2018 Outfield

[Ennder]

Non elite bullpen guys just don't get traded all that much in the offseason. He is too inconsistent to get any sort of top end player back. The most likely return is going to be a prospect of some type even if it is one ready to play in the majors. I also think they probably start the season with Villar as the starter at 2B next year. He has had a bad year overall but he has still shown enough flashes I think they try to give him a chance to gain value. Next year is not a year I think the team goes for the playoffs either, that all starts in 2019. 2018 is about breaking guys in and maxing out the value on guys you don't plan on keeping longer term.

[LouisEly]

Trade Broxton and then platoon Brinson and Phillips. With Braun's typical injuries/days off, and with defensive substitutions late in games for Braun/Santana, pinch-hitting for pitchers, etc., there will be plenty of playing time for Brinson and Phillips, and it will help ease their transitions to major league pitching and help set both up for success.

 

Braun (LF), Santana (RF), Brinson/Phillips (CF). 5th OF Perez, possibly Wren if Perez is only backup 2B/3B/SS.

[MoreTrife]

Trade Broxton and then platoon Brinson and Phillips. With Braun's typical injuries/days off, and with defensive substitutions late in games for Braun/Santana, pinch-hitting for pitchers, etc., there will be plenty of playing time for Brinson and Phillips, and it will help ease their transitions to major league pitching and help set both up for success.

 

Braun (LF), Santana (RF), Brinson/Phillips (CF). 5th OF Perez, possibly Wren if Perez is only backup 2B/3B/SS.

 

 

Sounds good to me.

[Warning Track Power]

Trade Broxton and then platoon Brinson and Phillips. With Braun's typical injuries/days off, and with defensive substitutions late in games for Braun/Santana, pinch-hitting for pitchers, etc., there will be plenty of playing time for Brinson and Phillips, and it will help ease their transitions to major league pitching and help set both up for success.

 

Braun (LF), Santana (RF), Brinson/Phillips (CF). 5th OF Perez, possibly Wren if Perez is only backup 2B/3B/SS.

I think this is the opinion that is closest to mine. The only differences I would have is Braun in LF as the only regular. Brinson/Phillips/Santana rotate in CF and RF and in LF when Braun needs a day off. These three should accumulate somewhere close to 500 PAs. Perez should almost never see the OF unless it is a true defensive replacement as Braun starts to age and Santana needs to be pulled.

 

Trade Broxton for the best offer you can get. Maybe package him to increase the return. Interesting thought...deal Broxton to SF for Will Smith?

[adambr2]

I might rather trade Brinson than Broxton. I know that will be an unpopular opinion, so let me explain why.

 

We are basically talking about trading Broxton for the best offer we can get. That's not a very value-orieinted strategy if the offers aren't there, especially if everyone knows we just want to dump him to make room for Brinson. Brinson even unproven has substantially more present trade value as a top prospect who has produced in AAA. Many teams would be interested in Brinson.

 

So that said, onto the next reason. Broxton is becoming a fairly known commodity. Nothing elite, but his D will hold up, he stays healthy and available, and despite the peaks and valleys should give us about league average production in CF for cheap for several years. That's more of his floor than his ceiling. His ceiling with his skillset could be much higher. But even if he produces closer to his current production, there's something to be said for a known quantity in CF if this team is ready to contend in a year or two or even sooner.

 

Which brings us to the unknown quantity in Brinson. It's possible he becomes the 30/30 guy we hope. It's also possible he doesn't produce as we hope at this level. In contrast to Broxton who doesn't struggle with lingering injuries (Hard to blame Broxton much for freak things like the Wrigley wall and a HBP to the face), Brinson's injury struggles are starting to become a bit of a red flag.)

 

So I think most would agree on two things: 1) Broxton is probably safer, and 2) Brinson at present time is worth substantially more in trade. So suppose we could find a deal in the off-season for a TOR type pitcher, similarly to pre-2011, with Brinson as the centerpiece, hang onto Broxton, and still have Phillips as a 4th OFer or insurance in case Broxton goes south. Would that necessarily be a bad play, and if so why?

[3and2Fastball]

adambr - interesting thoughts and I tend to agree, but mostly because we have Phillips as a "safety net" to a degree. I suppose it depends on how much you can get for Brinson. Keon looks like a great 4th or 5th OF to me

[OnTheBlack]

i'd be ok trading Santana as long as we get good value. Khris Davis is a similar player to Santana (good power/offense, weak defense) and I was underwhelmed with who we got back. The trade looks even worse now that Nottingham has stagnated in AA.

 

We need TOR pitching prospect. Just not sure Santana would net that in a trade.

 

 

I like Santana a lot more than Davis. Santana's also just 24 years old, he has not only a good arm but a really strong throwing arm. Davis could get to more balls and Santana makes more just...awful plays, but I still hold out hope he could improve defensively.

 

Davis was 3 years older, had a ridiculously bad arm.

 

They're similar in that they both walk, they both are issues in the OF and both have some power, but Santana has enough thinks tilted in his direction that we should expect a lot more in return for him or choose to build with him moving forward.

[clancyphile]

Trade Broxton and then platoon Brinson and Phillips. With Braun's typical injuries/days off, and with defensive substitutions late in games for Braun/Santana, pinch-hitting for pitchers, etc., there will be plenty of playing time for Brinson and Phillips, and it will help ease their transitions to major league pitching and help set both up for success.

 

Braun (LF), Santana (RF), Brinson/Phillips (CF). 5th OF Perez, possibly Wren if Perez is only backup 2B/3B/SS.

I think this is the opinion that is closest to mine. The only differences I would have is Braun in LF as the only regular. Brinson/Phillips/Santana rotate in CF and RF and in LF when Braun needs a day off. These three should accumulate somewhere close to 500 PAs. Perez should almost never see the OF unless it is a true defensive replacement as Braun starts to age and Santana needs to be pulled.

 

Trade Broxton for the best offer you can get. Maybe package him to increase the return. Interesting thought...deal Broxton to SF for Will Smith?

 

The way I see it, the Brewers have the following CFs in the system, grouped by ETAs:

2018: Brinson and Phillips

2019: Troy Stokes, Jr. (AA 2018, maybe to AAA mid-season if he performs like he has this season)

2020: Carlos Ray, Trent Clark (AA 2018, AAA 2019)

2021: Monte Harrison (A+/AA 2018, AA/AAA 2019, AAA/MLB 2020)

 

Looking at that, I think a Broxton-Garza package in the 2017-2018 offseason makes a lot of sense. That should net two of an organization's top ten prospects, plus maybe another one or two from 11-30. If we throw in Carlos Ray, maybe the Brewers can net three top ten prospects, plus one or two others.

 

I like the rotation idea for Brinson, Phillips, and Santana in 2018. In the 2018-2019 offseason, I'd then look to deal one of Brinson/Santana to make room for Stokes as the 4th OF. For 2019-2020, figure that the Crew then uses Clark as the 4th/5th OF, and moves Braun to first. Or the NL could adopt the DH by then. When Braun retires after 2020, then in comes Harrison.

[brewmann04]

I think Monte might be the best of the bunch IMO

[gregmag]

Why limit them to trading him for a "real prospect"? Sure they can do that, but they need useful late inning arms in the pen, and clearly need an upgrade at 2B. Only about a 1/4 of "real prospects" have significant impact in the major leagues anyway. If they limited the market on Thornburg to prospects, they wouldn't have landed Travis Shaw.

And if they limited the market on Jason Rogers to established big leaguers, they wouldn't have Broxton. He must be one of that "about 1/4."

[reillymcshane]

An outfield of Brinson, Broxton and Phillips would be - defensively, pretty awesome.

 

Not saying we do that (trading Braun would be pretty difficult, after all), but defensively, it would be kind of awesome.

[reillymcshane]

I think Monte might be the best of the bunch IMO

I'm starting to get a good feeling about Harrison as well. He's got his injury issues behind him - just seems to be getting better and better.

[OnTheBlack]

adambr - interesting thoughts and I tend to agree, but mostly because we have Phillips as a "safety net" to a degree. I suppose it depends on how much you can get for Brinson. Keon looks like a great 4th or 5th OF to me

 

 

I think it entirely depends on that. Otherwise I think the attitude of trading him away and going with the "safer" guy is the worst way to build a winner. adambr mentions you don't know what you're gonna get, but that's the case with every prospect. You never know what you're gonna get. I think Brinson is gonna take even longer than most to develop and adjust in the big leagues. But the last thing I want to do is see them move him because they have a safer alternative. If he becomes a 30/30 type guy, a George Springer type...that's an enormous building block. And then I don't think having Phillips really means anything because doesn't have nearly the same upside.

 

I also don't know that you can count on Broxton to be league average. He has such up's and down's offensively it wouldn't be a shock if he hits under .200 for an entire year.

 

So if they can get a young pitcher for him, a potential ace, that would be great and I'd do that, but would you trade a young pitcher of comparable age, rating and control if you were on the other side? I would guess not. So I don't think other teams are likely to do so.

 

I want them to gamble. To go with the upside. I don't think the fact that maybe they moved up their window by a year or two should change that.

[jerichoholicninja]

An outfield of Brinson, Broxton and Phillips would be - defensively, pretty awesome.

 

Not saying we do that (trading Braun would be pretty difficult, after all), but defensively, it would be kind of awesome.

 

This is what I'm hoping for. Obviously Braun is still going to be there but between those 4 you get them all 500 PA's in a season and most importantly keep Braun fresh and hopefully healthy.

[clancyphile]

I think Monte might be the best of the bunch IMO

I'm starting to get a good feeling about Harrison as well. He's got his injury issues behind him - just seems to be getting better and better.

 

I think Harrison could be an outstanding center fielder... if he can make the majors. He does have an injury history, and prior to this year, his offense was... kinda hard for me to put a finger on. He showed good OBP skills in Arizona in 2014, but they dropped off in 2015 and 2016 between Wisconsin and Helena. Now, he seems to have a lot of it together, but he did spend his thrid eason at Wisconsin.

 

I will say that Harrison has perhaps the highest ceiling. Easily a 30-30 player.

 

That said... Troy Stokes Jr. has shown consistency across the board, plus a power surge this year. His ceiling may be a Brady Clark who is a 20-25 homer, 25-30 SB player - decidedly not as high or superstar-ish as Harrison's, but I'm far more certain Stokes will be at worst a Brady Clark type - and six years of that as a 4th outfielder is not bad.

[djoctagone]

lewis brinson says he's fully recovered from his 2017 hamstring injury.

[TJseven7]

An outfield of Brinson, Broxton and Phillips would be - defensively, pretty awesome.

 

Not saying we do that (trading Braun would be pretty difficult, after all), but defensively, it would be kind of awesome.

 

Simply getting Santana over to LF would make this OF quite impressive defensively. It's almost a shame we have Braun at all. Phillips in RF broxton/brinson in CF and santana in LF sets up very nicely. Would be nice if Santana or Braun could magically become a solid 1B.

 

It'll be interesting to see how this is handled going forward. Got 2 good prospects on the way and yet we really need santanas stick in that lineup as is. The offense leans very heavily on santana shaw. When they go cold we suck.

 

This stearns era stuff is getting strange. Instead of watching prospects fizzle and never get to the mlb or get dealt for stuff now we are all wondering which ones we should keep and which we piece off. Debating which are at sell high points now or are actually good. Its a nice new problem to have. Its getting pretty close to that with pitching too. Anderson davies nelson woodruff suter burnes ortiz hader peralta... already looking at pushing starter capable arms into the pen. Just strange.

[djoctagone]

still calling to trade keon broxton and/or domingo santana?

[Eye Black]

Santana would be a lot easier for the Brewers to justify hanging onto if the National League implemented the DH. I do think it is going to happen in the near future, but unfortunately for the Brewers probably not soon enough.

[TJseven7]

I'd love to see yelich cain phillips. Unfortunately we don't have an elite ss 2b or C to make up for the santana to phillips offensive downgrade. You listening Huira? You blow through a a+ and aa this year and this party starts mid 2019.

 

Phillips huira lutz carmona are the only offensive prospects I give a damn about right now. That's not fair to erceg or feliciano but its true.

[djoctagone]

with adrian houser optioned today and a starting pitcher not needed until wednesday, it's very conceivable that the brewers would recall either keon broxton or brett phillips just to have more outfield depth for the next couple of games.

[djoctagone]

and just like that, brett phillips is recalled. barring an injury to another player, i'd be surprised to see him stay past tuesday.

[Outlander]

I think Phillips will stick around longer. Suter pitches Tuesday and there is an off day Thursday. Chances are pretty good Suter is going to AAA after his start Tuesday no matter how he performs.

[djoctagone]

I think Phillips will stick around longer. Suter pitches Tuesday and there is an off day Thursday. Chances are pretty good Suter is going to AAA after his start Tuesday no matter how he performs.

suter's next turn in the rotation would come up 16 april. woodruff was optioned 7 april. woodruff falls short of the 10-day minimum stay in the minors to pitch on 16 april.

 

granted, wednesday's starter could pitch on four days' rest on 16 april, and it may be possible for woodruff to be recalled on 17 april to start. i can't recall the specifics of when the 10-day clock starts.

[benji]

I think with Cain’s injury. Phillips is gonna have to stay?

 

 

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