RUMOR - Brewers Still Looking for LH Reliever

[JohnBriggs12]

On 1/29/2023 at 9:29 AM, sveumrules said:

The most famous recent case is prolly someone like Andrew Miller… 

Miller SP: 325 IP | 5.70 ERA
Miller RP: 504 IP | 2.95 ERA

Some Brewers that come to mind for me are guys like Adrian Houser, Jimmy Nelson or Jorge López…

Houser SP: 371 IP | 4.31 ERA
Houser RP: 56 IP | 1.76 ERA

Nelson SP: 618 IP | 4.23 ERA
Nelson RP: 43 IP | 2.47 ERA

Lopez SP: 273 IP | 6.36 ERA
Lopez RP: 148 IP | 3.77 ERA

Or someone like Pomeranz who converted to RP for good with us in 2019…

Pomeranz SP: 698 IP | 4.25 ERA
Pomeranz RP: 160 IP | 2.42 ERA

It’s still early yet, but Ashby is straddling that line somewhat so far in his young career…

Ashby SP: 99 IP | 4.79 ERA
Ashby RP: 39 IP | 3.66 ERA

I'd add Zach Duke to that list:

Duke SP:  1,015 IP / 4.61 ERA

Duke RP:  344 IP /  3.42 ERA

[jay87shot]

At this point it would be nice just to add a NRI lefty like Justin Wilson. Alex Claudio and Thomas Pannone are old school noodle arm LOOGY guys that should not even be considered to be in the pen unless something has gone very wrong . Maybe the plan is to pick someone up in a trade or just get someone for basically free like Strickland and Box in 2021. 

However with Ashby being a little out of sorts at least to start camp, my guess is Ashby is that other lefty. It would make sense to use him a little like we did Hader early in his career and than shift him into the rotation when someone goes down. 

[DR28]

2 hours ago, jay87shot said:

At this point it would be nice just to add a NRI lefty like Justin Wilson. Alex Claudio and Thomas Pannone are old school noodle arm LOOGY guys that should not even be considered to be in the pen unless something has gone very wrong . Maybe the plan is to pick someone up in a trade or just get someone for basically free like Strickland and Box in 2021. 

However with Ashby being a little out of sorts at least to start camp, my guess is Ashby is that other lefty. It would make sense to use him a little like we did Hader early in his career and than shift him into the rotation when someone goes down. 

Wilson is out for 23, he had TJ surgery June 2022.

[damuelle]

Diamondbacks To Sign Andrew Chafin

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/02/diamondbacks-agree-to-sign-andrew-chafin.html

[edfunderburk]

20 hours ago, damuelle said:

Diamondbacks To Sign Andrew Chafin

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/02/diamondbacks-agree-to-sign-andrew-chafin.html

Bummer … I was holding our hope Chafin may land in Milwaukee. 

I will cross my fingers & hope that Small can rebound from a terrible 2022 & lower his walks enough to add value as a LH reliever on the big league club. 

Maybe the FO likes what they see in Varland. 

[brewmann04]

Looks like they going with the bunch of arms they added and hope someone comes up and takes the next step 

[damuelle]

I guess we didn't want LHP Matt Gage either. He was claimed by the Astros.

It appears that Gage was initially placed on Outright Waivers by the Blue Jays, but unclaimed over the first few days, meaning that nobody was willing to pay the standard $50,000 claim fee. But then part-way through DFA limbo, they switched him to Release Waivers and he was selected by the Astros for a $1 claim fee. Gage then had 5 days to accept or reject the claim, ultimately accepting.

MLB.com can now update the example they use in their Release Waivers definition.

[damuelle]

In the last few weeks, at least 7 teams have added a left-handed reliever that I think are worth noting when considering our current 40-man roster:

• Diamondbacks - Andrew Chafin (FA signing)
• Marlins - AJ Puk (trade for a top prospect)
• Royals - Aroldis Chapman (FA signing)
• Rangers - Danny Duffy (MILB signing, but presumably with expectation to be added to 40-man shortly after Brett Martin goes on the 60-day injured list)
• Cardinals - Anthony Misiewicz (traded for cash considerations in DFA window)
• Astros - Matt Gage (claimed for $1 in DFA window)
• Mariners - Tayler Saucedo (claimed for standard fee in DFA window)

[DR28]

Moore and Britton are still out there.

[nate82]

1 hour ago, damuelle said:

Marlins - AJ Puk (trade for a top prospect)

I wouldn't call Bleday a top prospect.

2021 AA: .212/.323/.373

2022 AAA: .228/.365/.470

2022 MLB: .167/.277/.309

 

 

[damuelle]

55 minutes ago, nate82 said:

I wouldn't call Bleday a top prospect.

2021 AA: .212/.323/.373

2022 AAA: .228/.365/.470

2022 MLB: .167/.277/.309

 

 

Thanks. Was going off memory reflex, since Bleday and Puk were both ranked highly for a few years recently. For his part, Puk did put up solid MLB bullpen numbers in 2022, but apparently he only nets a former top prospect in return.

[damuelle]

One of the undesirable lefty relievers is off the board: Reds Sign Daniel Norris To Minor League Deal

Still waiting on the solid short name guys to find landing spots: Matt Moore, Will Smith, Brad Hand...

[brewmann04]

Angels closing in on a deal with Lefty Matt Moore. Looks like the brewers are going with what they have in Milner and Claudio

[Jopal78]

3 hours ago, brewmann04 said:

Angels closing in on a deal with Lefty Matt Moore. Looks like the brewers are going with what they have in Milner and Claudio

I think you're probably right, but gosh that's pretty bad. Miller had a career year last season at 30 years old, and Claudio has been terrible since the Brewers dropped him the first time, and barely even pitched in the majors last year. 

I'm crossing my fingers that Will Smith is coming back. Maybe not a barn burner but he has a much better track record than the lefty reliever options the Brewers have in-house.

[Jake McKibbin]

Are there any that could potentially be traded during spring training? I can't imagine the Brewers will go in this under stocked unless they're super confident upon seeing their guys

[brewmann04]

sorry Jopal forgot Smith is still out there i believe someone mention Britton too as being out there

[Brewcrew82]

It's worth noting that Ashby will probably be seeing a lot of time in the bullpen, as well. His numbers in the bullpen are quite nice. 

[DR28]

1 hour ago, brewmann04 said:

sorry Jopal forgot Smith is still out there i believe someone mention Britton too as being out there

Britton threw a bullpen the other day, we we're not one of the teams that showed up... So Britton will most likely not be in Milwaukee, it's too bad, he would be a great arm to add with Devin.

They must really believe in the bullpen guys in camp, thought for sure we would add another good arm in the pen... Doesnt have to be a lefty, just add someone good.

[damuelle]

2 hours ago, Brewcrew82 said:

It's worth noting that Ashby will probably be seeing a lot of time in the bullpen, as well. His numbers in the bullpen are quite nice. 

Not for a while though... 

 

[Brewcrew82]

2 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Not for a while though... 

 

Crap, well that's a kick in the nuts. 

[brewmann04]

yes they added a ton of arms and think they are hoping for one or two to pan out.

Not a good plan for a team looking to make the playoffs. I really can't see them going with the Milner and Claudio  

[BlazingGunz]

Most likely not Britton since we didn't go to his showcase.   Some other dudes with recent success:

Will Smith (yes please, and bring back JJ too)

Brad Hand

Jose Alvarez

Steven Brault

or Maybe convert Mike Minor into a reliever, thats a stretch though

[damuelle]

Well, we signed LHP Justin Wilson, though he'll be out until July which means the Brewers could still add another lefty in spring training or early in the season.

If the remaining free agents are too rich for our blood, then we may wait-and-see which NRIs aren't selected by their clubs and thus choose to opt out in late March, e.g.:

• Danny Duffy - Rangers
• Sean Doolittle - Nationals
• Daniel Norris - Reds
• Chasen Shreve - Tigers
• Ryan Borucki - Cubs
• Danny Coulombe - Twins
• Alex Young - Reds
• Ryan Sherriff - Red Sox
• Caleb Smith - Pirates
• Sean Newcomb - Giants

[brewmann04]

well we got midseason reliever  early this season

[DR28]

With the Voit and Naquin moves today, come on and get us another reliever for the pen and we'll be in damn good shape.

Rosenthal, Smith, Britton someone, anyone decent.