Brian Reynolds

[dave]

Since we can't get Brian Reynolds out .... maybe we should trade for him? What would it take to get him ?

[wallus]

7 minutes ago, dave said:

Since we can't get Brian Reynolds out .... maybe we should trade for him? What would it take to get him ?

Poor judgement 

[dave]

I don't understand that response.  You don't think the Brewers could use Brian Reynolds?

[wallus]

11 minutes ago, dave said:

I don't understand that response.  You don't think the Brewers could use Brian Reynolds?

No, the Brewers could not use an expensive negative WAR player.

[Scooterfletcher]

I brought up Fitz and Candelario because they had a recent transaction potentially making them cheap adds if not free.  My goal wasn’t to start a trend of making everyone in baseball getting their own thread as to their worthiness of brewer kingdom.

[dave]

I understand that his numbers are down. I also understand he has a hefty contract.  I just think potentially he would be a really solid addition to the line up, especially considering Mitchell's injury.  I guess I feel like we are probably a better team with Reynolds over Collins.  I'm not saying we overpay from prospect perspective or that we pay the whole contract... everything has it's price...dammit they just lost

[JosephC]

I've been a Reynolds fan over the years, and I think there is a decent chance he might just be playing with injury and will rebound.  That being said, I would not entertain any trade for him as his contract has 47 million dollars after his age 32 season.  I might be willing to gamble if his deal only had two years left on it, but 5 years is just way to risky when considering the way he's started this season.

[jay87shot]

To risky, -0.6 WAR, .229/.301/.368, also negative fielding stats with 5 years 75 million left on deal. Even if they just gave him to us for nothing he probably doesn't play ahead of Collins at this point of the year. 

[rickh150]

The contract.  Makes this an easy no.   He would easily make more than all of our OFs put together.and that’s including those on the IL and at AAA. We have a great looking OF for the next several years in talent and cost. Still believe in  Mitchell….still think he can be good.

[Lathund]

Reynolds has an xwOBA in line with his best seasons still, so I would think his current overall numbers are more of a blip. But even so, that just means that the acquisition cost won't be discounted. It'll cost a fair bit of both money and prospects to get him. Would our roster be better with him on it? Yes. Is it enough of an upgrade to warrant the cost? No. 

[liveforoctober]

Collins is grading out as the best defensive LF in baseball right now to go along with a 117 OPS+ ... he is playing better baseball than Reynolds is and it isn't very close. Not saying Reynolds won't resurface ... but barring injury Collins is our LF the rest of the year. Perkins is the depth piece we need in the outfield.

[Playing Catch]

3 hours ago, liveforoctober said:

barring injury Collins is our LF the rest of the year.

I scoffed at first, too, but upon reflection, I believe there is a universe (not necessarily this one), where Isaac Collins is a really good starting outfielder for a contender... keep in mind the defensive metrics we've witnessed and his platoon-neutral splits as a switch-hitter...

Consider his professional path...

- 9th round pick by Colorado Rockies in 2019. He was a short, senior second-baseman coming out of Creighton, signing for $150,000. He plays 37 games in low-A.

- His first meaningful MiLB numbers don't come until 2021, due to Covid-19 pandemic. Colorado, to their credit, immediately puts him into the outfield, along with second base. He finishes his season with a wRC+ of 131.

- In 2022, he plays the entire season in AA, his last season developing under Rockies management. At 24-years old, he hits wRC+ 93, his one and only season where his offense is [slightly] below average.

- The Brewers, needing some upper-level outfield help in 2023, OR perhaps seeing an opportunity with this one, draft Collins in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft and is ultimately promoted to AAA as a 25-year old, hitting to a wRC+ of 132.

- 2024. Collins' makes his MLB debut after a strong season in AAA (500 PAs, 14 HRs, 24 SBs, wRC+ 128).

- Enter 2025, his "true" rookie season. Collins fights off other bench mob contenders, and with injuries to Mitchell/Perkins, Collins keeps his roster spot out of Spring Training and goes on to earn playing time, perhaps even a starting spot.

Collins has never had a failed professional season. Had it not been for Covid, his big-league debut is probably as a 24-year old rather than as a 26-year-old. He switched positions. He was never a priority prospect, and was drafted by one of the worst franchises. But he's fast, athletic, strong, platoon-neutral, well-rounded. above-average, and playing for one of the premier developmental organizations in the sport.

What we've seen from him this season may just be the "real" Isaac Collins.

(Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to which thread this was in --- kind of off topic)

[BrewerFan]

On 6/24/2025 at 8:38 AM, JosephC said:

I've been a Reynolds fan over the years, and I think there is a decent chance he might just be playing with injury and will rebound.  That being said, I would not entertain any trade for him as his contract has 47 million dollars after his age 32 season.  I might be willing to gamble if his deal only had two years left on it, but 5 years is just way to risky when considering the way he's started this season.

If he's playing with an injury or not, it's OBVIOUS he's still a VERY good season. Exit Velo, his hard hit rate.

xBA of .276, xSLG of .503...

 

If he's playing through injury, he's still hitting the ball hard and having poor luck. 

Not wanting to take on that contract... fine, that makes plenty of sense.

Mocking the idea like he's not still an exceptional player is silly. A negative war for 80 games...if he's hitting the ball harder than he has, squaring up more than he has... all of the advanced analytics say he's the same player he was in his best years... he's probably still a very good player. 

I wouldn't be surprised to see a LA or NYM type team trade for him... 

If the Pirates would eat some of that money on the backend... I could EASILY be convinced to trade for him if the prospects were reasonable. 

 

We'll see at the end of the season as we know this won't happen, but I'd be shocked if we get to the end of the season and Collins has been anywhere near as productive as Reynolds has the rest of the way. 

 

[Brian]

On 6/23/2025 at 9:09 PM, wallus said:

No, the Brewers could not use an expensive negative WAR player.

I'm against a Reynolds deal also but...

I said, WAR, huh (good God, y'all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, just say it again
WAR (whoa), huh (oh Lord)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me.