Athletic Top 50 Free Agents

[brewerfan82]

For those looking for a little direction, I love FanGraph's Free Agent Tracker: https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/free-agent-tracker?&sign=unsigned

Their Crowd Source estimates for contracts have been relatively close to those that have signed, leaning a little towards the side of FA's getting a little more than the estimate. So it's a nice barometer for what to expect on that as well.

[brewerfan82]

My wishlist at this point would be to get a couple relievers, along with 1 or 2 bats that can help cover some combination of 1B/3B/OF/DH.

For relievers, using the Steamer projections purely to compare players, we currently top out with Williams (0.8 proj. WAR, 3.20 FIP), Bush (0.6 WAR, 3.46 FIP), Cousins (0.3 WAR, 3.80 FIP), Milner (0.2 WAR, 3.96 FIP), Payamps (0.2 WAR, 4.23 FIP), Strzelecki (0.1 WAR, 4.07 FIP), and Alexander (0.1 WAR, 4.47 FIP) as our only relievers projecting a WAR over 0.

So grabbing a couple of the following would be nice:

 - Taylor Rogers (LH, 32 yo, 0.7 proj. WAR, 3.22 FIP, 2 yrs / $15M crowd source proj. contract)
 - Adam Ottavino (RH, 37 yo, 0.5 proj. WAR, 3.66 FIP, 1 yr / $6M)
 - Andrew Chafin (LH, 33 yo, 0.4 proj. WAR, 3.66 FIP, no crowd source est. available)
 - Seth Lugo (RH, 33 yo, 0.3 proj. WAR, 3.68 FIP, 1 yr / $5M)
 - Luke Jackson (RH, 31 yo, 0.3 proj. WAR, 3.76 FIP, no crowd source est. available)
 - Trevor Rosenthal (RH, 33 yo, 0.2 proj. WAR, 3.86 FIP, no crowd source est. available)
 - Chad Green (RH, 32 yo, 0.2 proj. WAR, 3.68 FIP, 1 yr / $5M)

For bats, the following could be nice additions (especially if any of them slip through the market and have to take an under market contract later on):

 - Justin Turner (3B/DH, RH, 38 yo, 1.7 proj. WAR, 115 wRC+, 1 yr / $12M)
 - Brian Anderson (3B/LF/RF, RH, 30 yo, 1.5 proj. WAR, 97 wRC+, no crowd source est. available)
 - Trey Mancini (1B/LF/RF/DH, RH, 31 yo, 1.2 proj. WAR, 107 wRC+, 2 yrs / $16M)
 - Evan Longoria (3B, RH, 37 yo, 1.1 proj. WAR, 100 wRC+, 1 yr / $8M)
 - Josh Harrison (2B/3B, RH, 35 yo, 1.0 proj. WAR, 95 wRC+, no crowd source est. available)
 - Donovan Solano (2B/3B/1B, 35 yo, 0.8 proj. WAR, 101 wRC+, no crowd source est. available)
 - Wil Myers (1B/LF/RF, 32 yo, 0.8 proj. WAR, 104 wRC+, no crowd source est. available)

For comparison, here are the projected wRC+ of some of the guys looking to round out the offense currently:

 - Frelick (111 wRC+), Urias (110), Toro (102), Wiemer (99), Mitchell (99), Hiura (99), Taylor (98), Turang (94), Brosseau (91), Perkins (88), Miller (87)

[sveumrules]

Obviously Arnie is steering the ship now, but looking at ESPNs Free Agent Tracker the only FA relievers the Brewers signed to guaranteed MLB deals under Stearns were Neftali Feliz (1/$5.35M) prior to 2017 and Matt Albers (2/$5M) & Boone Logan (1/$2.5M) prior to 2018.

That’s it until they re-signed Boxberger for 1/$2.5M prior to 2022.

As much as the need appears to be there, I don’t see them ponying up for one of the “proven” relievers left & I hope they aren’t even considering bringing Rogers back.

My guess would be they are going to go Rays style and try to unearth some gems among the various new arms they’ve brought in or a guy like Uribe who might have the biggest arm on the 40 man.

Think whatever FA funds maybe remain go toward one more bat with Longoria checking the most boxes of the guys still out there.

[nate82]

20 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

My guess would be they are going to go Rays style and try to unearth some gems among the various new arms they’ve brought in or a guy like Uribe who might have the biggest arm on the 40 man.

Think whatever FA funds maybe remain go toward one more bat with Longoria checking the most boxes of the guys still out there.

I think Rosenthal fits under this style of thinking and he would be someone the Brewers might go after. 

I wouldn't rule out Chapman maybe his problems are mostly NY media based problems but I wouldn't rule out a reunion with the Cubs either for Chapman.  If the Brewers could get Chapman on a 1-year $10m deal I wouldn't be opposed to that. 

[Brewcrew82]

1 hour ago, sveumrules said:

Obviously Arnie is steering the ship now, but looking at ESPNs Free Agent Tracker the only FA relievers the Brewers signed to guaranteed MLB deals under Stearns were Neftali Feliz (1/$5.35M) prior to 2017 and Matt Albers (2/$5M) & Boone Logan (1/$2.5M) prior to 2018.

That’s it until they re-signed Boxberger for 1/$2.5M prior to 2022.

As much as the need appears to be there, I don’t see them ponying up for one of the “proven” relievers left & I hope they aren’t even considering bringing Rogers back.

My guess would be they are going to go Rays style and try to unearth some gems among the various new arms they’ve brought in or a guy like Uribe who might have the biggest arm on the 40 man.

Think whatever FA funds maybe remain go toward one more bat with Longoria checking the most boxes of the guys still out there.

I personally wouldn't be opposed to bringing Rogers back, if the price is right. He's been one of the more dominant relievers of the past 5 years and his peripherals remain strong, unlike Chapman's...

[MNBrew]

Michael Fulmer draws less attention than some of the other arms, but he could be a decent & affordable addition in a '21-'22 Boxberger kind of way.

[Hopper]

Rosenthal makes sense, especially since we should at least make an attempt to see if what we traded for might have been worth it.  No clue on what he will cost though.

[DR28]

Agreed, Rosenthal would be a great addition to bullpen... We traded for him for a reason, mine as well bring him back for 2023 season to see why we traded for him.

Bush, Rosenthal and Williams would be a killer back end of bullpen... Ton of Ks, good set up guys for Devin.

[wibadgers23]

It's kinda crazy to think how quickly free agency has moved this year.  We've had big time free agents still unsigned in February the past few years and now they're all off the board.  By my count, there's only about 10 free agents left from most of the top 50 lists.

[nate82]

13 minutes ago, wibadgers23 said:

It's kinda crazy to think how quickly free agency has moved this year.  We've had big time free agents still unsigned in February the past few years and now they're all off the board.  By my count, there's only about 10 free agents left from most of the top 50 lists.

Not picking on you but, earlier it was FA was moving to slow and now it has moved quickly. 

[wallus]

24 minutes ago, wibadgers23 said:

It's kinda crazy to think how quickly free agency has moved this year.  We've had big time free agents still unsigned in February the past few years and now they're all off the board.  By my count, there's only about 10 free agents left from most of the top 50 lists.

It seems like players are getting "their number" to sign quicker and not holding out. I wouldn't wait on some of these contracts getting thrown around either.

[brewmann04]

Rosenthal should be looked at since we did trade a prospect for him. 

[wibadgers23]

43 minutes ago, nate82 said:

Not picking on you but, earlier it was FA was moving to slow and now it has moved quickly. 

Yeah I hear you but I guess I meant in the grand scheme of things.

[StearnsFTW]

14 hours ago, sveumrules said:

Obviously Arnie is steering the ship now, but looking at ESPNs Free Agent Tracker the only FA relievers the Brewers signed to guaranteed MLB deals under Stearns were Neftali Feliz (1/$5.35M) prior to 2017 and Matt Albers (2/$5M) & Boone Logan (1/$2.5M) prior to 2018.

That’s it until they re-signed Boxberger for 1/$2.5M prior to 2022.

As much as the need appears to be there, I don’t see them ponying up for one of the “proven” relievers left & I hope they aren’t even considering bringing Rogers back.

My guess would be they are going to go Rays style and try to unearth some gems among the various new arms they’ve brought in or a guy like Uribe who might have the biggest arm on the 40 man.

Think whatever FA funds maybe remain go toward one more bat with Longoria checking the most boxes of the guys still out there.

I agree that this is the direction I think they'll go.

 

I'd prefer Wil Meyers, just because I believe he really helps in spots that need help (1B v LHP, RF in general).

Longoria would be fine also, but the more I think on it, the more I think Urias will be just fine at 3B.

 

[DR28]

Drury's market is very active... Bet he'll be off the board in the next couple days... Depending on the price, I would really like to add him.