Rumor: The Brewers Need a First Baseman; Here Are Some Options

[Brock Beauchamp]

MLBTR broke down the Brewers' need for a first baseman at this year's deadline (hopefully sooner than that, frankly). As of Wednesday morning, the Brewers sit 0.5 games behind the upstart Cincinnati Reds and the primary reason for that deficit is Milwaukee's offense, first base being the biggest underperformer of the group.

Unfortunately, outside of Paul Goldschmidt, there aren't many clear upgrades at first base amongst the also-rans. Teams like Washington and Oakland are running out what are likely AAAA players while Colorado's CJ Cron, a very interesting name to keep an eye on, only returned from injury a few days ago and hasn't hit well this year.

In the short-term, the best (only?) solution for the Brewers is recalling Keston Hiura to find an internal patch at first.

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[wiguy94]

I’d rather they get hot and start winning but I think the most realistic situation is they just continue to get by for the next month and are in a weird spot of buy/sell. 
 

I just think there’s too many holes to fill. RF, DH, 1B, 2B are all among the worst in the league this year offensively and I don’t think we can get 4 good hitters through the trade market. Leads me to thinking selling is probably the best option for this team because let’s be real does anyone think this team could score enough in the postseason to make a run?  

[LouisEly]

Is the solution Christian Yelich?

He was drafted as a 1B.  If Frelick can get back on track he can play LF.  Anderson/Perkins can play RF.  Or maybe it's acquire an OF and move Yelich to 1B.

[TURBO]

2 hours ago, LouisEly said:

Is the solution Christian Yelich?

He was drafted as a 1B.  If Frelick can get back on track he can play LF.  Anderson/Perkins can play RF.  Or maybe it's acquire an OF and move Yelich to 1B.

If Yelich ever moves to 1B, it's going to be after at least a full spring training playing the position.  No way they just toss a guy over there who hasn't played there in over 10 years...  

[TURBO]

4 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

 

I just think there’s too many holes to fill. RF, DH, 1B, 2B are all among the worst in the league this year offensively and I don’t think we can get 4 good hitters through the trade market. Leads me to thinking selling is probably the best option for this team because let’s be real does anyone think this team could score enough in the postseason to make a run?  

Add 3B to that list as well, and honestly, SS too.  Ugh.

[brewcrewdue80]

Was going to suggest trade for Ty France. But don't have the right mix of giveaways you would part with and they'd want. Probably cost Black+.

[wntrtxn21]

Brewers ranking (WAR) 

1B / 27th --- 2B / 22nd --- 3B / 23rd --- SS / 19 --- DH / Last --- RF / 27th

 

[brewcrewdue80]

Jeimer Candelario playing mostly 3b for Washington has experience at 1b with Detroit.  He'd be a rental but probably coveted by multiple teams.

46 minutes ago, wntrtxn21 said:

Brewers ranking (WAR) 

1B / 27th --- 2B / 22nd --- 3B / 23rd --- SS / 19 --- DH / Last --- RF / 27th

 

I'd think if we can get Frelick called up and playing CF with Wiemer to RF that may increase the RF situation.

 

Just posted in NL Central discussion how the team is approaching 9 games vs Cincy 6 vs Atl 4 vs Cubs besides Pit/Phi  all right before deadline.  That 6 vs Cincy before/after deadline should really set the minds if buying or selling.  With the 9 games vs Cin/Atl being the dagger which way.

[Jim French Stepstool]

22 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

 Leads me to thinking selling is probably the best option for this team because let’s be real does anyone think this team could score enough in the postseason to make a run?  

You're most likely correct about their post-season chances. But as long as they're in the hunt for the division---no matter how weak the division is---I don't ever see them selling based on "We won't be able to make a playoff run anyway". This may result in a "soft buy" mode, where you do something that could be a slight upgrade w/o losing any of your top 6-7 prospects. And if that's the case I think they're better off rolling the dice with Frelick-Hiura.

[Jim French Stepstool]

17 hours ago, TURBO said:

If Yelich ever moves to 1B, it's going to be after at least a full spring training playing the position.  No way they just toss a guy over there who hasn't played there in over 10 years...  

Long-term solution, quite possibly. But yeah, not in '23.

[jerichoholicninja]

A slight improvement at 1B does next to nothing to make this team better.

[BraunWeeksFielder]

On 6/29/2023 at 12:12 AM, brewcrewdue80 said:

Was going to suggest trade for Ty France. But don't have the right mix of giveaways you would part with and they'd want. Probably cost Black+.

Before the collision/injury, with Seattle's placement in the standings, not a bad shout. Might not cost Black, as France has 2.5 years of control left. Seattle is 5 back in the Wild Card standings and a bad showing this week could push them to sell

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, BraunWeeksFielder said:

Before the collision/injury, with Seattle's placement in the standings, not a bad shout. Might not cost Black, as France has 2.5 years of control left. Seattle is 5 back in the Wild Card standings and a bad showing this week could push them to sell

First, welcome to the site!

I wonder if Seattle is willing to sell from a public relations standpoint. The fanbase might revolt after seeing them make the postseason, see a quick exit, and then selling again the following deadline.

[owbc]

3 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

First, welcome to the site!

I wonder if Seattle is willing to sell from a public relations standpoint. The fanbase might revolt after seeing them make the postseason, see a quick exit, and then selling again the following deadline.

I don't see the Mariners parting with France even if they sell (which is appearing less likely since they are heating up like they did last year at this time). They don't have a good replacement option for France and they finally found a suitable DH in Mike Ford for the time being. If they do sell, Teoscar Hernandez would be the most likely candidate to move. 

How about Mark Canha as a salary dump option from the Mets? He's owed about $5.5 million more this year + a $2M buyout. Not a splashy option but he can fill in all over the field which is attractive. 

[jay87shot]

9 hours ago, owbc said:

How about Mark Canha as a salary dump option from the Mets? He's owed about $5.5 million more this year + a $2M buyout. Not a splashy option but he can fill in all over the field which is attractive. 

I like Canha a bunch, Mets would likely eat some of his salary and wouldn't cost a ton.

I agree Mariners not probably selling, Hernandez would be interesting.

I think Justin Turner is ideal if the Red Sox dip below .500. Maybe in tandem with Adam Duvall to DH.

Mitch Garver would be an interesting option as well at DH/3RD catcher it would allow. Caratini to DH occasionally as well. Garver has played a bit at 1st as well.

 

[Jopal78]

10 hours ago, jay87shot said:

I like Canha a bunch, Mets would likely eat some of his salary and wouldn't cost a ton.

I agree Mariners not probably selling, Hernandez would be interesting.

I think Justin Turner is ideal if the Red Sox dip below .500. Maybe in tandem with Adam Duvall to DH.

Mitch Garver would be an interesting option as well at DH/3RD catcher it would allow. Caratini to DH occasionally as well. Garver has played a bit at 1st as well.

 

The Mets are not going to eat cash just to do it. Like their most recent trade where they ate Flexen’s contract in order to get Trevor Gott for their pen and who they can control.

Given the Brewers outlook it doesn’t make much sense to trade real assets for a 1B,

If anything , given the GMs comments about Woodruff and improvement from within, they’ll probably dumpster dive for some veterans they can get in exchange for minor league depth pieces and taking on cash.

[Playing Catch]

Some former Phillies executive stated on MLB network yesterday that the Mets should trade Alonso, who has yet to sign an extension, but has team control through 2024.

Anyone on board with selling Chourio+ to get Alonso? I probably would be. (But I'm sure this would just be Stearns plotting in his dark corner of the Front Office to get his future employer the transcendent teenager!).

[owbc]

41 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

Some former Phillies executive stated on MLB network yesterday that the Mets should trade Alonso, who has yet to sign an extension, but has team control through 2024.

Anyone on board with selling Chourio+ to get Alonso? I probably would be. (But I'm sure this would just be Stearns plotting in his dark corner of the Front Office to get his future employer the transcendent teenager!).

Make the trade on Sunday and Alonso shows up to the home run derby on Monday in a Brewers uniform? 

[wntrtxn21]

I can't see any way they trade Chourio for 1.4 years of Alonso. Plus Alonso will be making near $18M next year. 

[BrewerFan]

On 6/29/2023 at 2:55 PM, Jim French Stepstool said:

Long-term solution, quite possibly. But yeah, not in '23.

This IS the same team that moved Travis Shaw to 2B.

It's a bit hard to envision them moving Yelich just as he's hitting the ball as well as he has since 2018, but it could solve a few issues.

Tyler Black is a guy I'd at least consider if we can't find another in-house solution, but I've yet to see him in the lineup at 1B in Biloxi(could have missed it).

4 hours ago, owbc said:

Some former Phillies executive stated on MLB network yesterday that the Mets should trade Alonso, who has yet to sign an extension, but has team control through 2024.

Anyone on board with selling Chourio+ to get Alonso? I probably would be. (But I'm sure this would just be Stearns plotting in his dark corner of the Front Office to get his future employer the transcendent teenager!).

LOL...I'm shocked we didn't send Quero, Chourio, and Frelick out last year for JD Davis...what with Stearns being a double agent!

 

The serious part, I wouldn't consider Chourio for Alonso. I'm not trading him for any player with a year and a half of service time. Same goes for Misiorowski, Frelick or Quero. And it'd have to be real significant upgrade(Someone like Alonso that we'd make a QO to) to trade that next group, Turang, Wiemer, Black, Lara or Gasser.

I wonder what type of trade value Mitchell would have? He's the OFer I have the least faith in. Being his non-throwing shoulder that's injured...maybe a team not contending wouldn't mind waiting until '24 to get him on the field.

[BrewerFan]

18 hours ago, jay87shot said:

I like Canha a bunch, Mets would likely eat some of his salary and wouldn't cost a ton.

I agree Mariners not probably selling, Hernandez would be interesting.

I think Justin Turner is ideal if the Red Sox dip below .500. Maybe in tandem with Adam Duvall to DH.

Mitch Garver would be an interesting option as well at DH/3RD catcher it would allow. Caratini to DH occasionally as well. Garver has played a bit at 1st as well.

 

Garver would be great...but hard to see the Rangers trading away depth given how well they're playing this year. 

 

The Red Sox have to be looking to trade Turner, right? He's got a player option for next year and is gonna get nearly 7M if he exercises it(which he presumably will as he's still hitting and would almost certainly get more than 6M in FA). He shouldn't cost much in terms of prospects. And Boston has 4 starting pitchers on the IL right now with Sale back on the 60 day, has started 22 games in 4 years, so I doubt they'll be banking on much of anything from him with the "chance to come back in August" diagnosis. 

In fact, we should probably look to get a reliever back with Turner if we give up even a...IDK, Jarvis type prospect. Boston seems like a team that'll likely look to be spending a lot of money this off-season, so clearing whatever cash they can this year, plus a few team options, that's a deal that should be made.

[Brewcrew82]

Wonder what it would take for the Cardinals to give us Goldschmidt..That's a 1.5 year solution for the 1B position. 

[nate82]

29 minutes ago, Brewcrew82 said:

Wonder what it would take for the Cardinals to give us Goldschmidt..That's a 1.5 year solution for the 1B position. 

Chourio and Frelick.  I don't see the Cardinals trading Goldschmidt for anything less than at least two top 100 players.  Is  Goldschmidt worth that?  Heck no he is not but the Cardinals are not going to sell for anything less. 

[Brewcrew82]

16 minutes ago, nate82 said:

Chourio and Frelick.  I don't see the Cardinals trading Goldschmidt for anything less than at least two top 100 players.  Is  Goldschmidt worth that?  Heck no he is not but the Cardinals are not going to sell for anything less. 

I would give up Frelick for Goldschmidt.

That's a major overpay according to BTV, which would probably be necessary for an intradivisional trade like that. 

[tonyei31]

I know his strikeout rate is high but I wonder if Ryan Noda from the Athletics would make sense?  Gets on base a ton with Walks, some power, pre-arby. I don't know how much of an extreme upgrade it would be this year but he could fill a more cost affordable role for Rowdy if we were to decide to move on.