Brad Hand

[JohnBriggs12]

If the Brewers are in this position a month from now do they consider surrendering a guy like Cordell and a lower level arm for Hand? Beyond Barnes and Knebel and maybe Torres who do you trust in high leverage situations? Hand has 2 years of control beyond this year so even if 2017 contender status is an anomaly, most of the value you give up now could be recouped by trading him a year from now.

[tmwiese55]

One would think a real contender like the Nats would trump us anyway and we shouldn't be in any spot where we should be getting in a bidding war.

[And That]

I agree the Brewers should not get into a bidding war, and try to go a little more under the radar. Clayton Richard has been really good against LHH for the most part over the past 3 years with an OPS allowed around 600. Daniel Coulombe and Sean Doolittle with the A's would be other options.

[tmwiese55]

What about a guy like David Robertson due to our financial situation? Obviously he's way overpaid, but it's only through 2018, 12 mil this and 13 next. Basically the logic I'm suggesting would be that we'd be using money and our low payroll to add a player rather than using prospects of significance. He's still a solid pitcher but with his pay I can't imagine them getting much back for him without eating salary. We could just take the whole salary and hopefully give very little back. Maybe I'm wrong and a desperate contending team still outbids, just an idea. Garza is gone next year so he kind of just takes that salary. Of course this is still all contingent on being ahead in the division by deadline which is a big if. And I'm sure there's some cheaper better options but I'm thinking those would cost more in prospects than him, which we really don't want to give up. Most important to me is that it's not my money.

 

Also, could likely re-flip him next deadline if we're not contending next year. Salary wouldn't be an issue at that point as he'd be expiring.

[MillerParkSouth]

The Brewers should not get into a bidding war for top relievers if last year is any indication.

[BrewCrewBlueDevil]

Any AAA outfielder other than Brinson for Hand or Doolittle. Throw in Coulter or a low level arm with upside. First to the table might get fair trade value.

[reillymcshane]

If the Brewers are in this position a month from now do they consider surrendering a guy like Cordell and a lower level arm for Hand? Beyond Barnes and Knebel and maybe Torres who do you trust in high leverage situations? Hand has 2 years of control beyond this year so even if 2017 contender status is an anomaly, most of the value you give up now could be recouped by trading him a year from now.

The idea is good, but you will need more than Cordell fetch a guy like Hand. The guy has been awesome the last year and a half. 1.8 WAR in 2016, 1.2 WAR already this year.

 

I mean, Will Smith got a top 100 prospect for us. If the Padres want to move Hand, they'll get more than that.

 

The main issue will be that all the contending teams will line up for the guy - and you're talking bidding war at that point.

[adambr2]

If the Brewers are in this position a month from now do they consider surrendering a guy like Cordell and a lower level arm for Hand? Beyond Barnes and Knebel and maybe Torres who do you trust in high leverage situations? Hand has 2 years of control beyond this year so even if 2017 contender status is an anomaly, most of the value you give up now could be recouped by trading him a year from now.

The idea is good, but you will need more than Cordell fetch a guy like Hand. The guy has been awesome the last year and a half. 1.8 WAR in 2016, 1.2 WAR already this year.

 

I mean, Will Smith got a top 100 prospect for us. If the Padres want to move Hand, they'll get more than that.

 

The main issue will be that all the contending teams will line up for the guy - and you're talking bidding war at that point.

 

Yep. Based on last year's deadline prices for relievers you're probably talking Brinson for Hand straight up to seal the deal, which would just be nuts.

 

I don't think Stearns is in the business of paying market trade prices for high leverage relievers. He's more likely to sell them, even in a contending season. We'll have to develop our own, and we do have numerous guys in the pipeline that fit the profile.

 

Any buying of relievers I think will be limited to maybe a LOOGY, and project guys like Drake that don't come with a big price tag.

[OnTheBlack]

Any AAA outfielder other than Brinson for Hand or Doolittle. Throw in Coulter or a low level arm with upside. First to the table might get fair trade value.

 

 

So you'd give up Phillips for a reliever on this current team?

 

Not sure Phillips is ever a significant contributor to the Milwaukee Brewers big league team...but if we're going to trade him, I think I'd rather see it as part of a bigger deal in which we're getting a good starting pitcher.

 

I don't think the BP is a concern for the Brewers. I think they have enough guys in the system who can pitch and a good enough big league pen as is.