Braun to the Rangers?

[Hammer]

Ok y'all - let the speculation begin!

 

 

"Plenty of MLB writers predicting Rangers will acquire Ryan Braun from Brewers in the next month..For a decent price.. Mazara? #TexasRangers"

 

I don't know who all of these "plenty" are but I'd love another crack at that Rangers system...

 

If not the Rangers - then who?

Rangers

Dodgers

?

[pogokat]

Saw that last night. Felt completely made up. Mazara would be a very weird target for the Brewers for Braun---I think Yohander Mendez would make some sense, but who knows.

 

anyway, I would assume this is just a blogger making up rumors

[JosephC]

At the start of the off-season the Rangers where talking about transitioning Choo to DH. Choo is under contract for four more years, so if he's occupying the DH spot then the Rangers couldn't transition Braun there later in his career (2019?). Then the Rangers offered Encarnacion a contract which indicated the Rangers might not be locked into the idea of Choo being the primary DH. Then Napoli signed the one year deal which probably means that he and Choo split DH in 2017. Braun likely wouldn't be asked to DH at all in 2017 so the Choo/Napoli situation wouldn't directly affect his defensive outlook but how much did adding Napoli's bat devalue another big bat addition? I don't know if the Rangers need to add a player like Braun. Personally I would have played it as sink-or-swim time for Gallo, would stick him in at first base, kick Napoli to DH (probably wouldn't have signed him at all) and kicked Choo back to the outfield (or stuck with him at DH if Napoli wasn't signed).

 

Depth charts on official team websites don't necessarily mean anything but right now the Ranger's site lists Jurickson Profar as their starting left fielder which is probably where the Braun speculation started.

 

Before the Napoli signing I had predicted this:

 

Texas gets:

OF-Ryan Braun

12 million dollars

 

Milwaukee gets:

1B-Ronald Guzman (Rangers #7 prospect - Baseball America)

LHP-Joel Palumbo (Rangers #9 prospect - Baseball America)

3B-Kole Enright (3rd round pick in 2016)

 

But now I think the Rangers would look to unload one of their major leaguers to free up the outfield spot that Braun would take. Napoli (also DH)/Gallo (maybe), Odor, Beltre, Andrus have the starting infield positions locked down. Profar gets booted to the outfield. They have Profar, Gomez, Mazara, Choo (also DH) and then DeShields/Rua for that final OF spot. I think if they make a trade for Braun now they would be looking to make Profar the centerpiece of the trade.

 

Crazy scenario to when looking at trade that involves Braun and Profar because future projections for these players are very difficult.

 

My current guess would be something like:

 

Rangers get:

OF-Ryan Braun

9 million dollars

 

Brewers get:

UTL-Jurickson Profar

LHP-Joel Palumbo (Rangers #9 prospect - Baseball America)

RHP-Jonathan Hernandez (Rangers #18 prospect - MLB.com)

 

If you play the surplus value game I have Profar valued at 6 million, Palumbo at 10 million and Hernandez at 5 million.

[wallus]

Mazaro doesn't make sense for either team. I would love some pitching.

[MrTPlush]

BS tweet...let the speculation end.

[brewcrewdue80]

Seems this is a Texas "Sports beat" account.

 

Obviously, Mazara doesn't make sense with the team's OF situation. And then you have the fact we dipped in to their minors with the Lucroy/Jeffress trade. I'd expect at minimum 2 prospects in return, if not 3 for Braun. Which are they really looking to deplete their minors to likely just 1 top 100 prospect remaining?

 

Mendez would be the only realistic reason to seek to trade Braun. Guzman while I believe in him, we have Thames now for 3 years. Acquiring Guzman, would put Thames as a lock to having to be traded this year or next....I believe Milw is competing in 3 years, you don't exactly trade someone who's helping you compete.

 

I think part of the PTBNL in the Lucroy trade was Jurado&Payano? Maybe the scout watched them and is really pushing for 1? Cole Ragans comes to mind who wouldn't have been able to be traded during the Lucroy trade. Getting a 1st round pitching talent would be a pleasing trade to talk about when giving up Braun to fans.

 

So my guess would be Mendez and Ragans. And I'm going to kick in a RP from Texas Keone Kela or Alex Claudio. Young controlables. Kela would be a buy low coming off a poor season, but seen success rookie year. Claudio would fill a LH need in the bullpen.

[adambr2]

Not that there is anything to this rumor, but Mazara for Braun would be fantastic regardless of our OF situation. Not sure how anyone can paint that as potentially disappointing .

[trwi7]

I get fans of lots of teams want Braun and bloggers speculate but unless the rumor is coming from a team in California or Miami, I pay no attention to it. Those are the only places he wants to go. Could he be persuaded to go to Dallas or Houston or Washington or wherever? I suppose but he seems content here.

[brewcrewdue80]

Not that there is anything to this rumor, but Mazara for Braun would be fantastic regardless of our OF situation. Not sure how anyone can paint that as potentially disappointing .

 

Maybe with the fact that Mazara is a long term starter, Broxton, Santana. Brinson in the waits. Phillips, Ray not far behind. They left Michael Reed, Ryan Cordell, Phillips, Niewhenwuis, Brinson all on the 40man. Mazara would make them all pointless complete non-starters only backups.

 

You literally have to trade away 4 bodies to clear up room for this overstocked and growing OF in the organization. We'd have traded Braun,Lucroy and Jeffress for 1pitcher and 3 OFs. 2 of which won't be starters. But gave up 3 starters to get 2 starters?

 

Where we'd be at is a poor trade position because, we MUST trade away OFs. So when you ask for guy like say Quintana because of current need to remove these OFs. They'll force multiples to be included in the trade vs 1. What may have been something like Brinson and Woodruff to get him, they say add Brett Phillips or Corey Ray. We're talking about being 10 deep for 3 everyday starters. So you can part with one of them.

[adambr2]

Not that there is anything to this rumor, but Mazara for Braun would be fantastic regardless of our OF situation. Not sure how anyone can paint that as potentially disappointing .

 

Maybe with the fact that Mazara is a long term starter, Broxton, Santana. Brinson in the waits. Phillips, Ray not far behind. They left Michael Reed, Ryan Cordell, Phillips, Niewhenwuis, Brinson all on the 40man. Mazara would make them all pointless complete non-starters only backups.

 

You literally have to trade away 4 bodies to clear up room for this overstocked and growing OF in the organization. We'd have traded Braun,Lucroy and Jeffress for 1pitcher and 3 OFs. 2 of which won't be starters. But gave up 3 starters to get 2 starters?

 

Where we'd be at is a poor trade position because, we MUST trade away OFs. So when you ask for guy like say Quintana because of current need to remove these OFs. They'll force multiples to be included in the trade vs 1. What may have been something like Brinson and Woodruff to get him, they say add Brett Phillips or Corey Ray. We're talking about being 10 deep for 3 everyday starters. So you can part with one of them.

 

Nieuwenhuis and Michael Reed being on the 40 are non-factors. These guys are pure roster fodder with no real value other than the depth they bring. If you have a chance to acquire a player like Mazara you don't worry about guys like Nieuwenhuis or Reed. You trade them if you can, waive them, outright them to AAA if you can, release them, it doesn't really matter.

 

I am not at all worried about having too many talented OFers or being in a bad trade position because of it, which I don't think will happen. These things tend to work themselves out. We are still at the point of the rebuild where talent acquisition is the most important thing.

 

Also, wouldn't trading Braun for Mazara be a 1 for 1 OF for OF trade anyway? Braun's NTC is about to kick in, and he has few league suitors. We can't exactly shop him around or get picky about good offers now if we want to make a deal.

 

Again...this is all hypothetical. Braun for Mazara isn't happening. But if it was (assuming a reasonable salary eat on our part), we would be crazy to say no to a 21 year old MLB OFer who was a top 15 prospect.

[brewcrewdue80]

Okay let me list the depth- Broxton, Santana, Mazara-6years control, Brinson, Phillips, Cordell, Ray, Clark, Harrison, Demi O...10 on my count And Im sure theres a couple more who will get there.

In Kirk N., Reed, Cordell, they saved them on the 40man losing Miguel Diaz in Rule 5, losing a number of these half week claim pickups with a new claim. They dont need a ML OF when trading away Braun. Its like at this point, you are hoping Broxton and Santana fail. Because you have backup ready to replace them. They make it through this season and prosper. Your backups are just wasting away in the minors, or on the bench playing a game a week with PH PAs otherwise.

But, hey Meanwhile you have a Starting rotation filled with #3 or 4 types and #3 or 4types to back them up. We're discussing a six man rotation, hybrid style of piggy backing to limit the 3/4s lack of ability 2nd and beyond turn through an order. So why dont we just fix hole in the OF when Braun leaves with a ML OF. Its not like we have the prospect talent to put in the field today. I just cant find any reason for this to be cheerful about.

 

Make this a 3-team trade, send off Brinson or Mazara and acquire the #2 we desperately need atop the minors.

[brewmann04]

I do agree now if this trade is made you really need to get pitching back unless DS is looking down the road to trade his surplus Of or Middlr Infs

[adambr2]

Okay let me list the depth- Broxton, Santana, Mazara-6years control, Brinson, Phillips, Cordell, Ray, Clark, Harrison, Demi O...10 on my count And Im sure theres a couple more who will get there.

In Kirk N., Reed, Cordell, they saved them on the 40man losing Miguel Diaz in Rule 5, losing a number of these half week claim pickups with a new claim. They dont need a ML OF when trading away Braun. Its like at this point, you are hoping Broxton and Santana fail. Because you have backup ready to replace them. They make it through this season and prosper. Your backups are just wasting away in the minors, or on the bench playing a game a week with PH PAs otherwise.

But, hey Meanwhile you have a Starting rotation filled with #3 or 4 types and #3 or 4types to back them up. We're discussing a six man rotation, hybrid style of piggy backing to limit the 3/4s lack of ability 2nd and beyond turn through an order. So why dont we just fix hole in the OF when Braun leaves with a ML OF. Its not like we have the prospect talent to put in the field today. I just cant find any reason for this to be cheerful about.

 

Make this a 3-team trade, send off Brinson or Mazara and acquire the #2 we desperately need atop the minors.

 

Well, you are passing up on a very young promising controlled outfielder for a lot of guys that may never even pan out at the MLB level.

 

Even if you want to assume Brinson is a sure thing, Ray is years away and none of Phillips, Cordell, Clark, Harrison, or Demi O may ever even make it at the MLB level, or may only make it as 4th/5th outfielders. If they do show that ability, fantastic. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. There is no such thing as too much depth. Even if you have it, it makes for very good trade bait later, like the Cubs showed with Torres last year. There's absolutely no reason to think that teams are going to somehow demand an extra trade premium from us just because we have the outfield depth to trade. Sellers just want the best package, they don't care what the rest of our farm looks like. No GM is going to take a lesser deal from someone else for a guy we want just because we wouldn't back down when they demanded an extra guy like Phillips.

 

I hate the idea of ever passing on the best available players for a trade, but especially right now in a rebuild when talent acquisition is number 1. Obviously it'd be great to add a #2 pitcher, but we're not in a position of major leverage with Braun anyway. Don't you think if we had an offer for a #2 starter prospect for Braun on the table, we would take it?

[JohnBriggs12]

Okay let me list the depth- Broxton, Santana, Mazara-6years control, Brinson, Phillips, Cordell, Ray, Clark, Harrison, Demi O...10 on my count And Im sure theres a couple more who will get there.

In Kirk N., Reed, Cordell, they saved them on the 40man losing Miguel Diaz in Rule 5, losing a number of these half week claim pickups with a new claim. They dont need a ML OF when trading away Braun. Its like at this point, you are hoping Broxton and Santana fail. Because you have backup ready to replace them. They make it through this season and prosper. Your backups are just wasting away in the minors, or on the bench playing a game a week with PH PAs otherwise.

But, hey Meanwhile you have a Starting rotation filled with #3 or 4 types and #3 or 4types to back them up. We're discussing a six man rotation, hybrid style of piggy backing to limit the 3/4s lack of ability 2nd and beyond turn through an order. So why dont we just fix hole in the OF when Braun leaves with a ML OF. Its not like we have the prospect talent to put in the field today. I just cant find any reason for this to be cheerful about.

 

Make this a 3-team trade, send off Brinson or Mazara and acquire the #2 we desperately need atop the minors.

 

 

Most scouts project Hader as a number 2 if not a number 1 and he's atop the minors. I'd take Mazara in a heartbeat despite the OF depth in the system. You can deal that depth later for more pitching.

[Eye Black]

If the teams do complete a trade again this season one Rangers prospect to keep in mind is 2016 2nd rounder RHP Alex Speas. As some probably remember the Georgia high schooler was among the players that worked out for the Brewers leading up to last year's draft, and has the physical projection of a high ceiling pitcher. According to Baseball America Speas fastball sits 93-96, and touches 99, and he throws a mid-80's power slider.

[billymac]

I think this story is fake news, but I will provide a fake response.

 

Rangers get:

Ryan Braun

 

Brewers get:

Prince Fielder + 54 Million

Yohander Mendez or Brett Martin(LHP's)

Ronald Guzman(1B)

 

 

Prince and Braun's contracts are a wash. Rangers have to waste a 40 man spot every offseason for the next 3 years having Prince on it which is a big liability. We take Prince back, put him on 60 day DL and he retires a Brewer. Brewers pay 2017 salary then release him after the season, Rangers on the hook for the remaining 54 Million.

[Outlander]

I know it is a total hypothetical but I imagine the insurance still plays into this. If the Rangers can't release Prince I don't see how the Brewers could release him with insurance still paying their portion.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think this story is fake news, but I will provide a fake response.

 

Rangers get:

Ryan Braun

 

Brewers get:

Prince Fielder + 54 Million

Yohander Mendez or Brett Martin(LHP's)

Ronald Guzman(1B)

 

 

Prince and Braun's contracts are a wash. Rangers have to waste a 40 man spot every offseason for the next 3 years having Prince on it which is a big liability. We take Prince back, put him on 60 day DL and he retires a Brewer. Brewers pay 2017 salary then release him after the season, Rangers on the hook for the remaining 54 Million.

 

I don't see Texas giving up Mendez and I doubt the Brewers have interest in Guzman after signing of Thames. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if Guzman was on the list of potential PTBNL last year but he struggled so at AAA the Brewers opted for Cordell. Martin's not close to the equivalent of Mendez either. Not sure Texas has to keep Fielder. Doesn't their insurance just kick in and pay off his remaining contract? He's not listed on their roster.

[jerichoholicninja]

I think this story is fake news, but I will provide a fake response.

 

Rangers get:

Ryan Braun

 

Brewers get:

Prince Fielder + 54 Million

Yohander Mendez or Brett Martin(LHP's)

Ronald Guzman(1B)

 

 

Prince and Braun's contracts are a wash. Rangers have to waste a 40 man spot every offseason for the next 3 years having Prince on it which is a big liability. We take Prince back, put him on 60 day DL and he retires a Brewer. Brewers pay 2017 salary then release him after the season, Rangers on the hook for the remaining 54 Million.

 

I don't see Texas giving up Mendez and I doubt the Brewers have interest in Guzman after signing of Thames. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if Guzman was on the list of potential PTBNL last year but he struggled so at AAA the Brewers opted for Cordell. Martin's not close to the equivalent of Mendez either. Not sure Texas has to keep Fielder. Doesn't their insurance just kick in and pay off his remaining contract? He's not listed on their roster.

 

He's on the 60 day DL.

[billymac]

I think this story is fake news, but I will provide a fake response.

 

Rangers get:

Ryan Braun

 

Brewers get:

Prince Fielder + 54 Million

Yohander Mendez or Brett Martin(LHP's)

Ronald Guzman(1B)

 

 

Prince and Braun's contracts are a wash. Rangers have to waste a 40 man spot every offseason for the next 3 years having Prince on it which is a big liability. We take Prince back, put him on 60 day DL and he retires a Brewer. Brewers pay 2017 salary then release him after the season, Rangers on the hook for the remaining 54 Million.

 

I don't see Texas giving up Mendez and I doubt the Brewers have interest in Guzman after signing of Thames. In fact it wouldn't surprise me if Guzman was on the list of potential PTBNL last year but he struggled so at AAA the Brewers opted for Cordell. Martin's not close to the equivalent of Mendez either. Not sure Texas has to keep Fielder. Doesn't their insurance just kick in and pay off his remaining contract? He's not listed on their roster.

 

He's on the 60 day DL.

Yes, but he has to be activated every December to the 40 man, then he can be put back on the 60 day DL after spring training starts. Rangers didn't sign/announce Napoli's signing until they could put Prince back on the 60 day DL. It kills a valuable 40 man spot every winter.

[Warning Track Power]

If anything were to come of this, it would be pretty easy to root for the Rangers in the AL with Braun, Lucroy and Gomez all in Texas.

[adambr2]

http://m.journaltimes.com/print_specific/column/gery-woelfel-brewers-rebuild-leaves-much-to-be-desired/article_f612c4f8-a101-5505-8b01-4cdfa718ea4c.html

 

Every so often you see some sports 'journalism' that makes you really shake your head. This is one of them.

 

The very idea that Stearns is in over his head is laughable. He's got a long ways to go, but he's already proven he belongs. Of course, no mention in this article of Villar, Broxton, or Guerra, or the acquisition of Brinson, Cordell, and Ortiz.

 

Stearns has 'refused to Jettison' Braun? Trust me Gery, if the offer was right, he'd pull the trigger. It's spectacularly foolish to jettison a player simply for the sake of doing so, without any regard to receiving proper value.

 

I also like how he takes a shot at Stearns for not acquiring a HOF caliber player in just over a year plus as GM. (Not that we would have any idea yet as to whether guys like Brinson or Ray will fit that bill.)

 

The only guy in way over his head here is Gery Woelfel as a sports journalist.

[Austin Tatious]

Gery is like that uncle who gets tipsy and says bizarre things that everyone rolls their eyes at, except that he's not tipsy.

 

The article makes no sense. He says the rebuild is half-hearted then complains the Brewers are going to have a long season. Well, if you're in a full-on rebuild, you'd expect to lose big.

 

As for Braun, he's likely waiting properly for the right return. I give Stearns credit for that. It appears that he firmly believes in a certain value that he's set, and he won't budge from that. Personally, I like that. There was angst about Lucroy and he ended up hauling in Ortiz, Cordell, and Brinson. All three have a real chance and Brinson has a very high ceiling to boot.

 

Beyond that, he has no idea that Stearns is in over his head. We have a lot of depth amongst our prospects. In that respect, I can't remember the Brewers ever having that. You increase your percentages like that, and you may have a very solid team in good time.

[Invader3K]

My gut feeling says Braun is our starting left fielder on Opening Day, and he gets traded after the All-Star break. I think if a winter trade was going to happen, it would have by now.

[JohnBriggs12]

My gut feeling says Braun is our starting left fielder on Opening Day, and he gets traded after the All-Star break. I think if a winter trade was going to happen, it would have by now.

 

By then his 5 and 10 rights will have kicked in. I don't think he's interested in going anywhere. This team isn't light years away from being competitive and he sees it. No matter how far out you look, the Brewers are never going to get the where the Cubs are now. They'll never be able to complement their core with big money FA and they'll never have half their division rebuilding as their core reaches their primes. Competitive on a year to year basis is the realistic goal and they are getting closer.

 

I look for the Brewers to try and deal one or two of their mid-career starters in July assuming they aren't within reach of wild card. That along with eventual trade of Gennett and/or dealing of Feliz is what we should expect between now and end of July.