Brewers acquire Alex Claudio

[TURBO]

 

I am not beside myself that they made this move, but I also would have preferred they did not.

 

This is where I am, however, I am "almost" beside myself, but not quite.

 

[Austin Tatious]

Low salary. Only 26, significant more control, lefty. Stearns and company obviously felt they couldn’t find a player with that profile without giving up prospect capital. Rather than dealing, say, Joe Gray, they sent a fairly high draft pick.

 

Personally, I’d rather not have made the deal, and I hope it doesn’t become a habit. But, it looks fairly obvious why they felt they needed to do it.

[Noche]

This is a good move. Rangers are making mistakes left and right and this is one more.

 

Although I trust our GM sees something of value in acquiring Claudio, I don’t see how any Ranger fan can dislike this trade.

 

The Rangers are in rebuilding mode and acquiring a high draft pick in the same range that your org drafted Joey Gallo type talents for a replaceable bullpen arm is an absolute no brainer.

 

My point more surrounded idea Claudio was likely mis-used by the Rangers. If used properly, value is higher, and return in rebuild style trade is greater. If I am Ranger fan, I wonder why the bullpen savvy Brewers are acquiring my guy with so many other seemingly feasible options available.

[sveumrules]

To sum this move up basically....

 

Nobody wants to spend money on a reliever. Nobody wants to give up prospects for a reliever. So Stearns uses a draft pick that probably won't end up panning out to add a reliever to the pen and nobody likes that either.

 

How is the team to get better?

That's not accurate, a lot of posters responded to say they'd much rather see the Brewers spend money on a reliever & keep the draft pick.

 

I'd imagine some of those same posters, had we signed a reliever instead, would have complained that it was too much money &/or too many years.

 

Some people just complain, it's what they do.

 

Bonus Internet Points to anyone that can find a Stearns move that trwi7 said something positive about.

[KeithStone53151]

I'd imagine some of those same posters, had we signed a reliever instead, would have complained that it was too much money &/or too many years.

 

Some people just complain, it's what they do.

 

Bonus Internet Points to anyone that can find a Stearns move that trwi7 said something positive about.

 

I spent about 10 minutes cruising through some old threads(it's Friday after all). trwi7 didn't like the yelich trade, thornburg trade, cain signing, chacin signing, or moustakas trade. He didn't comment on a couple other smaller moves I looked at. Those moves are pretty much the best moves Stearns has made in his tenure, so if he didn't like those...I'm not sure what move he'll be happy about.....

[Outlander]

This is a good move. Rangers are making mistakes left and right and this is one more.

 

Although I trust our GM sees something of value in acquiring Claudio, I don’t see how any Ranger fan can dislike this trade.

 

The Rangers are in rebuilding mode and acquiring a high draft pick in the same range that your org drafted Joey Gallo type talents for a replaceable bullpen arm is an absolute no brainer.

I'm with you on this one, sometimes a trade is good for both sides and think this is one of those cases as these organizations are at different stages of building/competing. I do have to say though that a small part of me is glad that other draft picks can't be traded so that if things change quickly for a organization like the Brewers they still have their high draft picks to bring in young talent.

[djoctagone]

i can't figure out why david stearns reported that claudio has two minor league options remaining. he spent more than 20 days optioned in both 2015 and 2016, and has not missed a season due to injury since being added to the 40-man roster, which could prompt a fourth option year. claudio also has not burned all three options in five or fewer professional seasons, which would also be grounds for his club to petition for a fourth option year.

[A Swing and A Drive]

Is this the first draft pick traded in franchise history? I can't remember any other...

[adambr2]

Is this the first draft pick traded in franchise history? I can't remember any other...

 

Hasn't been legal very long.

[homer]

Is this the first draft pick traded in franchise history? I can't remember any other...

 

Hasn't been legal very long.

 

Just spitballing here but I wonder if some enterprising team has done research and determined that a pick below, say, #20 doesn't carry all that much extra value relative to pick #50 or #100 particularly when money is considered. In other words, does a guy who is simply a replacement level player in the majors carry more value than a pick below a certain number?

[wallus]

I know this was mentioned earlier but does anyone else think this was at least partially a financial move? Meaning, Stearns will have a little more money to spend in free agency?

[Humans Need Water]

I don't get the LOOGY talk thus far regardless of what his splits are. The past 3yrs he's thrown 203 innings over 175 appearances and each year throwing more innings than appearances as well. Additionally, someone mentioned that the Rangers were one of the least shifting teams and weren't good defensively whereas the Brewers are the opposite for the most part. Therefore, our defense could take away some singles/doubles that he's been giving up vs righties as he's always dominated lefties (every team in our division has a couple of their better/most productive hitters as lefties too - or switch hitters that are worst as righties). He's averaged giving up 4.5HR the past few years (both to righties and lefties equally) so righties aren't tagging him deep, they're hitting singles and doubles. Hader gave up 9HR last year as a comparison. He's also averaged 75 innings the past 2yrs (Hader just threw 81). He doesn't have to throw 2 innings but it's great that he has the ability to go more than 1. And with a 63% GB rate, which is crazy, that bodes well for us given our park and our defense. Plus he has a crazy low BB rate, which is what you want from a pen arm.

 

Claudio is a proven and durable lefty pen arm with 3yrs cheap control during our best window to compete for a WS in 35yrs whereas a draft pick is an unknown. And if the Rangers hit on the 40th pick it doesn't mean the Brewers would have drafted that same player either. Stearns just improved the pen from last year - a pen that was already super good. I personally really like this move.

[clancyphile]

I don't get the LOOGY talk thus far regardless of what his splits are. The past 3yrs he's thrown 203 innings over 175 appearances and each year throwing more innings than appearances as well. Additionally, someone mentioned that the Rangers were one of the least shifting teams and weren't good defensively whereas the Brewers are the opposite for the most part. Therefore, our defense could take away some singles/doubles that he's been giving up vs righties as he's always dominated lefties (every team in our division has a couple of their better/most productive hitters as lefties too - or switch hitters that are worst as righties). He's averaged giving up 4.5HR the past few years (both to righties and lefties equally) so righties aren't tagging him deep, they're hitting singles and doubles. Hader gave up 9HR last year as a comparison. He's also averaged 75 innings the past 2yrs (Hader just threw 81). He doesn't have to throw 2 innings but it's great that he has the ability to go more than 1. And with a 63% GB rate, which is crazy, that bodes well for us given our park and our defense. Plus he has a crazy low BB rate, which is what you want from a pen arm.

 

Claudio is a proven and durable lefty pen arm with 3yrs cheap control during our best window to compete for a WS in 35yrs whereas a draft pick is an unknown. And if the Rangers hit on the 40th pick it doesn't mean the Brewers would have drafted that same player either. Stearns just improved the pen from last year - a pen that was already super good. I personally really like this move.

 

Between shifts, the sense that the Brewers can replicate what they did with Miley, and his GB rate, I think he could be a poor man's Hader.

 

Losing the pick does smart - and I'd rather be the one stockpiling CB picks in a given year rather than dealing them away, even for what I think is a clear diamond in the rough.

 

I'd rather have dealt Nate Griep instead, if only to try and keep that pick.

[And That]

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/45771/transaction-analysis-tanner-for-tanner-kelly-to-la-and-claudio-moves-north/

 

BPro likes the trade for the Brewers, or at least Kate Morrison really likes Alex Claudio. If he’s good enough for Kate, he’s good enough for me.

[trwi7]

Bonus Internet Points to anyone that can find a Stearns move that trwi7 said something positive about.

 

I loved the Rogers for Broxton/Supak deal. I was one of the few defending the Lind trade. I thought I've been pretty clear about this. I felt we had a window where ownership and the fan base was willing to be bad for a couple years and we had the opportunity to stack our farm system and really set ourselves up for close to a decade. I feel we should've taken advantage of that window. Right now I see a team that's fairly close to hitting its payroll ceiling, it has two outfielders that are in their mid 30s and it doesn't have a good farm system to either get cheap talent from within or use to improve in trades.

 

It's mostly worked out fine but it's frustrating to me because it's not what I would've done with the opportunity that I felt ownership was willing to give.

[bill hAll Star]

Bonus Internet Points to anyone that can find a Stearns move that trwi7 said something positive about.

 

I loved the Rogers for Broxton/Supak deal. I was one of the few defending the Lind trade. I thought I've been pretty clear about this. I felt we had a window where ownership and the fan base was willing to be bad for a couple years and we had the opportunity to stack our farm system and really set ourselves up for close to a decade. I feel we should've taken advantage of that window. Right now I see a team that's fairly close to hitting its payroll ceiling, it has two outfielders that are in their mid 30s and it doesn't have a good farm system to either get cheap talent from within or use to improve in trades.

 

It's mostly worked out fine but it's frustrating to me because it's not what I would've done with the opportunity that I felt ownership was willing to give.

 

It's almost impossible for a small market to be "set for a decade."

 

If it works out like it did for the Astros (I can't even include the Cubs, their World Series involved buying pitchers) you're going to lose all of your guys in 5 years or pray that you can trade them for the next wave.

 

Cleveland is as close as it gets. And for every Cleveland there are 5 Cincinnati, San Diego, Minnesota, or Chicago White Sox (though they are a relatively large market and may be able to spend big to supplement Eloy, etc. now that they've cleared payroll) that basically just sat through 4-5 years of empty stadiums for not much return. San Diego has a nice farm system but I keep waiting for the actual impact guys to finally do something. I think the Phillies have bounced back nicely but I'm not even sure that they're going to make a long-term dent now that they're back to trying to operate like a large market. Guys like Moniak completely fizzled.

 

I know that your out will be that the Reds or Twins were poorly run over that timeframe, but it's not a lock to come back from tanking is the point.

 

I'd have tanked if given the opportunity Stearns had as you are suggesting. When it was pretty clear he knew what the heck he was doing, I got out of the way and got on the bandwagon.

[brewcrewdue80]

My god. Im only through 5pages. A RP for draft pick is 10pages of discussion!

 

I'll take the now over the future of near 40pick. Because of situations. Because of team/cost control. There are times to lament against a move like this. But this isn't one of them. How is the draft shaping up? Are there 20studs with 20WAR expectations on them in this draft? And thats where we may luck in to one dropping to us? 1game for the WS, arguing about this pick vs a player who has a fit into this roster? Just why? Not like the 17th pick for 3yrs of a Kyle Lohse at a hefty expense. Hope for the best from Claudio. Seems we have a roster spot designation covered for 3years.

[clancyphile]

It's almost impossible for a small market to be "set for a decade."

 

If it works out like it did for the Astros (I can't even include the Cubs, their World Series involved buying pitchers) you're going to lose all of your guys in 5 years or pray that you can trade them for the next wave.

 

Cleveland is as close as it gets. And for every Cleveland there are 5 Cincinnati, San Diego, Minnesota, or Chicago White Sox (though they are a relatively large market and may be able to spend big to supplement Eloy, etc. now that they've cleared payroll) that basically just sat through 4-5 years of empty stadiums for not much return. San Diego has a nice farm system but I keep waiting for the actual impact guys to finally do something. I think the Phillies have bounced back nicely but I'm not even sure that they're going to make a long-term dent now that they're back to trying to operate like a large market. Guys like Moniak completely fizzled.

 

I know that your out will be that the Reds or Twins were poorly run over that timeframe, but it's not a lock to come back from tanking is the point.

 

I'd have tanked if given the opportunity Stearns had as you are suggesting. When it was pretty clear he knew what the heck he was doing, I got out of the way and got on the bandwagon.

 

The Cleveland model is something to emulate, and Stearns was a big part of the successful Houston turnaround. They went from losing 100+ games in 3 of four seasons from 2011-2014 to making the playoffs three out of four seasons from 2015-2018.

 

Plus, the Brewers have had reasonable success since 2005. There was only one 90-loss season from 2005 to 2018, and that was 2015. There was an 87-loss season in 2006, 2010 was 77-85, and 2016 had a 73-89 record - none good seasons, but not horrible ones.

 

Then, 2017 happened, and 2018. There was an 88-loss season in 2013, but the Crew rebounded in 2014 to a 82-80 record.

 

Over the last 14 years, the Brewers have averaged 81.7 wins. These have not been the 1993-2002 doldrums. There have been decent teams most years. The question is how to sustain the success.

 

IMO, the key to that is to get more international bonus money, and stock up on the CB picks. Deal Thames to the Rays to get their CB-A pick. Deal Anderson for San Diego's CB-B pick, SS Owen Miller and Eduardo . We'll send Houser, Taylor, and Nottingham, Arizona, but cough up those two CB-B picks, and $3 million in international bonus money. Cody Ponce is Rule V eligible - hey Baltimore, take him, we'll take the CB-B pick and $500K in international money.

 

Pull that off, and get picks 28, 36, 66, 72, 74, 75, and 78 in the draft, get an extra $3.5 million in international bonus money, and now I think the Crew has a good chance. No, there may not be a Braun or a Hirua, but I see seven chances to get the next Corbin Burnes, Troy Stokes, Jake Gatewood, Monte Harrison, Mitch Haniger, Zach Brown, Aaron Ashby, or Tristan Lutz.

[LouisEly]

I don't get the LOOGY talk thus far regardless of what his splits are. The past 3yrs he's thrown 203 innings over 175 appearances and each year throwing more innings than appearances as well. Additionally, someone mentioned that the Rangers were one of the least shifting teams and weren't good defensively whereas the Brewers are the opposite for the most part. Therefore, our defense could take away some singles/doubles that he's been giving up vs righties as he's always dominated lefties (every team in our division has a couple of their better/most productive hitters as lefties too - or switch hitters that are worst as righties). He's averaged giving up 4.5HR the past few years (both to righties and lefties equally) so righties aren't tagging him deep, they're hitting singles and doubles. Hader gave up 9HR last year as a comparison. He's also averaged 75 innings the past 2yrs (Hader just threw 81). He doesn't have to throw 2 innings but it's great that he has the ability to go more than 1. And with a 63% GB rate, which is crazy, that bodes well for us given our park and our defense. Plus he has a crazy low BB rate, which is what you want from a pen arm.

 

Claudio is a proven and durable lefty pen arm with 3yrs cheap control during our best window to compete for a WS in 35yrs whereas a draft pick is an unknown. And if the Rangers hit on the 40th pick it doesn't mean the Brewers would have drafted that same player either. Stearns just improved the pen from last year - a pen that was already super good. I personally really like this move.

Great post. I think a couple of things are clouding people's objective judgment:

1) They don't realize he is under control for three years, since almost all recent LHRP that were acquired were for one year (or got cut after one year). They've been conditioned to think that LHRPs will only be around for a year.

B) The recent underperformance of LHRPs - Logan, Jennings, Cedeno, etc. People have been conditioned to think that LHRPs are going to put up mediocre numbers at best because that's what has happened recently.

 

This isn't about acquiring a LHRP for a fairly high draft pick. It's about addressing an area that has a lack of depth with a solution that fits their competitive window (next 3-4 years).

[MadScientist]

The Brewers were one pitch or one hit away from being in the World Series. The core of that team is under control for several more years, and not much was lost. This is the best the Brewers have been for 25+ years. The only thing it makes sense to do is to try and improve the team. If they have extra depth that they can't easily keep, go ahead and trade them for picks or lottery ticket players or whatever, but the focus has to be on making the big league team the best it possibly can be. This trade helps do that and doesn't even weaken the farm system for this year, which is great.

[JDBrewCrew]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-alex-claudio-trade-tells-us-a-lot/

[And That]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-alex-claudio-trade-tells-us-a-lot/

TL;DR:

Good, even trade for Milwaukee. The Brewers’ predilection for weird deliveries continues on.

[jerichoholicninja]

Claudio's kind of meh and the draft pick is more likely to never make it past AA then even see one day in the majors. Push, I guess.

[True Blue Brew Crew]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-alex-claudio-trade-tells-us-a-lot/

 

Thanks for posting, I was coming here to share this. They touch upon how the Brewers are valuing and flat out targeting pitchers who give different looks. They want to make batters face pitches coming from different planes, angles, sides, etc as often as possible. Limiting repeat looks in every way possible. Not only limiting batters to 1-2 consecutive ABs vs one pitcher at most, but also have said pitcher followed to the mound by someone with a dramatically different look.

 

Kiley and I posited in the Brewers prospect list’s System Overview (it’s at the bottom) that Milwaukee seems drawn to pitching curiosities. This is, of course, our subjective opinion, but the list of Brewers draftees and minor leaguers who have weird deliveries or unique release points has grown to the point where it seems to be an organizational focus or, at least, an organizational experiment.

 

And then there's this...

 

The proliferation of Trackman at the minor league and college levels enables teams to measure things like release point, and identify players who are bizarre or unique in this regard. Extension probably factors into this, as well, and I think adding that could enable us or teams to plot release points in three dimensions, and learn even more about what helps stuff play beyond just velocity and movement.

 

Sound like anyone we have under control for years to come whose initials are FP who is not going anywhere anytime soon? The Brewers exploring this angle (no pun intended) is just so damn exciting.

[jerichoholicninja]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-alex-claudio-trade-tells-us-a-lot/

 

Thanks for posting, I was coming here to share this. They touch upon how the Brewers are valuing and flat out targeting pitchers who give different looks. They want to make batters face pitches coming from different planes, angles, sides, etc as often as possible. Limiting repeat looks in every way possible. Not just give batter 1-2 consecutive ABs vs one pitcher at most but have him followed to the mound by someone with a dramatically different look.

 

Kiley and I posited in the Brewers prospect list’s System Overview (it’s at the bottom) that Milwaukee seems drawn to pitching curiosities. This is, of course, our subjective opinion, but the list of Brewers draftees and minor leaguers who have weird deliveries or unique release points has grown to the point where it seems to be an organizational focus or, at least, an organizational experiment.

 

And then there's this...

 

The proliferation of Trackman at the minor league and college levels enables teams to measure things like release point, and identify players who are bizarre or unique in this regard. Extension probably factors into this, as well, and I think adding that could enable us or teams to plot release points in three dimensions, and learn even more about what helps stuff play beyond just velocity and movement.

 

Sound like anyone we have under control for years to come whose initials are FP who is not going anywhere anytime soon?

 

I can throw a ball from any angle and can generally put it close to the strikezone. I should send Stearns some tape. The Brewers will be at the forefront of signing pitchers over 30 who 10 years ago couldn't cut in D3 ball.