Reid Detmers Surfaces As Possible Rotation Option For Brewers

[Steve Drumwright]

With the unfortunate injury to right-hander Brandon Woodruff, the Milwaukee Brewers would seem to be in the market for another starting pitcher.

With the ink barely dry on Woodruff's injured-list placement due to his continued shoulder issues, speculation is already swirling as to who the Crew should go after. One popular name is Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.

In a post for FanSided, writer John Perroto throws out a potential trade for Detmers, who would fit the type of player the Brewers like to acquire. Detmers, who turns 27 on Wednesday, was a first-round pick of the Angels out of Louisville in 2020. He is making $2.625 million this year and is under team control through 2028.

Detmers authored a no-hitter in 2022 and has a 3.08 FIP (4.13 ERA) in 18 starts, with a career-low 7.9% walk rate and 27.1% strikeout rate. His strikeout rates the last three seasons (27.9%, 30.1% and 27.1%) are trending up from his career mark of 25.9%.

What does Perroto think it will take for the Angels to give up a prized asset? He offers up shortstop Luis Pena, catcher Jeferson Quero, right-hander Brett Wichrowski and and right-hander Patricio Aquino. Pena is Brewer Fanatic's No. 2 prospect and Quero, who had a brief MLB call-up in April, is No. 8.

The Angels are looking to replenish their farm system and are currently in a front-office transition, having fired general manager Perry Miniasian, who has Brewers ties, and put former St. Louis Cardinals GM John Mozeliak in charge of creating a new path forward and hiring the next front-office boss (which could be himself).

This is an interesting proposal, which also posits that Mozeliak would then spin off Angels starting catcher Logan O'Hoppe. Control of Detmers for two more seasons, plus him being a left-hander to go alongside Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan, could make the price worth it as Wichrowski, at Triple-A Nashville after a recent promotion, and Aquino, on the 60-day injured list at Double-A Biloxi, are not Top 20 prospects.

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[cragi]

I think Pena is pretty close to untouchable. Doesn't seem like a brewer move to unload 4 solid prospects for a 2 year rental that isn't even TOR

[Rick Daltons Flamethrower]

Interesting but doesn't seem like it represents the present thinking of the front office. IMHO

[wallus]

Pena would require a stud himself. Detmers does not fit the bill 

[Jopal78]

6 hours ago, wallus said:

Pena would require a stud himself. Detmers does not fit the bill 

I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m curious who you would label a “stud”? 

[Mr Southpaw]

Pena, Williams, Quero, Wichrowski, and Aquino

for

Detmers and Neto

[Jopal78]

6 minutes ago, Mr Southpaw said:

Pena, Williams, Quero, Wichrowski, and Aquino

for

Detmers and Neto

Neto is a SS. 

[Mr Southpaw]

8 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

Neto is a SS. 

Yes he is and he is a stud.

[ChapelHeel66]

Detmers has some great underlying numbers, and fantastic stuff, although it can be a bumpy ride.  But he's a pitcher. He doesn't play every day, and is much more likely to get injured than a position player. I don't think he can move the needle enough to sacrifice Pena.  If a prospect of that caliber gets traded, it needs to be for another bat.

Everyday catchers do not grow on trees -- and that's how Quero projects.  But he does not have a huge upside and I think I could stomach including him in a deal for Detmers.  We have Contreras for at least another year, which feels like the real window to make a deep run.  We would need a longer term solution at catcher, but there is time to figure that out.  If the Brewers can shape up Dinges defensively, we may already have the answer.

[Jopal78]

3 minutes ago, Mr Southpaw said:

Yes he is and he is a stud.

Then you probably should throw add Cooper Pratt to your proposed trade. You know, the shortstop the Brewers gave an 8 year contract to. 

[KCBrewerfan34]

This trade proposal is ******* crazy. 

[owbc]

Detmers would be a "buy high" trade. We haven't executed a buy high trade since sometime in the 2010s. 

[wallus]

4 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

I’m not saying you’re wrong, I’m curious who you would label a “stud”? 

I can't think of one pitcher that may be available I would trade Pena for. Arnold has excelled at trading for someone and then developing them.

[Jopal78]

11 minutes ago, wallus said:

I can't think of one pitcher that may be available I would trade Pena for. Arnold has excelled at trading for someone and then developing them.

I get that. You said Pena would require a stud himself. So I’m trying to figure out hypothetically who that would be. Doesn’t have to be someone available at the deadline. 

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

4 hours ago, Mr Southpaw said:

Pena, Williams, Quero, Wichrowski, and Aquino

for

Detmers and Neto

I am a hell yes on this one.   The though as someone pointed out below, Pratt and Neto play the same position.  Does Pratt become a utility guy then?  Or would we play Neto at 3B?

[wallus]

9 minutes ago, Jopal78 said:

I get that. You said Pena would require a stud himself. So I’m trying to figure out hypothetically who that would be. Doesn’t have to be someone available at the deadline. 

CJ Abrams is a guy that is probably available that I would trade Pena for

[homer]

I would be shocked if the Brewers traded for a SS

[tmwiese55]

Almost anyone who is a SS can play 3B. We currently have a massive lack of production at both positions.   Of course we all know Pratt is signed long term, but the person acquired can go to 3rd now or next year, or Pratt could. Chances are whoever they acquire is worse at defensive SS than Pratt/Ortiz so it would be them being moved. In addition, there is no reason they couldn't send Pratt back down this year for more time at AAA, and then sort it out in the offseason on a plan going forward.

[CheezWizHed]

I stated it a few times when calling up Pratt discussion was going on... you see if Pratt is ready.  If not, you trade for a SS or 3B (or both).  

Pratt still needs to earn the SS starter position. 

[homer]

11 minutes ago, tmwiese55 said:

Almost anyone who is a SS can play 3B. We currently have a massive lack of production at both positions.   Of course we all know Pratt is signed long term, but the person acquired can go to 3rd now or next year, or Pratt could. Chances are whoever they acquire is worse at defensive SS than Pratt/Ortiz so it would be them being moved. In addition, there is no reason they couldn't send Pratt back down this year for more time at AAA, and then sort it out in the offseason on a plan going forward.

Yeah but Neto hasn't played an inning of 3rd base since college. If they went that route they'd probably do what they usually do and get a utility guy who has already played 3rd.

[owbc]

6 minutes ago, homer said:

Yeah but Neto hasn't played an inning of 3rd base since college. If they went that route they'd probably do what they usually do and get a utility guy who has already played 3rd.

Seattle just moved JP Crawford to 3B in the middle of the season. He hadn't put in any MLB time at 3B since 2018 and was last in MLB in most reliable defensive metrics at SS. 

He's looked fine and is passing the eye test. It's a good spot to put an older SS who has lost range but can still hit. 

[homer]

3 minutes ago, owbc said:

Seattle just moved JP Crawford to 3B in the middle of the season. He hadn't put in any MLB time at 3B since 2018 and was last in MLB in most reliable defensive metrics at SS. 

He's looked fine and is passing the eye test. It's a good spot to put an older SS who has lost range but can still hit. 

I don't think the Angels are trading Neto so it's moot but fun thought exercise.

I don't know how position value works anymore but does moving Neto to 3B mess with his value? I'm not sure if that is as big a deal in today's MLB as it used to be. 

[owbc]

27 minutes ago, homer said:

I don't think the Angels are trading Neto so it's moot but fun thought exercise.

I don't know how position value works anymore but does moving Neto to 3B mess with his value? I'm not sure if that is as big a deal in today's MLB as it used to be. 

I think that's why we're seeing the position moves happening in the first place. 

League average OPS is now identical at 3B and SS. 

As recently as 2022 there was a 33 point OPS difference going from SS to 3B. 

[LouisEly]

Just because you trade for a guy now doesn't mean you need to keep him.  They can flip anyone they trade for now who is under multiple years of control in the offseason.

Pretty clear that Pratt isn't quite there yet offensively,  Bring in someone for the rest of the season, and then turn 2027 back over to Pratt.  There's enough demand for SS that the Brewers shouldn't have any problem trading a good, veteran SS in the offseason even though every team knows the Brewers will want to trade him.  

[wibadgers23]

4 hours ago, owbc said:

Detmers would be a "buy high" trade. We haven't executed a buy high trade since sometime in the 2010s. 

Yeah Doug Melvin isn't walking through that door anytime soon.