Travis Shaw

[NievesNoNO]

There seems to be quite a few assumptions being made that Shaw is playing hurt. It wouldn't be the first time a player slumped for a month. At this point in the season I have to imagine very few players are feeling 100% healthy. If the guy says he can play and the medical staff clears it, who are we to sit here and debate whether he should be on the DL or not?

 

Even if he's pushing through a bit to keep playing, I'd much rather have a player on that end of the spectrum than the opposite.

[rickh150]

There seems to be quite a few assumptions being made that Shaw is playing hurt. It wouldn't be the first time a player slumped for a month. At this point in the season I have to imagine very few players are feeling 100% healthy. If the guy says he can play and the medical staff clears it, who are we to sit here and debate whether he should be on the DL or not?

 

Even if he's pushing through a bit to keep playing, I'd much rather have a player on that end of the spectrum than the opposite.

 

Pushing thru it seems to be what he is doing because yeah, our lineup looks way worse without him. That is what scares me. It's best for the team, not for the player. If he was fine, he wouldn't have left mid AB, mind you.

 

I think there is some wiggle room from what they are doing and the DL. Give him the Braun treatment where he gets some off games. Nothing seems right with how they are reacting to this. No, I am not the dr, have no medical reports. Yet common sense says don't play him like normal.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Shaw was incredibly streaky last year with no injuries. I think its the same thing this year. He'll get hot again at some point. He is who he is. He can look horrible one week, then put up superhuman numbers the next. Just gotta roll with him.

[SeaBass]

Shaw at 2B?

 

Per MLB.com

Brewers planning to add third baseman?

July 3: Third baseman Travis Shaw was working with Brewers coaches at second base recently, potentially foreshadowing a move that could clear the way for Milwaukee to trade for another hot-corner man, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal as written in The Athletic.

The article goes on to theorize that the Brewers might look at Mike Moustakas to play third. Mentions interest in Whit Merrifield, which has already been reported. And goes on to say that Aguilar is an internal candidate to play more at 3B if Shaw could play passable defense at 2nd.

 

Interesting. Not sure I have a lot of faith in Shaw's ability to play at 2B, but if they're actually working with Shaw there in practice who knows what crazy stuff might happen.

[FVBrewerFan]

Brewers use extreme shifts as much or more than anybody. Sometimes 3B moves to the other side of the IF, just depends on team and personnel. So, it could be as simple as getting Shaw some reps at 2B to se see if they want to use him over there on the shift instead of the SS.

 

Who knows, just throwing it out there as a very simple reason some reporter saw him playing 2B. But yes, if there's more to it than that it will very interesting!

[istanbultaye]

I would take Whit Merrifield, who can actually play 2b, and would be a clear upgrade over anyone we've got for that position defensively and offensively. However, I would not be all that pleased with a move for Moustakas. He would downgrade 3B both defensively and offensively, and from what the article is mentioning push Shaw to 2b, where even with Shaw's solid O, I would have a lot of misgivings about his defense there.

[jerichoholicninja]

Pass on Moose. Get Adrian Beltre if they want a rental 3B.

[pacopete4]

Solarte from Toronto?

[istanbultaye]

Adrian Beltre would be rather interesting. Maybe he could give Braun some tips on how to still hit as an old person and Braun would end up having a really good set of years to finish out his contract.

[wallus]

Donaldson as a rental 3b? I have always been a big fan of his.

[pacopete4]

Donaldson as a rental 3b? I have always been a big fan of his.

 

Can you trust the health though?

[wallus]

Donaldson as a rental 3b? I have always been a big fan of his.

 

Can you trust the health though?

 

Probably not but I can't imagine he would cost much of anything. I would rather target a difference maker versus a ho-hum addition.

[rickh150]

Donaldson as a rental 3b? I have always been a big fan of his.

 

Can you trust the health though?

 

Probably not but I can't imagine he would cost much of anything. I would rather target a difference maker versus a ho-hum addition.

 

He can't be that motivated now with the SoX and Yanks in the playoffs basically by July. A move would do him good, if healthy. I could part with a #10-20 prospect for him.

[YelichPosse]

To be honest the idea of Shaw at 2b and a Beltre or Donaldson makes me excited ... I’m warming up to the idea for sure... ever since I heard about the 2b and Shaw possibities etc.

 

If the only move we made was something like that , however and not a starter as well, I think i would be disappointed.

 

Shaw needs to get over his wrist thing and really get going here tho. Because when he gets hot he can negate the offensive warts we have.

[MrTPlush]

Alright Josh Donaldson isn’t as bad as you guys make him out to be. He was one of the best players in the game the last half decade. Sure his stats are down this year, but he is still a solid player with a ceiling much higher than he is showing right now.

 

It is going to cost something decent or the Blue Jays will just hold him. You’d have to offer close to what the draft pick is worth if he declines a QO. At this point you probably don’t offer him the QO, but any kind of turnaround to warm up his FA market it is a no brainer.

 

I don’t buy the “not motivated” garbage. The dude had 5 elite seasons prior to this one and is about to hit FA. Even at 32 he still would be licking his chops for $50mil+. Heck probably Cain money. If that doesn’t motivate you not sure what does.

[YelichPosse]

Alright Josh Donaldson isn’t as bad as you guys make him out to be. He was one of the best players in the game the last half decade. Sure his stats are down this year, but he is still a solid player with a ceiling much higher than he is showing right now.

 

It is going to cost something decent or the Blue Jays will just hold him. You’d have to offer close to what the draft pick is worth if he declines a QO. At this point you probably don’t offer him the QO, but any kind of turnaround to warm up his FA market it is a no brainer.

 

I really feel if he can stay healthy (that is indeed an if), Donaldson would have a very good second half and stretch run if he were with a contender. If that is the case, why not with us!

[MrTPlush]

Alright Josh Donaldson isn’t as bad as you guys make him out to be. He was one of the best players in the game the last half decade. Sure his stats are down this year, but he is still a solid player with a ceiling much higher than he is showing right now.

 

It is going to cost something decent or the Blue Jays will just hold him. You’d have to offer close to what the draft pick is worth if he declines a QO. At this point you probably don’t offer him the QO, but any kind of turnaround to warm up his FA market it is a no brainer.

 

I really feel if he can stay healthy (that is indeed an if), Donaldson would have a very good second half and stretch run if he were with a contender. If that is the case, why not with us!

 

He could be a real bargain compared to Machado as a left side of the infield rental.

 

Still who knows what it would cost. If other teams believe in a rebound the bidding could go north of what the draft pick is worth.

[YelichPosse]

Alright Josh Donaldson isn’t as bad as you guys make him out to be. He was one of the best players in the game the last half decade. Sure his stats are down this year, but he is still a solid player with a ceiling much higher than he is showing right now.

 

It is going to cost something decent or the Blue Jays will just hold him. You’d have to offer close to what the draft pick is worth if he declines a QO. At this point you probably don’t offer him the QO, but any kind of turnaround to warm up his FA market it is a no brainer.

 

I really feel if he can stay healthy (that is indeed an if), Donaldson would have a very good second half and stretch run if he were with a contender. If that is the case, why not with us!

 

He could be a real bargain compared to Machado as a left side of the infield rental.

 

Still who knows what it would cost. If other teams believe in a rebound the bidding could go north of what the draft pick is worth.

 

Would you do a Lutz or Erceg type for him? I would have to say I would.... just because of the dynamic he would add. Think of Cain, Yelich, Aguilar, Shaw, Donaldson.... then a Thames mixed in ... that’s a nice top 5/6

[Mays Hayes]

Shaw at 2B?

 

Per MLB.com

Brewers planning to add third baseman?

July 3: Third baseman Travis Shaw was working with Brewers coaches at second base recently, potentially foreshadowing a move that could clear the way for Milwaukee to trade for another hot-corner man, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal as written in The Athletic.

The article goes on to theorize that the Brewers might look at Mike Moustakas to play third. Mentions interest in Whit Merrifield, which has already been reported. And goes on to say that Aguilar is an internal candidate to play more at 3B if Shaw could play passable defense at 2nd.

 

Interesting. Not sure I have a lot of faith in Shaw's ability to play at 2B, but if they're actually working with Shaw there in practice who knows what crazy stuff might happen.

 

I guess I like the chances of Shaw coming out of his slump at the plate, and us not needing a 3B a lot more than the chances he has the range and/or ability to play a passable 2B. If Shaw ends up playing a solid 2B, ever, I don't think I'll be able to trust anything I see or think about this game again.

[Devinep]

Mayes Hayes is right. I’m surprised a bunch of people are excited about getting a 3B. Shaw succeeding at 2B is Braun to 2B insane.

[pacopete4]

Yeah it is hard to picture Shaw playing well there. He’s a step too slow at 3B at times.

[BuckyBrewer61]

I very much dislike this idea. Shaw is not a middle infielder and never will be. He lacks range but plays a very good 3B. Now you’re taking a guy who’s already scuffling offensively and battling a nagging injury and forcing him to learn a new position mid season that he is just not equipped to play.

 

This isn’t fantasy baseball. We are set at 3B, don’t ruin that. Especially since we’ve already got a 1B playing corner OF and a 2B playing SS. If 2B needs to be solved that badly, go get a 2B.

[Ennder]

Shaw really struggles with any play where he has to move and pick up the ball off the ground. That sounds like a bad deficiency for 2B.

 

Donaldson has more than just injury concerns. His second half last year looks great but it showed some really troubling signs as he started to strike out more, had trouble getting around on fastballs and started turning into a guess hitter. He looks a lot like Bautista did before the bottom dropped out. I wouldn't want anything to do with Donaldson long term so he would have to be dirt cheap.

[brooks_quichenick]

The only other infield position I forsee Travis Shaw ever playing is 1B. He's just not agile enough for the middle infield.

[rickh150]

We often have had a below avg fielder in a position, but we want his bat to play. Why not Shaw (or Braun) at 2B for a similar reason? Get a lead and then switch positions-throw a better glove in. If behind, we still have a better lineup to catch up.

 

With all the shifting and with all the times there isn't a runner at 1B, there is a only a small percentage of time when Shaw would have to turn 2. When those times happen, play him closer to the bag so he doesn't have to make as an athletic play to turn two. If Miller can play 2B, so can Shaw.

 

He doesn't' need to play there daily, but once or twice a week seems right. Same thing for Aguilar at 3B.