If they miss out on Machado

[MilwaukeeBeers]

Honestly I don't see a need to acquire a cost controlled 2B (I get versatility) like Merrifield when Hiura is knocking on the door in 2019. Provided Keston isn't shipped off for a significant arm like a deGrom/Syndergaard. If we're going after Whit I think there has to be a corresponding move to go along.

[Madhawk23]

Honestly I don't see a need to acquire a cost controlled 2B (I get versatility) like Merrifield when Hiura is knocking on the door in 2019. Provided Keston isn't shipped off for a significant arm like a deGrom/Syndergaard. If we're going after Whit I think there has to be a corresponding move to go along.

 

Agree with you 100% on this. If we hear that the Brewers are about to strike a deal with the Royals for Whit, then I will take that as a sign that Hiura is about to be packaged in a deal for a TOR starter. Unless of course if Hiura is in the deal to acquire Whit, but I would certainly hope that DS is smart enough to not give him up in a deal for Whit.

[TURBO]

I would be willing to bet my life savings we are not catching the Cubs this year, regardless of the moves we make. I wouldn't make any major moves and let some of our prospects mature and get a year older. If the club manages to make the the playoffs with what we have, then great. We aren't getting to the world series this year, so why get rid of our prospects knowing this?

 

Fact is, if we don't trade some of our prospects now, we will lose some of them during the off season because they all will not fit on the 40 man roster.

 

I'm torn, and flip flop on a daily basis on what we should do.

[adambr2]

I'd be pretty wary of Escobar. He's a pretty mediocre player career-wise having the best half of baseball in his career.

 

Maybe you get lucky and he continues it for another half, but I think it's as least as likely that you just end up with another option on your Villar/Miller/Perez pile.

[recte44]

Merrifield and Duffy

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[502 to Right]

I'd like Jose Iglesias. He won't cost much, has a good glove, and should put up a 85-90 OPS+, which will be an improvement over the garbage the Brewers have gotten out of the SS spot in the lineup this year.

[A Swing and A Drive]

Merrifield and Duffy

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I don't like targeting these two via trade.

 

Merrifield isn't really much of an upgrade to what we have and Duffy is an inconsistent LHP/town drunk.

[MadThinker88]

I like the idea of this thread... Kudos to the person that started it...

Might be unnecessary but its better to be prepared...

[82brewcrew82]

Its probably time to move beyond "if" they miss out on Machado and start thinking about what they do "when" they miss out on Machado.

[adambr2]

Its probably time to move beyond "if" they miss out on Machado and start thinking about what they do "when" they miss out on Machado.

 

Why? I personally think he's probably going to end up in Philly but it's far from confirmed. Definitely appears that we're still involved.

[82brewcrew82]

Its probably time to move beyond "if" they miss out on Machado and start thinking about what they do "when" they miss out on Machado.

 

Why? I personally think he's probably going to end up in Philly but it's far from confirmed. Definitely appears that we're still involved.

Hence "probably"

[Roderick]

Asdrubal Cabrera .... - he’ll be the cheapest to acquire.

 

I don't see anything with the Mets being easy, even if it is in their best intrrest.

[reillymcshane]

Asdrubal Cabrera .... - he’ll be the cheapest to acquire.

 

I don't see anything with the Mets being easy, even if it is in their best intrrest.

We made the Walker deal last year at the deadline with the Mets. So there's some history there. The Mets probably know our farm system pretty well, which might help expedite any talks.

[Madhawk23]

If/when we miss out on Machado, how quickly will the other teams start to move on their players? I'd love to make a move with the Twins for Escobar/Dozier, but I'm wondering how quickly the Twins would be willing to move those guys? And, I'm worried about this early stretch after the AS break with the Dodgers and Nationals coming to town. We know LA is starting to play more like everyone expected (and just imagine if MM suits up in a Dodgers uniform this weekend at Miller Park). If we miss out on MM, we really need to get working on another deal asap. We should have Braun back on Friday, but Thames/Villar will miss at least that first LA series and who knows about Pina.

 

 

I just hope DS gets aggressive here, because aren't going to have the ability to ease into the 2nd half here.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I'd love to see a deal for Dozier. He's a notorious 2nd half player. As for SS, I just don't see anything other than Machado that would be a big enough upgrade on Saladino to warrant a move.

 

As for catcher, unless the Brewers are going to make a Godfather (Hiura+++) move for Realmuto, I don't see it happening. It would be great to have a lock-down All Star catcher in place for the next several seasons though. If they can't get him, you might see a move for someone like Barnhart to share the load with Pina. Otherwise I'd do a 50/50 timeshare with Pina and Nottingham, and jettison Kratz.

 

It also wouldn't surprise me to see a move for a controllable starting pitcher. The Brewers need more length out of their rotation.

[reillymcshane]

How about this:

 

Brett Phillips for Brian Dozier (Twins). .230 BA, 16 HR, .738 OPS. Too much? Too little? We'd be taking on around $3M in salary. Historically a much better hitter - and has been playing well of late. Has potential to do much better. The number of 2B options on the market should keep Dozier's price down, but I think it will take a decent offer to get Dozier. However, Phillips might be too much.

 

Troy Stokes, Jr. and Cody Ponce for Jose Iglesias, Jordan Zimmerman and Cash (Tigers). It shouldn't take a lot to get Iglesias, who is hitting .266 BA, .305 OBP, and is a great fielder. We take on about $2M in salary. Doesn't hit much, but he's consistent and provides great defense.

 

Big risk with Zimmerman. He is having a pretty good year (12 starts, 63 IP, 11BB, 61K, 3.71 ERA, 3.38 FIP, 1.127 WHIP), but has struggled badly the previous couple of seasons. He is under contract through 2020 for $24M, $25M, and $25M. That's a huge amount of dollars. My thought is the Brewers pay 1/3 of the salary - leaving them on the hook for about $3M in 2018, and about $8.3M in 2019 and 2020. Is that realistic? I'm just sort of guessing here.

 

Tigers get a couple of marginal guys that can help them in the near future, plus they save around $22M in salary.

 

Phil Bickford or some other lower lever lottery ticket for AJ Ellis (Padres). .284 BA, .758 OPS, good defender. Padres get a guy who might help them down the road.

 

Macros Diplan for Joakim Soria (White Sox). Soria is one of the better non-closers who could be on the market. 36 IP, 2.75 ERA, 9 walks, 45K, 1.167 ERA. Makes $9M in 2018, plus there's a $10M option for 2019 with a $1M buyout. So we'd be taking on about $4M if we excised the buyout (or we could keep him for 2019 at $10M). White Sox get a promising, but erratic arm. I think it's a lot of give up, but relievers tend to cost more at the deadline, so I'm making the move.

 

Wrap up.

 

- Brewers lose Diplan, Ponce, Stokes Jr., Phillips and Bickford.

- Take on about $12M in salary this year.

- Add Iglesias to play SS full time, add Dozier to play 2B full time, add Ellis to platoon with Pena, add Soria to the bullpen, and add Zimmerman to the rotation.

- Take on Zimmerman for 2019/20 at about $8M per season.

 

Not sure if this is worth it. But it moves some guys off the 40 man roster who are mostly stuck behind other people.

[buckybrewer232]

How about this:

 

Brett Phillips for Brian Dozier (Twins). .230 BA, 16 HR, .738 OPS. Too much? Too little? We'd be taking on around $3M in salary. Historically a much better hitter - and has been playing well of late. Has potential to do much better. The number of 2B options on the market should keep Dozier's price down, but I think it will take a decent offer to get Dozier. However, Phillips might be too much.

 

Troy Stokes, Jr. and Cody Ponce for Jose Iglesias, Jordan Zimmerman and Cash (Tigers). It shouldn't take a lot to get Iglesias, who is hitting .266 BA, .305 OBP, and is a great fielder. We take on about $2M in salary. Doesn't hit much, but he's consistent and provides great defense.

 

Big risk with Zimmerman. He is having a pretty good year (12 starts, 63 IP, 11BB, 61K, 3.71 ERA, 3.38 FIP, 1.127 WHIP), but has struggled badly the previous couple of seasons. He is under contract through 2020 for $24M, $25M, and $25M. That's a huge amount of dollars. My thought is the Brewers pay 1/3 of the salary - leaving them on the hook for about $3M in 2018, and about $8.3M in 2019 and 2020. Is that realistic? I'm just sort of guessing here.

 

Tigers get a couple of marginal guys that can help them in the near future, plus they save around $22M in salary.

 

Phil Bickford or some other lower lever lottery ticket for AJ Ellis (Padres). .284 BA, .758 OPS, good defender. Padres get a guy who might help them down the road.

 

Macros Diplan for Joakim Soria (White Sox). Soria is one of the better non-closers who could be on the market. 36 IP, 2.75 ERA, 9 walks, 45K, 1.167 ERA. Makes $9M in 2018, plus there's a $10M option for 2019 with a $1M buyout. So we'd be taking on about $4M if we excised the buyout (or we could keep him for 2019 at $10M). White Sox get a promising, but erratic arm. I think it's a lot of give up, but relievers tend to cost more at the deadline, so I'm making the move.

 

Wrap up.

 

- Brewers lose Diplan, Ponce, Stokes Jr., Phillips and Bickford.

- Take on about $12M in salary this year.

- Add Iglesias to play SS full time, add Dozier to play 2B full time, add Ellis to platoon with Pena, add Soria to the bullpen, and add Zimmerman to the rotation.

- Take on Zimmerman for 2019/20 at about $8M per season.

 

Not sure if this is worth it. But it moves some guys off the 40 man roster who are mostly stuck behind other people.

 

I really like a lot of these ideas. Assuming they don't get Machado, Dozier would be my number 1 target then. As everyone has mentioned, he's a notorious 2nd half player and I just think he fits exactly what this offense needs. I don't know if the Phillips trade is too much or not enough for him. I could live with it but I'm also a big Phillips fan and would love to have him as a late inning defensive replacement if we're lucky enough to make the playoffs.

 

Would love to add someone like Ellis or Barnahrt to help shore up C, and those guys shouldn't cost much. It would be foolish for the Brewers to not make a move for one of those guys. I also would like to see another RP or two, like Soria.

 

Your idea with the Tigers is interesting. Iglesias would bring a steady presence to SS but honestly Saladino has been pretty steady himself. Even since coming back from his injury, he has been fine. If you make a move for Dozier to play 2B, I think you could be OK at SS with Saladino and possibly Arcia earning his way back. Zimmerman is an interesting case, his numbers have really bounced back this year. It would really depend on what the Tigers would retain money wise. The other thing is where does he fit after this season? There will be a lot of guys competing for the rotation next year- if none of Woodruff, Peralta, Burnes, Ortiz are traded.

 

I'm really not overly interested in Merrifeld or Deitrich. Realmuto would be amazing but he's going to cost you two of Hiura, Peralta, Burnes and then some.

[bill hAll Star]

I'm going to plant my flag yet another time: Yes, if I was forced to just pick the players for my team in a draft, I'd take a handful of the non-Machado guys over 2018 Tyler Saladino. Maybe Eduardo Escobar and a handful of others.

 

We're now approaching 100 plate appearances and his weak contact rate is still below 10%. I think we may have a .270/.335/.420ish hitter that plays decent/good SS defense on our hands. I'm not giving up something for Jose Iglesias to supplant that even if he is a defensive wiz.

 

I am going mostly off of a LouisEly post that they brought his leg-kick back, but he seems to be making some strides at being a hard contact guy. I'm not painting him as the next Machado, but we may have something about as useful as 75% of the names out there for SS replacements.

[jerichoholicninja]

Could get any SS (Machado, Iglesias, Escobar) and then move Saladino to 2B. Solves two problems right there.

[bill hAll Star]

Could get any SS (Machado, Iglesias, Escobar) and then move Saladino to 2B. Solves two problems right there.

 

Miller/Villar platoon is probably as good as any non-Machado player at 2B.

 

I'm fine giving away mostly nothing and displacing some guys in the 2B/SS situation, but it's easier said than done. We're talking 60 games. If everyone holds their projected value (again, I'm giving Saladino a higher projection), you might have like a .5-1 WAR difference with Iglesias or Escobar in the fold? Maybe? That assumes the newer version of Saladino.

[clancyphile]

My plan:

1. Call up Keston Hiura as the full-time 2B. Instant, no-cost upgrade. The bat's been superb. DFA Kratz and Miley

2. Trade Barnes and Ortiz to Miami for Starlin Castro, LHP Dylan Lee, and international bonus slots.

 

Lineup:

cf: Cain

lf: Yelich

1b: Aguilar

3b: Shaw

rf: Braun/Thames

ss: Castro

2b: Hiura

c: Pina

bench: Nottingham/Pina, Thames/Braun, Perez, Villar, Saladino

rotation: Anderson, Guerra, Chacin, Suter, Peralta

bullpen: Knebel, Hader, Jeffress, Jennings, T. Williams, Woodruff, Burnes

 

Shuttle: Wilkerson, Phillips, Orf, Lopez, Houser

[TURBO]

Could get any SS (Machado, Iglesias, Escobar) and then move Saladino to 2B. Solves two problems right there.

 

Miller/Villar platoon is probably as good as any non-Machado player.

 

You'd have an OPS of ~.800 with that platoon.

 

CC can not function on a strict platoon. Always trying to be cute with something else. Plus, Villar is in the dog house, and can't seem to get any established playing time.

[bill hAll Star]

Could get any SS (Machado, Iglesias, Escobar) and then move Saladino to 2B. Solves two problems right there.

 

Miller/Villar platoon is probably as good as any non-Machado player.

 

You'd have an OPS of ~.800 with that platoon.

 

CC can not function on a strict platoon. Always trying to be cute with something else. Plus, Villar is in the dog house, and can't seem to get any established playing time.

 

Well, maybe that's because he's already in the platoon (when not on the DL).

 

Villar has an .892 OPS against lefties this year. He didn't take advantage in some of the 2 week runs where he got consistent time against RHP. Villar has a .760 career OPS vs. LHP.

 

Miller is also a .760 guy against RHP.

[bill hAll Star]

My plan:

1. Call up Keston Hiura as the full-time 2B. Instant, no-cost upgrade. The bat's been superb. DFA Kratz and Miley

2. Trade Barnes and Ortiz to Miami for Starlin Castro, LHP Dylan Lee, and international bonus slots.

 

Lineup:

cf: Cain

lf: Yelich

1b: Aguilar

3b: Shaw

rf: Braun/Thames

ss: Castro

2b: Hiura

c: Pina

bench: Nottingham/Pina, Thames/Braun, Perez, Villar, Saladino

rotation: Anderson, Guerra, Chacin, Suter, Peralta

bullpen: Knebel, Hader, Jeffress, Jennings, T. Williams, Woodruff, Burnes

 

Shuttle: Wilkerson, Phillips, Orf, Lopez, Houser

 

Castro hasn't played SS in almost 4 years. He was an average defender back when he played it. I can't imagine he'd be any better than throwing Brad Miller out there consistently. What's the point, then?

[Roderick]

Asdrubal Cabrera .... - he’ll be the cheapest to acquire.

 

I don't see anything with the Mets being easy, even if it is in their best intrrest.

We made the Walker deal last year at the deadline with the Mets. So there's some history there. The Mets probably know our farm system pretty well, which might help expedite any talks.

 

I guess. I assume Sandy Alderson will allow whoever is replacing him to put together a Cabrera trade he can approve.