Brewers acquire Frankie Montas

[brooks_quichenick]

I don't love it but will give this FO the benefit of the doubt.

[NYChez]

The Brewers need a starter for Tuesday, and it seems too early for Montas to be the guy with a physical being needed and the trade not being announced. Could Chad Patrick be a candidate? He’d be on his normal rest.

[sveumrules]

57 minutes ago, wallus said:

One of those Sveum posts that show us the upside with him would be perfectly cromulent right now.

I’m pretty much just crossing my fingers over here too. Thought this was kind of funny though…

Junis
18.8 K% | 5.0 BB% | 1.38 HR9
Montas
19.0 K% | 10.0 BB% | 1.35 HR9

K and HR rates are virtually identical this year, Frankie just walks twice as many guys. 

Guess the general idea is Montas has a higher ceiling (even if he’s gonna need some help/luck getting there) and can eat more innings?

I would have preferred Fedde or Kikuchi (guess there’s still time for Flaherty) but am also fine hanging onto the top prospects if we aren’t ultimately the winning bidder.

[brewcrewdue80]

I have no clue what acquiring Montas is about?  The Fip is near 5! And its been on the rise throughout July. If you are including Junis in the trade, just trade him separately elsewhere.

I dunno. Nothing good via statcast. 

He has great numbers 1st time through the order.  Pretty sad after that.  Looks like he should be a 9 batter opener or your cleaner on blowout games that can eat up 6innings. 

Just because I was such a believer in Wiemer, does the trade hurt. I understand that body maturity and swing never happened. Great team for him to be traded to.

Some moves like Mears you think we may steal a win or two down the stretch.  This one has vibes of losing 1 or 2 more.

[harrydalton]

I read elsewhere the Brewers added $1 million to the deal to equalize buyouts to avoid each pitcher's 2025 option.

I don't care about the Reds contract with Montas.

The trade is a short- term positive only if Montas proves to be considerably better than he's been thus far this year. I wouldn't bet one way or the other on that.

But it doesn't cost them beyond this year unless Wiemer finds his power in MLB. 

I'd grade the trade a C-.

 

 

 

 

[Beaugie]

Low risk move. Junis numbers looked good but his xERA was near 5. He hasn't pitched much at all. 

 

Weimer at this point was never going to be an OF for us in the near future and he's an older prospect now. It's not a loss in any way IMO

 

Frankie a couple years back was great until his injury. He's probably not the answer but it's a low risk move and opens a roster spot. 

[BrewerFan]

17 minutes ago, brewcrewdue80 said:

I have no clue what acquiring Montas is about?  The Fip is near 5! And its been on the rise throughout July. If you are including Junis in the trade, just trade him separately elsewhere.

I dunno. Nothing good via statcast. 

He has great numbers 1st time through the order.  Pretty sad after that.  Looks like he should be a 9 batter opener or your cleaner on blowout games that can eat up 6innings. 

Just because I was such a believer in Wiemer, does the trade hurt. I understand that body maturity and swing never happened. Great team for him to be traded to.

Some moves like Mears you think we may steal a win or two down the stretch.  This one has vibes of losing 1 or 2 more.

Well...hasn't happened yet. He did just turn 25 before the season. A guy his size with his power, speed and defense, I don't like giving up on him while getting back a pitcher who...doesn't appear to be much of an upgrade.

I really disagree that Wiemer's already "reached his ceiling." His ceiling is substantial...even now, even with the likelihood he reaches it growing more and more unlikely. 

There was a 40 man crunch, but I feel the opposite about this trade as I did about the Mears trade. Didn't like giving up Herrera, but thought Mears was an obvious candidate to bounce back. I'm not seeing that with Montas. 

[Playing Catch]

I hate this.

I don't understand it. I am confused. 

I like cheap Junis more than less cheap Montas.

Apparently, my prospect love for Wiemer will remain unrequited. Say it ain't so, Joe-y.

[Brian]

8 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

I hate this.

I don't understand it. I am confused. 

I like cheap Junis more than less cheap Montas.

Apparently, my prospect love for Wiemer will remain unrequited. Say it ain't so, Joe-y.

JMHO:  I will say to begin with Wiemer,  He kind of sucks but and I don't really care about that but

I did love Junis,  But. Junis was only good for about 2 maybe 3 innings max before trouble.

Montas is good for about 6 innings before he falls apart. So we can get double the length before trouble and I think that is why we made the trade. 

[Team Canada]

1 hour ago, Beaugie said:

Low risk move. Junis numbers looked good but his xERA was near 5. He hasn't pitched much at all. 

 

Weimer at this point was never going to be an OF for us in the near future and he's an older prospect now. It's not a loss in any way IMO

 

Frankie a couple years back was great until his injury. He's probably not the answer but it's a low risk move and opens a roster spot. 

Welcome!

[bigred]

6 hours ago, Baldkin said:

750 guys are splitting one pie and 30 guys are splitting an even bigger pie and your problem is with one of the 750 maybe getting a bit too large a slice?

He's just saying that players/people should get paid according to what their performance/knowledge level warrants. Owners and players are equally as greedy. Greed is rampant all over America. 

[adambr2]

On paper, this is as bad of a trade as I can remember in recent history. 

This is one of those where if you're going to say anything positive about it, it's basically that you'll just have to trust the organization on it because they've been right more often than not. We'll see. 

[Jopal78]

1 hour ago, adambr2 said:

On paper, this is as bad of a trade as I can remember in recent history. 

This is one of those where if you're going to say anything positive about it, it's basically that you'll just have to trust the organization on it because they've been right more often than not. We'll see. 

I don’t know why you would say it’s bad; the Brewers literally traded a reliever on an expiring contract who has been injured most the season and a minor league outfielder with no path to playing time in Milwaukee. Other than cash or PTBNL I don’t think the Brewers could have given up less to get a pitcher to eat more innings for them. 
 

I agree with you it’s pretty underwhelming on paper but I’d call it a neutral deal. Montas likely does not make them immediately better but they likely won’t miss Junis or Wiemer either 

[rickh150]

1 hour ago, adambr2 said:

On paper, this is as bad of a trade as I can remember in recent history. 

This is one of those where if you're going to say anything positive about it, it's basically that you'll just have to trust the organization on it because they've been right more often than not. We'll see. 

Right…. Good trade because Arnold made it……No one is confusing this one with Vuc, Fingers and Simmons. We’ll see. 

[Frisbee Slider]

Junis was striking out 6.6 per 9 innings. I think he has a modest regression in Cincinnati.

Also, Montas likely has a modest improvement in Milwaukee.

I remember how disappointed we all were when we acquired Bryon Hudson over the off-season
 

 

[Oxy]

10 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I'm thinking Junis refused to wear the 'Undaunted' shirt and maybe had a back-and-forth with Murphy. Gotta wear the shirt.

This is funny...but honestly perhaps there could be some friction between the FO/coaching staff and Junis? That actually makes sense then to dump him now ASAP for whatever before we have to figure out how to do it in the offseason... and for an expiring contract and at least a similar-ish valued pitcher in Montas.  Weimer may have just been a 40 man casualty that was done a favor by sending him home to Cincinnati.

[patrickgpe]

2 hours ago, adambr2 said:

On paper, this is as bad of a trade as I can remember in recent history. 

This is one of those where if you're going to say anything positive about it, it's basically that you'll just have to trust the organization on it because they've been right more often than not. We'll see. 

I’m not a fan but that’s pushing it. This won’t be a Reece Olson- Daniel Norris trade. 

[adambr2]

1 hour ago, Jopal78 said:

I don’t know why you would say it’s bad; the Brewers literally traded a reliever on an expiring contract who has been injured most the season and a minor league outfielder with no path to playing time in Milwaukee. Other than cash or PTBNL I don’t think the Brewers could have given up less to get a pitcher to eat more innings for them. 
 

I agree with you it’s pretty underwhelming on paper but I’d call it a neutral deal. Montas likely does not make them immediately better but they likely won’t miss Junis or Wiemer either 

Then you must put almost no value on Wiemer as a prospect, because it would be crazy to give up 5 cost controlled years of any decent young outfielder for a rental of a veteran who you're just hoping to get lucky on if you think the OF is worth anything, whether he's currently blocked or not. 

[Playing Catch]

Yeah, this basically says that the Brewers didn't feel confident that Wiemer would ever be able to hit .200, which surprises me because of his defense and power. Lots of no-hit centerfielders in MLB.

Or, I guess the team really likes Montas for some reason.

Admittedly, I haven't liked Montas ever since is 50-game suspension for performance enhancers.

[Jopal78]

26 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

Then you must put almost no value on Wiemer as a prospect, because it would be crazy to give up 5 cost controlled years of any decent young outfielder for a rental of a veteran who you're just hoping to get lucky on if you think the OF is worth anything, whether he's currently blocked or not. 

What is your definition of “prospect”? Someone who appeared on a list at some point in time?

Since leaving A+ ball Wiemer has an OPS under .790. On top of that he’s a college player and turned professional four years ago. Plus, there’s three pre-arbitration eligible outfielders acquired after Wiemer who have passed him by to the 26 man roster.
 

Maybe his athleticism gets him to the majors again as a defensive CFer, but I wouldn’t call that profile “decent young outfielder”. Those type of players are readily available… see Blake Perkins.

[KeithStone53151]

15 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

What is your definition of “prospect”? Someone who appeared on a list at some point in time?

Since leaving A+ ball Wiemer has an OPS under .790. On top of that he’s a college player and turned professional four years ago. Plus, there’s three pre-arbitration eligible outfielders acquired after Wiemer who have passed him by to the 26 man roster.
 

Maybe his athleticism gets him to the majors again as a defensive CFer, but I wouldn’t call that profile “decent young outfielder”. Those type of players are readily available… see Blake Perkins.

You're ignoring the physical tools again and too focused on what he's done lately. The upside if Wiemer makes enough adjustments to hit 240/250 and tap into his power is quite high. Clear value in his upside. It's also absolutely possible a team thinks they can unlock something in Wiemer. The Brewers are top tier at developing pitching...specifically bullpen arms. Hitting is a different story.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I look at losing Wiemer now as it's probably selling high on him from an organizational control standpoint....already a year of mlb service time burned and two (I think) milb options burned, and he's heavily blocked at the MLB level with chourio, Mitchell, frelick, and yelich all deserving everyday ABs in Milwaukee.  

 

Wiemer could figure it out in a season or two and become a really good mlb OFer with pop - but he just wasn't going to get that opportunity as a Brewer with who else is on their 40 man roster...and getting Wiemer off their 40 man really helps free up one of their logjams.  That said, I wish he wasn't traded inside the division.

[LouisEly]

Junis has had a "balky" shoulder all season.  If they felt like his shoulder could handle it he would have been starting.  He's been in the pen for a reason and they need a starter.  I don't think it's anything more than that.

Junis, Ross, Hall, Wilson - they need a starter out of one of them and none have been showing they can be effective for more than 3-4 innings.  Junis was included to help balance salaries and 40-man spots. 

Wiemer, we'll see, but that's the price of starting pitching this time of year.  Like others have said, just no room for him, especially if Hicklen has moved ahead of him on the depth chart.

[Jopal78]

30 minutes ago, KeithStone53151 said:

You're ignoring the physical tools again and too focused on what he's done lately. The upside if Wiemer makes enough adjustments to hit 240/250 and tap into his power is quite high. Clear value in his upside. It's also absolutely possible a team thinks they can unlock something in Wiemer. The Brewers are top tier at developing pitching...specifically bullpen arms. Hitting is a different story.

I agree with you his physical tools probably got him drafted in the first place. However, it’s a results driven sport. Joey has not figured out how to even hit .260 in AAA. So it’s a pretty big assumption that he’s going to figure out how to successfully hit major league pitching. 

Falling steadily down the outfield depth chart; how much patience does Wiemer deserve? Not to mention being on the 40 man roster for two years and not in the majors his remaining options come into play. 

Seems most likely the Brewers believed Joey was at or near his ceiling and that’s why he was expendable.

[brewcrewdue80]

39 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

What is your definition of “prospect”? Someone who appeared on a list at some point in time?

Since leaving A+ ball Wiemer has an OPS under .790. On top of that he’s a college player and turned professional four years ago. Plus, there’s three pre-arbitration eligible outfielders acquired after Wiemer who have passed him by to the 26 man roster.
 

Maybe his athleticism gets him to the majors again as a defensive CFer, but I wouldn’t call that profile “decent young outfielder”. Those type of players are readily available… see Blake Perkins.

To be fair, both Mitchell and Frelick are 1st rd picks. Wiemer wouldn't have been ahead of them.

Chourio did pass him but Chourio basically passed all but the top 20-25 hitters in MLB these past 2months

Wiemer was blocked and we all knew the day was coming trading away 1 of the big 3 OFs. Love that he's in Cincy now. Park will help his stats.