Brewers acquire Alex Claudio

[MilwaukeeBeers]

The market is flooded with decent LHRP.

 

Avilan

Diekman

Perez

Sipp

 

Take a chance that someone like Tyler Lyons bounces back. Claudio doesn't provide close to enough value to the team over some random LOOGY that we could pull from our farm system to give up what we did. Especially with a handful of decent guys on the market.

Hell if you wanna go the cheap route just be patient and see what comes from waivers. Now I’m really upset QTC had to have TJ.

[MilwaukeeBeers]

 

The market is flooded with decent LHRP.

 

Avilan

Diekman

Perez

Sipp

 

Take a chance that someone like Tyler Lyons bounces back. Claudio doesn't provide close to enough value to the team over some random LOOGY that we could pull from our farm system to give up what we did. Especially with a handful of decent guys on the market.

 

Again this team is in win-now mode. Claudio provides much more of a sure thing than some rando lefty signed to a minors deal. I agree that the price was seemingly high, but with the issues they’ve had finding an effective LOOGY, it’s hard to blame them.

I agree that we’re in win now mode. This just doesn’t coincide with anything DS has said at the winter meetings. This isn’t a patient or value play IMO.

[bill hAll Star]

Here's something: Claudio faced 67% RH batters over his career and the split has never really changed. Why?

 

I know that he had better numbers against righties in the past, but I wonder if the usage will be a bit better with the Brewers.

 

With how badly the Rangers sucked last year I also wonder how much of that beating he took was Jennings-esque where he was just left in for garbage collection a lot and some really good righties teed off on him.

[bill hAll Star]

High price to pay, but then again he fills a need people constantly complained about and thought a big part of our downfall was due to.

 

I'm completely fine with this move as I see a LOOGY as necessary on most rosters and cringe when fans complain about a situation like LOOGY Jennings coming in to face Scooter in a key moment.

 

That said, he's basically a cheaper, more controllable version of Jennings. So he is exactly what "people complained about" and probably will continue to complain about even if it is the right move.

[PeaveyFury]

His numbers were really good the two previous full-ish seasons he has. At 27, with team/cost control and the fact that he was above replacement level even last year, this fits a need. Whether it's worth a pick is yet to be seen, but I'm betting the Brewers feel they bought low on him. He was really good in 2016-17.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

 

The market is flooded with decent LHRP.

 

Avilan

Diekman

Perez

Sipp

 

Take a chance that someone like Tyler Lyons bounces back. Claudio doesn't provide close to enough value to the team over some random LOOGY that we could pull from our farm system to give up what we did. Especially with a handful of decent guys on the market.

 

Again this team is in win-now mode. Claudio provides much more of a sure thing than some rando lefty signed to a minors deal. I agree that the price was seemingly high, but with the issues they’ve had finding an effective LOOGY, it’s hard to blame them.

I agree that we’re in win now mode. This just doesn’t coincide with anything DS has said at the winter meetings. This isn’t a patient or value play IMO.

 

I have absolutely no doubt that Stearns looked at what else was available in free agency and trades for lefty relievers, and determined that this move made the most sense. We all may not agree, and while Stearns isn't batting 1.000 on his acquisitions, I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt on a move like this.

[SRB]

Stearns commits highway robbery and adds a much needed LHRP and people and complaining about a draft pick

 

Claudio has a 2.70 FIP, 2.72 xFIP against LHB

[KeithStone53151]

High price to pay, but then again he fills a need people constantly complained about and thought a big part of our downfall was due to.

 

I'm completely fine with this move as I see a LOOGY as necessary on most rosters and cringe when fans complain about a situation like LOOGY Jennings coming in to face Scooter in a key moment.

 

That said, he's basically a cheaper, more controllable version of Jennings. So he is exactly what "people complained about" and probably will continue to complain about even if it is the right move.

 

Oh man, the in game threads were filled with people upset that we would put in Jennings to face a lefty. How dare you play matchups and try to maximize your chances of success? That's pure insanity!

[markedman5]

[MilwaukeeBeers]

Stearns commits highway robbery and adds a much needed LHRP and people and complaining about a draft pick

 

Claudio has a 2.70 FIP, 2.72 xFIP against LHB

If we had a strong farm I would agree that this trade makes a lot of sense. We just don’t anymore though.

[trwi7]

Stearns commits highway robbery and adds a much needed LHRP and people and complaining about a draft pick

 

Claudio has a 2.70 FIP, 2.72 xFIP against LHB

If we had a strong farm I would agree that this trade makes a lot of sense. We just don’t anymore though.

 

Even if we had a strong farm system this makes no sense. This is something you hold off on until closer to spring training and if nothing better comes along and you still have a need then you pull the trigger. This isn't something you jump into in mid December.

 

What if some deal comes along later and you're close but need that last bit of incentive to get it finished? Well, we had a pretty good incentive and just traded it for a LOOGY.

[SRB]

Stearns commits highway robbery and adds a much needed LHRP and people and complaining about a draft pick

 

Claudio has a 2.70 FIP, 2.72 xFIP against LHB

If we had a strong farm I would agree that this trade makes a lot of sense. We just don’t anymore though.

 

Few picks outside of the first round will ever pan out. I would agree with you if we had just traded a top-15 pick but this isn't the NFL.

 

Plus we have lucked into an amazing window with Yelich/Cain. I don't really care about a draft pick who, if he does better than most, could give us the same performance as Claudio 5 years from now.

[Lathund]

This just doesn’t coincide with anything DS has said at the winter meetings. This isn’t a patient or value play IMO.

 

Look at what relievers are getting on the open market. There'll always be someone signed to a mionr league deal who has a great year, but if you want a proven reliever you have to pay these days. Claudio has significantly better numbers than Joe Kelly for isntance, who just got 3/25. Consider that we'd pay at most something like $8m over 3 years to Claudio, with the opportunity to non-tender in there. And that $8m or so is if he pitches well enough to get significant arbitration raises, which is a good thing for this team. And makes him very tradeable should things go south elsewhere. I mean it's 3 years of cheap control for a still young player. Look at what even rental relievers go for and the value looks really good to me.

 

It fills one of the clear needs, and no money was spent on it. Spending prospect capital on this and money on 2B/C to me is better value than doing it the other way around.

[TURBO]

This is pretty gross. Giving up a high draft pick and the associated bonus money for a guy that should only be facing at most two hitters at a time. Just sign someone like Luis Avilan and keep the pick.

 

this.

 

gross for sure.

 

head scratcher.

[3and2Fastball]

Also, don't assume that Stearns won't make another trade or two in the next few years that gets us another draft pick. This is all part of a much bigger plan

[trwi7]

Also, don't assume that Stearns won't make another trade or two in the next few years that gets us another draft pick. This is all part of a much bigger plan

 

We've been selling off prospects for two years and not replacing them with anyone except in the draft where we lose picks due to free agent signings and have low bonus pools but you think he's going to come in and get us a pick?

[TURBO]

He's going to be a LOOGY only type who probably spends time between Milwaukee and San Antonio, rotating up when we face lefty heavy teams or a dangerous lefty like Harper or Rizzo.

 

And we gave up a draft pick and around $2 million of our bonus pool for this. Just wonderful.

 

World Series contender. LHRP was a need. This guy fits the window.

 

He does? On a world series contender?

 

What about him screams a good pick up for a world series contender?

 

If the only thing that fits the bill is him being left handed, this is a mistake.

[wallus]

A few positives on this. Texas was 27th in MLB in terms of shifting. This would negatively affect Claudio as he is a ground ball pitcher. Being able to be part of the taxi squad is part of his value no doubt. He will not be expensive this year which is important if as address 2B and probably C.

 

Finally, if Turbo and Twirly hate it, odds are it will work out well!

[PeaveyFury]

 

He does? On a world series contender?

 

What about him screams a good pick up for a world series contender?

 

The fact that he's really successful in the role they acquired him to be successful in, I'd think.

[SRB]

Claudio was worth 1.7 fWAR and saved 11 games in 2017. By comparison, Jeffress last season was worth 1.8 fWAR.

 

Show me where a LHP with that upside is waiting around on the scrap heap the week before Spring Training

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

 

He does? On a world series contender?

 

What about him screams a good pick up for a world series contender?

 

The fact that he's really successful in the role they acquired him to be successful in, I'd think.

 

But he was not as effective last year, so that defines who he is. Case closed!

[trwi7]

Claudio was worth 1.7 fWAR and saved 11 games in 2017. By comparison, Jeffress last season was worth 1.8 fWAR.

 

Show me where a LHP with that upside is waiting around on the scrap heap the week before Spring Training

 

Luis Avilan had a higher fWAR than Claudio last year and is available for only money. I CAN PLAY THIS GAME TOO!

[bill hAll Star]

Also, don't assume that Stearns won't make another trade or two in the next few years that gets us another draft pick. This is all part of a much bigger plan

 

We've been selling off prospects for two years and not replacing them with anyone except in the draft where we lose picks due to free agent signings and have low bonus pools but you think he's going to come in and get us a pick?

 

Honest question: Has our farm system taken any sort of dent from what was traded away in the past calendar year? Harrison still has time, Brinson has the talent...but is literally anyone we gave up going to make a sizable dent in the majors other than maybe one that breaks through?

[Roderick]

I am for having a roster spot for a loogy.

 

I am just wondering why that pitcher couldn't have been Cedeno at basically the same salary, but no draft pick. Yeah, he wasn't great in a couple of spots last year for us, but his track record doesn't seem much off from Claudio.

 

So, assuming they saw something in Cedeno they really didn't like, I am okay with this trade.

 

As for those that say pick up a retread later, the problem with that is you don't know which retread is going to have a good season and you will have used up a roster spot while trying to find out. This guy seems about as reliable as relievers go (or course I thought that about David Riske too), and hopefully we see some park effect and defense making it look better.

[SRB]

Claudio was worth 1.7 fWAR and saved 11 games in 2017. By comparison, Jeffress last season was worth 1.8 fWAR.

 

Show me where a LHP with that upside is waiting around on the scrap heap the week before Spring Training

 

Luis Avilan had a higher fWAR than Claudio last year and is available for only money. I CAN PLAY THIS GAME TOO!

 

Gee, if only there were professional front offices who have a better handle on whether 2017 Claudio or 2018 Claudio was more reflective of his talent level