How Would Oneil Cruz Look In Brewers Blue?

[Jake McKibbin]

Oneil Cruz is one of the most talented players in Major League Baseball, but it's talent the Pittsburgh Pirates have failed to fully unlock. Boasting the hardest tracked batted ball, coincidentally against the Brewers, Cruz's power is undeniable, but could the Brewers provide a tempting package?

Under control through 2028, Cruz fits the bill for the Brewers in providing both power and shortstop cover. At times maligned for his effort, perhaps a change of scenery, and especially a taste of the Brewers ethos, could help him take the next step.

The package required would be a big one, but it could center around Garrett Mitchell as an outfield replacement, and Cooper Pratt as a shortstop and build from there.

Would you like to see Oneil Cruz in Brewers uniform? What would you be willing to part with for perhaps the most singularly destructive bat in baseball? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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[nate82]

I think the Pirates would want someone better than Mitchell as a MLB piece in a trade.

[tmwiese55]

I've thought of him too.   Issues I've ran into is that he's been awful on D in CF and was bad at SS.   I wonder if he'd have been better of being moved to 3B, but they have gold glover there in Hayes.   If they were to get him now I'd think you'd try to move him to left.  Then in the offseason see if a 3B conversion could happen. And you'd hate to waste the athleticism but if he can't hack in the OF you have to look at 1B. Which we'd have an opening next year too.     

Long story, with all those D questions and the Brewers emphasis on D I don't see it happening midseason. But maybe something in the offseason could make sense giving the team time to work with him and get all the pirates bs washed off him

[Scooterfletcher]

I would take Cruz for my always thrown out there Tyler Black and Carlos Rodriguez trade bait.

[TURBO]

Trading within the division would be tough.  I disagree that he is one of the MOST talented in MLB.  He has been unable to put it all together, even the bat hasn't lived up to expectations.

I wouldn't want him in our defensive alignment anyplace.  Everyone we currently employ is better, a LOT better than him defensively.

[jay87shot]

I like Cruz but wouldn't give up any major pieces. If they want like 4 of our secondary pieces fine Boeve, CarRod, EMJ, and Birchard. Cruz could make a sweet utility guy maybe add 1B/3B to his repeteiore. As a left handed utility guy who could play basically everywhere hit 30/30, I wouldn't care to much if he hit .220. 

That being said the Pirates would get a much better package.

[Brian]

44 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Trading within the division would be tough.  I disagree that he is one of the MOST talented in MLB.  He has been unable to put it all together, even the bat hasn't lived up to expectations.

I wouldn't want him in our defensive alignment anyplace.  Everyone we currently employ is better, a LOT better than him defensively.

When Brewers played the Pirates his D was terrible and looked like he was only giving about 75%.  Almost like he was pissed off about something. No Thankyou. 

[yfinn6]

25 minutes ago, Brian said:

When Brewers played the Pirates his D was terrible and looked like he was only giving about 75%.  Almost like he was pissed off about something. No Thankyou. 

I'm sure playing for a team that is going nowhere and you know they've been going nowhere your entire career might cause you to hot dog it on occasion. I see the same thing you do but would be curious to see the effort if he plays for a team that gives a crap. 

[Scooterfletcher]

I’m not sure id trade CRod Boeve Black and a guy like Ernesto even for Cruz.   Maybe Ernesto and two of the aforementioned three if we believed in a role for him that he will have a good chance to succeed in.

[Brian]

A .219 avg this year, he would be the worst hitter on the team. 

https://www.mlb.com/player/oneil-cruz-665833

 

[BrewerFan]

7 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

I’m not sure id trade CRod Boeve Black and a guy like Ernesto even for Cruz.   Maybe Ernesto and two of the aforementioned three if we believed in a role for him that he will have a good chance to succeed in.

I think you make that trade without a second thought. He's not that expensive and the guy has as much talent as anyone in the game.

Just 5 tool player who needs to reign his game in a bit but absolutely has superstar potential. Best bat speed, arm, exit velo. A guy that hits the ball that hard would probably do well in Milwaukee. I imagine there's a lot of other teams drooling thinking about what could be with him. So I wouldn't trade for him as they'd almost certainly want a WHOLE lot more than C-Rod, Boeve, Black and Ernesto. They'd likely want a top 100 prospect and maybe a Boeve or couple other prospects. 

 

Teams would be trading for both what he is now...which is a flawed player who hits the ball harder than anyone in the game but doesn't hit it enough and not as a decent CF who is not good in the IF and has a lower 700s OPS. 

7 hours ago, Brian said:

A .219 avg this year, he would be the worst hitter on the team. 

He wouldn't be close to as bad of a hitter over the course of the year as Ortiz. He's also been a better hitter than Contreras. 

Ranking hitters by BA is a terrible way to rank them and even in that category, he's better than Ortiz. OPS. OBP+SLG. The guy also steals a LOT of bases and I think he'll turn into an elite CFer with more time out there. But I don't think he can play SS. 

[BrewerFan]

11 hours ago, nate82 said:

I think the Pirates would want someone better than Mitchell as a MLB piece in a trade.

If they're getting Pratt back...it's probably not all that far off.

I wouldn't trade Pratt but if Cruz was on the Brewers... it'd almost be like Chourio. You'd be thinking it's a matter of when, not if. He's GOING to break out and have that 40/40 season.

And I don't care if he hits .230 doing it. Suarez hits for a low average, but he does a lot of damage. 

[Jake McKibbin]

5 minutes ago, BrewerFan said:

If they're getting Pratt back...it's probably not all that far off.

I wouldn't trade Pratt but if Cruz was on the Brewers... it'd almost be like Chourio. You'd be thinking it's a matter of when, not if. He's GOING to break out and have that 40/40 season.

And I don't care if he hits .230 doing it. Suarez hits for a low average, but he does a lot of damage. 

That was part of my view too. He's had lapses in the field, but I don't think its effort related as we see other occasions where his grind isn't in question

He seems like he's not far off a breakout, and his breakout is a ridiculous caliber of player. The Brewers clubhouse, and Pat Murphy, are probably the best organisation in baseball to help him make that final step

With those years of control, I think Mitchell & Pratt are a fair starting point.

[BrewerFan]

4 minutes ago, Jake McKibbin said:

That was part of my view too. He's had lapses in the field, but I don't think its effort related as we see other occasions where his grind isn't in question

He seems like he's not far off a breakout, and his breakout is a ridiculous caliber of player. The Brewers clubhouse, and Pat Murphy, are probably the best organisation in baseball to help him make that final step

With those years of control, I think Mitchell & Pratt are a fair starting point.

I'm with you... other than Mitchell, I just don't see any trade value there, but Pratt has a ton. A 6'4 SS who is smooth with the glove and we'll have for almost 7 years. 

And then on top of that... he doesn't make you that much better this year...IMO. You can't try him at 3B. You could try him at 1B, but that's a waste of his athletic ability(though not 6'7 frame). 

I'd definitely prefer to do this for Cruz over Suarez though. This is really interesting question. 

[Jake McKibbin]

 

I'd never use Savant as the only justification for these things but it does present a pretty reasoned idea of Cruz's strengths. he whiffs a lot, but crushes the ball and has actually graded out fairly well per outs above average in center field, likely because of the ridiculous raw speed

[Rick Daltons Flamethrower]

Now we are talking! Looking at youth at the trade. Oneil Cruz has an athletic profile that is like a Mercedes Benz. That would rev up the fan base's engine. Let's go get that F1.