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

[cragi]

I have a hard time believing with all the talented SPs in the org and all of the top 100ish talent, the Brewers cant put together a package for more than just a rental bat.  A Yelich-type trade. 

[Brian]

3 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

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.

Christopher Wayne "Right Hook."  Brewers pitching coach I believe is one big reason a rebuilt Quintana is on the upside this season. Communication, Adaptability, Experience. 

[Brian]

29 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

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?

If you remember Hader sucked when we traded him to SD. He also had a 7. plus ERA that season. But yes people were shocked. 

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, Roderick said:

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

Yeah... it's pretty nuts, BUT if there's a team where it's a good idea, it's this one with Misiorowski and Woody coming back. We have multiple guys who can go multiple innings in the pen, so a bad start doesn't ruin the pen. 

I'm not so much worried about TJ. Some guys you almost wish they'd just get it and you'd know you'd be clear for the next 10 years, but the shoulder.  But we really do have a good record with keeping pitchers healthy. I'd guess as good as anyone when it comes to TJ/Shoulder injuries. 

 

17 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

#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. 

Not to nit-pick, but he's just turned 30 earlier this year. So not yet 32 and the final year of his deal, he'd be 35 through it and I... really think it's hard to say he's on the downside.

We're more analytical, right? A guy who was having the luckiest season in baseball, we wouldn't want him, right? This guy is having the 2nd most unlucky season in all of baseball. He's been a really good hitter every year and 

 

I love the player and I love the bat, I just think the Pirates are going to value him closer to where they have in the past.

I think he's the type of player who winds up in LA. But if Collins looked like Ortiz at the plate, I'd be jumping at this deal and I would give up Logan Henderson and a good bat. I'm not sure what it'd take. 

[SeaBass]

52 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

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?

I do think it would give them pause. MA and Stearns later talked about the timing of the Hader trade and how they learned from it, Arnold certainly would have been part of that too he just wasn't "the guy" yet. Maybe that was just talk to appease the media/fans but I felt there was truth to it. That trade didn't bother me then and it certainly doesn't bother me now. But I do understand the clubhouse effect it caused.

Doesn't mean that they wouldn't still pull the trigger on a trade like that but they'd think about it for sure.

[adambr2]

37 minutes ago, Brian said:

If you remember Hader sucked when we traded him to SD. He also had a 7. plus ERA that season. But yes people were shocked. 

Yeah, he was terrible for them. But we can’t assume he would have had the same bad results here if he had stayed.

None of this is me saying we shouldn’t have made the deal. Just pondering if the eventual results of that season post-trade will be in the back of Arnold’s mind when considering team chemistry disruption or if if it not a factor at all,

Example, I think we could still make the playoffs without Freddy Peralta, on paper, if we dealt him. But I would imagine it would be a major clubhouse disruption so I don’t know exactly how it would play out. 

[wiguy94]

58 minutes ago, cragi said:

I have a hard time believing with all the talented SPs in the org and all of the top 100ish talent, the Brewers cant put together a package for more than just a rental bat.  A Yelich-type trade. 

The bigger issue is finding the Yelich type player to trade for. Maybe the Nats are willing to trade CJ Abrams in the offseason and the Brewers think they can improve his SS defense.

[Brian]

1 minute ago, adambr2 said:

Yeah, he was terrible for them. But we can’t assume he would have had the same bad results here if he had stayed.

None of this is me saying we shouldn’t have made the deal. Just pondering if the eventual results of that season post-trade will be in the back of Arnold’s mind when considering team chemistry disruption or if if it not a factor at all,

Example, I think we could still make the playoffs without Freddy Peralta, on paper, if we dealt him. But I would imagine it would be a major clubhouse disruption so I don’t know exactly how it would play out. 

My personal opinion on what may happen: With a Murphy quote is about the Joey Ortiz .205 batting average. Pat Murphy said. "I want him to give me his best approach at the plate."  More Murphy:

"We've given him a lot, and we play him every day, and we need him.  He can't just have mental lapses at the plate like that, so he's got to fight through it. 

[endaround]

1 hour 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.

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!).

I think people have misapprehensions about Quintana.  If you mean he was never a hard thrower, sure that's true.  If you mean he some specialist that outperforms his FIP, that isn't close to true. He has a career ERA of 3.73 and a career FIP of 3.72.  He has outperformed his FIP last season and this season.  But he is even showing signs of regression compered to last season (K rate down, walk rate up, ground ball rate down, BABIP up, hard hit % up). 

[BrewerFan]

29 minutes ago, Brian said:

If you remember Hader sucked when we traded him to SD. He also had a 7. plus ERA that season. But yes people were shocked. 

The front office came out and said they underestimated the clubhouse impact.

I don't actually think the loss of Hader made a difference... but now talking about Peralta after they effectively said they wouldn't do it again? 

This MIGHT be the team that wins it. I mean, chances are it doesn't, but that's the thing about Baseball. You have no idea when things will come together. You just throw out a talented team. 

Chourio, Contreras, Hoskins are all under-performing. Yelich is...performing closer to what you expect, but even he's not there for the season. Turang, Frelick, Durbin and Collins get on base, play defense and even Ortiz has been hitting.

 

Woodruff, you hope can keep gaining(or even just maintaining) that 95-96 MPH FB,  with that movement on his sweeper, cutter and change, his location, he looked nasty. I don't know what you get from him, I thought he'd struggle. The 2nd time out can be tough. But he has half a season, just like when Ashby was struggling last year to get his Velo back...except 
Peralta, Misiorowski is...ridiculous. 

The Pen, Mears, Ashby, Uribe, Megill and then Koenig, Hall, I'd expect Priester would be 

In short series, these are the types of things that can help you upset teams. 

 

I can't think of a good reason we'd be trying to trade anyone who is a contributor short of a godfather type offer. 

 

Also, we have a loaded farm system. We don't need to trade guys as badly as we did when we had Hader(speaking of which, Gasser is another guy who could come back and throw out of the pen. 

[rickh150]

4 hours ago, adambr2 said:

#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.

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. 

Of course $15 mil is a lot to the Brewers or any other small market team. Of course… still in the old days of 2025. The rest of the Brewers OF does not make that combined.  You could use that nothing $15 mil to pay for the 2026 same guy Brewers OF…………about 1/8th of their payroll.

And 30 plus is the downside of a baseball player’s career. Of course.  If you have a hilltop and late 20’s (27-28ish) is the peak, 30 plus is on the downside of an average player’s career. Those are the years we would have Reynolds.

[adambr2]

5 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

Of course $15 mil is a lot to the Brewers or any other small market team. Of course… still in the old days of 2025. The rest of the Brewers OF does not make that combined.  

Huh? Yelich alone is making over $24M this year.

[rickh150]

31 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

Huh? Yelich alone is making over $24M this year.

So what…..still a lot.  1/8th of payroll isn’t a lot? For a guy playing worse defense than what we got? Would arguably be our 3rd or 4th best OF?  
We obviously COULD afford him and make him our 3rd highest paid player. He would make us better or deeper, yes.

Just not wise….3rd highest contract for aging OF having a down year. Worse defense.  Taking ABs away from other guys like Frelick/Collins, both hitting well for last 7 weeks.  

And lock that in for four years.

[rickh150]

2 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

The front office came out and said they underestimated the clubhouse impact.

I don't actually think the loss of Hader made a difference... 

 

The Brewers missed the postseason by one game in 2022.

Hader wouldn’t have made a one game difference? 

[adambr2]

20 minutes ago, rickh150 said:

So what…..still a lot.  1/8th of payroll isn’t a lot? For a guy playing worse defense than what we got? Would arguably be our 3rd or 4th best OF?  
We obviously COULD afford him and make him our 3rd highest paid player. He would make us better or deeper, yes.

Just not wise….3rd highest contract for aging OF having a down year. Worse defense.  Taking ABs away from other guys like Frelick/Collins, both hitting well for last 7 weeks.  

And lock that in for four years.

So, just to be clear:

You: (Reynolds) makes more than our entire outfield combined.

Me: That’s actually not true.

You: So what?

 

It’s fine if you disagree, I was just pointing out that what you said wasn’t factually accurate. Most MLB players will in fact make well under $15M because that’s just how salaries are structured for young players. But for a veteran every day player, it’s quite reasonable.

I just think it’s odd to call a 30 year old “aging” who is 2 years younger than Yelich and has produced more WAR than Yelich in the last 5 years. His name came up because people believe he could rebound to the AS type level that he’s played at.

I appreciate Isaac Collins, but I also don’t think he’s blocking anybody if better options present themselves.

[RedStickBrew]

16 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

I appreciate Isaac Collins, but I also don’t think he’s blocking anybody if better options present themselves.

This is how I feel as well and I would add 3B and SS to that sentiment. Colllins and Durbin have been good but they are both rookies playing relatively new positions.  If we can find a reasonable upgrade, let’s do it 

[StearnsFTW]

I appreciate what Isaac Collins has done for the Brewers this season, but he is not a consideration if an upgrade (Reynolds or someone else) is available.

 

He'd be an excellent 4th OF.

[wiguy94]

23 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

So, just to be clear:

You: (Reynolds) makes more than our entire outfield combined.

Me: That’s actually not true.

You: So what?

 

It’s fine if you disagree, I was just pointing out that what you said wasn’t factually accurate. Most MLB players will in fact make well under $15M because that’s just how salaries are structured for young players. But for a veteran every day player, it’s quite reasonable.

I just think it’s odd to call a 30 year old “aging” who is 2 years younger than Yelich and has produced more WAR than Yelich in the last 5 years. His name came up because people believe he could rebound to the AS type level that he’s played at.

I appreciate Isaac Collins, but I also don’t think he’s blocking anybody if better options present themselves.

Is Reynolds better than Collins? Even assuming Reynolds bounces back at the plate, the bat is basically all he offers at this point. He's a huge downgrade from Collins both defensively and on the bases which are two things the Brewers put a bunch of emphasis on.

[TURBO]

4 hours ago, cragi said:

I have a hard time believing with all the talented SPs in the org and all of the top 100ish talent, the Brewers cant put together a package for more than just a rental bat.  A Yelich-type trade. 

Of course they could, just depends on how much they are willing to give up.

It isn't prudent for a franchise unwilling to spend money to gut their farm.  

[TURBO]

38 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

So, just to be clear:

You: (Reynolds) makes more than our entire outfield combined.

Me: That’s actually not true.

You: So what?

 

It’s fine if you disagree, I was just pointing out that what you said wasn’t factually accurate. Most MLB players will in fact make well under $15M because that’s just how salaries are structured for young players. But for a veteran every day player, it’s quite reasonable.

I just think it’s odd to call a 30 year old “aging” who is 2 years younger than Yelich and has produced more WAR than Yelich in the last 5 years. His name came up because people believe he could rebound to the AS type level that he’s played at.

I appreciate Isaac Collins, but I also don’t think he’s blocking anybody if better options present themselves.

Meh

Yelich plays very little outfield these days, not sure you can include him in our outfield cost...He'll be playing there even less by next season, so I can see where he said Reynolds will be making more than out starting 3 outfielders.  It's not a reach.

[homer]

My annual plea for the Brewers to trade disappointing prospects for young, controllable, all-star level talent.

[umphrey]

Just feels like a rough trade market this year. Lots of pitching, and some rentals at 1B/DH/OF. Not great for the Brewers. Suarez is really the standout, but he has his risks (may not even get traded) and has teams like the Yankees and maybe the Dodgers looking at him. The 2 biggest sellers are the White Sox and the Rockies and they just have absolutely nothing (no I don’t want to pay Ryan McMahan $30m to backup Durbin).

 

If Hoskins was out for the year I would be in on like an O’Hearn but with Hoskins coming back we just roll with him. 

[RedStickBrew]

Just now, homer said:

My annual plea for the Brewers to trade disappointing prospects for young, controllable, all-star level talent.

Tyler Black for Jose Ramirez should get it done

[adambr2]

44 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Meh

Yelich plays very little outfield these days, not sure you can include him in our outfield cost...He'll be playing there even less by next season, so I can see where he said Reynolds will be making more than out starting 3 outfielders.  It's not a reach.

My assumption is that they are being ultra-conservative with his return from back surgery. They’ve been fortunate to have that luxury with Collins emerging well enough to play every day. I don’t believe that Christian Yelich has now been reduced to our full time DH for the next 5 years.

[rickh150]

Adam, we were arguing different points.  Yes, I see Yelich as our DH this season since he has played there the majority of time.  If he were still OF, then no he would make more than everybody.

Also, I cannot see Pittsburgh trading him in division to play against them four series each season for a few more seasons.

And I don’t see the Brewers giving top prospects for the same reason.. to haunt them for a decade.