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

[TJseven7]

If Sogard takes the role I wanted Holt in that still leaves

Thames Flores

Hill Walker McHugh Cishek

to go.

 

Replace Thames with Smoak. Different path to the same results.

[MNBrew]

The longer this week has gone on....

 

- I'm amazed that Stearns keeps pulling off a move per day. That's an unheard of rate in Brewers land.

- The more I still wonder how all the pieces of this puzzle fit together, although my hunch is that Broxton, Healy, and Ronny Rodriguez may not see much if any MLB roster time barring injuries (and that's not a bad thing!).

- The more I wonder if whatever next moves -- big or small -- will be aimed at the pitching staff. The position-player roster had a ton of holes and now has enough bodies to sufficiently plug them (though certainty of quality's a viable concern in some cases, not to mention lacking a clear winner of the starting 3B position). However, beyond re-signing Claudio & inking B. Anderson & Lindblom, it still seems like there's more to be done w/ the pitching staff -- BP, rotation, whatever.

 

To the last point, as much as a Donaldson acquisition would be impressive, large questions about the pitching staff would remain with seemingly little payroll room to do so. I kind of hope that if they've got one bombshell FA move left that it's on Ryu -- over Keuchel & ignoring Donaldson. If healthy (the key, of course!), he's a pretty dominant force.

 

Without Donaldson we'd still have lots of strong bats. But we don't have any pitcher with the proven track record of Ryu.

[RollieTime]

Updated Player List

 

Position Players

 

Braun $14 million ($3 million deferred)

Cain $15 million ($1 million deferred)

Yelich $12.5 million

Garcia $7.5 million

Hiura $500K

Arcia $2.2 million

Urias $500K

Pina $1.8 million

Gamel $1.4 million

Narvaez (Arb. $2.9 million)

Sogard $4.5 million

Smoak $4 million

Healy $250K+

 

Total $67.05 million

 

Rotation

 

Woodruff $500K

B. Anderson $5 million

Houser $500K

Lauer $500K

Lindblom $3 million

 

Total $9.5 million

 

Bullpen

 

Hader $5 million

Knebel (Arb. $5.2 million)

Claudio $1.8 million

Suter $1 million

Peralta $500K

Feyereisen $500K

Wahl $500K

D. Williams $500K

 

Total $15 million

 

Other Options (not included on payroll list)

 

D. Guerra $500K

Faria $500K

Burnes $500K

 

Buyouts/Deferred Payments

 

Thames $1 million

Moustakas $3 million

Grandal $2.25 million

Garza $2 million

 

Total $8.25 million

 

$67.05 + $9.5 + $15 + $8.25 = $99.8 Million Current Payroll

 

About $28 million below last year’s payroll

[RollieTime]

Updated Player List

 

Position Players

 

Braun $14 million ($3 million deferred)

Cain $15 million ($1 million deferred)

Yelich $12.5 million

Garcia $7.5 million

Hiura $500K

Arcia $2.2 million

Urias $500K

Pina $1.8 million

Gamel $1.4 million

Narvaez (Arb. $2.9 million)

Sogard $4.5 million

Smoak $4 million

Healy $250K+

 

Total $67.05 million

 

Rotation

 

Woodruff $500K

B. Anderson $5 million

Houser $500K

Lauer $500K

Lindblom $3 million

 

Total $9.5 million

 

Bullpen

 

Hader $5 million

Knebel (Arb. $5.2 million)

Claudio $1.8 million

Suter $1 million

Peralta $500K

Feyereisen $500K

Wahl $500K

D. Williams $500K

 

Total $15 million

 

Other Options (not included on payroll list)

 

D. Guerra $500K

Faria $500K

Burnes $500K

 

Buyouts/Deferred Payments

 

Thames $1 million

Moustakas $3 million

Grandal $2.25 million

Garza $2 million

 

Total $8.25 million

 

$67.05 + $9.5 + $15 + $8.25 = $99.8 Million Current Payroll

 

About $28 million below last year’s payroll

[schmidtac20]

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/mlb-umpires-agree-to-help-with-testing-electronic-strike-zone-report-says/ar-BBYf2OS?li=AAF3IbP

 

Will be interesting to see if/when this is implemented in the big leagues. Brewers did not commit to Grandal long-term because they believed it could be implemented as early as 2021.

 

Based on the article, it appears anywhere from 2-5 more years depending on how testing goes.

 

A risk the Brewers took, but could be a solid move if it happens. The second half of Grandals contract would be totally devalued.

[brewerfan82]

Updated Player List

 

...

 

$67.05 + $9.5 + $15 + $8.25 = $99.8 Million Current Payroll

 

About $28 million below last year’s payroll

So we're basically right where we were at this time last year... and then BAM:

 

January 14, 2019: Yasmani Grandal signed as a Free Agent with the Milwaukee Brewers for $16M (+$2.25M buyout).

February 19, 2019: Mike Moustakas signed as a Free Agent with the Milwaukee Brewers for $7M (+$3M buyout).

 

It is quite possible the team went over budget last year and would like to avoid doing so again this year, but one of the great things that Mark A's shown in his tenure as the owner is the flexibility to make the money available when the right deal presents itself. That combined with DS' patience and stubbornness to stick with his player evaluations has resulted in the January/February deals they've been able to strike the past two offseasons. Those opportunities may not happen again this year, but there are still a lot of FA and trade possibilities out there and the longer Donaldson/Ryu/Castellanos/Hill/Betances/Wood/Frazier/Nova remain on the market and teams fill needs other ways, the more likely one of them drops into DS' asking price and MA can tell him to pull the trigger.

 

All that said, DS has done an amazing job incrementally improving this team around the edges to the point that they're already arguably "similar" in talent to last year. If he can get another deal or two done in the next couple months, this should be a pretty interesting team going into the 2020 season.

[RollieTime]

I would love to see Taijuan Walker brought in as the 5th starter, pushing Houser to the bullpen. We add a mid rotation arm with upside and bump a guy to the bullpen who pitched very well out of the pen last year. This also adds another starting pitching option to the mix and allows Houser to compete with Peralta to be the 6th starter, while letting Houser dominate out of the pen.

 

Would 1/$4 million be enough? Add something like another $3 million in incentives, $1 million at each 20, 25, and 30 starts for a possible $7 million total?

[Vollbc74]

Updated Player List

 

Position Players

 

Braun $14 million ($3 million deferred)

Cain $15 million ($1 million deferred)

Yelich $12.5 million

Garcia $7.5 million

Hiura $500K

Arcia $2.2 million

Urias $500K

Pina $1.8 million

Gamel $1.4 million

Narvaez (Arb. $2.9 million)

Sogard $4.5 million

Smoak $4 million

Healy $250K+

 

Total $67.05 million

 

Rotation

 

Woodruff $500K

B. Anderson $5 million

Houser $500K

Lauer $500K

Lindblom $3 million

 

Total $9.5 million

 

Bullpen

 

Hader $5 million

Knebel (Arb. $5.2 million)

Claudio $1.8 million

Suter $1 million

Peralta $500K

Feyereisen $500K

Wahl $500K

D. Williams $500K

 

Total $15 million

 

Other Options (not included on payroll list)

 

D. Guerra $500K

Faria $500K

Burnes $500K

 

Buyouts/Deferred Payments

 

Thames $1 million

Moustakas $3 million

Grandal $2.25 million

Garza $2 million

 

Total $8.25 million

 

$67.05 + $9.5 + $15 + $8.25 = $99.8 Million Current Payroll

 

About $28 million below last year’s payroll

 

Right about where I have it, but FYI the new minimum salary for MLB is 555k not 500k. My table has it at $100.5 with minimums rounded up to 560k.

[RollieTime]

Updated Player List

 

Position Players

 

Braun $14 million ($3 million deferred)

Cain $15 million ($1 million deferred)

Yelich $12.5 million

Garcia $7.5 million

Hiura $550K

Arcia $2.2 million

Urias $550K

Pina $1.8 million

Gamel $1.4 million

Narvaez $2.73 million

Sogard $4.5 million

Smoak $4 million

Gyorko $1 million

Healy $250K+

 

Total $67.98 million

 

Rotation

 

Woodruff $550K

B. Anderson $5 million

Houser $550K

Lauer $550K

Lindblom $3 million

 

Total $9.65 million

 

Bullpen

 

Hader $4.1 million

Knebel $5.2 million

Claudio $1.8 million

Suter $1 million

Peralta $550K

Feyereisen $550K

Wahl $550K

Phelps $1.25 million

 

Total $15 million

 

Other Options (not included on payroll list)

 

Faria $550K

Burnes $550K

D. Williams $550K

 

Buyouts/Deferred Payments

 

Thames $1 million

Moustakas $3 million

Grandal $2.25 million

Garza $2 million

 

Total $8.25 million

 

$67.98 + $9.65 + $15 + $8.25 = $100.88 Million Current Payroll

 

About $27 million below last year’s payroll.

 

If I am missing a player, let me know. Otherwise this is at least a ballpark guess of about where the Brewers are at financially. They are in a good position to add at the deadline (or still prior to the start of the 2020 season) as well as take on a contract another team is looking to rid themselves of in return for some good young players.

[Warning Track Power]

Updated Player List

 

Position Players

 

Braun $14 million ($3 million deferred)

Cain $15 million ($1 million deferred)

Yelich $12.5 million

Garcia $7.5 million

Hiura $550K

Arcia $2.2 million

Urias $550K

Pina $1.8 million

Gamel $1.4 million

Narvaez $2.73 million

Sogard $4.5 million

Smoak $4 million

Gyorko $1 million

Healy $250K+

 

Total $67.98 million

 

Rotation

 

Woodruff $550K

B. Anderson $5 million

Houser $550K

Lauer $550K

Lindblom $3 million

 

Total $9.65 million

 

Bullpen

 

Hader $4.1 million

Knebel $5.2 million

Claudio $1.8 million

Suter $1 million

Peralta $550K

Feyereisen $550K

Wahl $550K

Phelps $1.25 million

 

Total $15 million

 

Other Options (not included on payroll list)

 

Faria $550K

Burnes $550K

D. Williams $550K

 

Buyouts/Deferred Payments

 

Thames $1 million

Moustakas $3 million

Grandal $2.25 million

Garza $2 million

 

Total $8.25 million

 

$67.98 + $9.65 + $15 + $8.25 = $100.88 Million Current Payroll

 

About $27 million below last year’s payroll.

 

If I am missing a player, let me know. Otherwise this is at least a ballpark guess of about where the Brewers are at financially. They are in a good position to add at the deadline (or still prior to the start of the 2020 season) as well as take on a contract another team is looking to rid themselves of in return for some good young players.

So what you’re saying is they’ve positioned themselves to take on a majority of Nolan Arenado’s contract?

[TJseven7]

Plus another 5 mil in bonus incentives on Anderson and Lindblom right?

 

Any other incentives?

[RollieTime]

Updated Player List

 

Position Players

 

Braun $14 million ($3 million deferred)

Cain $15 million ($1 million deferred)

Yelich $12.5 million

Garcia $7.5 million

Hiura $550K

Arcia $2.2 million

Urias $550K

Pina $1.8 million

Gamel $1.4 million

Narvaez $2.73 million

Sogard $4.5 million

Smoak $4 million

Gyorko $1 million

Healy $250K+

 

Total $67.98 million

 

Rotation

 

Woodruff $550K

B. Anderson $5 million

Houser $550K

Lauer $550K

Lindblom $3 million

 

Total $9.65 million

 

Bullpen

 

Hader $4.1 million

Knebel $5.2 million

Claudio $1.8 million

Suter $1 million

Peralta $550K

Feyereisen $550K

Wahl $550K

Phelps $1.25 million

 

Total $15 million

 

Other Options (not included on payroll list)

 

Faria $550K

Burnes $550K

D. Williams $550K

 

Buyouts/Deferred Payments

 

Thames $1 million

Moustakas $3 million

Grandal $2.25 million

Garza $2 million

 

Total $8.25 million

 

$67.98 + $9.65 + $15 + $8.25 = $100.88 Million Current Payroll

 

About $27 million below last year’s payroll.

 

If I am missing a player, let me know. Otherwise this is at least a ballpark guess of about where the Brewers are at financially. They are in a good position to add at the deadline (or still prior to the start of the 2020 season) as well as take on a contract another team is looking to rid themselves of in return for some good young players.

So what you’re saying is they’ve positioned themselves to take on a majority of Nolan Arenado’s contract?

 

I would be on board with that! I highly doubt the Rockies would have any interest in including money in the deal, but if they included something like $40 million and could bring the AAV under $28 million for the next 7 seasons and if he is willing to not opt out, I would be all for it. I would expect a slight drop in his production leaving Coors, but he would still be a gold glove third baseman that should still be a .280/.350 hitter with 35 homers.

 

Looking at it financially for next season, his salary would basically replace Braun, Sogard, Arcia, and Smoak on the roster. While also having our C, 3B, SS, and 2B all locked up for 3+ seasons including this season.

 

Cain

Hiura

Yelich

Arenado

Narvaez

Braun/Garcia

Smoak/Braun

Urias

P

[TJseven7]

Well there goes Bettis. For pennies.

 

The Yankees have invited right-hander Chad Bettis to camp on a minor-league deal that according to The Post’s Joel Sherman would pay him $1.5 million if he makes the big league club and includes $2 million in performances bonuses.

 

Would have liked him in our system.

[TJseven7]

Well there goes Bettis. For pennies.

 

The Yankees have invited right-hander Chad Bettis to camp on a minor-league deal that according to The Post’s Joel Sherman would pay him $1.5 million if he makes the big league club and includes $2 million in performances bonuses.

 

Would have liked him in our system.

[brewmann04]

Is there any pitching worth adding at this point?

[brewmann04]

Is there any pitching worth adding at this point?

[JosephC]

Is there any pitching worth adding at this point?

 

Available free agents that were 0.5+ WAR pitchers last season-

 

Andrew Cashner (1.8 WAR)

Jason Vargas (1.8 WAR)

Collin McHugh (0.5 WAR)

Sam Dyson (0.9 WAR) - injured, will miss entire 2020 season

Aaron Sanchez (0.8 WAR) - injured, at minimum would miss first half of 2020 but could miss entire season

 

McHugh looks like he might be the last attractive candidate but he didn't pitch after August 30 due to a bad elbow and he missed a big chunk of 2017 with a bad elbow.

 

Have to look at the trade market if seeking quality pitching.

[JosephC]

Is there any pitching worth adding at this point?

 

Available free agents that were 0.5+ WAR pitchers last season-

 

Andrew Cashner (1.8 WAR)

Jason Vargas (1.8 WAR)

Collin McHugh (0.5 WAR)

Sam Dyson (0.9 WAR) - injured, will miss entire 2020 season

Aaron Sanchez (0.8 WAR) - injured, at minimum would miss first half of 2020 but could miss entire season

 

McHugh looks like he might be the last attractive candidate but he didn't pitch after August 30 due to a bad elbow and he missed a big chunk of 2017 with a bad elbow.

 

Have to look at the trade market if seeking quality pitching.

[brewmann04]

Thank you for the post i too would like McHugh but i agree that elbow issues are a big concern.

[brewmann04]

Thank you for the post i too would like McHugh but i agree that elbow issues are a big concern.

[ewitkows]

Tony Cingrani is out there. Doesn't have a ton of miles on his arm, is only 30 could be a multi inning guy and give you 3-4 innings at a time while he builds his arm back up

[wntrtxn21]

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/mlb-umpires-agree-to-help-with-testing-electronic-strike-zone-report-says/ar-BBYf2OS?li=AAF3IbP

 

Will be interesting to see if/when this is implemented in the big leagues. Brewers did not commit to Grandal long-term because they believed it could be implemented as early as 2021.

 

Based on the article, it appears anywhere from 2-5 more years depending on how testing goes.

 

A risk the Brewers took, but could be a solid move if it happens. The second half of Grandals contract would be totally devalued.

 

I seriously doubt if the electronic umpire had anything to do with the Brewers' not committing long term to Grandal. They knew the money was just too much to handle long term. His defense was secondary to his offense. That's why they went and got Narvaez this year. The electornics will have little effect on the overall value of catchers.

[TJseven7]

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/mlb-umpires-agree-to-help-with-testing-electronic-strike-zone-report-says/ar-BBYf2OS?li=AAF3IbP

 

Will be interesting to see if/when this is implemented in the big leagues. Brewers did not commit to Grandal long-term because they believed it could be implemented as early as 2021.

 

Based on the article, it appears anywhere from 2-5 more years depending on how testing goes.

 

A risk the Brewers took, but could be a solid move if it happens. The second half of Grandals contract would be totally devalued.

 

I seriously doubt if the electronic umpire had anything to do with the Brewers' not committing long term to Grandal. They knew the money was just too much to handle long term. His defense was secondary to his offense. That's why they went and got Narvaez this year. The electornics will have little effect on the overall value of catchers.

 

I agree with you but that's not perception. Framing is, in my opinion, the most wildly overrated metric for valuation of a player in all of pro sports. You take that metric away and certain catchers are going to look far less valuable on a number of measuring sticks.

[RollieTime]

Updated Player List

 

Position Players

 

Braun $14 million ($3 million deferred)

Cain $15 million ($1 million deferred)

Yelich $12.5 million

Garcia $7.5 million

Hiura $550K

Arcia $2.2 million

Urias $550K

Pina $1.8 million

Gamel $1.4 million

Narvaez $2.73 million

Sogard $4.5 million

Smoak $4 million

Gyorko $1 million

Healy $250K+

Holt $2.5 million

 

Total $70.48 million

 

Rotation

 

Woodruff $550K

B. Anderson $5 million

Houser $550K

Lauer $550K

Lindblom $3 million

 

Total $9.65 million

 

Bullpen

 

Hader $4.1 million

Knebel $5.2 million

Claudio $1.8 million

Suter $1 million

Peralta $550K

Feyereisen $550K

Wahl $550K

Phelps $1.25 million

 

Total $15.4 million

 

Other Options (not included on payroll list)

 

Faria $550K

Burnes $550K

D. Williams $550K

 

Buyouts/Deferred Payments

 

Thames $1 million

Moustakas $3 million

Grandal $2.25 million

Garza $2 million

 

Total $8.25 million

 

$70.48 + $9.65 + $15 + $8.25 = $103.38 Million Current Payroll

 

About $24 million below last year’s payroll.

 

Every time I post this, moves tend to happen. Here’s to the next Brewers transaction in the next day or two

[DHonks]

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/mlb-umpires-agree-to-help-with-testing-electronic-strike-zone-report-says/ar-BBYf2OS?li=AAF3IbP

 

Will be interesting to see if/when this is implemented in the big leagues. Brewers did not commit to Grandal long-term because they believed it could be implemented as early as 2021.

 

Based on the article, it appears anywhere from 2-5 more years depending on how testing goes.

 

A risk the Brewers took, but could be a solid move if it happens. The second half of Grandals contract would be totally devalued.

 

I seriously doubt if the electronic umpire had anything to do with the Brewers' not committing long term to Grandal. They knew the money was just too much to handle long term. His defense was secondary to his offense. That's why they went and got Narvaez this year. The electornics will have little effect on the overall value of catchers.

 

I agree with you but that's not perception. Framing is, in my opinion, the most wildly overrated metric for valuation of a player in all of pro sports. You take that metric away and certain catchers are going to look far less valuable on a number of measuring sticks.

 

Any defensive value Grandal had came from framing. He dropped more clear strikes than any big league catcher that I’ve ever seen. He struggled to catch foul tips routinely caught by catchers in MLB. He wasn’t very good at blocking, and he doesn’t have a particularly strong or accurate arm. If MLB implements the automated strike zone, he goes from a slight positive defense catcher to a hack.