Possible Deadline Deals

[JosephC]

Not sure why you'd give up two very strong prospects for 1.5 years of control, when the Brewers aren't ready to really go for it yet. Seems like a big waste. Taylor Williams especially seems not worth giving away like that. Given how strong he looks at AA now, he may be ready by next year anyway.

 

I probably wouldn't have projected a trade like this two days ago. But Phillips getting promoted ahead of Cordell, despite the fact that Cordell is over 2 years older than Phillips, makes me really question how valuable Stearns sees Cordell as a future major league piece (and I am aware of the lefty bat versus righty bat aspect). Pretty much everyone would have Cordell ranked as the Brewer's fifth best outfield prospect and with Santana and Brinson already producing as major leaguers, it doesn't bode that well for a 25 year old stuck in AAA.

 

Williams is already 25 years old and missed two seasons with a major elbow injury. Over two full years since the injury and I believe the max number of pitches in any outing this season is 57. And Williams was never a top-of-the-line prospect even prior to the injury. In Baseball America's 2015 Handbook Williams was ranked #7 (in an organization that was ranked #21) and the key sentence in the write-up states that due to Williams' lack of size many scouts see him as a reliever but the Brewers think he can be a starter because of his command.

 

A move like this is hardly like giving away the farm. On most expert's top 30 list Cordell would rank in the 13-15 area and maybe Williams cracks the bottom. If things go south for Milwaukee, barring injury Wilson would be a pretty easy flip next off-season and likely would bring back the equivalent of Cordell. He's a 95 MPH lefty with a solid MLB track record. Brewer fans see Stearns making an effort to help what is emerging as the weakest part of the team and Counsell gets a proven MLB lefty to work with.

[adambr2]

Not sure why you'd give up two very strong prospects for 1.5 years of control, when the Brewers aren't ready to really go for it yet. Seems like a big waste. Taylor Williams especially seems not worth giving away like that. Given how strong he looks at AA now, he may be ready by next year anyway.

 

I probably wouldn't have projected a trade like this two days ago. But Phillips getting promoted ahead of Cordell, despite the fact that Cordell is over 2 years older than Phillips, makes me really question how valuable Stearns sees Cordell as a future major league piece (and I am aware of the lefty bat versus righty bat aspect). Pretty much everyone would have Cordell ranked as the Brewer's fifth best outfield prospect and with Santana and Brinson already producing as major leaguers, it doesn't bode that well for a 25 year old stuck in AAA.

 

Williams is already 25 years old and missed two seasons with a major elbow injury. Over two full years since the injury and I believe the max number of pitches in any outing this season is 57. And Williams was never a top-of-the-line prospect even prior to the injury. In Baseball America's 2015 Handbook Williams was ranked #7 (in an organization that was ranked #21) and the key sentence in the write-up states that due to Williams' lack of size many scouts see him as a reliever but the Brewers think he can be a starter because of his command.

 

A move like this is hardly like giving away the farm. On most expert's top 30 list Cordell would rank in the 13-15 area and maybe Williams cracks the bottom. If things go south for Milwaukee, barring injury Wilson would be a pretty easy flip next off-season and likely would bring back the equivalent of Cordell. He's a 95 MPH lefty with a solid MLB track record. Brewer fans see Stearns making an effort to help what is emerging as the weakest part of the team and Counsell gets a proven MLB lefty to work with.

 

Phillips is likely a short term promotion and a lefty bat made more sense. I don't think there is anything there whatsoever to read into as far as what we think of Cordell.

 

Williams' prospect ranking is of little concern -- relievers tend to not get much prospect love, which I think the rankings are typically seeing him as.

 

Williams may have the best arm in the system and Ryan Braun has even been quoted as saying that. He has been very good so far this season being eased back in from injury.

 

The fact that we weren't willing to risk losing Williams in the Rule 5 and added him to the 40 despite never pitching above High A before this season says a lot about what we think about him

[SandyTolan]

>>> Williams may have the best arm in the system and Ryan Braun has even been quoted as saying that. He has been very good so far this season being eased back in from injury. <<<

 

What adambr said. That alone is reason not to let go of this guy. He could be a phenomenal reliever, and he is smokin it in AA now. No reason to think he can't be up at the big-league level by next year. Would be crazy to let him go at this point.

[adambr2]

Honestly we should be aggressively shopping Garza. He's a great alternative to teams that are hesitant to invest big money and multiple years in Samardzija or Verlander, and his $5M option is an extra bonus for a contender as he's not a rental.

 

We don't have many no-brainer sell chips this year but Garza is one of them. I wouldn't expect a hefty return but his numbers and track record justify a decent young controllable asset or prospect in return .

 

The Dodgers would be a great fit especially if Kershaw's injury is anything that will cost him some time.

[adambr2]

I'd also love to revisit shopping Braun, but the injuries have been just too much this year for any team to take that kind of a risk in the next week .

 

However, if he could somehow, some way stay healthy and productive for a month, it's possible that a contender that he's willing to go to, looking for a big last minute upgrade, could be willing to take a chance and pull the trigger on an August deal.

[LouisEly]

If my calculations are correct, and assuming that the suspension does not count towards service time, Braun's 10/5 rights vest +/- 3 days from today.

 

Shopping better happen quick, or else the shopping list will be the Dodgers or Angels or bust.

[adambr2]

If my calculations are correct, and assuming that the suspension does not count towards service time, Braun's 10/5 rights vest +/- 3 days from today.

 

Shopping better happen quick, or else the shopping list will be the Dodgers or Angels or bust.

 

They vested back in May. The suspension time counts.

[clancyphile]

Not sure why you'd give up two very strong prospects for 1.5 years of control, when the Brewers aren't ready to really go for it yet. Seems like a big waste. Taylor Williams especially seems not worth giving away like that. Given how strong he looks at AA now, he may be ready by next year anyway.

 

I probably wouldn't have projected a trade like this two days ago. But Phillips getting promoted ahead of Cordell, despite the fact that Cordell is over 2 years older than Phillips, makes me really question how valuable Stearns sees Cordell as a future major league piece (and I am aware of the lefty bat versus righty bat aspect). Pretty much everyone would have Cordell ranked as the Brewer's fifth best outfield prospect and with Santana and Brinson already producing as major leaguers, it doesn't bode that well for a 25 year old stuck in AAA.

 

Williams is already 25 years old and missed two seasons with a major elbow injury. Over two full years since the injury and I believe the max number of pitches in any outing this season is 57. And Williams was never a top-of-the-line prospect even prior to the injury. In Baseball America's 2015 Handbook Williams was ranked #7 (in an organization that was ranked #21) and the key sentence in the write-up states that due to Williams' lack of size many scouts see him as a reliever but the Brewers think he can be a starter because of his command.

 

A move like this is hardly like giving away the farm. On most expert's top 30 list Cordell would rank in the 13-15 area and maybe Williams cracks the bottom. If things go south for Milwaukee, barring injury Wilson would be a pretty easy flip next off-season and likely would bring back the equivalent of Cordell. He's a 95 MPH lefty with a solid MLB track record. Brewer fans see Stearns making an effort to help what is emerging as the weakest part of the team and Counsell gets a proven MLB lefty to work with.

 

Cordell can play all three OF positions, as well as 3B, SS, and 2B. He probably can play first as well - it's not observed, but with the versatility he's shown, I wouldn't bet against it.

 

In essence, he's either a supplement to, or replacement for, Hernan Perez and/or Jesus Aguilar.

[MilwaukeesBest]

Troll level: Infinity.

[FVBrewerFan]

Honestly we should be aggressively shopping Garza. He's a great alternative to teams that are hesitant to invest big money and multiple years in Samardzija or Verlander, and his $5M option is an extra bonus for a contender as he's not a rental.

 

We don't have many no-brainer sell chips this year but Garza is one of them. I wouldn't expect a hefty return but his numbers and track record justify a decent young controllable asset or prospect in return .

 

The Dodgers would be a great fit especially if Kershaw's injury is anything that will cost him some time.

 

Yea, Garza is one. Knebel is another. If the package is close to the same as it was for Thornburg, I would make that trade yesterday. Others are Sogard, Hughes, Thames, Aguilar, Pina if the price is right. Villar and Broxton, of course, but that would be selling low.