Under the Radar (3B, 2B, SS) Targets

[BraunWeeksFielder]

• Blue Jays: Will Wagner
• Diamondbacks: Geraldo Perdomo
• Marlins: Otto Lopez
• Rangers: Josh Smith
• Rays: Taylor Walls
• Royals: Michael Massey
• Tigers: Trey Sweeney
• Twins: Edouard Julien
• White Sox: Bryan Ramos
• Yankees: Oswaldo Cabrera

The above list, per a few criteria, (years of control remaining, defense is at or can be a + skill based on age, height, weight, and standard minor league skills available via data collection and also cost to acquire taken into consideration.

The top 3 options for me:

1. Michael Massey, LHB, 4 years of control, Statcast shows elite range at 2B, and is improving. Royals will want young prospects/bullpen help based off need
2. Otto Lopez, RHB, 5 years of Control, baserunning, and defense are at elite + levels, bat is surprisingly crossing into promising territory. Marlins will want lower level (AA or lower) prospects
3. Geraldo Perdomo, Switch-Hitter, 3 years of control, the William Contreras-lite special (under the radar bat, promising defensive skill set, but Perdomo offers baserunning skills that are already borderline elite) D'Backs will want young but close to majors pitching (Gallen in walk year), or infield prospects (Naylor in walk year)

[BraunWeeksFielder]

I took the completed trades Matt Arnold has been a part of since taking over as GM, pulled data on the type of offensive profile and defensive profile they seem to go after both via trades and in the draft, ran the synched data against/across the other 29 teams, and keeping only those that play 3B, 2B, or SS and ran that data through stat cast to see how they profiled defensively in the Majors. 

[wntrtxn21]

4 hours ago, BraunWeeksFielder said:

• Blue Jays: Will Wagner
• Diamondbacks: Geraldo Perdomo
• Marlins: Otto Lopez
• Rangers: Josh Smith
• Rays: Taylor Walls
• Royals: Michael Massey
• Tigers: Trey Sweeney
• Twins: Edouard Julien
• White Sox: Bryan Ramos
• Yankees: Oswaldo Cabrera

The above list, per a few criteria, (years of control remaining, defense is at or can be a + skill based on age, height, weight, and standard minor league skills available via data collection and also cost to acquire taken into consideration.

The top 3 options for me:

1. Michael Massey, LHB, 4 years of control, Statcast shows elite range at 2B, and is improving. Royals will want young prospects/bullpen help based off need
2. Otto Lopez, RHB, 5 years of Control, baserunning, and defense are at elite + levels, bat is surprisingly crossing into promising territory. Marlins will want lower level (AA or lower) prospects
3. Geraldo Perdomo, Switch-Hitter, 3 years of control, the William Contreras-lite special (under the radar bat, promising defensive skill set, but Perdomo offers baserunning skills that are already borderline elite) D'Backs will want young but close to majors pitching (Gallen in walk year), or infield prospects (Naylor in walk year)

I wouldn't waste time on Lopez, Walls, Cabrera, Ramos, Julien, or Perdomo. None of them offer any more offensive help then what the Brewers already have.  Sweeney has good minor lg. numbers, but hasn't been able to carry that to the big leagues.  Wagner has little power and looks to be a utility type player. Massey is interesting and has shown some power. It looks like he is a 2B only guy though and I think the Royals would want much more than the Brewers want to give up for him.  Josh Smith could hit 18-19 HRs in Milwaukee and plays a good 3B. He's the best of the rest and would probably cost less than Massey to aquire.

[brewmann04]

Go with Moncade

[BigWoo53]

One name I haven't seen much talk about is Jorge Polanco. He has played mostly exclusively 2B last couple of years but could play 3B as well. He was baaaad last year in SEA but still hit 16 homers. SEA, SF, DET are a few ballparks where bats go to die. Polanco in hitter-friendly AmFam could be a great rebound candidate and wouldn't likely cost much. Polanco hit 33 HRs in 2021 with a 125 OPS+ and the next two years OPS+ of 117, 112. He is a guy who could help make up for that power loss from Adames. He is likely an option if Turang is moved to SS (though I think Ortiz is the one at SS).
 

Another name for me is JD Davis who was bad last year but has been solid in the past with a career OPS+ of 111. 

 

[NOMAAM]

On 1/13/2025 at 3:37 PM, wntrtxn21 said:

I wouldn't waste time on Lopez, Walls, Cabrera, Ramos, Julien, or Perdomo. None of them offer any more offensive help then what the Brewers already have.  Sweeney has good minor lg. numbers, but hasn't been able to carry that to the big leagues.  Wagner has little power and looks to be a utility type player. Massey is interesting and has shown some power. It looks like he is a 2B only guy though and I think the Royals would want much more than the Brewers want to give up for him.  Josh Smith could hit 18-19 HRs in Milwaukee and plays a good 3B. He's the best of the rest and would probably cost less than Massey to aquire.

Agree Smith would be the guy to target.  But he’s cheap.  Rangers do need some help in bullpen though.  Might have a match.

[jay87shot]

I have been thinking about Marco Luciano from SF recently. He was a top 20 prospect for a couple of years. He is only 23 and wasn't to bad in AAA last year. The Giants have Willy, Chapman, and Fitzgerald long term with some decent utility pieces. He hasn't been great in the bigs but was rushed a bit the past couple years because of prospect rankings. 

He could start in AAA if need be but could a high upside get for a relative cheap price.

[DR28]

I'm really starting to come around on DeJong as our replacement power bat for Adames.... Yes I wished he walked more but take a flier on him and see what happens.

DeJong at SS, Ortiz at 3B.

Frelick - RF

Chourio - LF

Yelich - DH

Contreras - C

Mitchell - CF

Hoskins - 1B

DeJong - SS

Turang - 2B

Ortiz - 3B

Really like this lineup!

[NOMAAM]

On 1/22/2025 at 10:58 PM, jay87shot said:

I have been thinking about Marco Luciano from SF recently. He was a top 20 prospect for a couple of years. He is only 23 and wasn't to bad in AAA last year. The Giants have Willy, Chapman, and Fitzgerald long term with some decent utility pieces. He hasn't been great in the bigs but was rushed a bit the past couple years because of prospect rankings. 

He could start in AAA if need be but could a high upside get for a relative cheap price.

He is really bad at fielding from what I remember.  That bat plays well.  Think they’re planning to move him to OF.

[bensheeps]

brewcrewball.com with some possible trade targets for the infield. (Many names that have already been discussed here)

 https://www.brewcrewball.com/2025/1/27/24352486/potential-brewers-trade-targets-willi-castro-andy-ibanez-luis-rengifo-ramon-urias-brett-baty#comments

While I lean to keep Turang at 2nd (the "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" mentality), I would welcome a move if it meant adding Brandon Lowe.  Lowe would be my 2B/backup 1B with a possibility of more 1B time if Hoskins doesn't show improvement back to career numbers.

 

[yoshii8]

Man, I’m starting to worry we didn’t do enough to address our infield and DH situation this off-season. I’m shocked with how little that has been done. Still have a few more weeks but I don’t love where we’re at right now. 

[jay87shot]

12 minutes ago, yoshii8 said:

Man, I’m starting to worry we didn’t do enough to address our infield and DH situation this off-season. I’m shocked with how little that has been done. Still have a few more weeks but I don’t love where we’re at right now. 

DH is fine, I would guess Yeli plays at least 50% of the games there at least until there are injuries. Rhys and Contreras will likely get a lot of run as well, then there is still Black and the 4/5th OF to get some extra ab's as well. The extra IF spot weather it be 3B or 2B does worry me, we do have plenty of options and the are still a decent amount of cheaper FA vets that would help (Iglesias, Polanco, Rodgers, DeJong, Moncada). If we don't add anyone I am pretty confident one of Durbin, Dunn, Collins, Monaserio, or maybe Frelick will be solid my worry is that will take most of the year to figure it out. 

[Playing Catch]

9 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

DH is fine, I would guess Yeli plays at least 50% of the games there at least until there are injuries. Rhys and Contreras will likely get a lot of run as well, then there is still Black and the 4/5th OF to get some extra ab's as well. The extra IF spot weather it be 3B or 2B does worry me, we do have plenty of options and the are still a decent amount of cheaper FA vets that would help (Iglesias, Polanco, Rodgers, DeJong, Moncada). If we don't add anyone I am pretty confident one of Durbin, Dunn, Collins, Monaserio, or maybe Frelick will be solid my worry is that will take most of the year to figure it out. 

This isn't meant to put anyone's mind at ease, as I too, would like to bring some more power at 2nd/3rd, but I do think the Brewers maximize their roster really well through pinch-hitting, platoons, hitter/pitcher matchups, etc. So, say Durbin starts at 3rd base; by the end of the game, that spot in the order has been filled by 4 different hitters, some of whom may even have some power.

I think the Brewers will acquire someone akin to Gary Sanchez to help fill that role, if not sign a legit infielder.

[yoshii8]

Agreed, that’s my main concern as well. Wouldn’t be huge but I’d feel a lot better if we signed a legit veteran infielder. I also am spoiled so I want a Justin Turner type off the bench for DH/1b/ph and very occasional 3b. 

[yoshii8]

Polanco back with Mariners, another one off the list. 

[brewmann04]

I wonder if the brewers are really in the belief that the kid from the Yankees is going to step in. Lost a lot of power with Willy Leaving. Not sold with this infield yet 

[DR28]

11 hours ago, brewmann04 said:

I wonder if the brewers are really in the belief that the kid from the Yankees is going to step in. Lost a lot of power with Willy Leaving. Not sold with this infield yet 

It is sure looking that way and ******** is it annoying!

Just so frustrating how we NEVER make moves until near ST time.... And then its dumpster diving.

[Playing Catch]

I know on Christmas Day, Scooter threw out Brandon Drury as a possibility.

Cons: 32-years old. A horrible, injury-plagued 2024 for the Angels. Last played 3rd base in 2022. Right-handed bat.

Pros: Inexpensive free agent(?). Bounce-back candidate? He was a good hitter in 2022, and 2023. Presuming health, he could replace some of Adames'/Sanchez's power.

I would imagine he would replace Dunn on the projected roster. He'd most likely have to play first base and perhaps some second base.

 

[DR28]

3 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

I know on Christmas Day, Scooter threw out Brandon Drury as a possibility.

Cons: 32-years old. A horrible, injury-plagued 2024 for the Angels. Last played 3rd base in 2022. Right-handed bat.

Pros: Inexpensive free agent(?). Bounce-back candidate? He was a good hitter in 2022, and 2023. Presuming health, he could replace some of Adames'/Sanchez's power.

I would imagine he would replace Dunn on the projected roster. He'd most likely have to play first base and perhaps some second base.

 

We need to sign either Drury, DeJong or Moncada.

DeJong would play SS, keeping Ortiz at 3B.

or

Sign Drury or Moncada to be our 3B.

[sveumrules]

DeJong’s surface level results were decent last year with a 95 wRC+ and 1.7 WAR.

But his 4.8 BB% coupled with a 32.4 K% gave him the 205th ranked BB/K ratio out of 207 players with at least 400 PAs in 2024.

His .227 batting average was a step up from the .192 mark he posted collectively from 2021-23 though.

No walks and no hits means his .268 OBP from 2021-24 comes in 170th out of 170 players with at least 1,500 PAs over that stretch.

His 68 wRC+ vs LHP is 256th out of 266 players with at least 300 PAs vs southpaws since 2021.

So on offense we’re talking about a guy whose whole value is wrapped up in how many HR he does or doesn’t pop.

His SS defense also fell off from 0 DRS | +6 FRV in 2023 down to -9 DRS | -1 FRV in 2024. Could be fluky one year defensive metrics, could be a sign that he’s just not a SS anymore.

That offensive profile at 3B? Woof.

Seems like a lot of red flags there.

 

[DR28]

13 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

DeJong’s surface level results were decent last year with a 95 wRC+ and 1.7 WAR.

But his 4.8 BB% coupled with a 32.4 K% gave him the 205th ranked BB/K ratio out of 207 players with at least 400 PAs in 2024.

His .227 batting average was a step up from the .192 mark he posted collectively from 2021-23 though.

No walks and no hits means his .268 OBP from 2021-24 comes in 170th out of 170 players with at least 1,500 PAs over that stretch.

His 68 wRC+ vs LHP is 256th out of 266 players with at least 300 PAs vs southpaws since 2021.

So on offense we’re talking about a guy whose whole value is wrapped up in how many HR he does or doesn’t pop.

His SS defense also fell off from 0 DRS | +6 FRV in 2023 down to -9 DRS | -1 FRV in 2024. Could be fluky one year defensive metrics, could be a sign that he’s just not a SS anymore.

That offensive profile at 3B? Woof.

Seems like a lot of red flags there.

 

********, never mind!

Are Drury's numbers any better?

[jay87shot]

I am still hoping there is a way to turn some of our bullpen depth into a block 3rd baseman. Maybe Alonso eventually re-sign a 1 year deal with the Mets and a couple of there relievers get hurt in spring training and we can turn Peguero or Payamps into Brett Baty.

With the Rays signing Kim, I wonder if Curtis Mead  or Jonathan Aranda (Brandon Lowe for more expensive) could be had for a cheaper price. All 3 of Mead, Aranda, and Baty are flawed but they all have the upside that would make me feel better going into the year with Durbin, Dunn, and 1 of those guys.

[Scooterfletcher]

3 hours ago, DR28 said:

We need to sign either Drury, DeJong or Moncada.

DeJong would play SS, keeping Ortiz at 3B.

or

Sign Drury or Moncada to be our 3B.

I read somewhere (note from a message board poster so take with a grain of salt) that Moncada apparently isn’t that interested in playing baseball anymore.  Probably not true but passing along during a slow brewer off season.

[wallus]

Okay, so what is the solution here? The infield as it currently stands is not good enough.

Drury stinks. Moncada? Trade? Durbin should replace Monasterio, no way he should be handed the job. Dunn didn't do enough last year either to be handed the job

[DR28]

12 minutes ago, Scooterfletcher said:

I read somewhere (note from a message board poster so take with a grain of salt) that Moncada apparently isn’t that interested in playing baseball anymore.  Probably not true but passing along during a slow brewer off season.

Hmmm interesting since he's playing Winter ball currently.