Trade Targets- Starting Pitchers

[A Swing and A Drive]

Thought I'd throw together a list of potential Starting Pitcher Trade Targets for the Brewers this month with contract details:

(CO)= Club Option

(VO)= Vesting Option

Arb= Arbitration Eligible

 

Young and Controllable for 2+ seasons

LHP Jose Quintana, Chicago White Sox, Contract 17=$7M, 18=$8.8M, 19= $10M (CO) 20= $10M (CO)

RHP Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays, Contract 17= $3.4M, 18=Arb, 19= Arb, 20=Arb

RHP Sonny Gray, Oakland A's, Contract 17= $3.5M, 18=Arb, 19= Arb

RHP Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves, Contract 17= $6.3, 18= $8, 19= $11, 20= $12M (CO)

RHP Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles, Contract 17= $1.6M, 18= Pre-Arb, 19=Arb, 20=Arb, 21=Arb

LHP Daniel Norris, Detroit Tigers, Contract 17= 500k, 18=Pre-Arb, 19= Arb, 20= Arb=, 21 Arb

 

One Season Rentals

RHP Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers, Contract 17= $11M

RHP Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays, Contract 17= $14M

LHP Francisco Liriano, Toronto Blue Jays, Contract 17= $13M

RHP Jeremy Hellickson, Philadelphia Phillies, Contract 17= $17.2M

LHP Jamie Garcia, Atlanta Braves, Contracdt 17= $12M

RHP Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles, Contract 17= $10M

 

Bargin Bin

RHP Trevor Cahill, San Diego Padres, Contract 17= $1.75M

RHP Jhoulys Chacin, San Diego Padres, Contract 17= $1.75M

 

Short Term Rentals

RHP Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins, Contract 17= $13.5, 18= $13.5M, 19= $14M

LHP Matt Moore, San Francisco Giants, Contract 17= $7M, 18= 9M, 19= $10M

LHP JA Haap, Toronto Blue Jays, Contract 17= $13M, 18= $13M

RHP Edison Volquez, Miami Marlins, Contract 17= $9M, 18= $13M

 

Big Contacts

LHP Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers, Contract 17=$22.5M 18= $22.5M 19= $20M (VO)

RHP Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers, Contract 17=28M, 18=$28M, 19=$28M, 20=$22M (CO)

RHP Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers, Contract 17=18M, 18=$24M, 19= $25M, 20=$25M

RHP Jeff Samardzija, San Francisco Giants, 17= $18M, 18= $18M, 19= $18m, 20= $18M

RHP James Shields, Chicago White Sox, Contract 17= $21M, 18= $21M, 19=$16M (CO)

 

Note: I left off Pirates Gerrit Cole and Rays Chris Archer because I don't believe they will be made available. I'll add in Michael Fulmer to these guys as players if available would be too costly to the Brewers rebuild to pony up for.

 

It has been reported that with ownership change, the Marlins Dan Straily will also not be made available.

 

Let me know if their are other SP trade targets that you think should be added.

 

I'll try to add to this as the month of July progresses.

[Humans Need Water]

Why do you believe the Brewers need a SP at this deadline?

[KCBrewerfan34]

I'm starting to rethink that maybe 2 relievers would be the way to go or 1 big time closer type. if we can shorten the game with Barnes, Knebel and unknown, that would be terrific.

[jerichoholicninja]

Why do you believe the Brewers need a SP at this deadline?

 

The rotation as a whole has been average-ish at best. Davies is lucky the offense scores a lot runs when he pitches, otherwise I think he'd be in Colorado right now. Guerra isn't anywhere near backing up what he did last year. Garza and Nelson have been throwing well but I think we're all waiting for the wheels to fall off of Garza. Getting Chase back will help but this rotation is no where near playoff caliber. Maybe Woodruff is ready to hold his own but that doesn't make this a playoff winning rotation. And unlike that Cardinals team that had a bad rotation that won the World Series, our bullpen isn't going to win games on its own.

[MrTPlush]

OK everyone keeps saying this rotation isn't playoff caliber. #1 Standings seem to disagree #2 Statistics also seem to disagree(Top 10 pitching staff).

 

That being said I don't *think* they will all keep this up. I would expect regression from Anderson and probably Nelson. If that is the case our back end needs to improve as two mid 4 ERA or worse starters is not going to cut it. We would need to have a rotation similar to the 2011 team which if I remember had 4/5 guy under 4 ERA.

[FVBrewerFan]

I'm starting to rethink that maybe 2 relievers would be the way to go or 1 big time closer type. if we can shorten the game with Barnes, Knebel and unknown, that would be terrific.

 

Unknown can be Hader and Hughes. Very quietly, Hughes has been the best guy out of the pen in over a month now. Plus a couple viable options they can bring up.

[brewmann04]

I agree on Hughes the one person that worries me is Torres. I think the brewers brain trust will be looking hard at what to do during the break

[bigred]

Jericho. Going by your comments, it's seems like you think DS would then need to trade for 2 starters instead of only 1 ( Anderson being the only 1 you think will continue pitching at the level he has this season) to possibly make the rotation worthy of a deep run in the playoffs. Making the rotation that deep, would likely mean trading for the top 2 starters in DS eyes. Depending on who would DS would trade for, that could easily gut the farm system bigtime. Imo, trading that many top prospects would be an extreme overreaction for this season. I think just by bolstering the pen with a couple arms, rather than starter(s)would make a much stronger impact for the Crew this year for a serious chance in the playoffs

[brewmann04]

I have always wondered why DS has added all the Outfielders as well as Middle Infielders maybe this was part of his plan?

[bigred]

I've always wondered the same thing. Could be a good assumption. As long as the other team would want OF'S and MIF'S in return.

[MrTPlush]

I have always wondered why DS has added all the Outfielders as well as Middle Infielders maybe this was part of his plan?

 

Definitely part of the plan. I don't think he drafts a specific player thinking, "Yup, Ray is a future trade piece". However he knows what is highly valuable in baseball and acquires it. Heck I think he has said that before. Either you will use that piece or it will be very valuable to get what you need.

[TURBO]

However he knows what is highly valuable in baseball and acquires it. Heck I think he has said that before. Either you will use that piece or it will be very valuable to get what you need.

 

ok, then why not acquire more pitching at the source (ie draft, free agency, etc) rather than drafting guys to trade for pitching?

[brewmann04]

I think maybe because it does take pitching sometimes longer to develop and he looking to add major league pitching

[FVBrewerFan]

It's not a mystery. Stearns wants the best talent he can get in a trade, the draft, or the street corner. Does he care what glove they have? He does not. As turbo said, if he was interested in trade value he would lean towards pitchers a lot more than he has.

[HighHeat19]

However he knows what is highly valuable in baseball and acquires it. Heck I think he has said that before. Either you will use that piece or it will be very valuable to get what you need.

 

ok, then why not acquire more pitching at the source (ie draft, free agency, etc) rather than drafting guys to trade for pitching?

 

Because pitching is too volatile. The Brewers cannot spend high picks on pitching to go through all of it's stages of development to only get injured or just not be dominant. The Brewers will have to try to do exactly as they are, play extremely well with what they have and then make that trade for pitching with their surplus of OF and middle INF if they are in contention.

 

You will also notice that when DS was selling pieces he would try to get underated arms thrown in but not the centerpiece of a trade.

 

I feel the Brewers best way to get around this pitching dilema is to utilize the expanded rosters in September with a multitude of relief pitchers. And it may even come to the point where some of the 4 and 5 starters pitch only 4 innings and middle relief is used extensively. The Brewers have been very creative with matchups and unorthodox strategies this year, but it is really by design. DS ability to pick up all of these multi position players allows for this strategy and I see no reason this plan cannot be applied to the pitching staff.

[jerichoholicninja]

Jericho. Going by your comments, it's seems like you think DS would then need to trade for 2 starters instead of only 1 ( Anderson being the only 1 you think will continue pitching at the level he has this season) to possibly make the rotation worthy of a deep run in the playoffs. Making the rotation that deep, would likely mean trading for the top 2 starters in DS eyes. Depending on who would DS would trade for, that could easily gut the farm system bigtime. Imo, trading that many top prospects would be an extreme overreaction for this season. I think just by bolstering the pen with a couple arms, rather than starter(s)would make a much stronger impact for the Crew this year for a serious chance in the playoffs

 

I think two probably should be replaced, not necessarily acquired. I'm assuming either Hader or Woodruff takes one spot, most likely Woodruff. I'm not expecting a #1 or 2 to be acquired, it's just not worth the prospects right now, but I think Stearns will go and get a SP that surprises us all and costs very little because that's what he does.

[MilwaukeeBeers]

Count me in the Dan Straily fanclub

[FVBrewerFan]

Yea, they already want to use Hader like that. Long relief isn't sexy early in the year, but down the stretch it's big to preserve the pen. If a starter is rolling, go with it. If not, no need to be reluctant to go to the pen early if you have a couple really good pitchers that can give you 3 or 4.

[SRB]

Samardzija is a major buy low if we could get him in large part as a salary dump. 4.58 ERA this season but his peripherals are very strong. Given our payroll this season and next, I'd prefer a salary dump guy rather than giving away prospects.

[jerichoholicninja]

Samardzija is a major buy low if we could get him in large part as a salary dump. 4.58 ERA this season but his peripherals are very strong. Given our payroll this season and next, I'd prefer a salary dump guy rather than giving away prospects.

 

He shouldn't be a buy low. Everything except for ERA is great. The Giants don't seem to be on the cutting edge of anything so maybe he'll come cheap though.

[HighHeat19]

Samardzija is a major buy low if we could get him in large part as a salary dump. 4.58 ERA this season but his peripherals are very strong. Given our payroll this season and next, I'd prefer a salary dump guy rather than giving away prospects.

 

He shouldn't be a buy low. Everything except for ERA is great. The Giants don't seem to be on the cutting edge of anything so maybe he'll come cheap though.

 

And the Giants need to restock that farm system. Besides Christian Arroyo they have next to nothing at middle infield depth. Possibly a combo of Isan Diaz, Lara, Trent Clark and eating a chunk of Samardzija salary.

 

I also like the idea of a veteran pitcher over a real young guy if the playoffs are in the Brewer's forecast.

[FVBrewerFan]

Samardzija for Braun. That was easy.

[bigred]

Yeah! And what FVBrewerfan said! LOL

[A Swing and A Drive]

Samardzija is a major buy low if we could get him in large part as a salary dump. 4.58 ERA this season but his peripherals are very strong. Given our payroll this season and next, I'd prefer a salary dump guy rather than giving away prospects.

 

He shouldn't be a buy low. Everything except for ERA is great. The Giants don't seem to be on the cutting edge of anything so maybe he'll come cheap though.

 

The Giants are only on the cutting edge of nailing their 1st round pick every year.

 

That and winning World Series' lol

[danzig6767]

Samardzija is a major buy low if we could get him in large part as a salary dump. 4.58 ERA this season but his peripherals are very strong. Given our payroll this season and next, I'd prefer a salary dump guy rather than giving away prospects.

 

He shouldn't be a buy low. Everything except for ERA is great. The Giants don't seem to be on the cutting edge of anything so maybe he'll come cheap though.

Giants are a hard team to read. Tough to know just how much they are willing to sell and what they'd want for a guy like Samardzija if he was made available.