Yelich to the Brewers in exchange for Brinson, Isan Diaz, M. Harrison and Yamamoto

[DuWayne Steurer]

Stearns seems like the type of guy who's going to let other clubs pay players well into their 30's. We haven't seen it yet, but giving players extensions well into their 30's just doesn't seem like his type of move at all.

[BuckyBrewer61]

Stearns seems like the type of guy who's going to let other clubs pay players well into their 30's. We haven't seen it yet, but giving players extensions well into their 30's just doesn't seem like his type of move at all.

 

Lorenzo Cain says hi. But yes...I still agree with you that those deals will likely be the exception rather than the rule.

[TooLiveBrew]

Stearns seems like the type of guy who's going to let other clubs pay players well into their 30's. We haven't seen it yet, but giving players extensions well into their 30's just doesn't seem like his type of move at all.

 

Lorenzo Cain says hi. But yes...I still agree with you that those deals will likely be the exception rather than the rule.

I remember seeing an interview with Stearns in Spring Training where he spoke about the Cain signing. He said something like they'd determined Cain's skillet was "well insulated", & they felt he'll age better than a typical player. I thought that was interesting -- the DS team definitely has its methods, & so far I can't argue with much of anything they've done.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Stearns seems like the type of guy who's going to let other clubs pay players well into their 30's. We haven't seen it yet, but giving players extensions well into their 30's just doesn't seem like his type of move at all.

 

This is going to be a looming issue as we get closer to the next CBA. No one seems to want to sign guys in their 30s to long-term deals. The "big money" window is shrinking, and I would be surprised if we don't get some kind of reform of either arbitration, FA, raising the league mininum substantially, or all three.

 

Yelich's deal may end being what a lot of very good players try to get into. Early, multi-year extensions worth 50 or so million. Happy to pay it to him.

[coolhandluke121]

I remember seeing an interview with Stearns in Spring Training where he spoke about the Cain signing. He said something like they'd determined Cain's skillet was "well insulated", & they felt he'll age better than a typical player. I thought that was interesting -- the DS team definitely has its methods, & so far I can't argue with much of anything they've done.

 

I think we heard more details than just that. Cain just set career bests in games played, bb%, k%, and OBP. All those things would be very rare if there was any decline in athleticism or reflexes. It was his 3rd-best season for sb's and 2nd-best for sb/cs ratio (26:2), the best being a 10:0 ratio in a partial season. They said they studied video evidence and saw that his speed in CF was as good as ever. Simply put, he's still in his physical prime despite his age, and he's a lot more athletic than most players are at 27.

 

So while it is true that they usually avoid 30-somethings on big contracts, they clearly did their homework. There was a ton of oversimplification happening in Cain debates, and it was pretty frustrating trying to explain why that was a good move even at his age, and even if they don't follow it up with other, more impulsive "win-now" moves. At this point, it's nice to let his performance speak for itself.

 

ETA: Not to mention all the player comps like Cameron and Victorino, who did pretty well until their mid-30's.

[Thurston Fluff]

The Brewers gave up a lot of potential for 4 years of Yelich. Right now it looks great for the Brewers, but it will take a few years to tell if this was good, bad or ok for the Marlins. I do think Brinson should be sent down for his own sake, but that is the Marlins' call. It would probably be a good thing if a couple of the players become solid MLB players, just so that other teams will value trades with the Brewers better.

 

If the Brewers win a series with Yelich, I'll be perfectly happy if all 4 become HOF players.

 

Yea, way too early to say it was a great trade for the Brewers. At the very least it looks like the Brewers got what they wanted. Just far too early to know if it will be as good of a trade as the Gomez/Fiers trade was. THAT was great trade, will probably end up being exceptional.

 

And yea, I won't be happy if the four traded away all become HOF players. That would mean it was a horrible trade.

 

I'm not sure if this was directed at my post about being wrong about the relative production or not but let me clarify what I meant. I thought the Yelich deal would help us some this season but not enough this year to make a difference compared to what we'd have got from the others. I was wrong about that. I agree it's too early to know if it's a good trade overall but for this season, and probably next, we are getting much more production than we'd have had with some combination of Broxton, Brinson and Phillips.

[reillymcshane]

Way too early hypothetical: So Yelich will be 30 at the end of his deal. Braun was 31 at the end of his similar first deal. Would you give Yelich a Braun-like extension (5 year/$100 million)?

I would not do anything - as much as I like Yelich.

 

It's just too hard to see what kind of player Yelich will be in five years. I realize that Cain was entering his age 32 season when we handed him a contract, however, we got him right away - not four or five years down the road - so we had a much better grip on what he was. We just don't know that about Yelich.

 

I'm not going to lay this decision on the Braun contract (although it is a good example of longer term deals like this failing). Instead I'd say this about pretty much ANY player. If you control that person through his prime seasons - up to around 30-32 - just be happy for those great years and don't try and go beyond what you have. The odds are against you.

 

Also, there is always the chance you can extend said player when their contract is nearing its end - or even afterwards. It might cost you more to do it in four years, but at least you're more confident that the player will be worth the deal. And sure you might lose a guy you don't want to lose - but such is life. That's why you keep up a good supply of quality young players. It prepares you for the inevitable departures.

[JohnBriggs12]

Yelich is a special player. No reason to think he'll crumble from age 31-35. I'd give him Braun's contract in a heartbeat.

[bork]

I'd be inclined to not do the extension for Yelich. At the time of the extension, Braun was a perennial all star and never played less than 150 games. And he seemed to have the body type that would age well.

[coolhandluke121]

Yelich is a special player. No reason to think he'll crumble from age 31-35. I'd give him Braun's contract in a heartbeat.

 

I wouldn't give him today's equivalent of Braun's contract adjusted for salary inflation, but I would definitely give him 5/$100 and would go a little higher to lock him up. One thing about Braun is that his power hitting on a relatively small frame must have taken a toll on his body. He was generating a lot of force with every swing, and while his muscles could handle it (dude was absolutely jacked in his prime), his joints couldn't. I could see Yelich aging better and pushing 3,000 hits.

[adambr2]

As a general rule I just don't get extending a guy that far out for his mid 30 seasons when you have that much control still left.

 

For the small savings you might get, there is so much risk involved. I didn't like it at all when they gave it to Braun and I wouldn't like it now. So much can happen in 5 years. I doubt any of us back in 2011 had any inkling that the next 5-7 years of Braun would involve a PED scandal, a 65 game suspension, and chronic injury problems.

 

To me, that's just too much risk for a small market. For long-term contracts that far out, I'd stick to young players, trying to buy out potentially expensive arbitration seasons and a free agency year or two. Such as Braun's first contract, or Lucroy's deal. Josh Hader would be an excellent candidate for such a contract now.

[tmwiese55]

I just don't see the rush when he's signed for 5 years already. No need to do it now imo. Re-assess in a couple years. You'll know more about him and if he gets hurt, you'll know more on the financial landscape after such a weird offseason, you'll know more about other contracts you'll have given out, etc. I just don't see the rush.

[liveforoctober]

I always find it interesting/fun to revisit trades at certain points and ask myself "If I could reverse this trade right now would I do it?"

 

Would anyone trade Yelich right now back for the guys we gave up for him? I know it is only half a season. It'll be fun to revisit next year again, etc

[pacopete4]

While Yelich isn’t exactly a game changer on offense it is nice to have a guy that is consistently getting on base and plays good defense. I don’t think I’d reverse it because I wasn’t really high on any of the prospects given up.

[zagski6]

I always find it interesting/fun to revisit trades at certain points and ask myself "If I could reverse this trade right now would I do it?"

 

Would anyone trade Yelich right now back for the guys we gave up for him? I know it is only half a season. It'll be fun to revisit next year again, etc

 

It's still very early, but as of now I'd make this trade again in a heartbeat. Brinson and Harrison's K-rates are too high for my liking. I've been a huge fan of Yamamoto ever since I saw him pitch with the Timber Rattlers. He's the player that I will miss the most.

[SRB]

Can Brinson be considered a major asset any longer? I know 321 PA is a tiny sample size, but he has just been lost against major league pitching (.228 OBP, 30.8 K%) and he's not crazy young.

[pacopete4]

I mean he did just turn 24. Are we writing off 24 year olds?

 

I will say he does seem like the dramatics. Shows a lot of flash for not a lot of great play.

[MrTPlush]

He has been better of late...but still pretty lackluster.

[Jaylyn]

If the Marlins are smart, they just give Brinson a mulligan this year. Next year will be a better time frame to determine if he can be a productive player. Right now, he does look overwhelmed against big league pitching, but what are they playing for this year anyway? Nice article on Monte below.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mlb/miami-marlins/article213539884.html

[Outlander]

Brinson has had a real nice month of June thus far so maybe he is turning it around somewhat. Defense has also been real good. I would still make the trade but Brinson can still have a long, solid career.

[sveumrules]

Still have plenty of faith in Brinson to figure it out. He has hit at every level & has plenty of athleticism to make whatever adjustments are needed.

 

He is already cutting down the Ks as the season progresses; 35.2 K% in April, 29.6 K% in May, 25.4 K% in June.

[FVBrewerFan]

I mean he did just turn 24. Are we writing off 24 year olds?

 

 

I've written off all millennials

[Jaylyn]

Nice sub-plot to the trade, can Jeter turn the Marlins around?

[xisxisxis]

While Yelich isn’t exactly a game changer on offense it is nice to have a guy that is consistently getting on base and plays good defense. I don’t think I’d reverse it because I wasn’t really high on any of the prospects given up.

Who is a game changer? Bryce Harper? Trout, who's led his team to how many championships? how many playoffs?

 

I don't see any game changer in baseball as it really is a series of 9 one-on-one contests and it's hard for any player to effect the other 8 contests that he's not involved with.

 

The Brewers haven't had the Cain/Yelich type players for several years (Since Braun was good), who are near the top of their position rankings, hit for average, get on base at a decent rate and have very good plate discipline. That's pretty nice to have and I don't think Brinson turns into one of them, but he could be average and that's not bad. No regrets about the trade when it happened and none now.

[adambr2]

Isan Diaz was probably the toughest one for me to see go, but IMO Hiura has distanced himself far and away as the better 2B prospect. Diaz has decent enough tools, but the bust possibility is real, whereas Hiura has an already very MLB ready tool in his bat.

 

Now imagine just a simple change to that trade, Hiura gone instead of Diaz and it doesn't look nearly as good.