David Stearns must do's for the offseason

[brewmann04]

I understand totally

[reillymcshane]

My two biggest offseason targets: Marwin Gonzalez and/or David Freese.

I think Marwin Gonzalez is going to be a hot commodity this offseason.

 

Only 30, versatile, switch hitter (without big splits), solid defender. He's only a year removed from a .907 OPS. There's a lot to like. And because of his versatility, he can fit in with a lot of teams.

 

I think he'll get rewarded quite nicely this off season.

[brewmann04]

I think you see DS make an under the radar type of FA.

[brewmann04]

WellSchoop is gone and think the GM meetings should be fun.

[Eye Black]

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

 

I know this is likely in jest, but I have to admit that it is a little disconcerting watching a bunch of NL teams get better. Still very early, though.

[MNBrew]

The same thing happened last year, too, but Stearns knew what he was doing and didn't make any sort of bum move. Stearns waited for the right move(s) at the right price & time (esp. Jan. 25).

 

It does get frustrating when we want the Brewers to make moves and they could but they don't. I think last year provides a good lesson/reminder. Many of the potential moves that seemingly could've worked for the Brewers didn't happen, especially SPs, and in the end Stearns stuck to his guns. His two low-glitz acquisitions (Chacin & Miley) thankfully worked out better than most of us could've foresaw and the Darvish/Cobb/etc. crew definitely had seasons we could be glad happened for other teams, not us.

 

There's no award for winning the offseason. I'll still take having a better regular season than most/all NL teams over that.

[Eye Black]

I know this is likely in jest

Yes, primarily in jest. I enjoy seeing the landscape of talent shift teams during the off-season, but I think it’s obviously a natural reaction to watch other teams improve their rosters and subsequently daydream about the next move for the team of your own rooting interest.

[JohnBriggs12]

We haven't even gotten to the winter meetings. Stearns acquired Chacin, Yelich and Cain all after the winter meetings. Not a bad haul.

[Outlander]

After what happened last January 25th I am not worried about the limited activity as of December 5th.

[brewmann04]

Adding Chacin was an un the radar signing that caught almost off base

[HiAndTight]

Here's one:

 

Sign Christian Yelich to a long term deal. The guy was an MVP this year, is still young, and is a genuine five tool player. He's the kind of piece we can build around for the next decade, like Ryan Braun ten years ago.

 

I don’t see the urgency here. He had a truly great 2nd half of the regular season but he still has 3 more years of control.

 

And not to nitpick but he is not a five tool player. Though his D would improve if he went to his more natural LF when Braun isn’t playing.

 

 

I'm not in favor of re-signing Yelich...seems pointless when we have a farm system loaded with young OF prospects and he has 3 years left on his deal. You'd just be paying him for half a season right now in which he was an MVP caliber player. I think he's great, but I don't think he's a triple crown type player.

 

But I do think he's a pretty legit 5 tool guy. What tool is he missing exactly?

[And That]

But I do think he's a pretty legit 5 tool guy. What tool is he missing exactly?

His arm is below average.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

I wouldn't at all be surprised to see a 12-man staff set up like this for 2019...

 

Initial Out Getters - Two to Three Times Through Guys

 

Chacin

Burnes

Peralta

Nelson

Anderson (or a LHP TBNL)

Guerra (or a LHP TBNL)

Davies (or a LHP TBNL)

 

With any of Anderson, Guerra, or Davies to be moved at some point to make room for a LHP or even two LHPs.

 

Mid-to-Late Game Out Getters - One Time Through Guys

 

Hader

Knebel

Jeffress

Woodruff

Jennings or Cedeno or a LHP to be named later

 

Woodruff could very easily be in the top group and swap places with Anderson, Guerra, or Davies. If Soria isn't moved, they'll likely have to stash someone in AAA at the outset.

 

I would expect one if not both of Anderson/Davies to be moved in the offseason. Need a LH initial out getter or two and the Burnes, Peralta, Woodruff trio are ready to break camp in the majors.

 

The LHP to be named later in the above to take the place of the "Jennings or Cedeno" looks like it will be Alex Claudio.

 

The post quoted looks like a realistic framework for how the staff could take shape in 2019.

[brewmann04]

Think it's time for DS to make a big addition

[brewmann04]

Solid power arm can't have enough of them in the bullpen

[long ball]

Think it's time for DS to make a big addition

 

Feeding a fed horse time

 

Players added by the Brewers between 1/9/18 and opening day:

 

JJ Hoover

Boone Logan

Ji-Man Choi

Christian Yelich

Lorenzo Cain

Matt Albers

Nick Franklin

Wade Miley

Dan Jennings

 

That's 9 players who played in the big leagues in 2018 for the Brewers. No not all of them were good, but Stearns has been more active this off season so far than he was at this point last year. The only players acquired before 1/8/18 to play in the majors for the Brewers in 2018 were Chacin and Zagurski.

[MNBrew]

If I had to guess, I still think Stearns wasn't bluffing around the time of the Winter Meetings when he again talked about how much they like the starters they have. That's not to say they wouldn't welcome #1 type on board, but only at a reasonable cost.

 

If some bigger move's still coming, there are certainly a couple guys on the 40-man that could easily be outrighted or whatever to create space (miraculously thus far Aaron Wilkerson keeps hanging on). For all we know, there could be some active trade inquiries into other roster-bubble types (Houser, maybe Barnes) in addition to (hopefully) Anderson, Davies, Thames. Or it could be dead quiet on Stearns' phone, too. Then again, those Santana & Broxton trades sure appeared out of nowhere.

[adambr2]

I can think of 7 legitimate rotation options they have right now:

 

Chacin, Anderson, Davies, Burnes, Peralta, Woodruff, and Nelson.

 

That's assuming Hader isn't ever starting, Guerra is staying in the pen, Suter isn't going to make it back, Houser and Diplan aren't starting, and Supak is a year or two away.

 

They've got a ton of options so if Stearns likes their options, rightfully so.

[brewmann04]

Wow gettinGrandal was big get now does DS have another move in him

[sveumrules]

Burnes threw 58.7% fastballs, 34.2% sliders & 6.8% curves this year in MLB, so yes, essentially a two pitch pitcher.

 

Wow, this couldn't possibly be lazier. Actually yes it could, you could say "well...I've only ever seen him throw 2 pitches so.....". But come on man. Every scouting report that exists says that Burnes throws 4 pitches.

 

Throwing four pitches in the minor leagues is much different than throwing four pitches in the Major Leagues. When Burnes has pitched a full season deploying all four pitches with success against Major League hitters I will consider him a four pitch pitcher. If the curve or change up were currently as good as the slider, I believe they would have been thrown more even in relief.

 

Through three starts this year I still think Corbin Burnes is essentially a two pitch pitcher.