Trade partner: Kansas City Royals

[LouisEly]

I'm really starting to like Michael Wacha as a SP target (assuming Skubal doesn't happen).

He's actually been more effective against LHB (.685 OPS-A) than RHB (.752 OPS-A) this season, likely due to his changeup and cutter.  They'll need a pitcher who is effective against LHB to have a chance against PHI (Schwarber, Harper) and LAD (Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy, Tucker).

Not a rental, under contract for 2027 for a reasonable $14M (plus up to $4M in incentives) at age 35.  Team option for 2028 with $1M buyout.  So, won't come cheap.

Also, under reclamation projects, Matt Strahm has been bitten by the HR bug this year but was very effective for PHI the last 3 years.  Maybe the analytics/lab can find a tweak with him to get him back to 2024-2025 form.  Shouldn't cost much with the year he's having plus being a true rental.

[wiguy94]

Not a fan of trading for Wacha. I don't want to be on the hook for his age 35/36 season next year especially at the cost it would probably acquire to get him.

The Royal I would be a fan of acquiring is Steven Cruz. Big flame throwing RHP with big whiff numbers but pretty terrible results. 4 more years of team control and one option remaining after this year. Think he has a lot of potential.

[TURBO]

Think better.  We don't have to settle for Michael Wacha types with our farm system.

That trade would absolutely bum me out.

[LouisEly]

1 minute ago, TURBO said:

Think better.  We don't have to settle for Michael Wacha types with our farm system.

That trade would absolutely bum me out.

You didn't need the first two words.

And if you don't like trading for All-Stars, then that's fine.

[TURBO]

3 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

You didn't need the first two words.

And if you don't like trading for All-Stars, then that's fine.

Think better, as in, think of better players...  That was not a dig at your thinking ability.

Thanks for telling me how to post though.

[LouisEly]

26 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Think better, as in, think of better players...  That was not a dig at your thinking ability.

Thanks for telling me how to post though.

That's fair.

Who's better against LHH not named "Skubal" that's likely to be available?

[LouisEly]

25 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Not a fan of trading for Wacha. I don't want to be on the hook for his age 35/36 season next year especially at the cost it would probably acquire to get him.

$14M-$18M for a good FA starting pitcher really isn't much.  He's already at 2.2 bWAR and was a 2.8 and 3.1 bWAR pitcher in 2025 and 2024.  

I believe @sveumrules last calculation of average FA $/WAR is around $9M, so even if he loses half of his WAR value next year, he'd still be average FA value.

[wiguy94]

7 minutes ago, LouisEly said:

$14M-$18M for a good FA starting pitcher really isn't much.  He's already at 2.2 bWAR and was a 2.8 and 3.1 bWAR pitcher in 2025 and 2024.  

I believe @sveumrules last calculation of average FA $/WAR is around $9M, so even if he loses half of his WAR value next year, he'd still be average FA value.

For the Brewers that is a lot money and I don't want to trade what would probably be a pricey haul for a guy who is already 35 years old. The aging curve once you hit 35 is not kind. Look at his teammate Lugo. Put up 4.7 fWAR in his age 34 season and in 250 innings since then has put up 1.5 fWAR

[James Zumstein]

On 7/15/2026 at 5:43 PM, LouisEly said:

I'm really starting to like Michael Wacha as a SP target (assuming Skubal doesn't happen).

He's actually been more effective against LHB (.685 OPS-A) than RHB (.752 OPS-A) this season, likely due to his changeup and cutter.  They'll need a pitcher who is effective against LHB to have a chance against PHI (Schwarber, Harper) and LAD (Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy, Tucker).

Not a rental, under contract for 2027 for a reasonable $14M (plus up to $4M in incentives) at age 35.  Team option for 2028 with $1M buyout.  So, won't come cheap.

Also, under reclamation projects, Matt Strahm has been bitten by the HR bug this year but was very effective for PHI the last 3 years.  Maybe the analytics/lab can find a tweak with him to get him back to 2024-2025 form.  Shouldn't cost much with the year he's having plus being a true rental.

I like the idea of trading with the Royals for a couple reasons. First, Wacha could really help us secure solid, consistent innings, which we desperately need right now. Second, I'd like to see Lane Thomas and Daniel Lynch thrown in as well. This could fill several needs: a RHH OF who can play CF or RF and provide a little pop, and another late-inning arm out of the bullpen. To get this package, I'd be willing to part with Frelick, although his shoulder injury might make that difficult at this time. The emergence of Lara and with Mitchell proving he can be a guy that we can finally count on, Frelick is likely the odd man out going forward. Package him with a young starter, such as Crow or someone similar, and I think both sides would be happy.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Witt is the target, pass on Wacha, too old 

[long ball]

To me Wacha is injury insurance in case Misiorowski, Harrison, or Henderson is injured come playoff time. 
 

I don’t love the money commitment for next year, but he could probably be moved if needed. 
 

id be fine with the move, but I also think if we are looking for a starter we should aim higher. I realize that right now there aren’t many teams who are clear sellers. 
 

id we want to add one of their scrap heap relievers to see if we catch lightning in a bottle that’s cool too. 

[LouisEly]

9 hours ago, James Zumstein said:

First, Wacha could really help us secure solid, consistent innings, which we desperately need right now.

This is one of two reasons for trading for him.  He leads the league in innings pitched, and this is a staff that desperately needs innings covered just to get them to the playoffs.

Second, he's been very good against LHH (.685 OPS-A this season).  If they are going to get past the Phillies/Dodgers, they will need pitchers who are effective against LHH.

Like I said in the initial post, I'm assuming Skubal doesn't happen.  I'd love it if it did, but I don't see the Brewers giving up the prospect haul for an impending FA, and someone is going to overpay based on his start yesterday.  But Wacha has been more effective against LHH this season than Skubal (.758 OPS-A vs LHH, .577 OPS-A vs RHH).

Casey Mize has been even more effective against LHH this season (.488 OPS-A), and would cost less than Skubal.  But he's never thrown more than 155 innings in a season.  Will he run out of gas in October?

If you don't like it, then suggest someone better.  And be specific about who and not cop out and say, "think better".

[owbc]

I'm pretty sure Arnold's team takes any guy who is overperforming his peripherals and throws them in the "no thanks" bin. Plus an all-star appearance??? 

Wacha just needs to suck a little more and he'll have a chance to get back on our interest list. 

[TURBO]

21 hours ago, long ball said:

To me Wacha is injury insurance in case Misiorowski, Harrison, or Henderson is injured come playoff time. 
 

 

If those guys are injured come playoff time, Michael Wacha is not going to help us get to the world series.  At that point, we are just screwed.

[James Zumstein]

21 hours ago, LouisEly said:

This is one of two reasons for trading for him.  He leads the league in innings pitched, and this is a staff that desperately needs innings covered just to get them to the playoffs.

Second, he's been very good against LHH (.685 OPS-A this season).  If they are going to get past the Phillies/Dodgers, they will need pitchers who are effective against LHH.

Like I said in the initial post, I'm assuming Skubal doesn't happen.  I'd love it if it did, but I don't see the Brewers giving up the prospect haul for an impending FA, and someone is going to overpay based on his start yesterday.  But Wacha has been more effective against LHH this season than Skubal (.758 OPS-A vs LHH, .577 OPS-A vs RHH).

Casey Mize has been even more effective against LHH this season (.488 OPS-A), and would cost less than Skubal.  But he's never thrown more than 155 innings in a season.  Will he run out of gas in October?

If you don't like it, then suggest someone better.  And be specific about who and not cop out and say, "think better".

Umm...I was actually agreeing with you. I think trading for Wacha makes a lot of sense. I have zero desire to trade for Skubal for the same reasons you stated. Not sure why you thought I was disagreeing with you. I would like to get a package of players from the Royals, not just Wacha.

[LouisEly]

37 minutes ago, James Zumstein said:

Umm...I was actually agreeing with you.

I know.  But some others in this thread aren't, and my comments were directed towards them.  Sorry for the confusion.

[long ball]

4 hours ago, TURBO said:

If those guys are injured come playoff time, Michael Wacha is not going to help us get to the world series.  At that point, we are just screwed.

That might be true, but my main point by that comment was that IF he’s starting a game in the playoffs it’s probably like game 4 of the NLCS. I’m just not sure how important it is to acquire a guy like this. He’s not a ceiling raiser. 
 

now i don’t think Joe Ryan is getting traded, but he’s someone who is hopefully starting multiple playoff games for you. 

[Mr Southpaw]

If the SP trade will not get you a playoff ready SP just don't do it

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

10 hours ago, long ball said:

That might be true, but my main point by that comment was that IF he’s starting a game in the playoffs it’s probably like game 4 of the NLCS. I’m just not sure how important it is to acquire a guy like this. He’s not a ceiling raiser. 
 

now i don’t think Joe Ryan is getting traded, but he’s someone who is hopefully starting multiple playoff games for you. 

If we are going to trade for someone and he ends up being available, I think Joe Ryan would be my first choice

[bensheeps]

30 minutes ago, TwinsBrewersWorldSeries said:

If we are going to trade for someone and he ends up being available, I think Joe Ryan would be my first choice

And Ryan helped last night with making himself available.  His 4 innings, 8 runs allowed on 6 home runs led to the Twins losing and dropping a little farther out of the playoff chase.

In all seriousness, Ryan is my top choice as well for a starter at the deadline.