Roster changes before Opening Day?

[MNBrew]

Intended as a companion thread to the "2017 Roster" thread in the Major League forum...

 

With about 7 weeks until spring training starts -- about half of the off-season -- and with an eye toward Opening Day, I wonder what Brewers roster moves (or, I suppose, non-moves) are still ahead this offseason. What moves do you think have a realistic chance of happening?

 

My guesses:

 

- at least one SP gets traded (Garza would be nice; Nelson or Anderson seems more likely)

- the "proven BP arm" acquisition they're looking to make turns out to be Jeffress (possibly in same trade as a SP, although that could mean Guerra rather than the others mentioned above)

- at least 1-2 FA RPs are brought in on make-good NRI deals (a la Boyer & Capuano) -- not hazarding a guess re: if they make the team out of ST

- Gennett is on the Opening Day roster (kept for depth & as insurance in case another IF gets hurt or needs to go back to the minors -- while likely no longer the de facto starting 2B, he could still prove more valuable to MIL than what he'd net in return -- he might also end up elsewhere in the field out of occasional necessity (reminds me: funny how Weeks wouldn't/couldn't play anything other than 2B in MIL, but in both SEA & AZ he had no problem playing OF since it allowed him to stick in the majors))

[adambr2]

I don't think Scooter is unwilling to play somewhere other than 2nd. I think Scooter is unable to play somewhere other than 2nd. Maybe a bad defensive left fielder?

[MadThinker88]

Perhaps a trade market for Scooter will develop after Dozier gets moved/ the Twins shut down trade talks (FWIW: I think Dozier gets dealt) but I doubt it.

[jerichoholicninja]

I've said many times that Scooter should at least be tried in the outfield. There is no downside. I would think he too realizes limiting himself to only playing second base isn't great for his career now or in the future.

[MKE81]

Scooter is either traded for a low level minor leaguer for org depth, a lottery ticket or as a 2nd/3rd piece. He doesn't have the arm to play 3b but you could get by in a pinch occasionally as he is pretty decent at fielding the ball at/near him and should have more range than your avg 3b. Other than that he can't play anywhere else. His arm can't even play in LF and there's no way I put him out there over a backup OF to begin with (i.e. Kirk, Reed). His best shot at versatility is 2b/3b but he isn't playing over Perez at either of those spots so he can't get work in other than ST unless there's an injury. He needs to be traded at some point as he's not part of the future. Weeks is different as his arm was much stronger and he had much better quickness/speed - better athlete.

 

The pen needs to be rounded out and the rotation needs to be cut down. Need to finalize the 13th position player too if they go that route as maybe they decide against a 5th OF if everyone is healthy coming out of ST (Perez can be that 5th too). Given the versatility of position players it might make more sense to go with 13 arms, especially if we have 6 SPs then one can work out of the pen until an injury or trade

[JohnBriggs12]

His arm is good enough for LF. He moves well enough too. With Perez able to play CF and RF, they could decide to keep Scooter over Nieuwenhuis as key LH bench bat and maybe they keep Reed or Wren for extra OF coverage.

 

No need to rush. See what happens this spring. I like Gennett and believe he's an everyday player. I wouldn't give him away.

[MKE81]

I don't think anybody is saying "give Scooter away". He's a halfway decent starting 2b so there is value in that but there's nowhere for him to contribute regularly this year or moving forward unless Arcia or Shaw are injured and they decide to shift Villar while keeping Perez in his utility role.

 

And no, his arm isn't good enough for LF. His arm is average for 2b, below average for 3b, which then means its below-below average for LF as you need extra carry on the throws. Guys like Braun and Perez can transition to the OF because they're better athletes and have legitimate arms from the left side of the IF (same with Weeks except his fielding wasn't good enough for the left side of the IF). So while he's a decent athlete there's absolutely nothing that screams he can potentially make LF work. 3b is the most viable option and his arm is below average there. And yes, I'll take Scooter's bat over Kirk every day but last I checked defense matters. And when suggesting the primary backup OF be Perez and Scooter with Reed or Wren filling in here and there - I look the other way. It's not logical. Kirk can play all 3 spots and play them just fine while having the arm as well. He also gets on base just as much/slightly more than Scooter has the past 3yrs. But again, defense matters. Both Scooter and Kirk won't be on the team heading into 2018 anyway with Brinson, Cordell, Reed + Braun, Broxton, Santana.

 

Has anybody heard the Brewers make a comment regarding Scooter increasing his versatility by adding an OF glove to his bag?

[Outlander]

I would think the Brewers would have sent Scooter to winter ball or something if they wanted him to play OF, my guess he is gone by opening day still.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't think anybody is saying "give Scooter away". He's a halfway decent starting 2b so there is value in that but there's nowhere for him to contribute regularly this year or moving forward unless Arcia or Shaw are injured and they decide to shift Villar while keeping Perez in his utility role.

 

And no, his arm isn't good enough for LF. His arm is average for 2b, below average for 3b, which then means its below-below average for LF as you need extra carry on the throws. Guys like Braun and Perez can transition to the OF because they're better athletes and have legitimate arms from the left side of the IF (same with Weeks except his fielding wasn't good enough for the left side of the IF). So while he's a decent athlete there's absolutely nothing that screams he can potentially make LF work. 3b is the most viable option and his arm is below average there. And yes, I'll take Scooter's bat over Kirk every day but last I checked defense matters. And when suggesting the primary backup OF be Perez and Scooter with Reed or Wren filling in here and there - I look the other way. It's not logical. Kirk can play all 3 spots and play them just fine while having the arm as well. He also gets on base just as much/slightly more than Scooter has the past 3yrs. But again, defense matters. Both Scooter and Kirk won't be on the team heading into 2018 anyway with Brinson, Cordell, Reed + Braun, Broxton, Santana.

 

Has anybody heard the Brewers make a comment regarding Scooter increasing his versatility by adding an OF glove to his bag?

 

LF doesn't require the long throws that RF does. That's why weak armed OF are put in LF. Scooter's arm is likely average by LF standards. He can get it from short left to home. That's all you need.

 

Perez was fine in CF and RF, and has the arm as well. In fact, he's a better defensive RF than Santana in my opinion. Nieuwenhuis' only attribute offensively is flashes of power. His OBP is the result of his getting deep in counts by failing to get the ball in play when he swings, not because he's particularly patient.

 

Finally, everyone is assuming Shaw's the answer at 3B. I'm not so certain. He never hit that well in the minors and he slumped in the 2nd half of 2016. Oh he'll get plenty of time having been a trade acquisition should he start slow, but it might not be a horrible idea to hang on to some depth until he shows he's indeed the real deal.

[billymac]

I think a starter or two will definitely be moved prior to Opening Day(hoping Guerra and Nelson for a couple nice pieces), I think Garza pitches well in the 1st half and traded at the trading deadline

Hoping they pickup either Neftali Feliz or Drew Storen to close for the time being and flipped at the break

Braun will be moved prior to Opening Day either to SF or Dodgers

Scooter will be gone prior to Opening Day, not too many fits at this point, but I think a couple injuries in Spring Training will open up some more possibilities