What (if anything) should the Brewers do by the trade deadline?

[Turning2]

3 hours ago, adambr2 said:

What about dialing him back to 4-5 innings and piggybacking him with someone they stretch out, maybe Ashby?

I suspect piggybacking is far more likely than moving him to the pen. Ashby or Hall would be good candidates. 

[Turning2]

34 minutes ago, DonBarclay said:

I know it’s not as common for baseball as it is say basketball, but this seems like a perfect 3 team trade opportunity. Brewers send veteran MLB pitchers to a big market contender, big market contender sends prospects to AZ, AZ sends Suarez to Milwaukee. 

That option eluded me. Good suggestion. 

[ReverendBrewmeister]

(1) Finding a shortstop that can be closer to league average on offense, while still being adequate defensively would be helpful. Maybe see if Isiah Kiner-Falefa could be acquired from Pittsburgh. The team could still carry Ortiz on the roster instead of Monasterio.

(2) Add another one-inning reliever who is a potential setup man/backup closer. Would be #3 behind Megill and Uribe. Not a huge need, but is always useful. 

 

[StearnsFTW]

I say it every July, but:  Bryan Reynolds.

I know he's having a down year and is owed $80MM, but that might mean they can get him cheap(ish).

Big risk, big reward.  3.6 WAR last year which is pretty much his career average.  -.7 this year though.

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, StearnsFTW said:

I say it every July, but:  Bryan Reynolds.

I know he's having a down year and is owed $80MM, but that might mean they can get him cheap(ish).

Big risk, big reward.  3.6 WAR last year which is pretty much his career average.  -.7 this year though.

I've seen this not just shot down, but shot down hard...and it doesn't make sense to me. It's kinda rough as the OF is really playing well, but Reynolds is clearly having a bad year mixed with bad luck. 

His xBA is .276, xSLG is .503... exit velo is up this year(LA down). 

2nd more unlucky player hitter

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/expected_statistics?type=batter&year=2025&position=&team=&filterType=bip&min=193&sort=13&sortDir=asc

I thought he was a better defender than he is and the issue to me is you'd be sitting Collins. Before Collins came on, I'd have been a bigger fan of this move...but this is pretty much just adding another Yelich. Hardly a negative(assuming he reverts to the norm) but I'm not sure he adds a ton at this point. If Collins could play 3B...and you had more versatility, maybe, but I don't think Reynolds is as good of a fit to this roster. 

 

I'd like Bednar... I also like Soroka as a reliever. He should be cheap. But probably Bednar or Chapman would be more ideal. 

I'd say Bregman as I've seen people speculate that he'll opt out of his deal, but way too much risk that he gets hurt or struggles and you're stuck with it. Maybe if he were on the Rockies... but he's not. 

[StearnsFTW]

I love what Collins has done, but he is not a reason not to trade for a star(ish) outfielder whether it be Reynolds or someone else.  To me at least. 

[rickh150]

5 hours ago, StearnsFTW said:

I say it every July, but:  Bryan Reynolds.

I know he's having a down year and is owed $80MM, but that might mean they can get him cheap(ish).

Big risk, big reward.  3.6 WAR last year which is pretty much his career average.  -.7 this year though.

$80 milion for a few more years? And You know that number along with a negative WAR this season?  How about our overall payroll? What’s that number for 2025?
 

Respectfully, think this thru and ask yourself again if it makes sense if it is literally your money.

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, rickh150 said:

$80 milion for a few more years? And You know that number along with a negative WAR this season?  How about our overall payroll? What’s that number for 2025?
 

Respectfully, think this thru and ask yourself again if it makes sense if it is literally your money.

He literally cited his negative War.

He's been extraordinarily unlucky. He's the same player he's been most of his career as I pointed out;

5 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

His xBA is .276, xSLG is .503... exit velo is up this year(LA down). 

2nd more unlucky player hitter

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/expected_statistics?type=batter&year=2025&position=&team=&filterType=bip&min=193&sort=13&sortDir=asc

 

15M AAV for a player of Reynolds caliber should NOT be the reason the Brewers don't make this move.

This would probably be the best time to trade for Reynolds...IF you were a team that needed a good #2 hitter who played LF or a good LHed bat. He's hitting the ball harder than ever, barreling it up more often than ever and having worse luck than ever. That doesn't usually hold up. 

If he WAS hitting ~.275 with a .~500 SLG, you'd be paying top of the market for him. This would be a chance to get him cheap. 

 

I wouldn't do it ONLY because I still think he'd be expensive... other GMs look deeper a small and very unlucky sample size. I just think Collins is playing well enough, I wouldn't give up the players it'd take. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

I thought this thread would be locked after we traded pitching (Civale) for a bat (Vaughn).

Seriously, I don't know if there's a SS out there that has a glove like Ortiz, or is a good enough bat to be worth downgrading the position defensively while giving up prospect(s). Maybe Kiner-Falefa, as someone mentioned earlier? If a move like that has the added benefit of strengthening the bench & the price is right, maybe. 

I do know there's no way Turang is being moved to SS in-season, or probably ever.

I still say Perkins would be a welcome addition if the guy can ever get/stay healthy.

[StearnsFTW]

2 hours ago, rickh150 said:

$80 milion for a few more years? And You know that number along with a negative WAR this season?  How about our overall payroll? What’s that number for 2025?
 

Respectfully, think this thru and ask yourself again if it makes sense if it is literally your money.

It's  5 more years.  Plus 2MM on a 20M team option.  It's 15/year basically.  Would require a small payroll bump.  Woody won't be back either way imv so there's your 15.

This year is clearly an anomaly as laid out by Brewer Fan in terms of negative WAR.

I wouldn't give up much but I'd love to have him.

WRT your last condescending sentence, it's literally not my money.

[BrewerFan]

42 minutes ago, StearnsFTW said:

It's  5 more years.  Plus 2MM on a 20M team option.  It's 15/year basically.  Would require a small payroll bump.  Woody won't be back either way imv so there's your 15.

This year is clearly an anomaly as laid out by Brewer Fan in terms of negative WAR.

I wouldn't give up much but I'd love to have him.

WRT your last condescending sentence, it's literally not my money.

Yeah, the "think it through," may be intended to be, but it's... pretty condescending. 

58 minutes ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

I do know there's no way Turang is being moved to SS in-season, or probably ever.

Turang was an elite defensive SS coming up. To say there's "no way" he'd be moved... just makes very little sense to me. 

He was set to be the opening day SS this year until he had arm fatigue. That's...nothing. Very normal early in the season. If...Jazz Chisholm was available in a trade, they'd definitely move Turang to SS to accommodate him.

Hell, even a realistic move like DJ LeMahieu, if he came back healthy, it's hardly a stretch that they'd take the guy who had all but won the starting SS job in Spring Training over the guy currently in Murphy's clubhouse. 

 

Even if they were to just trade for Suraez...at this point, Durbin is the guy you'd prefer to keep in the lineup. Suarez 3rd, Durbin to 2nd, Turang to SS. I don't think people remember what he looked like at SS coming up. 

[Roderick]

19 hours ago, Frisbee Slider said:

Is there precedent for a seven man rotation?

Wow, I am old.  I can remember when the four man rotation in baseball was more the norm.

[rickh150]

Reynolds checks about all the negatives for a small market team….

1. In 30s and on Downside of his career

2. Large amount of $ per year

3. Large amount of years left on contract

4. Underperforming lately

If he was a FA in 26 or 27, I would think much more deeply about this. Now it seems pointless. Older, expensive, long contract, meh year so far with definitely better defenders in the wings with Collins and Perkins.

 

[rickh150]

4 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

Yeah, the "think it through," may be intended to be, but it's... pretty condescending.  

Are you giving tips on not being condescending? Let me get my notepad.

I just MEANT that there are several negatives to trading for Reynolds that were not being discussed. Reynolds would be a nice addition to the team, yes. The negative effects would be there short term and long, however. There are better trade options, imho.

[jay87shot]

I wouldn't touch Reynolds with a 10 foot pole, even if he has been super unlucky he still has regressed and is 30. For me he is a much worse version of Yelich with a longer deal and big question marks. He has turned into a poor defender (-5 runs this year and -5 last) and he doesn't really run well anymore, 3 steals this year.

His ceiling is like a .275/.350/.800 hitter with 20 HR which is fine but he won't sustain that for 5 years. I would much rather trade for Cedric Mullins (iffy) or Jesus Sanchez who have better upside and don't have quite the same question marks. I would also draft a college OF who could move quickly and help out in a year or two.

[Brewer77]

I’d rather go get someone like Harrison Bader than trade for someone owed money into their mid-30s. I’m sure it could work out fine, but the risk/reward just isn’t that appealing to me

Also I’m sure the Pirates would make us pay a bit more to move him within the division 

[adambr2]

50 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

Reynolds checks about all the negatives for a small market team….

1. In 30s and on Downside of his career

2. Large amount of $ per year

3. Large amount of years left on contract

4. Underperforming lately

If he was a FA in 26 or 27, I would think much more deeply about this. Now it seems pointless. Older, expensive, long contract, meh year so far with definitely better defenders in the wings with Collins and Perkins.

 

#2 really isn’t true at all. $15M a year is peanuts on an MLB contract in 2025. You can’t even buy a Rhys Hoskins or a Frankie Montas for that.

Plus a trade doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re taking on the entire value of the contract.

Downside of his career, I don’t know, you’re assuming he’s just washed up and cooked, just because he’s 32 and having a down year doesn't mean he’s for sure cooked. I’m sure people thought the same about Yelich the last couple years. 

[BrewerFan]

53 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

Are you giving tips on not being condescending? Let me get my notepad.

I just MEANT that there are several negatives to trading for Reynolds that were not being discussed. Reynolds would be a nice addition to the team, yes. The negative effects would be there short term and long, however. There are better trade options, imho.

But they literally were. 

15 hours ago, StearnsFTW said:

I know he's having a down year and is owed $80MM, but that might mean they can get him cheap(ish).

Big risk, big reward.  3.6 WAR last year which is pretty much his career average.  -.7 this year though.

You didn't mention any negatives that weren't being discussed. 

[liveforoctober]

You know, I'm coming around on a 7 man rotation format. I think it makes sense to trade Quintana and I'm for it if it works ... but Jose Quintana is going to win us playoff games. There is some pixie dust to this team and there are not 3 other guys I trust to start a Game 4 for us more than Quintana. In the last 72 hours now I've swung to wanting to keep him and resign him to a modest raise for next year.

Mis is going to be on a pitch count down the stretch and Cortes is coming off of injury and their styles contrast so wildly... we should pair those two up? Let Miz throw gas for 4 innings and get a lead. Bring in the goofy soft tossing lefty to get us through the next 3+. 

We kind of need a long man out of the pen anyway to pair with Hall ... we should jettison Easton and bring Patrick back up for that role and he can be a safety for Priester should he need it. Let the 3 other vets have their usual schedules.

Is this crazy?

1) Peralta

2) Mis/Cortes

3) Priester/Patrick

4) Quintana

5) Woodruff

[FVBrewerFan]

18 hours ago, ReverendBrewmeister said:

(1) Finding a shortstop that can be closer to league average on offense, while still being adequate defensively would be helpful. Maybe see if Isiah Kiner-Falefa could be acquired from Pittsburgh. The team could still carry Ortiz on the roster instead of Monasterio.

(2) Add another one-inning reliever who is a potential setup man/backup closer. Would be #3 behind Megill and Uribe. Not a huge need, but is always useful. 

 

1) SS is the most obvious offensive upgrade, but that may be needle/haystack.  But I don't think they need to be limited by position.  Yelich could play more OF opening up the DH spot for any position player.

2) Agreed.  LH reliever so they can leverage the best option in the 7th and 8th depending on opposition's lineup.

 

 

[Team Canada]

14 minutes ago, liveforoctober said:

Jose Quintana is going to win us playoff games. There is some pixie dust to this team and there are not 3 other guys I trust to start a Game 4 for us more than Quintana. In the last 72 hours now I've swung to wanting to keep him and resign him to a modest raise for next year.

I agree. Some are convinced he's due for regression, but I think that's just waiting for a moment that's never going to come. We've seen him do it to us for years, now we get to be on the other side, and I'd rather stick with him than give a spot to Cortes for some reason.

If Gasser comes back and looks good I'm not sure what we're going to do with all the young pitching next year, so I don't know whether we have a spot for Quintana or not, but I doubt Arnold's racing to get rid of him at the deadline. He's exactly the unflappable veteran arm that can come in and shut down an opponent in the playoffs (we should remember from last year!).

[adambr2]

I’m pretty sure Frankie Montas started our second playoff game last year.

There's a lot of reason why we didn’t get out of the first round last year, but lack of quality starting pitching didn’t help.

I am also not opposed to trading from our SP depth if the value is just too good to pass up, but I’d rather go into the playoffs this year with too much starting pitching depth than not enough.

[adambr2]

2 minutes ago, Team Canada said:

I agree. Some are convinced he's due for regression, but I think that's just waiting for a moment that's never going to come. We've seen him do it to us for years, now we get to be on the other side, and I'd rather stick with him than give a spot to Cortes for some reason.

He looked like he was on the downside of his career from 2019 to 2021, and then somehow seemed to figure it out again. Not sure if he just reinvented himself as a pitcher or what.

It’s a bit odd to me that Quintana wasn’t even able to get 5M a year.

[Brewcrew82]

Tired: Bryan Reynolds. Wired: Adolis Garcia.

[adambr2]

A few years ago, we traded Hader despite being in 1st place. Things kind of fell apart from there, not really directly because of that, but things just all sort of went downhill.

Anyone wonder if that year will give Arnold some pause on making a similar move this year at risk of disrupting the clubhouse and team chemistry?