Cortes traded to Padres

[LouisEly]

3 hours ago, True Blue Brew Crew said:

I'm assuming he's going to steal home to win game 7 of the World Series the way this day has played out

Saw a Tweet that he had 80 grade speed (and 60-70 grade defense). 

His role, if any, will be as a pinch runner in the playoffs  

[ClosetBrewerFan]

In 2021, Brandon was the Yankees #20 prospect per MLB - two higher than Mr. Seigler. His scouting grades were:

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 75 | Arm: 45 | Field: 60 | Overall: 45

So clearly speed and defense is his calling card. The power grade is surprising. He showed more power early in his career but little power since.

Let's see what the Brewers can do with him.

[MVP2110]

Lockbridge is the exact archetype the Brewers have had success with. Given the Brewers didn't get any salary relief and parted with Cortes and a decentish prospect, I think they specifically wanted Lockbridge 

[BrewCrew8675309]

5 hours ago, Team Canada said:

.519 OPS in 47 games.

Has torn up El Paso the last two years, but not much at the big league level so far.

Joey Meyer and Billy Joe Robidoux tore up El Paso too...

[BrewCrew8675309]

Quintana is a good prospect to trade with Pena/Made et al rising up fast. But the Brewers also invested 1.7mil into his signing and seems to come away with someone that could have been waived. 

 

Speed and Defense needs to be said like Maximus Meridius says Strength and Honor

 

WHYYY did we not get Kai Murphy in this trade as well?? How much extra would it have cost Arnold??? Seems like it would have been nice to have him in the system and it is not like San Diego is developing him as a hitter...

[treego14]

I will always remember Nasty Nestor's first 3 pitches as a Brewer!

[ecjimg]

Worse now that’s it’s reported the Brewers are paying almost all of Cortez’ salary 

[Frisbee Slider]

6 hours ago, ecjimg said:

Worse now that’s it’s reported the Brewers are paying almost all of Cortez’ salary 

Brightside: if Mark A is comfortable raising payroll in 2025 for inactive players, he could be comfortable raising payroll in 2026 for active players 🙂

[Playing Catch]

Lockridge has an interesting minor league journey.

A Yankees 5th round college pick in 2018, the Yankees stashed him in their system through Covid, and all the way to AAA until trading him to the Padres at last year's deadline, as a would-be Rule 5 draftee. The Padres added him to their 40-man a week before the Brewers added Isaac Collins last September.

Based on his minor-league numbers alone, it looks like the initial development plan was to be a tooled-up, all-around hitter. This worked for him until 2022, his ONLY sub-par season in the minors as a 25-year-old in AA, where he hit 14 HRs and had 18 SBs with an on-base% of .300. After that season, it looks like he TOTALLY changed his approach to maximize his speed, probably doing pushups like Willie Mays Hayes every time he hit the ball in the air (his GB/FB ratio was 1.09 in 2022. In 2023 it was 1.93, in 2024 it was 3.26). In the following 2023 season, he played in 16 fewer games, but struck-out 50(!) fewer times, sacrificing 10 extra-base hits in the process.

But with his new, shiny .379 OBP, he improved from 18 SBs to 40. While his ISO suffered, his SLG actually IMPROVED from .378 to .414. He has continued that trend in AAA this season with an OPS of .877 with THAT profile.

He is a fascinating case of a guy that understood that he had to change significantly to carve out a big-league role. Time will tell if it works out for him.

 

 

[formerlybis]

This was a sneaky shrewd pickup, perhaps unintentionally. With Chourio down for awhile, Frelick iffy, and Collins due to go on paternity leave soon, having Lockridge as a bridge from this point to when they’re full strength is pretty useful. Maybe only for a few weeks, though, and that’s maybe not as much value as you’d hope for a SP, but let’s see how this goes. So far, not terrible.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[umphrey]

Yeah right now I’m kind of wishing we kept him. Cortes in the rotation, Mis to the pen, CRod back to AAA, what a nice move that would be right now. 

[Frisbee Slider]

Dodgers struggled against Tanner Gordon and even a little bit against Kyle Freeland last week (Rockies).

I agree it would be wonderful to have another battle tested starting pitcher now. 

Dominating the Dodgers does not mean what it used to.
.
 

 

[SF70]

22 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

 

Well for whatever reason the Brewers didn’t think Oliva was Lockridge’s “near clone”. 

If Cortez makes it to the postseason healthy, I doubt he even makes the Padres playoff roster.

Quintana is immaterial with the team’s among the best in baseball minor-league SS depth.

 

[Jim Goulart]

I acknowledge your feedback, but at least for one night San Diego had no issue starting him with first place on the line and appreciated his presence.

Even in the recent game when Cortes surrendered the three first inning HR's, he settled in for 4.2 scoreless after.

[Frisbee Slider]

If Aaron Civale thought he had a leg to stand on to scoff at a bullpen assignment maybe Cortes did, too? (Or, his agent)

[Outlander]

I hope the Brewers go against the Padres and face Cortes in the playoffs.

[TURBO]

This was a gross trade when it happened, and it's still a gross trade now.

[Frisbee Slider]

3 minutes ago, TURBO said:

This was a gross trade when it happened, and it's still a gross trade now.

Lockridge is not arbitration eligible until after 2027 (maybe later?). 🙂

[Austin Tatious]

[Austin Tatious]

Small sample size but Lockridge has a chance to be a solid role player and fits Murphy’s mold.  Siegler has a chance to be another of these guys off the bench.  There’s a lot of controllable time with these guys.  

[BrewerFan]

22 hours ago, SF70 said:

Well for whatever reason the Brewers didn’t think Oliva was Lockridge’s “near clone”. 

If Cortez makes it to the postseason healthy, I doubt he even makes the Padres playoff roster.

Quintana is immaterial with the team’s among the best in baseball minor-league SS depth.

 

No. That's silly. Ebel isn't "immaterial" because we've got a loaded system ahead of him. I don't see how you could say the same about Quintana?  

You can't have too much talent in your farm system(at the most important positions). Having Pratt and Made doesn't make Quintana immaterial. 

Lockridge looks fine. It made no sense to trade away a kid who turned 18 two months ago because you have good players ahead of him. You certainly didn't trade him for much value. You traded him for a guy who's likely not going to stay on the roster when Chourio is back. All for the privilege of moving Cortes?

I don't know what he'll become, but I know we gave up a guy one year ago we were VERY high on and who will still be 18 next year during the draft. So maybe a BIG older for an average HS draft pick. 

[SF70]

1 hour ago, BrewerFan said:

No. That's silly. Ebel isn't "immaterial" because we've got a loaded system ahead of him. I don't see how you could say the same about Quintana?  

You can't have too much talent in your farm system(at the most important positions). Having Pratt and Made doesn't make Quintana immaterial. 

Lockridge looks fine. It made no sense to trade away a kid who turned 18 two months ago because you have good players ahead of him. You certainly didn't trade him for much value. You traded him for a guy who's likely not going to stay on the roster when Chourio is back. All for the privilege of moving Cortes?

I don't know what he'll become, but I know we gave up a guy one year ago we were VERY high on and who will still be 18 next year during the draft. So maybe a BIG older for an average HS draft pick. 

Imo, the team decided Lockridge was more important NOW to the team with Chourio down, Frelick dinged-up and Collins planned paternity. 

They wanted the BL OF depth (CF ability) and were willing to part with SS prospect depth. 

Immaterial was probably a poor choice of word. IMO, Quintana was always going to be a trade-chip (with Made-Pena the same age and much better SS prospects) and Preller was enamored with Quintana.

Lockridge is now useful CF depth for not just this time down OF’s but for the next year or two as well.

 

[TURBO]

Lockridge has not looked like a good fielder though.  Small sample size of course, but same could be said for his hitting so far, small sample size.

To me, he seems like a dime a dozen type of guy, and we gave up too much to get him.  It was a gross trade.

[wntrtxn21]

20 hours ago, Austin Tatious said:

Small sample size but Lockridge has a chance to be a solid role player and fits Murphy’s mold.  Siegler has a chance to be another of these guys off the bench.  There’s a lot of controllable time with these guys.  

I think Lockridge is destined to be a 5th OF (call up from AAA when needed). With Perkins they don't need another OF when Churio gets back. I think Seigler is another one of those AAA emergency call-up type guys. He's hitting .208 and slugging .208. More Ks than hits and not that great a fielder. He is a 3rd catcher so that gives him some MLB value.