Brewers trade for Hunter Renfroe in exchange for Jackie Bradley Jr., David Hamilton and Alex Binelas

[mtrebs]

I like this trade. While I don’t follow the minor leagues like a lot of you do (so I don’t have the knowledge of our prospects), we were able to acquire some offense for RF that was desperately needed and we got rid of the mistake of signing JBJ at the same time. This makes the major league team better, which is needed while we have our pitching window. Maybe the prospects will become awesome MLB players in a few years, maybe not, but for the next few years the Brewers MLB club should be better off as a result of this trade.

[Eye Black]

Just noticed this quote from Red Sox GM Chaim Bloom:

 

Bloom says Sox are 'optimistic' that Bradley can bounce back from 2021 struggles in Milwaukee. 'Coming back here, we can get him back to a lot of what he used to do.'

 

What else is he going to say? "We just acquired a player that had a historically bad season at the plate and we expect him to continue to produce at that level or possibly be even a little worse if that is possible."

 

JBJ does have value with his elite defense but that isn't going to sell to the press in Boston.

I guess I thought the insinuation that the Brewers changed something with JBJ (that presumably broke him) was at least mildly interesting. Seems like a step beyond the typical GM-speak.

[Eye Black]

For those scoring at home, the Brewers have now added three of the Rays hitters from their 2020 World Series squad, as well as their hitting coach.

[umphrey]

I’m on the fence about this one. I feel like it still leaves us with an incomplete outfield and I was optimistic that JBJ could bounce back a little bit.

[torts]

For those scoring at home, the Brewers have now added three of the Rays hitters from their 2020 World Series squad, as well as their hitting coach.

 

My Xmas wish list is quickly being checked off!

[JohnBriggs12]

I love the trade. This frees up Taylor to get 50-60 starts in CF so Cain can be productive when he plays. The prospects had to be sacrificed to get Bradley off the books. He had to go.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Some Brewerfan posters: We NEED another legit middle-of-the-order, 30+ HR needle-moving bat in this lineup, and can't be afraid to move our top prospects to acquire him. We simply CANNOT stomach another year of Jackie Bradley Jr. flailing away in this terrible lineup.

 

David Stearns trades two decent but middling prospects PLUS Jackie Bradley Jr. for a legit middle-of-the-order 30+ HR bat (whether he's a true needle-mover is somewhat debatable).

 

Brewerfan posters: No, not THAT one! Renfroe has been on three teams in the last 4 years! That means he sucks and/or is a bad teammate! Plus Binelas and Hamilton are future all-stars, and JBJ is gonna rebound and be great! Terrible trade!

 

 

Come on guys! The Brewers managed to acquire a power corner OF bat that will be able to step in to Garcia's shoes, who is younger and at a fraction of the cost. And they gave up a couple ok-ish prospects, while ridding themselves of an obviously mistake contract. There is very little downside I see to this deal.

[Eye Black]

One fun storyline, Hunter Renfroe and Brandon Woodruff were teammates for two years at Mississippi State (they were one year apart in school).

[Fear The Chorizo]

No offense, but what is wrong with some posters on this forum. People are complaining about a MIRACLE TRADE?? Renfroe is projected to out-hit Avisail Garcia next year and we just landed him for an untradeable player.

 

Renfroe is a weak side platoon bat that we had to trade two decent prospects for because Stearns made an atrocious signing the year before. Yay!

 

IMO you couldn't be more wrong. Renfroe is a guy who will be their everyday RF and could hit 30+ bombs, drive in 90+ runs and have an OPS in the 800's. Plus the Brewers lose JBJ's contract and only two low /mid-level prospects. If Renfroe does that I think this trade could turn out to be one of Stearn's best.

 

Well, the poster you are directly responding to did also hate the Yelich trade the moment it was made (wayyyyy before the 2019 injury and followup mega extension that now currently makes Yelich an anchor on this organization if he doesn't rebound) - so at least they are consistent...

[True Blue Brew Crew]

This trade is sheer wizardry. The Brewers were in desperate need of a run producer after losing Garcia. They turn around and essentially get his clone at half the payroll cost while shedding one of their worst contracts. They could have just re-signed Avi and many of you would've been perfectly fine with it. Now they opened up about 15 million in 2022 payroll (savings from Avi to Hunter and shed JBJ's 9.5M) and have a guy who hit more HRs and drove in more runs than Garcia and would have led the Brewers in both categories this past season. Their batting averages, strikeout, and walk numbers are near identical as well.

 

As for the prospects. Until fans realize that you can't get too high on a prospect until they are putting up dominant numbers in at least AA, there's no reason to put lofty expectations on anyone. Neither Hamilton or Binelas were anywhere near even that point yet and there is a significant chance neither will ever get there. And from there you have to realize that many AA stars never amount to much in the majors. These guys are STILL lottery tickets. 16th and 17th ranked prospects in a mediocre system. They'll be quickly replaced by two new lottery tickets via trades and the 2022 draft. Prospects at the stage these two guys presently reside are severely overrated given their statistical likelihood to top out as middling major leaguers if either even get there.

[TURBO]

Some Brewerfan posters: We NEED another legit middle-of-the-order, 30+ HR needle-moving bat in this lineup, and can't be afraid to move our top prospects to acquire him. We simply CANNOT stomach another year of Jackie Bradley Jr. flailing away in this terrible lineup.

 

David Stearns trades two decent but middling prospects PLUS Jackie Bradley Jr. for a legit middle-of-the-order 30+ HR bat (whether he's a true needle-mover is somewhat debatable).

 

Brewerfan posters: No, not THAT one! Renfroe has been on three teams in the last 4 years! That means he sucks and/or is a bad teammate! Plus Binelas and Hamilton are future all-stars, and JBJ is gonna rebound and be great! Terrible trade!

 

 

Come on guys! The Brewers managed to acquire a power corner OF bat that will be able to step in to Garcia's shoes, who is younger and at a fraction of the cost. And they gave up a couple ok-ish prospects, while ridding themselves of an obviously mistake contract. There is very little downside I see to this deal.

 

You just need to step back and allow others to have opinions that differ from yours.

 

There are good things about this trade, and there are bad things about this trade.

 

Good:

 

1. JBJ is gone

2. frees up $, though it doesn't seem like much, maybe a couple million.

3. Renfroe has some pop, and will hit dingers.

3. JBJ is gone!

 

Bad:

 

1. Both prospects we let go are good. Hard to let a legit 1B prospect go when we desperately need one, and have nothing else in the minors.

2. The $ we freed up by dumping JBJ doesn't amount to much, in fact, it is barely a factor. Not enough to add to the pot to get another quality bat, that's for sure.

3. Renfroe is an average outfielder, who strikes out a ton.

4. Tyrone Taylor will not get a real shot to prove himself, and will be relegated back to that 4th OF position. (I wanted him to get a full time gig to see what he could do)

 

So before all you sunshine people start railing on people with differing opinions, please be aware that this deal is not an obvious win/win situation at this time. So stop with the lectures and acting surprised that other people might not see it the same as you...

 

In the end, I am happy as hell that JBJ has taken his last AB as a Milwaukee Brewer!

[wibadgers23]

We needed some RH power and we got it but how much money does this really free up for this upcoming season?

[MrTPlush]

Lets just acknowledge one thing quickly. We gave up these prospects in large part to acquire Renfroe...we didn't simply give these prospects up to dump the JBJ contract. Renfroe was not going to be free. 3/4 of the last four season he has a WAR around 2.5...COVID year and his 139 PAs being the outlier. There is certainly some value in a player like Renfroe, that we control an additional year.

 

I would rather have this over the comical contract Avi got. The fact we got Renfroe and saved all his contract plus some should play a big role in what else we can add before the start of the season.

[Eye Black]

We needed some RH power and we got it but how much money does this really free up for this upcoming season?

The Brewers owed JBJ $9.5 million for this season plus and a $8 million buyout for the 2023 season. I’m not totally familiar with the deferrals in his contract, but I think the large majority of that $17.5 million was scheduled to be paid well after JBJ was gone (including in 2024 & 2025). So for this coming year it might not save much (if anything when you factor in Renfroe’s like arbitration salary), but it definitely gets future dead money off the books.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

You just need to step back and allow others to have opinions that differ from yours.

 

Uh, what? This is an internet message board. People have opinions. And people disagree with them. Nowhere was I telling anyone that they weren't allowed to have an opinion that differed from my own.

 

I would have totally understood if the Brewers decided to give away JBJ with a prospect and eat some of his remaining money, or take a terrible contract back. That they managed to acquire what looks to be a useful, somewhat cost-effective piece is much, much better than I figured they could do.

 

My post was an attempt at poking a little fun at this site's perpetual Debbie Downers. That's all ... no lectures. If you are looking for my true thoughts on the deal, scroll up to what I said at 11:08 last night. This deal was, in essence, David Stearns admitting to a massive screw-up in acquiring Bradley Jr. It sucks that we had to give up a couple of prospects to rectify the mistake. I was very excited about Binelas. Bummer to lose him. We are now back to having no 3B prospects. That sucks.

[Fear The Chorizo]

We are now back to having no 3B prospects. That sucks.

 

I don't think Binelas sticks at 3rd, so we probably didn't have any to begin with. If his power production as a 21 yr old developed collegiate hitter against AZ league instructionals and low A pitching translates to higher minor leagues that eventually warrants a shot at the majors, he's a 1B - which also reduces his value ceiling.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

People are really overstating the prospects here. A legit 1B prospect? I mean, maybe. We didn't trade Prince Fielder here. This is what we argue about in December but as long as Yelich and Hiura (I think the latter is more likely a lost cause) don't hit, this offense is severely limited. It's important to round out the lineup, but the Brewers will never have a good offense with Yelich doing what he did last year. I'm not being negative, it's just how I see it. You can't really expect more flash offensively. This is what we're gonna be. A pitch-first team that has to find runs in un-sexy ways. Or prevent them, which is what JBJ was supposed to be. He just couldn't hit. AT ALL.

[brewers888]

Overall this is a good trade but I hate giving up Binelas and his huge power not to mention him being a local guy who was excited to be drafted by the Brewers. Still getting rid of Bradley was going to be costly but well worth it.

 

Not a huge fan of Renfroe but I think he is similar to Garcia and he's cheaper. We desperately needed a right handed power bat and Renfroe fits the bill. I was hoping for more of an impact hitter for the lineup but Renfroe is at least the equal of Garcia and we got rid of an albatross contract. If we had kept Binelas I would give the trade an A but losing him knocks down the grade to a B. Stearns did excellent work once again and hopefully that will continue for years to come.

[Lathund]

I think Alex Binelas will be a good hitter, but perhaps ending up as a 1B/DH only. Hamilton was a fun player, but there's Turang, Zamora and Valerio as far as MI prospects go who I'd rate above him, and Hamilton was more of a high-floor low-ceiling type of guy.

 

Giving up those guys hurt. But to get out of the JBJ deal we all knew we had to give up something. And in return we make our team in 2022 (And potentially 2023) better, while saving ~$10m ($17m owed to JBJ, $7.5m estimated arb. for Renfroe). RHH power was an area that needed improving. As for the negative of Taylor not being given a chance: He certainly will be. Yelich and Cain won't play every game, and with the likely introduction of the DH I'd expect Yelich and Renfroe takes a lot of those at bats freeing up an OF spot. And then there's injuries. Taylor will play plenty.

 

Only ended up paying JBJ $6.5m in the end.

[PeaveyFury]

Lets just acknowledge one thing quickly. We gave up these prospects in large part to acquire Renfroe...we didn't simply give these prospects up to dump the JBJ contract. Renfroe was not going to be free. 3/4 of the last four season he has a WAR around 2.5...COVID year and his 139 PAs being the outlier. There is certainly some value in a player like Renfroe, that we control an additional year.

 

I would rather have this over the comical contract Avi got. The fact we got Renfroe and saved all his contract plus some should play a big role in what else we can add before the start of the season.

 

Yeah, they basically replaced Avi's 'good year' production at a fraction of the cost of what Avi was paid last year BEFORE his big money FA contract. In the process, they moved JBJ's contract as well. It's a very solid trade.

[PeaveyFury]

2. The $ we freed up by dumping JBJ doesn't amount to much, in fact, it is barely a factor. Not enough to add to the pot to get another quality bat, that's for sure.

 

I'm not sure you can say that authoritatively. They freed up 9-10 million (again pending a closer look on my end on the deferrals), which is basically what got them Wong last year, who WAS an impact player.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

We should also acknowledge that JBJ is unlikely to OPS .497 again. He was never a great hitter, but I really doubt he replicates last year. He is a really nice complementary player with his glove if he can get back to around .700.

[torts]

I think you all need to take time and go read some boston comments to feel better about this trade. I know it warmed my heart. everyone thinks this is the worst trade in bostons history. so, take that with some pride, guys.

[StearnsFTW]

No offense, but what is wrong with some posters on this forum. People are complaining about a MIRACLE TRADE?? Renfroe is projected to out-hit Avisail Garcia next year and we just landed him for an untradeable player.

 

Agree. Prospect hugging is a thing.

 

They may turn out (I'll be shocked if Hamilton ever contributes in the majors), but they probably won't.

[homer]

We should also acknowledge that JBJ is unlikely to OPS .497 again. He was never a great hitter, but I really doubt he replicates last year. He is a really nice complementary player with his glove if he can get back to around .700.

 

Oh you just know he's gonna go like 260/340/440 this year.