Free Agent Starting Pitchers for 2019

[TURBO]

I wonder if free agent starters will think twice about coming to Milwaukee based on how we use them here?

 

If I am a top end guy used to throwing 7 innings or more if I am rolling, and I have an offer from a team that is known to use their starters for 5 innings if they are lucky, even if things are going well, I'd overlook offers from the Brewers.

 

I hope we don't get a bad rep with staring pitchers based on that, and miss out of guys because of it.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I wonder if free agent starters will think twice about coming to Milwaukee based on how we use them here?

 

If I am a top end guy used to throwing 7 innings or more if I am rolling, and I have an offer from a team that is known to use their starters for 5 innings if they are lucky, even if things are going well, I'd overlook offers from the Brewers.

 

I hope we don't get a bad rep with staring pitchers based on that, and miss out of guys because of it.

 

This exact same thought has crossed my mind as well. I still kind of think that the philosophy was born more because of a general a lack of available top-end starter types available to them, rather than a total shift in philosophy. The idea that we are going to regularly start piggybacking starters like we're running some sort of rookie league team because of a philosophical change sounds really far fetched to me. I'm guessing that if we were pitching the guys the Mets have in their rotation, those guys would be going 7 innings pretty regularly.

 

Still, if the offseason last year proved anything, its that Stearns isn't going to go out and pay the kind of bucks that the "top end guy used to throwing 7 innings" are demanding. Perhaps there are guys like Chacin and Miley out there who have that capability and can be acquired affordably, though.

[pacopete4]

It can work both ways. I mean the success we seen from Chacin and Miley should earn them some good money. If you are one of those types of pitchers, you may love the opportunity to work for Milwaukee. Now, if we get ourselves an "ace" (hate that term) that can go 7-innings, then I would assume CC and DS would change accordingly.

[Eye Black]

If Nathan Eovaldi’s arm doesn’t fall off during the World Series he seems to be the free agent starting pitcher that has the potential to turn into a bonafide top of the rotation power arm.

[Eye Black]

I found this Fangraphs article, Potential Pitch Mix Improvements for Free Agents (Part 1), to be interesting. It outlines which pitchers could most likely improve by adjusting their current pitch mix. I summarized the list of pitchers discussed below. Check out the article link for explanation of each pitcher’s possible area for improvement within their pitch usage.

 

Major Improvement Candidates

Jeremy Hellickson

Derek Holland

Garrett Richards

Matt Harvey

 

Some Improvement Possible

Jamie Garcia

Hyun-Jin Ryu

Chris Tillman

Nathan Eovaldi

Dallas Keuchel

Brett Anderson

 

No Improvement Here

Trevor Cahill

Patrick Corbin

Drew Pomeranz

Hector Santiago

Drew Hutchinson

Lance Lynn

[Zad Fnark]

Kershaw may be on the block at this point.

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/clayton-kershaw-pondering-contract-opt-out/c-299880384

[brewmann04]

I can't see DS making that move but it be unreal if it did happen

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Kershaw may be on the block at this point.

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/clayton-kershaw-pondering-contract-opt-out/c-299880384

 

Look at the kind of money he'd be walking away from. I don't think there is any way the Brewers would be in the bidding.

 

He's got Cubs written all over him.

[3and2Fastball]

I'm rooting for Kershaw to become a free agent because it would increase the Brewers extremely slight chance to get Patrick Corbin.

[3and2Fastball]

Kershaw may be on the block at this point.

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/clayton-kershaw-pondering-contract-opt-out/c-299880384

 

Look at the kind of money he'd be walking away from. I don't think there is any way the Brewers would be in the bidding.

 

He's got Cubs written all over him.

 

I'm thinking Rangers. Kershaw is a Texas guy. Go back home and get huge money, and be part of the Rangers rebuild.... Maybe

[JosephC]

I could be in the biggest market in the world and I wouldn't touch Kershaw with a 10 foot pole. He's lost over 2.5 MPH off his fastball over the last two seasons. He's only averaged 162 innings over the last three seasons. When looking at his individual pitches, only his slider plays up at this time and that's bad news for a pitcher entering his 30s. And when he's hit the DL over the last few years, it hasn't been due to hamstring problems. Back and biceps issues. The ERA, FIP, WHIP are all still eye-popping and look great, but there are red flags all over this guy when one takes a look past the stats on paper.

 

No question he will opt out, if nothing else to get a longer commitment from the Dodgers. As of now the Dodgers would have him under contract for 2 more years at about 70 million. Certainly he should think he'll get way more than 70 million even if it's spread over a longer term. I'm thinking he can probably turn this into a 4 year, 136 million dollar extension from somebody, most likely the Dodgers.

[Lathund]

If he opts out it's only to re-sign with the Dodgers for more total $. The only way that doesn't happen is if his ask is truly ridiculous.

[tmwiese55]

Yea I'd guess they work out a compromise and tack on an extra couple of years for him at similar yearly or a bit less.

[pacopete4]

Kershaw would be foolish to leave Dodger stadium at this point in his career.

[torts]

you know what this mean?

 

COLON TIME!

[Eye Black]

I am not a gambler, but I enjoy looking over the MLB free agent odds at the start of the off-season. Below are the current Bovada odds for three of the starting pitchers on the market (odds are for which team they will begin next season with).

 

PATRICK CORBIN

New York Yankees: -190

Arizona Diamondbacks: +300

Milwaukee Brewers: +850

Seattle Mariners: +850

Washington Nationals: +850

Los Angeles Angels: +1100

 

 

CLAYTON KERSHAW

Los Angeles Dodgers: -150

Houston Astros: +375

Texas Rangers: +375

Chicago Cubs: +800

San Francisco Giants: +800

New York Yankees: +850

Cincinnati Reds: +1600

 

 

DALLAS KEUCHEL

Houston Astros: +230

Los Angles Angels: +230

New York Yankees: +230

Los Angeles Dodgers: +650

Philadelphia Phillies: +650

San Francisco Giants: +650

[reillymcshane]

Kershaw will opt out if he isn't given a new contract. Otherwise, he's leaving $150M or more on the table if he doesn't.

 

I'm guessing that right now Kershaw is looking at the Dodgers and saying, "Want to keep me off the market? $35M per year, 7 years."

 

The Dodgers are probably trying to get it down to six years instead of seven. Or maybe shave off a few million bucks here and there.

 

If the Dodgers let him hit FA, then someone will give him a monster deal. Maybe it won't be $35M and 7 years - but it will still be $200M+.

[wallus]

Whomever pays Kershaw will regret it in a couple of years for sure. I hear the Cubs could use a starter?

[TURBO]

Whomever pays Kershaw will regret it in a couple of years for sure. I hear the Cubs could use a starter?

 

Unless it's the Cardinals. If that is the case, he is the NL Cy Young the next 5 years.

[KeithStone53151]

Kershaw may be on the block at this point.

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/clayton-kershaw-pondering-contract-opt-out/c-299880384

 

Look at the kind of money he'd be walking away from. I don't think there is any way the Brewers would be in the bidding.

 

He's got Cubs written all over him.

 

Very few things would make me happier this offseason than if Kershaw signed for 6/190 with the cubs.

[reillymcshane]

I'm surprised at the Kershaw deal. I thought he's get a 6-7 year deal with the Dodgers. Getting the biggest deal obviously wasn't his primary concern. Still, I think he could have done 6 years with an opt out in 3 years - $30M+.

 

Dodgers should be thrilled they aren't on the hook for such big money on a guy who goes into his mid/late 30s.

[Eye Black]

From MLB Trade Rumors regarding the Brewers interest in J.A. Happ...

 

Speaking of Happ, the veteran left-hander is generating a lot of buzz in free agency. In addition to the Phillies, the Angels, Astros, and Brewers are new teams who Morosi adds to the already-lengthy list of clubs (the Blue Jays, Reds, Twins, White Sox, and Yankees) who have previously been rumored to have some level of interest in Happ’s services. Of the newly-cited teams, Milwaukee and Houston offer Happ the best chance of competing for a World Series in 2019, while the Angels and Phillies are a few steps behind at this point of the offseason, though obviously L.A. and Philadelphia each have designs on significant roster upgrades this winter.

[billymac]

Happ just turned 36 and sounds like he’s looking for a 3 year deal

 

Wouldn’t want to invest in him for those ages

[SRB]

Happ might make sense if he wants to play for a contender and will take a reasonable 1-2 year deal as a result, but otherwise no thanks.

[OldHeidelberg]

I sure hope this is just kicking the tires with Happ as we reportedly look into everything. If this was our big offseason splash I would be pretty disappointed. Rather resign Miley.