Keston Hiura called up, Shaw optioned

[willjski23]

Glad we got a glimpse of what he's capable of doing in the majora. Hopefully Shaw comes back strong!

[RobDeer 45]

Glad we got a glimpse of what he's capable of doing in the majora. Hopefully Shaw comes back strong!

 

 

That is one epic autocorrect!

[trwi7]

Glad we got a glimpse of what he's capable of doing in the majora. Hopefully Shaw comes back strong!

 

 

That is one epic autocorrect!

 

We'll have a bunch of little Hiuras running around if he has a long career in the majora.

[baybeachbum1]

I haven't read all 23 pages. This is just my opinion (and has probably been stated already . . . and better than I am about to, but I can't help stating my opinion as a 47 year Brewer fan). I understand the Big Picture. Shaw needs to play and produce in the majors like he has before, so he regains his value (hopefully) before the trade deadline, or at least by seasons end. I get it. That doesn't mean I have to like the move. So, in the end I will just say: "Go Travis and Go Keston!" Make this a good move!

[DuWayne Steurer]

Hiura is a bad defender, but sending him down to AAA for 2 or 3 weeks isn't going to suddenly turn him into a mediocre or decent defender. It's just not. If Stearns wants to say "it's to work on his defense", then whatever, but pretending it's about anything other than service time manipulation is silly.

 

That's fine and whatever, but if Shaw comes back up and hits to a .650 OPS again and the Brewers struggle to score runs, this kind of move will look really tough to justify in hindsight.

[JohnBriggs12]

How will this sit with Hiura and his agent down the road? Things like this tend to be remembered by players as a sign of disrespect.

[Brew crew 92]

How will this sit with Hiura and his agent down the road? Things like this tend to be remembered by players as a sign of disrespect.

 

Stearns is smart enough to make sure that never an issue, I’m sure he was told it was temporary, that he was ONLY up because Shaw was down, and to use this as a positive learning experience.

 

On a side note,

I was wrong in blaming CC, and it being his fault Hiura had to be sent down because of his aversion to a 12 man. Even if they had a 12 man staff, he’d be down to get regular ABs and not play PT with the crew. They weren’t going to play Shaw at first and sit both Thames and Aguilar, right?

[JohnBriggs12]

It's understandable that the Brewers fell in love with Shaw and Aguilar as they were huge parts of a division championship but history tells us that guys flame out at the highest level of baseball. Chris Davis had 53 HR and 138 RBI and a 1.004 OPS in 2013. Now look at him.

 

Hiura is a once in a decade type offensive talent who the Brewers invested a high pick in. Aguilar was a waiver pick up. Shaw was had for a solid but expendable reliever. Hiura hits pitching from either side. Shaw's nearly useless vs. LHP. Aguilar's a RH platoon hitter at best now.

[willjski23]

Hahaha! Stupid auto correct...

[djoctagone]

Question: how many options do you get and when does the clock on those start? So Shaw has "an option" left correct? Or is it two? Did Hiura use an option after this latest move? So how many does he have? I usually only start caring about options when a guy is a few years into his career.

You get 3 option years and they usually start after your 3rd year in the organization. Occasionally some players will get a 4th option year. Anytime a player is optioned to the minors they use one of their 3 options. Keep in mind once a player is optioned during a year they can bounce back and forth without using an additional options.

 

Hiura should have 2 options left, the same as Shaw, as he was on a rehab assignment and wasn't optioned.

to clarify, a player doesn't qualify for optional assignment until he's added to the 40-man roster. most players put in at least a few years of minor league service before a club chooses to add them to their 40-man roster.

 

a player does not burn his option if he spends fewer than 20 days optioned to the minor leagues in a season. thus, when jimmy nelson is activated for tomorrow's game, it is possible that it may be for good and he'll finish out his season on the 25-man roster (or major league injured list). if that happens, nelson will not burn his option this year, despite having been optioned in 2019.

[Eye Black]

It's understandable that the Brewers fell in love with Shaw and Aguilar as they were huge parts of a division championship but history tells us that guys flame out at the highest level of baseball. Chris Davis had 53 HR and 138 RBI and a 1.004 OPS in 2013. Now look at him.

Speaking of Chris Davis, it is hard to believe he is having a better offensive season than Travis Shaw in 2019, and that’s including the 0-for-infinity streak he started the season on.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Some of these posts read like an obituary on Hiura's 2019 season. You guys know that there's a possibility that he can be up again next Thursday, right? Could be even quicker if there's an injury somewhere. We definitely have not seen the last of Hiura on this team this year.

[wntrtxn21]

How will this sit with Hiura and his agent down the road? Things like this tend to be remembered by players as a sign of disrespect.

 

Stearns is smart enough to make sure that never an issue, I’m sure he was told it was temporary, that he was ONLY up because Shaw was down, and to use this as a positive learning experience.

 

On a side note,

I was wrong in blaming CC, and it being his fault Hiura had to be sent down because of his aversion to a 12 man. Even if they had a 12 man staff, he’d be down to get regular ABs and not play PT with the crew. They weren’t going to play Shaw at first and sit both Thames and Aguilar, right?

 

Stearns now has problems. How does he spin this to the fans if Shaw can't get it together? If it's really all about winning, was this a good move? There will be tremendous pressure on Shaw to produce right away with this move. He can't continue to be a non-factor. What does Stearns do with Shaw and Aguilar if both continue to struggle? Hiura was producing at the plate and neither Shaw nor Aguilar was contibuting much of anything. Of course all this goes away if Shaw can somehow find his stroke and be what he was last year. Only time will tell.

[pacopete4]

Some of these posts read like an obituary on Hiura's 2019 season. You guys know that there's a possibility that he can be up again next Thursday, right? Could be even quicker if there's an injury somewhere. We definitely have not seen the last of Hiura on this team this year.

 

Good post. I agree. The part I bolded was something I thought about yesterday. It will be interesting to see if Moose in the lineup tonight.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

How will this sit with Hiura and his agent down the road? Things like this tend to be remembered by players as a sign of disrespect.

 

I know that you are probably trying to play devil's advocate here, but I don't think it's going to matter one iota. I'm sure Hiura was told when he came up that he was an injury replacement, and as soon as Shaw was deemed healthy he would be going back down. Hiura and his agent know that Keston is young, relatively inexperienced and could benefit from more time in the minors. The kid is 22. He'll get his opportunity soon. Right now he's one hell of a weapon that the team has at their disposal if the offense goes into another funk.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The more I mull it over the more it just makes sense. You are sitting in first place in a division that will be competitive probably all year, you don't need to make moves like this out of desperation. Let the veteran get his ABs and send Hiura somewhere he gets to play all the time.

[Outlander]

I'm not going to flip out about Hiura being demoted but they lose the game Saturday without him and maybe he would have won another game during the time he is demoted. With last year and having a game 163 I probably have more of an attitude that every games counts vs. he will be back later in the season to contribute attitude that I may have had in the past.

 

Do agree with the now deleted post that Shaw has been a 4 WAR player and should be given some leash but having faith in Shaw and wanting Hiura as part of the team doesn't have to be mutually exclusive. If Moose does need a couple of more days will certainly disagree with the move.

[pacopete4]

How will this sit with Hiura and his agent down the road? Things like this tend to be remembered by players as a sign of disrespect.

 

I know that you are probably trying to play devil's advocate here, but I don't think it's going to matter one iota. I'm sure Hiura was told when he came up that he was an injury replacement, and as soon as Shaw was deemed healthy he would be going back down. Hiura and his agent know that Keston is young, relatively inexperienced and could benefit from more time in the minors. The kid is 22. He'll get his opportunity soon. Right now he's one hell of a weapon that the team has at their disposal if the offense goes into another funk.

 

Not only this but Stearns has a pretty solid track record of treating players right. Highly doubtful that he's just sitting around thinking of ways he can screw over players right now.

[tmwiese55]

How will this sit with Hiura and his agent down the road? Things like this tend to be remembered by players as a sign of disrespect.

 

I don't see an issue. If anything he was called up earlier that most teams would've. Most would've waited until after that date. He's spent what 6 weeks in AAA and was brought up? That's very quick. In lots of teams he'd be on ice until mid April next year and MKE is clearly not doing that so he should be more than happy with how he's been treated.

[BruisedCrew]

My bet is that either Shaw or Aguilar won’t be around too long and that Hiura will be back soon enough. Shaw is going to get a chance to snap out of his slump and if he doesn’t he will be back in San Antonio. If Aguilar continues to slump the Brewers may have no choice but to try to peddle him to a team (probably in the AL) that can use a right handed power hitter and will take a flyer on him, or DFA him. A guy who can only play one position (and not very well) and is not hitting is a luxury the Brewers can’t afford.

[MrTPlush]

but pretending it's about anything other than service time manipulation is silly.

 

Silly to assume like it is 100% due to service time. Why did he even come up in the first place if service time was that big of an issue? Why go through all of this and tick off Hiura/the fanbase for a short stint just to dump him back down regardless of stats? I don't buy that argument and don't think a competing team is worried about massive hypotheticals over 4 years from now. That is like making decision due to a top prospect in A+ ball and assuming he will be a force in three years.

 

All signs point to it being about giving Shaw a chance to rebound, thus not making Hiura a part time guy...and also preserving the depth/versatility with the roster. They could have sent a pitcher away, but why do that? So Hiura plays once or twice a week?

 

Stearns never said it was about defense, that is just the excuse people say he could use for the reason. Hiura will be back after Shaw either doesn't hit or hits well enough to push someone off the roster. Unfortunately Thames is the one hitting right now because logistically he makes the most sense to boot off the roster for the lefty Shaw. Sadly for us the RHB Aguilar is stinking up the joint.

 

I also don't think Stearns is a dramatic person and realizes two weeks of Hiura gone is unlikely to be the difference in 5, 3, or even 2 wins. There will be at least a dozen non-moves or moves that will be way costlier than this and people are taking it way too seriously. Sticking with Aguilar or some bullpen arm blowing up constantly is probably five times more costly in the win column. Waiting till the end of July to make trades costs teams wins every single year. Claudio pitching against righties....way more costly.

 

This move is like any other move. There is risk, but a lot of reward too if Shaw starts hitting again.

[MrTPlush]

My bet is that either Shaw or Aguilar won’t be around too long and that Hiura will be back soon enough. Shaw is going to get a chance to snap out of his slump and if he doesn’t he will be back in San Antonio. If Aguilar continues to slump the Brewers may have no choice but to try to peddle him to a team (probably in the AL) that can use a right handed power hitter and will take a flyer on him, or DFA him. A guy who can only play one position (and not very well) and is not hitting is a luxury the Brewers can’t afford.

 

I have questioned them actually dropping him in favor of Shaw on the roster (because it makes us forced to start a LHB at 1B or 3B all the time)...however looking at stats Moustakas has sported a ~.740 OPS against lefties the last few years. They could definitely stick Moustakas at 3B and Perez at 1B, or the other way around. This is not the greatest situation, but it wouldn't force us a total hack with the bat when we face lefties. Then at the deadline they could be a tad more bold and trade Thames in favor of finding a more sensible platoon partner at 1B.

[KeithStone53151]

How will this sit with Hiura and his agent down the road? Things like this tend to be remembered by players as a sign of disrespect.

 

That's a great point. I guarantee Kris Bryant and Boras remember how he was held back before being called up. They've tried locking him up long term and he's resisted. I would be very surprised if he stays in Chicago, barring an overpay. I feel like Bryant is going to end up on the Dodgers in 2-3 years when his team control is up.

[KeithStone53151]

My bet is that either Shaw or Aguilar won’t be around too long and that Hiura will be back soon enough. Shaw is going to get a chance to snap out of his slump and if he doesn’t he will be back in San Antonio. If Aguilar continues to slump the Brewers may have no choice but to try to peddle him to a team (probably in the AL) that can use a right handed power hitter and will take a flyer on him, or DFA him. A guy who can only play one position (and not very well) and is not hitting is a luxury the Brewers can’t afford.

 

I have questioned them actually dropping him in favor of Shaw on the roster (because it makes us forced to start a LHB at 1B or 3B all the time)...however looking at stats Moustakas has sported a ~.740 OPS against lefties the last few years. They could definitely stick Moustakas at 3B and Perez at 1B, or the other way around. This is not the greatest situation, but it wouldn't force us a total hack with the bat when we face lefties. Then at the deadline they could be a tad more bold and trade Thames in favor of finding a more sensible platoon partner at 1B.

 

Moose has definitely been serviceable/solid against lefties the last few years. He should be playing most days including against LH starters. I like having 1-2 lefties in against LH starter to give them a different look at the plate, especially LH starters who's primary out pitch is a changeup. If we did need to cut a veteran, Aguilar could be cut and Perez sees an uptick in playing time. That isn't necessarily the best move, but logistically it would work fine.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

How will this sit with Hiura and his agent down the road? Things like this tend to be remembered by players as a sign of disrespect.

 

That's a great point. I guarantee Kris Bryant and Boras remember how he was held back before being called up. They've tried locking him up long term and he's resisted. I would be very surprised if he stays in Chicago, barring an overpay. I feel like Bryant is going to end up on the Dodgers in 2-3 years when his team control is up.

 

Totally different situation. Hiura was an injury replace, and I'm sure he was told he'd be a temporary injury replacement. If the Brewers truly wanted to manipulate Hiura's service clock, they would have just brought up Saladino or Spangenberg to begin with, rather than calling up a guy with all of 6 weeks of AAA experience.

 

I totally get being bummed about Hiura going down, but I don't think trying to manufacture drama is the answer to justifying the move as a mistake.