What is your 2019-2020 offseason plan for the Brewers?

[clancyphile]

I'll put my cards on the table for an offseason plan in the wake of a 2019 season that was heartbreaking, yet inspiring.

 

The Brewers need to retool, and in some cases, try to reload the farm system where they can. They also need to think outside the box, if possible.

 

From 60-Day DL to 40-man:

Corey Knebel

Bobby Wahl

42 on 40-man (2 over)

 

Re-signed:

Yasmani Grandal (4 years, $70 million)

Drew Pomeranz (3 years, $12 million)

Jordan Lyles (3 years, $15 million)

Gio Gonzalez (2 years, $9 million)

Mike Moustakas (2 years, $20 million)

EXTEND Yelich - (6 years, $150 million, with $30 million deferred paid at $3 million/year for ten years after contract.

EXTEND Thames - (2 years, $20 million)

42 on 40-man (2 over)

 

Grandal is to catch for the first three years, be primary 1B the next three. It effectively blocks Nottingham, and the Crew will need to do something on that front.

 

Allowed to Walk/DFA/Non-Tendered:

Matt Albers

Tyler Saladino

David Freitas

Tyler Austin

Taylor Williams

Jake Faria

Jimmy Nelson (minor-league deal with NRI)

35 on 40-man (5 under)

 

Trades:

OF Ben Gamel to TEX for C David Garcia, LHP Joshua Javier

LHP Alex Claudio to PHI for RHP Jonas De La Cruz

C Jacob Nottingham to TOR for IF Tanner Morris, OF Jhon Solarte

3B Travis Shaw to BAL for LHP Cesar Angomas, RHP Carlos Del Rosario, 1B Josue Cruz

SS Orlando Arcia to ARI for LHP Rigoberto Borbolla, C/1B Ramses Malave

31 on 40-man (9 under)

 

- The goal for these trades is to get lottery tickets. All are Rookie League or short-season A. But the goal is to reload to avoid a rebuild, or to make it as painless as the one we had under Stearns in 2015-2016 (essentially the first two years of the Craig Counsell/David Stearns era).

 

Added to 40-man for Rule V:

OF Corey Ray

LHP Quintin Torres-Costa

RHP Zack Brown

LHP Cam Roegner

UT Weston Wilson

UT Cooper Hummel

RHP Jon Olczak

37 on 40-man (3 under)

 

Free agent signings:

LHP Madison Bumgarner - 2 years, $25 million + team option for 2021 at $15 million with $5 million buyout.

SS Eigoro Mogi - Japan Pacific League - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mogi--000eig - 4 years, $22 million + team options for 2024 ($6 million) and 2025 ($7.5 million)

IF Ha-Seong Kim (KBO) - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kim---001ha- - 6 years, $27 million + team option for 2026 ($6 million)

40 on 40-man roster

 

NRI to spring training/minor-league FA signings:

RHP Jimmy Nelson

RHP Jeremy Jeffress

LHP Angel Perdomo

UT Nate Orf

C Payton Henry

C Mario Feliciano

 

Lineup:

ss: Mogi/Kim

2b: Hiura/Kim

rf: Yelich

c: Grandal

3b: Moustakas/Kim

lf: Braun

1b: Thames

cf: Cain

pitcher

bench: Pina, Perez, Hummel, Grisham (20 starts in CF, 40 in LF), Kim (20 starts at 3B, 25 at SS, 20 at 2B)

rotation: Woodruff, Bumgarner, Davies, Houser, Lyles

bullpen: Hader, Knebel, Suter, Pomeranz, Peralta, Guerra, Gio, Anderson

 

AAA pitching shuttle: Burnes, D. Williams, Jackson, QTC, Olczak, Supak, Brown

 

Bumgarner is perhaps the best chance to make a short-term "go for it" option in the rotation for 2020-2021. I will admit to being undecided - Gio could be in the rotation with Houser in the bullpen. Anderson could be in the rotation as a possibility for an early-season/mid-season trade.

 

I go with Eigoro Mogi from NPB as the primary shortstop as (worst case) a bridge to Turang, with Ha-Seong Kim as kind of a backup option there, who also could play third and second to rest Moustakas and Hiura. In addition, both are players who could form complements to Yelich (if extended) or who could, if they do well in MLB, be dealt to assist in a re-tool/rebuild if that is necessary. Both have good OBP skills, both hit for average, and some power.

 

---

 

What are your offseason plans for the Brewers?

[wntrtxn21]

I'll put my cards on the table for an offseason plan in the wake of a 2019 season that was heartbreaking, yet inspiring.

 

The Brewers need to retool, and in some cases, try to reload the farm system where they can. They also need to think outside the box, if possible.

 

From 60-Day DL to 40-man:

Corey Knebel

Bobby Wahl

42 on 40-man (2 over)

 

Re-signed:

Yasmani Grandal (4 years, $70 million)

Drew Pomeranz (3 years, $12 million)

Jordan Lyles (3 years, $15 million)

Gio Gonzalez (2 years, $9 million)

Mike Moustakas (2 years, $20 million)

EXTEND Yelich - (6 years, $150 million, with $30 million deferred paid at $3 million/year for ten years after contract.

EXTEND Thames - (2 years, $20 million)

42 on 40-man (2 over)

 

Grandal is to catch for the first three years, be primary 1B the next three. It effectively blocks Nottingham, and the Crew will need to do something on that front.

 

Allowed to Walk/DFA/Non-Tendered:

Matt Albers

Tyler Saladino

David Freitas

Tyler Austin

Taylor Williams

Jake Faria

Jimmy Nelson (minor-league deal with NRI)

35 on 40-man (5 under)

 

Trades:

OF Ben Gamel to TEX for C David Garcia, LHP Joshua Javier

LHP Alex Claudio to PHI for RHP Jonas De La Cruz

C Jacob Nottingham to TOR for IF Tanner Morris, OF Jhon Solarte

3B Travis Shaw to BAL for LHP Cesar Angomas, RHP Carlos Del Rosario, 1B Josue Cruz

SS Orlando Arcia to ARI for LHP Rigoberto Borbolla, C/1B Ramses Malave

31 on 40-man (9 under)

 

- The goal for these trades is to get lottery tickets. All are Rookie League or short-season A. But the goal is to reload to avoid a rebuild, or to make it as painless as the one we had under Stearns in 2015-2016 (essentially the first two years of the Craig Counsell/David Stearns era).

 

Added to 40-man for Rule V:

OF Corey Ray

LHP Quintin Torres-Costa

RHP Zack Brown

LHP Cam Roegner

UT Weston Wilson

UT Cooper Hummel

RHP Jon Olczak

37 on 40-man (3 under)

 

Free agent signings:

LHP Madison Bumgarner - 2 years, $25 million + team option for 2021 at $15 million with $5 million buyout.

SS Eigoro Mogi - Japan Pacific League - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mogi--000eig - 4 years, $22 million + team options for 2024 ($6 million) and 2025 ($7.5 million)

IF Ha-Seong Kim (KBO) - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kim---001ha- - 6 years, $27 million + team option for 2026 ($6 million)

40 on 40-man roster

 

NRI to spring training/minor-league FA signings:

RHP Jimmy Nelson

RHP Jeremy Jeffress

LHP Angel Perdomo

UT Nate Orf

C Payton Henry

C Mario Feliciano

 

Lineup:

ss: Mogi/Kim

2b: Hiura/Kim

rf: Yelich

c: Grandal

3b: Moustakas/Kim

lf: Braun

1b: Thames

cf: Cain

pitcher

bench: Pina, Perez, Hummel, Grisham (20 starts in CF, 40 in LF), Kim (20 starts at 3B, 25 at SS, 20 at 2B)

rotation: Woodruff, Bumgarner, Davies, Houser, Lyles

bullpen: Hader, Knebel, Suter, Pomeranz, Peralta, Guerra, Gio, Anderson

 

AAA pitching shuttle: Burnes, D. Williams, Jackson, QTC, Olczak, Supak, Brown

 

Bumgarner is perhaps the best chance to make a short-term "go for it" option in the rotation for 2020-2021. I will admit to being undecided - Gio could be in the rotation with Houser in the bullpen. Anderson could be in the rotation as a possibility for an early-season/mid-season trade.

 

I go with Eigoro Mogi from NPB as the primary shortstop as (worst case) a bridge to Turang, with Ha-Seong Kim as kind of a backup option there, who also could play third and second to rest Moustakas and Hiura. In addition, both are players who could form complements to Yelich (if extended) or who could, if they do well in MLB, be dealt to assist in a re-tool/rebuild if that is necessary. Both have good OBP skills, both hit for average, and some power.

 

---

 

What are your offseason plans for the Brewers?

 

What are you figuring for the team's salary? About $155M?

[clancyphile]

I'll put my cards on the table for an offseason plan in the wake of a 2019 season that was heartbreaking, yet inspiring.

 

The Brewers need to retool, and in some cases, try to reload the farm system where they can. They also need to think outside the box, if possible.

 

From 60-Day DL to 40-man:

Corey Knebel

Bobby Wahl

42 on 40-man (2 over)

 

Re-signed:

Yasmani Grandal (4 years, $70 million)

Drew Pomeranz (3 years, $12 million)

Jordan Lyles (3 years, $15 million)

Gio Gonzalez (2 years, $9 million)

Mike Moustakas (2 years, $20 million)

EXTEND Yelich - (6 years, $150 million, with $30 million deferred paid at $3 million/year for ten years after contract.

EXTEND Thames - (2 years, $20 million)

42 on 40-man (2 over)

 

Grandal is to catch for the first three years, be primary 1B the next three. It effectively blocks Nottingham, and the Crew will need to do something on that front.

 

Allowed to Walk/DFA/Non-Tendered:

Matt Albers

Tyler Saladino

David Freitas

Tyler Austin

Taylor Williams

Jake Faria

Jimmy Nelson (minor-league deal with NRI)

35 on 40-man (5 under)

 

Trades:

OF Ben Gamel to TEX for C David Garcia, LHP Joshua Javier

LHP Alex Claudio to PHI for RHP Jonas De La Cruz

C Jacob Nottingham to TOR for IF Tanner Morris, OF Jhon Solarte

3B Travis Shaw to BAL for LHP Cesar Angomas, RHP Carlos Del Rosario, 1B Josue Cruz

SS Orlando Arcia to ARI for LHP Rigoberto Borbolla, C/1B Ramses Malave

31 on 40-man (9 under)

 

- The goal for these trades is to get lottery tickets. All are Rookie League or short-season A. But the goal is to reload to avoid a rebuild, or to make it as painless as the one we had under Stearns in 2015-2016 (essentially the first two years of the Craig Counsell/David Stearns era).

 

Added to 40-man for Rule V:

OF Corey Ray

LHP Quintin Torres-Costa

RHP Zack Brown

LHP Cam Roegner

UT Weston Wilson

UT Cooper Hummel

RHP Jon Olczak

37 on 40-man (3 under)

 

Free agent signings:

LHP Madison Bumgarner - 2 years, $25 million + team option for 2021 at $15 million with $5 million buyout.

SS Eigoro Mogi - Japan Pacific League - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mogi--000eig - 4 years, $22 million + team options for 2024 ($6 million) and 2025 ($7.5 million)

IF Ha-Seong Kim (KBO) - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kim---001ha- - 6 years, $27 million + team option for 2026 ($6 million)

40 on 40-man roster

 

NRI to spring training/minor-league FA signings:

RHP Jimmy Nelson

RHP Jeremy Jeffress

LHP Angel Perdomo

UT Nate Orf

C Payton Henry

C Mario Feliciano

 

Lineup:

ss: Mogi/Kim

2b: Hiura/Kim

rf: Yelich

c: Grandal

3b: Moustakas/Kim

lf: Braun

1b: Thames

cf: Cain

pitcher

bench: Pina, Perez, Hummel, Grisham (20 starts in CF, 40 in LF), Kim (20 starts at 3B, 25 at SS, 20 at 2B)

rotation: Woodruff, Bumgarner, Davies, Houser, Lyles

bullpen: Hader, Knebel, Suter, Pomeranz, Peralta, Guerra, Gio, Anderson

 

AAA pitching shuttle: Burnes, D. Williams, Jackson, QTC, Olczak, Supak, Brown

 

Bumgarner is perhaps the best chance to make a short-term "go for it" option in the rotation for 2020-2021. I will admit to being undecided - Gio could be in the rotation with Houser in the bullpen. Anderson could be in the rotation as a possibility for an early-season/mid-season trade.

 

I go with Eigoro Mogi from NPB as the primary shortstop as (worst case) a bridge to Turang, with Ha-Seong Kim as kind of a backup option there, who also could play third and second to rest Moustakas and Hiura. In addition, both are players who could form complements to Yelich (if extended) or who could, if they do well in MLB, be dealt to assist in a re-tool/rebuild if that is necessary. Both have good OBP skills, both hit for average, and some power.

 

---

 

What are your offseason plans for the Brewers?

 

What are you figuring for the team's salary? About $155M?

 

Probably closer to $140-$145 million. Some of the FA deals go up, but at the same time, deals like Shaw, Albers, and Nelson come off the books. That roughly covers the Bumgarner deal. The re-signings are about 1-2 million over option years or 2019 salaries each. The big jump are the Mogi and Kim deals - but if you look over their BR pages, they're well worth the money.

[AKCheesehead]

In my opinion:

 

You’re low on Big Pom and Moose, too long on Lyles, we cannot afford the Grandal proposal. I want Moose back though.

 

QTC I doubt 40 man. Doubt Hummel too. Your guy Cam no way.

 

That Mogi find is intriguing. I haven’t seen him so I cannot say more than that. I like the thought though.

 

I’d love for those types of deals to happen with. Big Sweat and JJ and to watch them make the team, rise back to glory.

 

Anderson bullpen? He’s not worth that money in that role.

 

I don’t know about Madison. I think he’s worth the money on paper but I plain don’t like him.

 

The trades I’m not even touching, someone else probably will.

 

I always admire your creativity and all, and you’ve got some good ideas in there.

 

Just my .02$

[Ulice Payne]

So I don't know anything specific about the players that you are targeting from Korea and Japan, but I really like that avenue of thinking. Reminds me of when every small market superstar would end up with the Yankees, Dodgers, et al, and the Milwaukees of the world seemed like AAAA teams for the large markets. A creative way to find talent that fits in the Brewers payroll, possibly with less competition to get those players.

 

I would not spend the big money on Grandal. The Brewers could bring him back if he ends up amenable to another one year deal, but I sincerely doubt that will turn out to be the case. Brewers should be grateful for his fine 2019 performance, and let another team pay him in his declining post age 30 seasons.

[TURBO]

So, if offering Grandal 20 million for another one year contract would get him to re-up with us, would you do it?

 

I would, in a heartbeat! I highly doubt he will want to take that route at his age, but hey, it's 20 million guaranteed, would it at least tempt him?

[wntrtxn21]

I'll put my cards on the table for an offseason plan in the wake of a 2019 season that was heartbreaking, yet inspiring.

 

The Brewers need to retool, and in some cases, try to reload the farm system where they can. They also need to think outside the box, if possible.

 

From 60-Day DL to 40-man:

Corey Knebel

Bobby Wahl

42 on 40-man (2 over)

 

Re-signed:

Yasmani Grandal (4 years, $70 million)

Drew Pomeranz (3 years, $12 million)

Jordan Lyles (3 years, $15 million)

Gio Gonzalez (2 years, $9 million)

Mike Moustakas (2 years, $20 million)

EXTEND Yelich - (6 years, $150 million, with $30 million deferred paid at $3 million/year for ten years after contract.

EXTEND Thames - (2 years, $20 million)

42 on 40-man (2 over)

 

Grandal is to catch for the first three years, be primary 1B the next three. It effectively blocks Nottingham, and the Crew will need to do something on that front.

 

Allowed to Walk/DFA/Non-Tendered:

Matt Albers

Tyler Saladino

David Freitas

Tyler Austin

Taylor Williams

Jake Faria

Jimmy Nelson (minor-league deal with NRI)

35 on 40-man (5 under)

 

Trades:

OF Ben Gamel to TEX for C David Garcia, LHP Joshua Javier

LHP Alex Claudio to PHI for RHP Jonas De La Cruz

C Jacob Nottingham to TOR for IF Tanner Morris, OF Jhon Solarte

3B Travis Shaw to BAL for LHP Cesar Angomas, RHP Carlos Del Rosario, 1B Josue Cruz

SS Orlando Arcia to ARI for LHP Rigoberto Borbolla, C/1B Ramses Malave

31 on 40-man (9 under)

 

- The goal for these trades is to get lottery tickets. All are Rookie League or short-season A. But the goal is to reload to avoid a rebuild, or to make it as painless as the one we had under Stearns in 2015-2016 (essentially the first two years of the Craig Counsell/David Stearns era).

 

Added to 40-man for Rule V:

OF Corey Ray

LHP Quintin Torres-Costa

RHP Zack Brown

LHP Cam Roegner

UT Weston Wilson

UT Cooper Hummel

RHP Jon Olczak

37 on 40-man (3 under)

 

Free agent signings:

LHP Madison Bumgarner - 2 years, $25 million + team option for 2021 at $15 million with $5 million buyout.

SS Eigoro Mogi - Japan Pacific League - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mogi--000eig - 4 years, $22 million + team options for 2024 ($6 million) and 2025 ($7.5 million)

IF Ha-Seong Kim (KBO) - https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kim---001ha- - 6 years, $27 million + team option for 2026 ($6 million)

40 on 40-man roster

 

NRI to spring training/minor-league FA signings:

RHP Jimmy Nelson

RHP Jeremy Jeffress

LHP Angel Perdomo

UT Nate Orf

C Payton Henry

C Mario Feliciano

 

Lineup:

ss: Mogi/Kim

2b: Hiura/Kim

rf: Yelich

c: Grandal

3b: Moustakas/Kim

lf: Braun

1b: Thames

cf: Cain

pitcher

bench: Pina, Perez, Hummel, Grisham (20 starts in CF, 40 in LF), Kim (20 starts at 3B, 25 at SS, 20 at 2B)

rotation: Woodruff, Bumgarner, Davies, Houser, Lyles

bullpen: Hader, Knebel, Suter, Pomeranz, Peralta, Guerra, Gio, Anderson

 

AAA pitching shuttle: Burnes, D. Williams, Jackson, QTC, Olczak, Supak, Brown

 

Bumgarner is perhaps the best chance to make a short-term "go for it" option in the rotation for 2020-2021. I will admit to being undecided - Gio could be in the rotation with Houser in the bullpen. Anderson could be in the rotation as a possibility for an early-season/mid-season trade.

 

I go with Eigoro Mogi from NPB as the primary shortstop as (worst case) a bridge to Turang, with Ha-Seong Kim as kind of a backup option there, who also could play third and second to rest Moustakas and Hiura. In addition, both are players who could form complements to Yelich (if extended) or who could, if they do well in MLB, be dealt to assist in a re-tool/rebuild if that is necessary. Both have good OBP skills, both hit for average, and some power.

 

---

 

What are your offseason plans for the Brewers?

 

What are you figuring for the team's salary? About $155M?

 

Probably closer to $140-$145 million. Some of the FA deals go up, but at the same time, deals like Shaw, Albers, and Nelson come off the books. That roughly covers the Bumgarner deal. The re-signings are about 1-2 million over option years or 2019 salaries each. The big jump are the Mogi and Kim deals - but if you look over their BR pages, they're well worth the money.

 

Grandal : your scenario $17.5/$16M now = +1.5M....Moustakas $10M/$7M = +$3M....Pomeranz $4M/$1.5M = +$2.5M.....Lyles $5M/$2M - +$3M.... Gio $4.5M/$2M = +$2.5M...... Yelich $20M/$10M = +$10M .... Thames $10M/$7M = +$3M.... Bumgarner + $15M..... Mogi +$5.5M..... Kim +$4.5M ..... Total additions w/o arby increases $51.5M. Total subtractions around $15.5M. Assuming the payroll this year was around $125M that would up the payroll to $161M plus the arby costs to players eligible. Final payroll would be somewhere around $167M-$170M under your scenario.

[clancyphile]

The Yelich and Thames deals are extensions after the current deals. Bumgarner is $12.5 million, not 15.

 

That puts it around $152 million.

[DuWayne Steurer]

What I see that I immediately don't like (sorry to be the debbie downer to this party) is there's a ton of dollars committed to guys that are going to be over 30 when they make the lion's share of their money. Extending Yelich, Thames, and offering 4 years to Grandal ..... Just some of that doesn't make sense in the sense that it doesn't need to be done.

 

Thames has a super friendly team option for next year. Guy is going to be 33 next year and has never had a 2.0 WAR season. instead of paying him 10 mil a year for his 34 and 35 aged seasons, let him walk after next year and find some younger cheaper production at 1B, which is probably the easiest position to find some easy .800 - 825 OPS productio out of.

 

Extending Grandal 4 years should be an absolute do not touch. He's a catcher, and he's going into his age 31 seasons. Most catchers don't age past 31 - 32 well (at all). Guys like Johnny Bench are ultra-rare. Banking on Grandal being even a .750 OPS hitter 4 years from now is not something I want to do.

 

Can't just defer everybody. They're already going to be paying Braun, while not a huge amount to not be a Brewer, it's something. They're paying a lot of little deferals to Garza, Braun, Cain, etc. That stuff adds up.

[adambr2]

So, if offering Grandal 20 million for another one year contract would get him to re-up with us, would you do it?

 

I would, in a heartbeat! I highly doubt he will want to take that route at his age, but hey, it's 20 million guaranteed, would it at least tempt him?

 

I certainly would, but no, I don't think it will tempt him. He's been playing on 1 year deals his whole career. He's 30, the time for him to cash in on a multi year deal is now and I'm guessing he will. I think the perception of his defense probably unfairly hindered his market last time around. That won't be a factor this time, and he'll probably get extra points for all his work in the second half without a performance decline.

 

Guessing either a 3 year or 4 year deal for Grandal. Say $55M if it's 3, $70 for 4.

 

Hard to guess what Moose's market is, but I'd say pretty confidently that the mutual option isn't happening, nor is the 2/20 suggested in the original post.

 

I don't know how much it helps his marketability, but he should be able to advertise himself as a 2B/3B this time instead of a 3B only.

[HiAndTight]

So, if offering Grandal 20 million for another one year contract would get him to re-up with us, would you do it?

 

I would, in a heartbeat! I highly doubt he will want to take that route at his age, but hey, it's 20 million guaranteed, would it at least tempt him?

 

 

Yes, of course. 1 year at 20 million? I think he's proven he's easily worth that. I'd expect him to get 20 million per over 4 years with a vesting option or something along those lines.

 

With all the FA pitching on the market and how bad the position market looks, I don't see him signing for just one year again.

[Devinep]

With a weak farm system I think the best way to compete is the mid-level free agent market and spend to keep key pieces:

 

Sign: Jose Iglesias, Steve Vogt, Wade Miley

 

Resign: Moustakas, Pomeranz, Gio and/ or Lyles

 

Non tender/try to trade: Shaw, Arcia, Nelson (MILB deal), Anderson (option decline)

 

Minor league deals: Jeffress, Nelson, Hernan

[wntrtxn21]

The Yelich and Thames deals are extensions after the current deals. Bumgarner is $12.5 million, not 15.

 

That puts it around $152 million.

 

You have Bumgarner with a buyout added to the end. That increases yearly to $15M. Extensions at more money are still increased payroll. Plus you forget the arby guys who are going to get increases.

[Devinep]

With a weak farm system I think the best way to compete is the mid-level free agent market and spend to keep key pieces:

 

Sign: Jose Iglesias, Steve Vogt, Wade Miley

 

Resign: Moustakas, Pomeranz, Gio and/ or Lyles

 

Non tender/try to trade: Shaw, Arcia, Nelson (MILB deal), Anderson (option decline)

 

Minor league deals: Jeffress, Nelson, Hernan

 

Also sign Starlin Castro as a 1B/3B RHB

[Vollbc74]

My entry:

 

 

From 60-Day DL to 40-man:

Corey Knebel

Bobby Wahl

 

Re-signed:

Yasmani Grandal (3 years, $54 million)

Drew Pomeranz (3 years, $12 million)

Jordan Lyles (2 years, $12 million)

Mike Moustakas (2 years, $20 million)

 

 

Allowed to Walk/DFA/Non-Tendered:

Hernan Perez

Matt Albers

Tyler Saladino

David Freitas

Tyler Austin

Jimmy Nelson (minor-league deal with NRI)

 

 

Trades:

RP Josh Hader to LAD for SS Gavin Lux

SP Chase Anderson to SDP for SS/2B Owen Miller

3B Travis Shaw to BAL for RHP Dillon Tate & C Brett Cumberland

SS Orlando Arcia to ARI for 3B/1B Kevin Cron & RHP Ryne Miller

 

(Arica and Shawe are so hard to peg for value, so I may be off on their returns. In the trades I was looking for MLB bench pieces that balance our lineup of LHs)

 

FA signings:

RHP Jake Odorizzi (3 years, 40 million)

 

NRI to spring training/minor-league FA signings:

RHP Jimmy Nelson

RHP Jeremy Jeffress

 

 

Lineup:

SS: Gavin Lux

RF: Yelich

2B: Hiura

C: Grandal

3B: Moustakas

LF: Braun

1B: Thames

CF: Cain

SP

 

Bench: Manny Pina ©, Owen Miller (SS/2B), Ben Gamel (LF/CF/RF), Kevin Cron (1B/3B)

 

SP: Woodruff, Odorizzi, Davies, Houser, Lyles

 

BP: Knebel, Suter, Pomeranz, Peralta, Guerra, Claudio, Jackson, Wahl

 

 

AAA pitching shuttle: Burnes, D. Williams, Supak, Brown, Black, T. Williams, Faria, Tate

 

 

40-man Payroll: 133.8M

[KeithStone53151]

I'm going to nitpick on one small thing. I'm sure others will chime in quite a bit on other stuff, but I have to think virtually zero chance Faria gets non-tendered. He's cheap, team controlled, and has a really good arm. This also qualifies as pulling an arm out of an organization at the very top of development...we should also be able to get some significant insights into how the Rays develop their players, particularly their pitchers. Admittedly, not sure what his option situation is.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I'm going to nitpick on one small thing. I'm sure others will chime in quite a bit on other stuff, but I have to think virtually zero chance Faria gets non-tendered. He's cheap, team controlled, and has a really good arm. This also qualifies as pulling an arm out of an organization at the very top of development...we should also be able to get some significant insights into how the Rays develop their players, particularly their pitchers. Admittedly, not sure what his option situation is.

 

Faria is out of options. But I agree ... he makes the team out of Spring Training next year, at least initially. Probably a long man in the pen to start with, but hopefully can move up the ladder. He's probably a dark horse to be given an opportunity to start.

[Outlander]

Faria is tough because if he is given a starting sport Stearns will probably get criticized pretty badly when he doesn't work out. He had a good start when he was a rookie but has been pretty bad the last couple of years including his time in the minors. I guess the 26th man will help and not quite as hard to keep on the team but they have others like Black/Taylor Williams/Houser that they can't option anymore either if they struggle.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Faria is tough because if he is given a starting sport Stearns will probably get criticized pretty badly when he doesn't work out. He had a good start when he was a rookie but has been pretty bad the last couple of years including his time in the minors. I guess the 26th man will help and not quite as hard to keep on the team but they have others like Black/Taylor Williams/Houser that they can't option anymore either if they struggle.

 

He's a guy who I believe could benefit greatly from spending some time at the team's pitching facility in Arizona. His out pitch is the splitter, and he wasn't the only pitching in the majors who had difficulty getting that pitch specifically to do what he wanted this past season. But in his very limited innings as a Brewer, I saw a guy with a very live arm and good movement. I personally think he's a guy who could very well have an Adrian Houser-like role and ascent next year.

 

Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but I've always been intrigued with Faria going back to his time as a rookie with the Rays.

[trwi7]

I'm still trying to figure out why Bumgarner would sign only a 2 year deal at far less than the QO AAV. He doesn't get long term security. He doesn't get big money on a short term deal. There's really no incentive to sign that contract.

[wntrtxn21]

With a weak farm system I think the best way to compete is the mid-level free agent market and spend to keep key pieces:

 

Sign: Jose Iglesias, Steve Vogt, Wade Miley

 

Resign: Moustakas, Pomeranz, Gio and/ or Lyles

 

Non tender/try to trade: Shaw, Arcia, Nelson (MILB deal), Anderson (option decline)

 

Minor league deals: Jeffress, Nelson, Hernan

 

Also sign Starlin Castro as a 1B/3B RHB

 

I'm a little leery of the cost for Castro. He made $12M last year. I don't think the Marlins give him the $16M option, but he may be too expensive for a bench player. I like Neil Walker for around $2.5M. SW who plays 1B-3B and can fill in at 2B if needed.

[TURBO]

Walker ONLY if he serves in a bench role, not as a starter. If he is the best we can do as a full time starter, then why bother?

 

Not a fan.

[clancyphile]

I'm going to nitpick on one small thing. I'm sure others will chime in quite a bit on other stuff, but I have to think virtually zero chance Faria gets non-tendered. He's cheap, team controlled, and has a really good arm. This also qualifies as pulling an arm out of an organization at the very top of development...we should also be able to get some significant insights into how the Rays develop their players, particularly their pitchers. Admittedly, not sure what his option situation is.

 

Faria is out of options. But I agree ... he makes the team out of Spring Training next year, at least initially. Probably a long man in the pen to start with, but hopefully can move up the ladder. He's probably a dark horse to be given an opportunity to start.

 

Honestly, I think Faria could be good, but if the Crew could get all of Mogi, Kim,and Bumgarner, I'm okay with letting him go.

 

And yes, I think the Brewers need to look at NPB and KBO for their shortstop upgrade.

[Lathund]

My plan hinges a lot on the state of Travis Shaw, and whether the team thinks he has any chance of coming back to being the player he was (Or even an average 3B). From the outside, it's hard to know what's up with him. Presumably the Brewers have a better idea; is it physical, mental or mechanical? And is it fixable? The reason this matters is that it will be very hard to keep both Moustakas and Grandal (And strengthen elsewhere) unless payroll goes up, which I doubt it will. I used to think that while Grandal was the better player, Moose made more sense to extend, but now I'm definitely in the Grandal camp. So I'd like to see both, but if both means losing out on other well needed upgrades (Pitching, SS) then I'd chose Grandal. Going with Shaw means a higher quality pitching addition, going with Moose likely means trying to find the next Miley.

 

So principally what I'd like to get done:

Retain Grandal

Re-sign Lyles, Pomeranz, maybe Gio

Upgrade at SS; Market doesn't look great so this might be hard to do, but trying to do it should be a priority. I liked Miguel Rojas, but he just signed an extension.

Acquire a RHH corner infielder. Perhaps David Freese if the Dodgers don't retain him.

Acquire a starting pitcher who can be trusted to go deeper into games, enabling the early hooks on other days.

Acquire a RH reliever is the opportunity is right.

 

Pick up Thames option

Decline Anderson's; Or trade. I've gone back and forth on this. It depends on what other pitchers can be signed. He's useful to have, and you know what you're getting with him. But I think that money can be used to improve, to help get that starter mentioned above. $8.5m is not a lot for a starter, but it is if Anderson continues to be the 4-5 inning guy he has been so far.

 

I do think that Gerrit Cole is more likely to be a serious Stearns target than the big-name starter FAs in earlier years, because how how good he is and how (for a starter FA) young he is. But it's still not happening, so let's move on.

Wheeler, Bumgarner, Ryu; Keuchel would be the next tier. All highly sough after. Perhaps a bit too rich, but possibilities.

Odorizzi, Gibson, Miley, Roark, Wood etc: I think this is where the starter will come from. With the front office trying to figure out who in this tier is "fixable" or can be improved on.

 

So something like this:

Rotation: Woodruff, New SP, Lyles, Davies, Houser - Further possibilities are a Gio re-signing, a Burnes re-emergence, Suter.

Bullpen: Hader, Knebel, Pomeranz, Claudio, Suter, Peralta, Guerra(?), Burnes, Jackson, Black, Faria, Wahl - Some will obviously be part of the AAA shuttle, or at least start in AAA.

C: Grandal, Piña

IF: Thames, 1B/3B (Freese?), Hiura, SS (???), Moustakas or Shaw, Spangenberg, Arcia (As SS if noone is signed, otherwise as IF backup/defensive sub)

OF: Braun (Also 1B), Yelich, Cain, Grisham, Gamel.

 

That's 1 player too many if both additions are made, but Grisham, Gamel, Arcia have minor league options remaining and some injuries are inevitable.

 

 

 

Overall it's not a huge overhaul. This was a playoff team this year despite a lot of things going wrong. My approach is to strengthen the areas of weakness, and then upgrade further at the deadline if the team is in contention. Some will say the bullpen was a weakness this year and needs strengthennig; I'll say that it *was* a weakness early on, but as the members and roles in it solidified, it was good. Full seasons (hopefully) of Knebel, Suter and Pomeranz in addition to the better performers who were there all year (Hader, Guerra, Jackson, Claudio, maybe Peralta/Burnes) makes for a good 'pen.

[Devinep]

With a weak farm system I think the best way to compete is the mid-level free agent market and spend to keep key pieces:

 

Sign: Jose Iglesias, Steve Vogt, Wade Miley

 

Resign: Moustakas, Pomeranz, Gio and/ or Lyles

 

Non tender/try to trade: Shaw, Arcia, Nelson (MILB deal), Anderson (option decline)

 

Minor league deals: Jeffress, Nelson, Hernan

 

Also sign Starlin Castro as a 1B/3B RHB

 

 

I'm a little leery of the cost for Castro. He made $12M last year. I don't think the Marlins give him the $16M option, but he may be too expensive for a bench player. I like Neil Walker for around $2.5M. SW who plays 1B-3B and can fill in at 2B if needed.

 

If the corner infield is Thames and moose then the backup should be a platoon match and walker hits righties Better than lefties. I don’t see anyone wanting Castro as an everyday player so I doubt he be expensive l. But if he is then get another righty like Jedd Gyorko