3B Caleb Durbin, SS Andrew Monasterio, Util Anthony Seigler and Comp B pick traded to Red Sox for LHP Kyle Harrison, LHP Shane Drohan and 2B/SS David Hamilton

[sveumrules]

2 minutes ago, TURBO said:

it was punchless last year.

The punchless Brewers offense scored the third most runs in baseball last year, in 2024 they scored the sixth most runs in MLB.

Last two years their 343 home runs are 20th, their .150 isolated slugging is 22nd, and their 1,583 runs scored are 4th in MLB.

Hitting home runs is one way to score runs, having a bunch of really fast guys (+34.9 BsR is 1st in MLB last two years) on base all the time (.329 OBP is 4th in MLB last two years) putting a ton of pressure on the pitcher and defense (3,427 PA with RISP are 1st in MLB last two years) is another way.

[RobDeer 45]

16 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

Going back to the talk a bit ago about the traditional thought on 3B power and hitting in general made me remember a few days ago when MLB network did their list of top 10 3B right now and I thought to myself how weak it is these days. It really doesn't take much to be an above avg 3B now, surprisingly weak position. A theory, perhaps advanced analytics have made teams realize the defensive value so some good hitters who 30-40 years ago would've hung at 3B (while being bad at D) are now getting moved to corner OF/1B/DH. 

I've been thinking about this too.  Brewers are valuing defense more at 3b.  They are going against the grain.  We can't compete and pay for the best third basemen in the game so we need to find value.  How can we get better without having to pay a premium.  Maybe we find lightning in a bottle with one of our prospects having power and defense, but it seems to me that it's harder and harder to find good 3b prospects.

[sveumrules]

36 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

Going back to the talk a bit ago about the traditional thought on 3B power and hitting in general made me remember a few days ago when MLB network did their list of top 10 3B right now and I thought to myself how weak it is these days. It really doesn't take much to be an above avg 3B now, surprisingly weak position. A theory, perhaps advanced analytics have made teams realize the defensive value so some good hitters who 30-40 years ago would've hung at 3B (while being bad at D) are now getting moved to corner OF/1B/DH. 

Yeah, third base isn't "Third Base" anymore. The weasel has gone pop, as it were.

From 2012 to 2022 the league average wRC+ ranged between 100 and 107 for third basemen, with seven of those eleven seasons at 105 or higher.

The last three years? 96, 97 and 96 wRC+ at the not so hot corner. That's more like a steroid era second baseman than the chiseled Third Basemen of our mind's eye.

[Jopal78]

56 minutes ago, gregmag said:

This is an unbelievably arrogant comment.  People here have been making all kinds of nuanced assessments of Harrison, and people here make all kinds of nuanced assessments of other prospects all the time, and you know that perfectly well.  If the only way you can feel smart is by taking cheap shots at the community to aggrandize your own supposed superior wisdom, maybe don't.

What’s arrogant about it? People who write about minor league baseball players for a living who have actually seen these players play said years ago that Harrison struggles with command because of arm angle.   To date, the lack of command has showed up in the major leagues as evidenced by the BB/9 ratio. 

Boston’s front office may be impatient, but they’re not stupid, and likely to trade away a young controllable arm if they feel the player is close to developing into a TOR starter, and especially not for Durbin who is a useful versatile player but likely not superstar material. So it’s not arrogance it’s skepticism ground in reality. 
 

Yet, on this site to suggest any prospect acquired by the Brewers will end up less than a key contributor is met immediately with claims of being arrogant, stupid etc. 

Like I said, we can wait for the other shoe to drop, but creating a hole in the infield without a ready replacement to get some young pitchers they don’t immediately need, seems like shuffling pieces around to seem active as opposed to a strategy to build the best best 40 man roster they can. 
 

 

 

[tmwiese55]

"Boston’s front office may be impatient, but they’re not stupid, and likely to trade away a young controllable arm if they feel the player is close to developing into a TOR starter,.... So it’s not arrogance it’s skepticism ground in reality. "

Boston literally did this last year. 

[yoshii8]

At first glance I really don’t like this trade or this off-season in general. I was hoping we would add some established players and grow from our core but trading Durbin seems like such an odd move. I hope I’m completely wrong and the young guys added are awesome. 

[LouisEly]

1 hour ago, RobDeer 45 said:

I've been thinking about this too.  Brewers are valuing defense more at 3b.

Better defense means pitchers throw less pitches.

Pitchers throwing less pitches means less mistake/bad pitches thrown.

Less mistake/bad pitches thrown means less runs given up, better performance from not as talented pitchers.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

28 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

Boston’s front office may be impatient, but they’re not stupid, and likely to trade away a young controllable arm if they feel the player is close to developing into a TOR starter, and especially not for Durbin who is a useful versatile player but likely not superstar material. So it’s not arrogance it’s skepticism ground in reality. 

[Underachiever]

1 hour ago, TURBO said:

Ok, let's say that what you are saying is true.  We have to get power someplace.  We are in desperate need for someone, who in given situations has the chance at knocking one out of the park.  Our line-up is punchless today, and it was punchless last year.

If we aren't going to get any power at 1B or 3B with some "dinosaur" player, where is it going to come from?

Chourio has yet to show any significant consistent power,, Yelich, those days are likely behind him.  Frelick?  Vaughn has a shot, and did provide some clutch power last season in limited at bats.  Turang?  Ortiz?  That leaves Contreras...

Call me crazy, but we are still sitting here with a line-up without a power source.  I may be old school in my line of thinking that we need at least one guy who is a threat, but once the season hits, and we are getting guys on base with no one to knock them all in, I think my reasoning will be in line with how most feel about the lack of power in this line-up.

I agree with you on this power discussion. I would gladly take power from any position on the diamond, but at the moment, the Brewers are set at SS, 2B, 1B, C, CF, and RF. That leaves looking for a new power source from LF or 3B. So, asking for power from 3B or LF isn't from any kind of "dinosaur" thinking, it is because that is where there is an opening in the roster to insert a power hitter. If Contreras became Cal Raleigh or Chourio channeled 1996 Brady Anderson, I would be content with a lighter-hitting third baseman. Short of that, the Brewers don't have an obvious option at 3B. With that in mind, I wish they would find a guy for that position who can mash.

[Brewcrew82]

2 hours ago, TURBO said:

Ok, let's say that what you are saying is true.  We have to get power someplace.  We are in desperate need for someone, who in given situations has the chance at knocking one out of the park.  Our line-up is punchless today, and it was punchless last year.

If we aren't going to get any power at 1B or 3B with some "dinosaur" player, where is it going to come from?

Chourio has yet to show any significant consistent power,, Yelich, those days are likely behind him.  Frelick?  Vaughn has a shot, and did provide some clutch power last season in limited at bats.  Turang?  Ortiz?  That leaves Contreras...

Call me crazy, but we are still sitting here with a line-up without a power source.  I may be old school in my line of thinking that we need at least one guy who is a threat, but once the season hits, and we are getting guys on base with no one to knock them all in, I think my reasoning will be in line with how most feel about the lack of power in this line-up.

Chourio, at ages 20 and 21, has shown more “consistent power” than Contreras the last two years….

I think lack of power throughout the lineup is a genuine concern but I also like the chances of further leaps in the power department from Chourio another year closer to his prime and Contreras with a healthy thumb. 

[Jopal78]

17 minutes ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

You need to read more carefully, notice the word “impatient” referring to Boston. 

Also I realize (hope) you’re making a joke, but Priester finished fourth amongst the ‘25 Brewers regular starters in FIP, so not really a top of the rotation arm just yet.  
 

And FWIW there were numerous posters here who were  incensed the Brewers traded Yophery Rodriguez to get Priester. 

[mudbutt]

13 minutes ago, Underachiever said:

I agree with you on this power discussion. I would gladly take power from any position on the diamond, but at the moment, the Brewers are set at SS, 2B, 1B, C, CF, and RF. That leaves looking for a new power source from LF or 3B. So, asking for power from 3B or LF isn't from any kind of "dinosaur" thinking, it is because that is where there is an opening in the roster to insert a power hitter. If Contreras became Cal Raleigh or Chourio channeled 1996 Brady Anderson, I would be content with a lighter-hitting third baseman. Short of that, the Brewers don't have an obvious option at 3B. With that in mind, I wish they would find a guy for that position who can mash.

Agreed but as mentioned above 3rd base is a dire position leaguewide and honestly I'd say basically every position is, especially when it comes to power. And if you do have someone, you definitely aren't trading them unless it is a rental or they have warts. But I think the Brewers have recognized the power scarcity so you trade for prospects and draft hitters high in the draft, which they have done. Now you just gotta hope one of Fischer, Wilken, Adams, Adamsczewski, Burke etc actually hit because you aren't getting MLB guys, it is too big of a premium.

[Playing Catch]

9 minutes ago, Underachiever said:

I agree with you on this power discussion. I would gladly take power from any position on the diamond, but at the moment, the Brewers are set at SS, 2B, 1B, C, CF, and RF. That leaves looking for a new power source from LF or 3B. So, asking for power from 3B or LF isn't from any kind of "dinosaur" thinking, it is because that is where there is an opening in the roster to insert a power hitter. If Contreras became Cal Raleigh or Chourio channeled 1996 Brady Anderson, I would be content with a lighter-hitting third baseman. Short of that, the Brewers don't have an obvious option at 3B. With that in mind, I wish they would find a guy for that position who can mash.

I think, that there's this belief that the Brewers don't want more power. And that's just silly. Everyone wants more power. I know I do. It's just that, as Sveum mentioned above, 3rd base is bereft of much talent there, and a lot of the power sources require a great sacrifice, be it $100M, trading Jesus Made, OR losing a lot of the value the power provides, with a sacrifice on all of the other skills.

I guess it's fine if people simply are bored with that approach, because dingers are awesome. But I just don't think, based on the Brewers success in recent seasons, that power is any longer a requirement to have a potent offense. Perhaps it was lightning in a bottle last year, but the strategy worked.

[Brewcrew82]

5 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

You need to read more carefully, notice the word “impatient” referring to Boston. 

Also I realize (hope) you’re making a joke, but Priester finished fourth amongst the ‘25 Brewers regular starters in FIP, so not really a top of the rotation arm just yet.  
 

And FWIW there were numerous posters here who were  incensed the Brewers traded Yophery Rodriguez to get Priester. 

3 WAR is pretty dang close to top of the rotation production. FIP is predictive not necessarily descriptive.

Brewers also don’t need Harrison to be a true top of the rotation starter for the trade to be successful. Something approaching Priester’s production last year would likely do the trick. 

You also realize that Boston was absolutely getting desperate for an infielder after they lost Bregman with a couple days to go until ST. So the fact that they were willing to part with Harrison to get that is not necessarily an indictment.  

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

8 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

You need to read more carefully, notice the word “impatient” referring to Boston. 

Also I realize (hope) you’re making a joke, but Priester finished fourth amongst the ‘25 Brewers regular starters in FIP, so not really a top of the rotation arm just yet.  
 

And FWIW there were numerous posters here who were  incensed the Brewers traded Yophery Rodriguez to get Priester. 

Your exact words were "close to developing into a TOR starter". I don't think anyone would look at Priester's results as a 24-year-old last season and not think that he would be on a TOR trajectory. 

See, I read carefully. 

[CheeseheadInQC]

One day later, this still seems fine value wise but weird roster construction wise. I could definitely see the Brewers viewing Durbin as a regression candidate, but doing this without a backup plan for now if Williams isn’t ready is odd.

[liveforoctober]

2 hours ago, TURBO said:

Ok, let's say that what you are saying is true.  We have to get power someplace.  We are in desperate need for someone, who in given situations has the chance at knocking one out of the park.  Our line-up is punchless today, and it was punchless last year.

If we aren't going to get any power at 1B or 3B with some "dinosaur" player, where is it going to come from?

Chourio has yet to show any significant consistent power,, Yelich, those days are likely behind him.  Frelick?  Vaughn has a shot, and did provide some clutch power last season in limited at bats.  Turang?  Ortiz?  That leaves Contreras...

Call me crazy, but we are still sitting here with a line-up without a power source.  I may be old school in my line of thinking that we need at least one guy who is a threat, but once the season hits, and we are getting guys on base with no one to knock them all in, I think my reasoning will be in line with how most feel about the lack of power in this line-up.

"You have to get power someplace"

I just don't know if that is true. The Brewers had arguably a top 3 offense in baseball last year. Inarguably a top 5 offense. We excelled in just about everything except clearing the fence with a few more of our fly balls. (also for context, the Brewers hit 166 HRs last year which was 22nd in the league. Detroit was #10 with 198. Does Detroit 'have punch' in their lineup compared to us given their Top 10 appearance? They hit 32 more home runs, which is roughly 1 more every 5 games)

All of us want a unicorn at every position that can do all of the things. But there are so few guys around the league who can... so you typically have to give to get with skillsets. If you desire power in your lineup ... that usually means you strikeout a lot more, you clog up base paths, and you have a few more rock hands playing defense. When you employ plus defenders, high contact/high OBP, base merchants... that typically means you have to give up power.

It is pretty obvious which way the Brewers want their guys to lean.

I'm not mad at anyone for wanting different skillsets amongst their guys. Personally, I would much rather have Sal Frelick on my team over Jay Buhner. I'm just saying we are currently fans of Matt Arnold and his FO and the concept of "power position" is just not a thing.

[shanedog19]

I may be in the minority, but I am not at all worried about 3rd base. I think you'll see some combination of Ortiz and Hamilton there to start off with. Brock Wilken will likely start the season in Nashville, but I could envision a callup around June if he is performing well in AAA. We are going to be trotting out a young, deep, high upside starting rotation, with Woodruff as it's anchor. I would take that over some question at 3rd base, which we always seem to have a way of figuring out. 

[owbc]

7 minutes ago, liveforoctober said:

"You have to get power someplace"

I just don't know if that is true. The Brewers had arguably a top 3 offense in baseball last year. Inarguably a top 5 offense. We excelled in just about everything except clearing the fence with a few more of our fly balls. (also for context, the Brewers hit 166 HRs last year which was 22nd in the league. Detroit was #10 with 198. Does Detroit 'have punch' in their lineup compared to us given their Top 10 appearance? They hit 32 more home runs, which is roughly 1 more every 5 games)

All of us want a unicorn at every position that can do all of the things. But there are so few guys around the league who can... so you typically have to give to get with skillsets. If you desire power in your lineup ... that usually means you strikeout a lot more, you clog up base paths, and you have a few more rock hands playing defense. When you employ plus defenders, high contact/high OBP, base merchants... that typically means you have to give up power.

It is pretty obvious which way the Brewers want their guys to lean.

I'm not mad at anyone for wanting different skillsets amongst their guys. Personally, I would much rather have Sal Frelick on my team over Jay Buhner. I'm just saying we are currently fans of Matt Arnold and his FO and the concept of "power position" is just not a thing.

Trading Durbin and his 4th percentile exit velocity is one way to improve our power. How will we ever replace those 11 home runs that we got at 3B in 2025 (tied for 4th worst in MLB)????

[Mr Southpaw]

33 minutes ago, shanedog19 said:

I may be in the minority, but I am not at all worried about 3rd base. I think you'll see some combination of Ortiz and Hamilton there to start off with. Brock Wilken will likely start the season in Nashville, but I could envision a callup around June if he is performing well in AAA. We are going to be trotting out a young, deep, high upside starting rotation, with Woodruff as it's anchor. I would take that over some question at 3rd base, which we always seem to have a way of figuring out. 

Count me as worried. There are a few UFA available that could make for a back up plan or maybe Parades if he doesn’t cost too much.

[RobertCrawley]

57 minutes ago, shanedog19 said:

I may be in the minority, but I am not at all worried about 3rd base. I think you'll see some combination of Ortiz and Hamilton there to start off with. Brock Wilken will likely start the season in Nashville, but I could envision a callup around June if he is performing well in AAA. We are going to be trotting out a young, deep, high upside starting rotation, with Woodruff as it's anchor. I would take that over some question at 3rd base, which we always seem to have a way of figuring out. 

I'm a little concerned. We may have to wait for a while before we see another hard hitting third baseman like Shaw or McGehee. I wonder if the Brewers feel like they can develop someone for the position, the way they developed Durbin last year. 

[StearnsFTW]

I'll put it this way:

I'm not any more worried about 3B than I was a year ago today. 

[Turning2]

4 hours ago, homer said:

Feels like the Brewers are setting themselves up for two or three years down the road. As Arnold mentioned, they have a ton of really good infield prospects in the minors. Something has to give. The elephant in the room is the potential/likely lockout after this season. I'd be shocked if the braintrust wasn't making moves with that in mind.

I'd say that is their clear focus. If not for the looming lockout and the timing of the TV revenue deal transition, they might have been a tad more aggressive after reaching the NLCS.

[Jopal78]

4 hours ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

Your exact words were "close to developing into a TOR starter". I don't think anyone would look at Priester's results as a 24-year-old last season and not think that he would be on a TOR trajectory. 

See, I read carefully. 

Great. In hindsight, it’s easy to look back and say “look at the trajectory”.

What is factual, however, Priester wasn’t with the major league club in Boston, but he was traded. I think that’s pretty compelling evidence that they did not consider him near top of the rotation at the time they traded him.
 

That’s where the patience part comes in. Perhaps Boston  thought with some further refinement he could become a top of the rotation starter, but they’re trying to win as many games as possible in a tough division and need their 40 man roster for players who can help them sooner than later. 

The Brewers are good at what they do, and have earned the benefit of the doubt. But I push back at the notion they are playing chess while other teams are playing checkers, or that every prospect they acquire is without warts and seemingly infallible.

[brewcrewdue80]

5 hours ago, Turning2 said:

It's a year too early to dangle Contreras. He will be next year.

Agreed as Quero needs to prove he can catch at least 100 games in a season. Though I wouldn't be shocked after trading 3 3b he is a backup C used for PH abs. He has some pop.