How agressive will Stearns be at the deadline?

[TexasCheesehead]

Last season a lot of us were hoping that Stearns was going into make a splash at the deadline, only for the Brewers to start falling out of first place and avoid making a huge push for some of the top names. This year is a completely different story being that the Brewers have accepted that the rebuild is over and we're obviously ready to compete now.

 

Assuming we're still in a tight race for the division title come the deadline (I know it's early), what names do you think we could realistically afford that might be available from bottom tier teams looking to rebuild?

[Lathund]

If we're leading the division by a couple of games, playing well, and the Cubs are showing some weakness; Then I'd be OK with bigger moves. Not fully all-in, the kind that sacrifices every season beyond this one, but some significant moves.

 

Anything less than that, and I would not want to do anything more than the Walker/Swarzak types of moves. Cheap rentals, short-term salary dumps and the likes. Now if a Christian Yelich-type moves is there, i.e 4+ seasons worth of a good player in a position of need, then by all means go for that. But I doubt there'll be a lot of that at the deadline.

 

Basically, the big moves are to put you over the top when you already are a strong playoff team. Like Aroldis Chapman, like Justin Verlander. We're not there yet.

[Ennder]

The Yelich trade definitely put a time frame on the rebuild. We want to win in the next 3 seasons or so. I think we are aggressive pursuing a SP but I don't know what that name is. I think this year is a sellers market because there are very few dominant teams.

[brewmann04]

I think he might pull a big move

[jerichoholicninja]

The Yelich trade definitely put a time frame on the rebuild. We want to win in the next 3 seasons or so. I think we are aggressive pursuing a SP but I don't know what that name is. I think this year is a sellers market because there are very few dominant teams.

 

Yelich and Cain were both acquired with 5 years of control. There's no 3 year window. There's no window at all. If there was, Stearn's would have signed one of those pitchers that everyone wanted.

[sveumrules]

There's no window at all.

 

This. Stearns has stated numerous times he is trying to build an organization which can remain perpetually competitive. All indications are that he isn't thinking in terms of any limited time frame window.

 

I'd imagine how aggressive Stearns & company will be at the deadline will mostly depend on how the market plays out. They will determine what they believe to be fair prices for available players they think can help the team & go from there.

 

I think that Stearns has enough confidence in where the organization currently stands that he will not feel any pressure to make a move unless it makes sense both in the now & for the future.

[YelichPosse]

As much as I’d love him to go get a Machado to put us over the top, Stearns is playing the long game here.

 

As much as we feel we are ‘contenders’ now, we really are only a couple years in to the master plan of contending... so it’s nice to have this problem so to speak. We can really go half way all in but still maintain the depth in the minors.

 

That all said, we are in a better position for now AND long term than I think I’ve ever seen in my Brewers fandom life. And that’s awesome to know we don’t have a bad GM, bad owner, or bad manager like we have so many different times before. The stars are aligning for a nice long ‘window’ of being there til the end year to year and that’s all you can ask for as fans- to have a true shot.

[markedman5]

As much as I’d love him to go get a Machado to put us over the top, Stearns is playing the long game here.

 

As much as we feel we are ‘contenders’ now, we really are only a couple years in to the master plan of contending... so it’s nice to have this problem so to speak. We can really go half way all in but still maintain the depth in the minors.

 

That all said, we are in a better position for now AND long term than I think I’ve ever seen in my Brewers fandom life. And that’s awesome to know we don’t have a bad GM, bad owner, or bad manager like we have so many different times before. The stars are aligning for a nice long ‘window’ of being there til the end year to year and that’s all you can ask for as fans- to have a true shot.

 

Well said......my thoughts exactly.

[MrTPlush]

I think we definitely see a pretty notable addition. Definitely something that says we want to win (not just a Neil Walker move).

 

That being said we aren’t obvious division winners. Bad news I think the Cubs are way better than us, good news I think we have a really really good shot at a wild card. The competition is really weak, in my opinion, for the wild card spots.

 

Really will depend on where we stand come mid-July. By then the Cubs could be easily leading the division by a nice margin. How aggressive will we be with a wild card spot up for grabs?

[brewmann04]

I think this team could be a wild card contender as is.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think a lot depends on where Nelson is a month from now and if Anderson can regain his 2017 form soon, but even if he's on track to contribute down the stretch, I have no doubt Stearns will look for a veteran arm to not only get them to the postseason but who can deliver in October. My guess is that will be a short term rental like a Happ or Hamels.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think this team could be a wild card contender as is.

 

Don't go out on a limb. They were a wild card contender last year and there's no "could" involved this year. They are a division contender and a wild card contender. The moves they make this year are to yes secure a playoff spot, but also to give them a reasonable chance to advance.

[JosephC]

How aggressive will Stearns be at the deadline? Depends on who he's willing to move. To be in the mix for the big names he'd have to be willing to part with Hiura, Burnes, Peralta. I don't see the other MiLB assets having great value at this point. There certainly should be teams out their that view Woodruff and Ray as valuable assets, but would that apply to the same teams that have assets the Brewers want? It could easily be argued that Peralta really belongs in the Woodruff/Ray group rather than the Hiura/Burnes group. If Stearns isn't willing to move Hiura/Burnes and maybe Peralta, it would really be hard for him to appear to be aggressive because competing teams will likely be able to throw out more attractive packages. Unforunately I think most of the Brewers "third tier" of prospects just won't be that attractive on the market today. Erceg, Phillips, Grisham, Dubon (due to injury) just have lost too much of their luster. I don't think risers like Supak and Brown have done enough to have made the jump into that "third tier" group. Stearns may have the motivation to make the big splash, but I'm not sure if he has the MiLB ammo at this point.

[Madhawk23]

How aggressive will Stearns be at the deadline? Depends on who he's willing to move. To be in the mix for the big names he'd have to be willing to part with Hiura, Burnes, Peralta. I don't see the other MiLB assets having great value at this point. There certainly should be teams out their that view Woodruff and Ray as valuable assets, but would that apply to the same teams that have assets the Brewers want? It could easily be argued that Peralta really belongs in the Woodruff/Ray group rather than the Hiura/Burnes group. If Stearns isn't willing to move Hiura/Burnes and maybe Peralta, it would really be hard for him to appear to be aggressive because competing teams will likely be able to throw out more attractive packages. Unforunately I think most of the Brewers "third tier" of prospects just won't be that attractive on the market today. Erceg, Phillips, Grisham, Dubon (due to injury) just have lost too much of their luster. I don't think risers like Supak and Brown have done enough to have made the jump into that "third tier" group. Stearns may have the motivation to make the big splash, but I'm not sure if he has the MiLB ammo at this point.

 

Yeah, I agree with everything you've said. While, I think we'd all love to see DS go out and trade for a TOR arm, that piece is going to cost you a decent amount at the deadline - especially if you are going to find a guy that you could control for multiple years. And, Stearns has stated over and over again that he is all about creating a franchise that can be competitive year in and year out. To do that (as a small market franchise), you can't be trading away your top tier prospects for rentals. Heck, I'm not even sure if we can trade away our top tier prospects for guys that we'd only control for 1.5 years? If we are going to make a run at someone like deGrom, Fulmer, Archer, etc., then we better be prepared to give up Hiura and Burnes. That's a lot for a team like the Brewers that is going to need to keep the prospect pipeline filled, as we can't afford to go out and get the top F/A talent most years.

[Chicago Here]

Honestly, we have a small market and the worst TV deal in MLB (But will be up for renegotiation after this season $$$) so I think Stearns is forced to take the same sorta routes that small market teams like Cleveland did by using the revocable waivers after the trading deadline. Basically, getting a solid player but just to play out the season and pay the remaining salary pro rated over the last month like the Indians did when they acquired Bruce last August.

 

I'd imagine for us to find an infielder that would leave guys like Sogard off the roster. Or an Ace. I think Kratz is filling the backup catcher role nicely, and I'm not as down on Pina as most of you. He has a solid arm and I think his bat will come around.

[BrewCrewBlueDevil]

The Brewers can get a mid rotation arm like Ross or Straily without giving up Burnes or Huira. If Nelson comes back he will be on limited innings. One more piece can solidify the rotation minus Nelson. A rotation of two and three pitchers, with a dominant bullpen, can be enough to make the playoffs if the offense keeps producing.

Anderson,- Not a one but he's our one.

Trade Option

Chacin- I'll take him as a #3 any day

Guerra- Can be very good.

Nelson/Suter/Woodruff/Burnes/Peralta/Davies- Great depth

[paul253]

I don’t really see the point of adding yet another mid to back end starter. That’s all this team really has. I’d rather see them go big or go with what they have, rotation wise.

[brewmann04]

I still like Hamels at this point.

[pacopete4]

Games like tonight make me feel like we shouldn’t be too aggressive. Just not quite in a position to really compete for the prize so why waste the resource.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I don’t really see the point of adding yet another mid to back end starter. That’s all this team really has. I’d rather see them go big or go with what they have, rotation wise.

 

Exactly ... they aren't going to add another crap #3-4 starter like Ross or Straily because it's redundant. If they needed that, they'd just hand the ball to Woodruff or Burnes or any other of 4-5 guys they have in the system.

 

No, if they make a move for a starting pitcher, it's going to be someone big. And it's going to cost a lot.

[bill hAll Star]

For whatever it's worth, Ross would probably be a modest upgrade to this rotation. I'm not that interested in doing it since it is at best a slight upgrade, but you could argue he's a #2 or #3.

 

Straily wouldn't crack the rotation.

[JosephC]

I don’t really see the point of adding yet another mid to back end starter. That’s all this team really has. I’d rather see them go big or go with what they have, rotation wise.

 

Exactly ... they aren't going to add another crap #3-4 starter like Ross or Straily because it's redundant. If they needed that, they'd just hand the ball to Woodruff or Burnes or any other of 4-5 guys they have in the system.

 

No, if they make a move for a starting pitcher, it's going to be someone big. And it's going to cost a lot.

 

Guess I'd have to disagree about Tyson Ross simply being a back end starter. As a MLB starter this season, Ross has posted a pretty solid 3.43 ERA/1.24 WHIP this season and Woodruff sits at 6.32 ERA/1.53 WHIP. Who knows what Burnes would do? It's too bad Ross got hurt as he really seemed to be an emerging star. All-Star in 2014 and Baseball Reference has him as a 3.5 WAR player in 2015. Injury pretty much ruined the next two seasons. Fastball velocity is down from where it was at his prime but it looks like he's learned to live without it. This year he has a 3.67 ERA at home and a 3.24 ERA on the road.

[bloena12]

In his latest piece in the Athletic, Rosenthal says Brewers could use a starter, reliever, second basemen or catcher --- the proceeded to mull the idea of a Whit Merrfield/Kelvin Herrera package from the Royals.

 

That'd probably be a hefty to price pay, but the idea is there.

[pacopete4]

Sounds like Rosenthal is about as out of touch as the rest of the media that ignore Milwaukee.

[adambr2]

I'm intrigued what kind of prices they could haul in for bullpen pieces like Knebel, Barnes, and Jeffress given how much of a seller's market it is going to be and how much pen arms are worth at the deadline, if they sold.

 

By the way, I know they shouldn't and won't. Plus at some point you have to stop treating Jeffress that way, it's getting a little crazy. I'm just curious from a hypothetical standpoint.