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  • Milwaukee Brewers Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest Milwaukee Brewers free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    Brock Beauchamp
    Of course, Rafael Devers asking for $300m is quite different from Rafael Devers getting $300m from the Red Sox but it's an alarming ask as the Brewers look to extend one of Adames, Burnes, or Woodruff.
    Devers and Willy Adames are actually really good comps. Through five seasons, Adames has posted a 15.1 bWAR while through six seasons, Devers has posted a 15.2 bWAR. The two players posted an identical 4.4 bWAR in 2022. Devers has the advantage in career OPS+ - 124 to Adames' 111 number - but Adames has the defensive advantage of being a good shortstop.
    Devers has both the age and service time advantage, though, which drives up his price a fair amount. He's one year younger than Adames and one year closer to free agency - 2023 is his final arbitration year so he can almost taste free agency in these negotiations.
    If Devers actually receives anything close to $300m from the Red Sox - let's say $250m+ - does that take an Adames extension off the table for the Brewers?
    Brock Beauchamp
    There's a lot of chatter around Twitter but not from what most of us would call the most reputable sources. But that doesn't mean it's necessarily untrue. With the addition of Carlos Correa, there isn't really a reason for the Mets to roster Eduardo Escobar other than "Steve Cohen wants all the players."
    Personally, I struggle to see Steve Cohen taking a step back talent-wise under any circumstances after the offseason the Mets have had but it's also possible Escobar isn't particularly thrilled about being in New York and shoved into a utility role - he's not a great defender anywhere anymore - behind two players on a legitimate Hall of Fame career arc.
    What are your thoughts? Is an Escobar reunion possible in Milwaukee?
     
     
    Brock Beauchamp
    As mentioned in this MLBTR piece, bats have been flying off the free agent market over the past few weeks and now it looks like teams are focusing in on one of the only intriguing bats remaining, utility man Brandon Drury. The 30-year-old can play all over the field but has spent the most time at second and third base.
    While not an exceptional hitter most years, the journeyman had very nice 2021 (111 OPS+) and 2022 (122 OPS+) seasons. As a right-handed hitter, he could slot into the Brewers' lineup nicely, resting several left-handed hitters throughout the lineup as needed. Drury's splits aren't pronounced (.720 OPS vs righties, .770 OPS vs lefties) but given the current makeup of the Brewers, being able to slot in someone who isn't a black hole against lefties (much less above average, as Drury is) could be a difference maker over 162 games. 
    monty57
    Here's an article about the Reds being loaded with young infield prospect talent, and looking to trade for young OF prospect talent. 
    I know that teams oftentimes don't want to do inter-division trades, especially prospect-for-prospect as that could end up looking bad for a long time. Other than that, this seems like a perfect scenario. Chourio and De La Cruz would be staying where they are, but this could be a swap of ready-to-contribute "Top 100" guys like a Mitchell-for-Marte type deal, a blocked MLB-ready prospect deal using Wiemer or Ruiz, or a lower minors deal like Lara-for-Acosta.
    Both teams would be dealing from an area of depth for to an area of need. What are everyone's thoughts?
    Brewcrew82
    From MLBTR, "Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports roughly 10 clubs have been in touch with Hazen and company regarding at least one of the team’s outfielders. Piecoro lists the Yankees, Brewers, Blue Jays, A’s, Marlins, White Sox and Reds as clubs with interest."
    Very interesting considering our existing stockpile of young outfielders. Daulton Varsho sure would look good in a Brewers' uniform, with the rare ability to play elite defense at RF, CF, and C....
    Brock Beauchamp
    Curt Hogg reported that GM Matt Arnold has stated the Brewers want to improve at catcher. Given the status of their catching corps, this seems rather obvious but the interesting tidbit is that Arnold, when questioned, was cagey about whether the Brewers would pursue a free agent catcher - with Vazquez being the best remaining option while other guys like Gary Sanchez also remain available - or whether they'll pursue a trade at the cost of prospects.
    What makes the most sense to you? Free agency or give up prospects and save some money?
     
    Brock Beauchamp
    There were rumors swirling that the Brewers might be open to dealing Adames this winter but based on a few things we've heard recently, that's now unlikely. While that's good news for Brewers fans, the reason behind it is possibly even more appealing: apparently, Adames and the Brewers may be discussing an extension.
    Adames took a step backward offensively in 2022; after posting a 126 and 120 wRC+ in 2020 and 2021, his batting average dropped about 30 points and his wRC+ fell below 110 while his on-base percentage dropped below .300. With batting averages dropping like a stone across MLB the past several seasons, it's hard to get a read on whether Adames' performance drop was a one-year aberration or what to expect going forward.
    Brock Beauchamp
    Jon Morosi has tweeted that the Mariners are inquiring on second baseman Kolten Wong. Even though Wong struggled on the defensive side of the ball last season, many expect some rebound in the area going into 2023. Coupled with his mini-breakout with the bat - posting a career high 118 OPS+ - he could be a very valuable player at $10m on a one-year deal. The Mariners took a big step forward in 2022, making the postseason for the first time in two decades, and they have the ability to easily absorb the contract (and a lot more).
    The Mariners' farm system has graduated a bunch of players but there are still some interesting names in their top prospect list. What do you think is a reasonable price for Kolten Wong on a one-year, $10m contract?
    Brock Beauchamp
    Jeff Passan of ESPN believes it's more likely the Brewers and Arnold will try to build around Burnes and Woodruff than trade one of their two top-of-the-rotation starters. While this doesn't mean anything is set in stone, Passan usually has pretty good takes and is known to be pretty tightly-knit with various front offices and agents around the league.
    If this is truly the case, it's hard to see the Brewers build a roster around them for $135m given their current roster commitments and pending commitments.
    This means the Brewers either need to raise payroll or they need to get creative in trade. They certainly have some nice pieces on the farm to acquire good, young talent but it's hard to see them trade too much of the future in a single offseason. What I expect is more likely is that we see a few surprise non-tenders to free up cash and possibly some moves to free up additional money (Wong being an obvious example).
    An interesting tidbit from a baseball journalist I generally respect and follow pretty closely.
    Brock Beauchamp
    This isn't really totally "news" because Stearns is still under contract and any pursuit by the Mets would require negotiation with the Brewers and would surely come with a hefty cost.
    And it's pretty hard to see the Mets bailing on Eppler after a wildly successful season, even if said season ended in disappointment.
    But also, it's interesting to see over the next 12 months whether this is simply Cohen hedging his bets on the 2023 season and possibly snatching up Stearns after he's out from under any contractual arrangement with Milwaukee.
    This is one of the more fascinating POBO/GM situations I've ever seen in my life of following baseball. It's obvious the two are interested in one another but continue to play coy. It's Pride & Prejudice: MLB Edition.
    https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/10/steve-cohen-says-mets-arent-pursuing-david-stearns.html
    Brock Beauchamp
    Jon Heyman of the NY Post wrote that the Brewers have discussed acquiring Ramon Laureano from the Oakland As.
    Laureano has three more seasons of control so should cost quite a bit in trade. He's not a great defender in center but is above average with the bat. Coming off a PED suspension, Laureano essentially lost a year of free agency and has question marks about performance given his previous substance use.
    Personally, I'm not a huge fan of pursuing Laureano. If the price is good, sure, have at it. But Laureano lacks on-base ability, which is perhaps the Brewers' greatest need right now. He checks the box for centerfield - sorta, anyway - but doesn't offer a lot of other qualities that make him attractive to me as a player on this roster.
    Thoughts? Would you pursue Laureano or go with someone more bat-first like Bell?
    Brock Beauchamp
    MLB Trade Rumors, quoting Jeff Passan, reports that the Brewers are interested in first baseman Josh Bell. Alongside Milwaukee are the Astros and Mets, who are interested in the switch-hitter who will be a free agent at year's end.
    Milwaukee could really use Bell's bat but it's harder to fit him into the lineup defensively. In a perfect scenario, Milwaukee can land an offensively-capable centerfielder but given the dearth of options at that position, falling back to a bat-first corner player and wedging him into the defensive alignment somewhere makes a lot of sense.
    What would you be willing to give up for a rental like Josh Bell?
    Brock Beauchamp
    Mark Feinsand of MLB polled a bunch of executives to see who they predict will land phenom slugger Juan Soto and one of them picked... the Brewers?
    Wait, what?
    In much more logical votes, the top vote-getter was the Padres, followed immediately by the Dodgers. Both teams make a lot of sense with a lot of young talent, good farm systems, and the willingness to pay Soto the gobs of money he's looking to land as he approaches free agency in a couple of years.
    Frankly, I don't think the Brewers have the horses to land Soto. They have Chourio - who is legitimately great right now - but the Nationals are likely looking for either young MLB talent or near-MLB talent, which the Brewers don't have a lot of right now, especially on the pitching side of things.
    And on top of the Brewers not having the horses, Milwaukee doesn't have the payroll to pay Soto into free agency, which makes this move a long-term rental. This move would force a full-scale rebuild in a couple of years after Soto leaves and an empty farm system needs to be restocked.
    Anyway, I thought this single vote was amusing enough to post about.
     
    Brock Beauchamp
    Will Sammon of The Athletic takes a look at the players the Brewers might be willing to offer in trade to shore up the big league club before the August 2nd trade deadline.
    While we all know Jackson Chourio is the shining light of the farm system, I don't see the Brewers offering him unless the return is massive and under team control for several more seasons.
    Sammon points out that Milwaukee's third-tier prospects are more likely to be moved, such as Hendry Mendez or Jeferson Quero.
    Sitting just below Chourio the Brewers also have the likes of Joey Wiemer and Sal Frelick, the latter having a very strong season in AA Biloxi. Like Chourio, I can't see the Brewers moving either without bringing back a starting player with multiple cost-controlled seasons remaining.
    And, of course, there's always the enigmatic Keston Hiura.
    Who are you most willing to part with in the farm system and which MLB players would you target to bolster a Brewers lineup that hits well but lacks top-end hitting talent?
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