wallus’s 2025 Payroll Blueprint:

[wallus]

Trade One: Alec Bohm (24.9 BTV) for Devin Williams (8.7 BTV), Hoby Milner (2,7 BTV) and Luis Lara (8 BTV)

I normally roll my eyes at 3 for 1 trade ideas but this one could make some sense.  I am not a huge Bohm fan by any means but he would fill in for our prospect timeline. My number one option would be to sign Kim but it is likely he will get more than a one year deal.

Trade Two: Brady Singer (16.8 BTV) for Sal Frelick (21.8 BTV) I would like to sell high on Sal after his gold glove season and add another starter with a couple of years of control. I also think we need to either trade Tyler Black or move him to the outfield. This move would make him an outfielder moving forward.

Trade Three: Kendry Rojas (4.8 BTV) for Joel Payamps (7.2 BTV) Joel has been good for us but he is getting to the point where we need to move on. Rojas is a promising arm that we can add to the system.

Free Agent Signing: Josh Bell for 1 year and 6 million. I looked and didn't see any predictions for Bell so maybe my guess is wrong. Despite having solid batting stats, he had a negative WAR. He would strictly be a DH and a veteran bat with power which we need after losing Willy.

Free Agent Signing: Paul Dejong for 1 year and 7 million. Another player that doesn't get any predictions. Paul had about 1 WAR and can play all over. He would replace Monasterio and play all over the infield. I would also have him replace Rhys at 1st late in games.

Lineup:

Chourio (RF)

Contreras (C)

Yelich (LF)

Bohm (3B)

Mitchell (CF)

Bell (DH)

Hoskins (1B)

Ortiz (SS)

Turang (2B)

• C: William Contreras ($7.60M)
• 1B: Rhys Hoskins ($18.00M)
• 2B: Brice Turang ($0.80M)
• 3B: Alec Bohm ($8.10M)
• SS: Joey Ortiz ($0.80M)
• LF: Christian Yelich ($24.25M)
• CF: Garrett Mitchell ($0.80M)
• RF: Jackson Chourio ($4.25M)
• DH: Josh Bell ($6.0M)
• 4th OF: Blake Perkins ($0.80M)
• Utility: Paul Dejong ($7.00M)
• Utility: Tyler Black ($0.80M)
• Backup C: Eric Haase ($1.80M)
• NA: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Freddy Peralta ($8.25M)
• SP2: Aaron Civale ($8.00M)
• SP3: Tobias Myers ($0.80M)
• SP4: Brandon Woodruff ($5.00M)
• SP5: Brady Singer ($7.5M)
• RP: DL Hall ($0.80M)
• RP: Trevor Megill ($2.00M)
• RP: Nick Mears ($0.90M)
• RP: Jared Koenig ($0.80M)
• RP: Bryan Hudson ($0.80M)
• RP: Elvis Peguero ($0.80M)
• RP: J.B. Bukauskas ($0.80M)
• RP: Aaron Ashby ($3.45M)
• NA: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

Payroll is 7.00% under budget

[StearnsFTW]

Not super-exciting, but I like it.  And it's probably realistic.  The bench is much better, which matters.

I'd love to get Singer.  I think he could be really good here.

 

Well done!

 

[jay87shot]

Your trades are solid but I don't like spending $13 million on 2 washed up bench players. I would much rather just add 1 really good hitter like Joc Pederson to DH.

The Singer trade is ok if you believe in Singer, but I wouldn't phrase trading Sal as selling high. I think there is still the upside to hit near .300 with like 40 doubles and to still have the great baserunning and gold glove defense.

[Brewin]

2 hours ago, jay87shot said:

The Singer trade is ok if you believe in Singer, but I wouldn't phrase trading Sal as selling high. I think there is still the upside to hit near .300 with like 40 doubles and to still have the great baserunning and gold glove defense.

I disagree on Sal. I don't see a .300ish hitter with 40 doubles at all. He has not shown the ability to consistently hit the ball hard at all. He makes a lot of weak contact IMO. It's the main reason I strongly prefer Mitchell over Frelick as I just think Sal is doing it with smoke and mirrors

[wallus]

3 hours ago, Brewin said:

I disagree on Sal. I don't see a .300ish hitter with 40 doubles at all. He has not shown the ability to consistently hit the ball hard at all. He makes a lot of weak contact IMO. It's the main reason I strongly prefer Mitchell over Frelick as I just think Sal is doing it with smoke and mirrors

If Sal were a .300 hitter with 40 doubles, he would be an all-star. The batted ball data is very concerning for him. I think he is likely more valuable as a center fielder but we do not have room for him there.

[wntrtxn21]

Well done wallus. This is one of the best, realistic predictions yet. The only change I would make is Bell. From what I've seen his value is going to be somewhere in the $12-14M range. Same for Pederson. Milwaukee doesn't need them. I think the Brewers are going to try and keep Yeli healthy by using him to DH quite a bit and inserting Black in LF to see if he can be a viable asset or not. With Haase re-signed, I think Contreras gets 30 or so games as a DH when Yelich plays LF. They could also insert DeJong at 3B and have Bohm or Hoskins DH. Use the bench INF spot to sign a cheap vet like Urshela. Milwaukee might have to sweeten the pot a little to get Singer, but nothing major. 

[wallus]

21 minutes ago, wntrtxn21 said:

Well done wallus. This is one of the best, realistic predictions yet. The only change I would make is Bell. From what I've seen his value is going to be somewhere in the $12-14M range. Same for Pederson. Milwaukee doesn't need them. I think the Brewers are going to try and keep Yeli healthy by using him to DH quite a bit and inserting Black in LF to see if he can be a viable asset or not. With Haase re-signed, I think Contreras gets 30 or so games as a DH when Yelich plays LF. They could also insert DeJong at 3B and have Bohm or Hoskins DH. Use the bench INF spot to sign a cheap vet like Urshela. Milwaukee might have to sweeten the pot a little to get Singer, but nothing major. 

I am very much out on Bell if he is going to get $12M plus. Pederson would be interesting but I just don't see him wanting to play for the Brewers and $12M might be out of what we could pay anyways.

Between Mitchell and Yelich, the team is relying on guys that have an injury history. I get what you're saying about having Yelich and Contreras, DHing but I just think there will be a ton of ABs to go around as is. I also am strongly in favor of giving Contreras more full days off. He wore down majorly at the end of the season.

[wallus]

Hoby non-tendered and Singer traded to the Reds??

[wallus]

I have to give this another try after some of the transactions. Also, my girlfriend has been in surgery so I have way too much time on my hands.

Trade One: Crochet (47.7 BTV) for Frelick (21.2 BTV), Hall (13.2 BTV), Black (12.2 BTV) and Uribe (7.5 BTV) I did not realize that Crochet only has 2 years of control left so that has changed my outlook on his value. Technically we are "overpaying" here but we need high end talent and the Sox need players that belong in MLB with control.

Trade Two: Sheehan (9 BTV) for Williams (8.6 BTV) The Dodgers have too many starters and can afford to give up Sheehan. The Brewers could use a starter with team control and with some potential. Sheehan wasn't great last year but we can afford to let him make starts in 2025.

Trade Three: Kendry Rojas (4.8 BTV) for Joel Payamps (7.2 BTV) Joel has been good for us but he is getting to the point where we need to move on. Rojas is a promising arm that we can add to the system. 

Sign Paul Goldschmidt to a 1 year, 15 million contract. At first I didn't think much of Paul. He is old and didn't have a great 2024. Then I dig a little deeper and he had a solid 2nd half of the season (.271/.319/.480). He also hits lefties very well (I am sick of lefties killing us) and plays much better defense at 1st than Rhys. I have often heard the argument that we can put Yelich and Contreras at DH and get by. I really think we need to give those guys full days off to keep them healthy and productive. We will also have injuries so they might get more at bats there than what the "plan" is.

Sign Josh Rojas to a 1 year, 4 million contract. Rojas was non-tendered by the Mariners after a 2 War season.  Why sign a guy that had a 641 OPS? His defense is outstanding and he can hit RHP a little bit. (I would platoon him)

Sign Amed Rosario to a 1 year, 3 million contract. Another guy that has warts and is coming off basically a replacement level season. Amed would be your 26th guy that would platoon against lefties as he can hit them. I think he could play 3rd as his range is what hurts him, not his arm. Rosario can also be your 5th outfielder.

Lineup against RHP:

Chourio (RF)

Yelich (LF)

Contreras (C)

Goldschmidt (1B)

Mitchell (CF)

Hoskins (DH)

Rojas (3B)

Ortiz (SS)

Turang (2B)

Bench: Haase, Perkins, Rosario and Monasterio

Lineup against LHP

Chourio (RF)

Yelich (LF)

Contreras (C)

Goldschmidt (1B)

Hoskins (DH)

Perkins (CF)

Ortiz (SS)

Rosario (2B)

Monasterio (3B)

Turang and Mitchell can get some of these starts too obviously.

Rotation:

Crochet

Peralta

Myers

Civale

Woodruff

Sheehan

Bullpen:

Megill

Mears

Koenig

Hudson

Peguero

Bukauskas

Ashby

This looks like a playoff team to me with a bright future. 

• C: William Contreras ($7.60M)
• 1B: Paul Goldschmidt ($15.00M)
• 2B: Brice Turang ($0.80M)
• 3B: Josh Rojas ($4M)
• SS: Joey Ortiz ($0.80M)
• LF: Christian Yelich ($24.25M)
• CF: Garrett Mitchell ($0.80M)
• RF: Jackson Chourio ($4.25M)
• DH: Rhys Hoskins ($18.0M)
• 4th OF: Blake Perkins ($0.80M)
• Utility: Amed Rosario ($3.00M)
• Utility: Andrew Monasterio ($0.80M)
• Backup C: Eric Haase ($1.80M)
• NA: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)
• SP1: Freddy Peralta ($8.25M)
• SP2: Aaron Civale ($8.00M)
• SP3: Tobias Myers ($0.80M)
• SP4: Brandon Woodruff ($5.00M)
• SP5: Garrett Crochet ($2.9M)
• SP6: Emmet Sheehan ($0.80M)
• RP: Trevor Megill ($2.00M)
• RP: Nick Mears ($0.90M)
• RP: Jared Koenig ($0.80M)
• RP: Bryan Hudson ($0.80M)
• RP: Elvis Peguero ($0.80M)
• RP: J.B. Bukauskas ($0.80M)
• RP: Aaron Ashby ($3.45M)
• NA: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M)

This team fits the budget.

[Michael Trzinski]

31 minutes ago, wallus said:

I have to give this another try after some of the transactions. Also, my girlfriend has been in surgery so I have way too much time on my hands.

 

Prayers and best wishes for your GF :)

[wallus]

2 minutes ago, Michael Trzinski said:

Prayers and best wishes for your GF :)

Thanks!

[wntrtxn21]

I like the Crochet trade. Great move is Arnold could pull it off.  However, Sheehan won't be ready until somewhere around the all-star break and then limited innings. Maybe he helps later on. The Dodgers certainly don't need him.  Milwaukee still would be extremely weak at 3B. Josh Rojas (.225/.304/.641 OPS) isn't anywhere near being a starting 3B.  Moncada in his place.? Rosario isn't the type fielder Milwaukee wants as a bench guy. I think DeJong would better fill that role, especially if they get Moncada. With Yelich coming off the injury, I believe the Brewers want him seeing most of the ABs as the DH with very limited time in LF.  I think they want Contreras to DH around 25 - 30 games too.  That would really limit Hoskins or Goldy's role.

[wallus]

Moncada is more interesting but I am not sure we can afford him or if we would want to give him a multi year deal that I am assuming he wants.

Rojas is a career 700 ops against RHP with near gold glove defense.

Rosario is a career 800 ops against LHP.

Not exciting but I am hopeful that it would be fine for a one year stopgap. If it isn't, we could trade for an upgrade in season.

I was unaware that Sheehan was out that long but I would still take the chance.

As far as Yelich/Contreras DHing, I just disagree there.

 

[Klantz27]

On 11/22/2024 at 11:20 AM, Brewin said:

I disagree on Sal. I don't see a .300ish hitter with 40 doubles at all. He has not shown the ability to consistently hit the ball hard at all. He makes a lot of weak contact IMO. It's the main reason I strongly prefer Mitchell over Frelick as I just think Sal is doing it with smoke and mirrors

I agree I genuinely get pissed watching sal play lol

[wallus]

Okay, might as well do another one of these, eventually I might get something right.

Trade 1: Royals: Pasquantino (BTV 26.6) for Brewers: Frelick (22.2 BTV) and Payamps (3.9 BTV)

The Royals need a CF and Frelick does not fit well on the Brewers roster. This would allow Perkins to be the 4th outfielder as well as let Black be the outfielder that he probably will be. India could be the Royals 1st baseman where he probably belongs anyways. They could also get involved with Pete Alonso potentially. 

Ironically, I would also do the same trade for Casas from Boston. 

Sign: One of Moncada, Polanco or Rojas. Any of these guys would be fine to fight with Durbin to see who will start at 3rd. I can't imagine any of them will sign for decent money and all of them have warts.

Sign: Trevor Williams to a 2 year, 14 million contract. We don't know what we are going to get from Woody and Myers is still mostly unproven. Signing Williams to a 2 year deal would help bring another veteran to the team. Williams was really good in limited innings last season. He's been pretty good 3 out of the last 4 years. He isn't a big strikeout guy and would benefit a lot from our infield defense.

These moves would allow us financial flexibility to add during the season if we need to.

Chourio (RF)

Yelich (LF)

Contreras (C)

Pasquantino (1B)

Hoskins (DH)

Mitchell (CF)

Free agent 3B

Ortiz (SS)

Turang (2B)

Bench: Haase, Perkins, Durbin, Black

Rotation: 

Peralta, Cortes, Myers, Civale, Woody, Williams

 

[Scooterfletcher]

9 hours ago, wallus said:

Ironically, I would also do the same trade for Casas from Boston. 

Sign: One of Moncada, Polanco or Rojas. Any of these guys would be fine to fight with Durbin to see who will start at 3rd. I can't imagine any of them will sign for decent money and all of them have warts.

I like the Casas idea.   Payamps the way he’s pitched the last two years should appeal to most all teams but the clear headliner headed out is Frelick (now officially a gold glover and Boston born).   I could see him thrive in Boston and be a fan favorite there.   
 

The only hiccup is they maybe would want Hoskins coming back but not his salary, so maybe send Giolito our way.

Casas/Giolito to Brewers

Hoskins/Payamps/Frelick to Red Sox

Thoughts?

[Devinep]

No way would Boston want a lefty outfielder. They already have a glut of those plus Yoshida at DH and Roman Anthony about MLB ready 

[wallus]

On 12/28/2024 at 10:42 PM, wallus said:

 

Sign: Trevor Williams to a 2 year, 14 million contract. We don't know what we are going to get from Woody and Myers is still mostly unproven. Signing Williams to a 2 year deal would help bring another veteran to the team. Williams was really good in limited innings last season. He's been pretty good 3 out of the last 4 years. He isn't a big strikeout guy and would benefit a lot from our infield defense.

 

Welp, I got the years and dollars right.... Just the wrong team

[wallus]

According to Curt Hogg, the payroll is at 108.8 million compared to 104.3 last season.

Note that between buyouts and deferrals, the Brewers are paying 11.75 million this year. Paying ~10% of your payroll for guys not on the roster isn't ideal. 

[jay87shot]

11 hours ago, wallus said:

According to Curt Hogg, the payroll is at 108.8 million compared to 104.3 last season.

Note that between buyouts and deferrals, the Brewers are paying 11.75 million this year. Paying ~10% of your payroll for guys not on the roster isn't ideal. 

It will be more next year when we pay Woody $10 likely not to be on the team (unless we extend him during the season)