER, 30bb, 60K, 2.64 ERA. I'm banking on him being in the pen and being very solid. I don't think Torres or Marinez should close - see them as 7th inning guys. I'd have Barnes close with Knebel as setup. Barnes has more control and pounds the zone.

 

Just thinking about all this I'm excited to see these young guys emerge as main contributors this year. Even losing our top 3 pen guys since the deadline I think the pen is still in good shape just needs some rounding out

[dacbrewers]

Please don't sign Romo or Castillo.

[MrTPlush]

Please don't sign Romo

 

Why wouldn't you want him? Very dominant over his entire career and if the blown saves in the postseason have downed his value I would be jumping on him pretty fast. He is a known name and that would make him more attractive at the deadline and likely to get a bigger return.

 

The only problem I have is the fact he would almost certainly require a multi year deal. Any signing for a veteran reliever should be a one year deal. If we have to hand Romo 2-3+ years that is a lot of financial risk if he sputters out of the gate and we can never really trade him. I would prefer a veteran on a one year deal who we don't have to commit multiple years to if they can't be flipped. Multiyear bullpen arm deals can also be problematic to trade.

 

Personally I would go with Feliz.

[brewcrewdue80]

I wouldn't want to sign any reliever beyond 3.5 million a season or per year on 2 years. Romo likely has 5mil or more for his services. I suppose if it were 1/5mil I'd sign him with the expectation to trade him before the deadline. But again, I'm sure he's valued more for the money. I know I've chimed in this team has the makings of 81wins with the potential offense, but that is still lacking Playoff berth potential. You've got so many iffy types like Suter, Cravy, Peralta, Garza, and even Jungmann who just may have to commit to bullpen roles. Signing a RP eliminates some of the flexibility you possess in finding a starting 5 with so many that can give you starts. What if Hader's first 2 or 3 starts in AAA are shutouts or close? Or Lopez? Meanwhile, Peralta, Nelson, or Garza are off to a 6+ERA start that warrants moving from SP. In Nelson and Peralta if you option them down, their pitching woes don't improve in Colorado. And Garza of course couldn't be optioned. You'd have to commit to AA in the options or move 1 of the 3 to the bullpen which if adding a FA reliever makes that crowded.

Just with how variable relievers are year to year I'd leave it to finding one off waivers and remain cheap. 1 year away to me before you concern yourself with veteran RPs and the bullpen. You may have the types you seek in your system, go find out.

[sveumrules]

I think I'd target Holland. You can guarantee him the closer spot & if he regains his past form could probably bring back the biggest return at the deadline of the guys still out there.

[JohnBriggs12]

I wouldn't want to sign any reliever beyond 3.5 million a season or per year on 2 years. Romo likely has 5mil or more for his services. I suppose if it were 1/5mil I'd sign him with the expectation to trade him before the deadline. But again, I'm sure he's valued more for the money. I know I've chimed in this team has the makings of 81wins with the potential offense, but that is still lacking Playoff berth potential. You've got so many iffy types like Suter, Cravy, Peralta, Garza, and even Jungmann who just may have to commit to bullpen roles. Signing a RP eliminates some of the flexibility you possess in finding a starting 5 with so many that can give you starts. What if Hader's first 2 or 3 starts in AAA are shutouts or close? Or Lopez? Meanwhile, Peralta, Nelson, or Garza are off to a 6+ERA start that warrants moving from SP. In Nelson and Peralta if you option them down, their pitching woes don't improve in Colorado. And Garza of course couldn't be optioned. You'd have to commit to AA in the options or move 1 of the 3 to the bullpen which if adding a FA reliever makes that crowded.

Just with how variable relievers are year to year I'd leave it to finding one off waivers and remain cheap. 1 year away to me before you concern yourself with veteran RPs and the bullpen. You may have the types you seek in your system, go find out.

 

Brewers are probably shopping Nelson or Anderson as a package along with Scooter which would free up some of the rotation log jam. Nelson in particular still would have plenty of value. There's plenty of time for more moves and as the season approaches teams will look to plan B and plan C to bolster rotations. The Brewers are looking for a veteran reliever on a short term deal. The amount (and $3.5 million is not going to do it), is irrelevant. Had the Brewers not gotten stellar back end work in 2016 from Jeffress and Thornburg, they are a 95 loss team in 2016. I don't think the goal is to slide further back in 2017 and both of those guys are gone. Hader could easily slide into a late inning lefty relief role while he awaits a rotation spot to open, and maybe one or two of the guys emerge as late inning guys, but taking a shot for $5-7 million on a veteran with a past history of success is a no-brainer. That kind of guy would be gold at the deadline.

[Austin Tatious]

Of our incumbents, I probably like Barnes the most, with Knebel.

 

Both of these guys could be useful in high leverage 7th-8th inning situations, if we can land a closer.

 

The guy I like is Holland. He was lights out from 2012-2014 and had a couple of all star game appearances. He could throw upper 90s.

 

Then in '15 he dropped off, and his velocity was more like 93 when it was released that he had an ulnar tear. He's had TJ surgery and could regain his form. He's 31.

 

I don't know what dollar figure we are talking about here. There may be some bidding because of the need for relievers. But the Brewer payroll is low enough that they can pay up. Take advantage of the low payroll and use it wisely for targeted acquisitions.

[JosephC]

There was talk that Holland's agent was looking for a 2 year, 20-22 million dollar contract. But Holland was only throwing 88-91 during a workout in early November, so it seems like that asking price is pretty unreasonable. No doubt it will drop over the next few weeks. Whether it gets down to something workable for a team like Milwaukee is a big question. He's my favorite of the bunch, but I'd probably only be willing to do something like a 1 year, 5 million dollar deal (and maybe a second option year).

[MKE81]

I wouldn't want to sign any reliever beyond 3.5 million a season or per year on 2 years. Romo likely has 5mil or more for his services. I suppose if it were 1/5mil I'd sign him with the expectation to trade him before the deadline. But again, I'm sure he's valued more for the money. I know I've chimed in this team has the makings of 81wins with the potential offense, but that is still lacking Playoff berth potential. You've got so many iffy types like Suter, Cravy, Peralta, Garza, and even Jungmann who just may have to commit to bullpen roles. Signing a RP eliminates some of the flexibility you possess in finding a starting 5 with so many that can give you starts. What if Hader's first 2 or 3 starts in AAA are shutouts or close? Or Lopez? Meanwhile, Peralta, Nelson, or Garza are off to a 6+ERA start that warrants moving from SP. In Nelson and Peralta if you option them down, their pitching woes don't improve in Colorado. And Garza of course couldn't be optioned. You'd have to commit to AA in the options or move 1 of the 3 to the bullpen which if adding a FA reliever makes that crowded.

Just with how variable relievers are year to year I'd leave it to finding one off waivers and remain cheap. 1 year away to me before you concern yourself with veteran RPs and the bullpen. You may have the types you seek in your system, go find out.

 

Brewers are probably shopping Nelson or Anderson as a package along with Scooter which would free up some of the rotation log jam. Nelson in particular still would have plenty of value. There's plenty of time for more moves and as the season approaches teams will look to plan B and plan C to bolster rotations. The Brewers are looking for a veteran reliever on a short term deal. The amount (and $3.5 million is not going to do it), is irrelevant. Had the Brewers not gotten stellar back end work in 2016 from Jeffress and Thornburg, they are a 95 loss team in 2016. I don't think the goal is to slide further back in 2017 and both of those guys are gone. Hader could easily slide into a late inning lefty relief role while he awaits a rotation spot to open, and maybe one or two of the guys emerge as late inning guys, but taking a shot for $5-7 million on a veteran with a past history of success is a no-brainer. That kind of guy would be gold at the deadline.

Hader needs to be in the rotation by the break but I wouldn't have work the pen until a spot is open. I agree that 5-7M range is what Stearns needs to spend to land 1-2 great vets that can be flipped.