Harold Hutchison

Stokes has been someone I've been high on for a while. The guy can draw walks. He first looked like another coming of Brady Clark, with doubles power, OBP skills, and some speed, but the power boost in 2017 - and which repeated in 2018 has me wondering if he isn't a poor man's Christian Yelich.

Both these guys have hit for over .300, and they have speed as well. Valerio has more pop, Vargas more speed.

Since people are talking about starts out of nowhere in the Major League forums, let's look to the farm. Which players do you think are slated for a breakout or a comeback? Here are some I have my eye on: Breakouts * LHP Scott Sunitsch - Overshadowed by Andy Ashby, but his 1.71 ERA in Wisconsin is quite interesting. Will be worth seeing what he does in his first full pro season. * OF/1B Ryan Aguilar - Showed OBP skills, speed, and some power. The real question will be to see whether he can hit for average. * C/1B Jesus Chirinos - Great bat and OBP skills. Could he be the future at catcher? * 2B Victor Vargas - Hit over .300, good OBP skills, and speed. Comebacks * RHP Jorge Ortega - Missed time after Tommy John surgery, but his control is still there. Was on track to contribute to the rotation eventually when he got hurt. * 3B Lucas Erceg - Has struggled a but with the bat. Could he put it together ala Corey Ray this year? * RHP Cody Ponce - If he rebounds, it's more starting pitching depth.

1. Corey Spangenberg - I think he will prove to be a very versatile contributor in the infield, and there will be more than one time where he will be involved in a walk-off win, either as a baserunner or batter. I expect Miller Park's friendliness to left-handed power hitters to help him, too. 2. Bobby Wahl - He's racked up a LOT of strikeouts in the minors, and by the end of the season, he could be celebrated as the guy who punched out batters in key moments. 3. Alex Claudio - He'll become a Hader-lite - known more for inducing grounders than punching out hitters. 4. Corbin Burnes - I know we all know he's good, but I think he breaks out as an ace this year. I put him at the top of my Top 25 in three straight polls, and he was barely edged out by Cameron Roegner in the Mid-Season 2018 poll.

OK... why would you move Arcia to second base? His calling card - his main asset - is his defense at shortstop.

The problem is... you need owners/GMs and players willing to work such deals out. This is at the heart of the matter for teams like Milwaukee. Remember when the Crew was, for all intents and purposes, a farm team for big-market clubs? Again, you need owners/GMs, agents, and players willing to think things through. I think the answer may be all of the above. Up the slot amounts, especially in later rounds (say, to $250,000). Then do BOTH higher minor-league salaries and raising the league minimum.

It's a pretty significant upgrade. The W/L season total might not completely reflect it but if you consider yourself a playoff team, then a game or two difference during the season and even 1 win in the playoffs is huge. He's for sure in the top 3-4 catchers over the last 3 seasons. I'm not sure the money would stop additional moves, but if it does I can at least understand where your coming from. I was good with Pina as well, but this is a significant upgrade to the lineup and it didn't cost any current prospects, only $$$. Not just the lineup, the bench as well. Pina is a huge offensive upgrade over Kratz as the #2 catcher. In 2018, Pina started 84 out of 163 games. The other 79 were between Kratz, Bandy, and Nottingham. In 2019, Grandal will likely get 115-120 starts. That cuts Pina's starting burden in half. And a well-rested Pina is much better at the plate.

I get the financial flexibility argument. That said, what Thames will make ($6 million) is not horrific to carry - even if for part of a season. There are a lot of unknowns. How will Hiura do in AAA? Could someone get hurt? Maybe a trade happens. Maybe Attanasio decides to pony up more cash to go for the World Series title. I'm just saying that an offseason trade of Thames (or someone else) isn't necessarily written in stone. They could simply go with Thames for part of the season, then move him.

People think this signing means Thames has to be dealt. I just think it should be pointed out that a Thames trade is NOT inevitable because of signing Grandal. Besides, that lineup has only ONE potential black hole: Arcia.

True. But I just was throwing some ideas out there...

Who says the Crew HAS to deal Thames? Right now, they could roll out this lineup: cf: Cain rf: Yelich 3b: Aguilar 2b: Shaw lf: Braun c: Grandal 1b: Thames ss: Arcia Pitcher Even deGrom would be needing to change his undies after he found out he was facing THIS lineup. We're talking six guys who could easily mash 30 homers... this is the Ultimate Craig's Crushers lineup.

At this point, bring Moose back, move Shaw to second. Or, there's always Aguilar at third, Shaw at second, and Thames at first... say what you will about the defense, but with Grandal... it would be a lineup that would mash.

With the Grandal signing, some folks have talked about a possible strike or lockout. The fact is, there are a number of conflicts. Players want to be able to cash in on their success at the major league level. Small-market teams, though, need to be able to develop new players. I think they should up the salaries for minor-league players: For Rookie-level, it should be $60,000 a year. A-level, $90,000. A+, $120,000. AA, $180,000. AAA, $240,000. In exchange for the bigger salaries, there would be a change in player control: Prior to being eligible for the Rule 5 draft, a high-school draftee or someone signed as an international amateur free agent will have five years of team control. A community college draftee has four years, a college draftee has three. After that, there will be an additional three years of Rule 5 eligibility before the players become minor-league free agents. Minor-league players will also have the right to sign multi-year deals with teams, and they can be protected from the Rule 5 draft for half the length of the deal. I'd make some changes to the draft: First of all, the DFE process would come back as the deadline would move to May 31 to sign a player. Second, a pick in the first ten rounds who doesn't sign results in a comp pick as currently handled. Third, the competitive bonus round will change: There would be two rounds. but each team eligible for the CB picks would draft in each round. The only difference is the order flips. So, if Milwaukee drafted second in CB-A, they'd draft ninth in CB-B. Also, all draft picks could be traded, but only for two years down the road - so Milwaukee might move Eric Thames, and maybe get a second-round pick in 2019 and 2020. Free-agent compensation would also change, in one sense going back to the past when a team can get compensation by simply offering arbitration. But the way it would change is that instead of a team giving up a pick, the compensation would work as follows: * For a contract above $60 million, the team losing a free agent gets a pick before the pick of the team that signed the free agent in the first round, and "sandwich picks" between the CB-A and 2nd round and CB-B and the 3rd round. * For a contract between $30 million and $60 million, the team losing a free agent gets a pick before the pick of the team that signed the free agent in the second round, and "sandwich picks" between the CB-A and 2nd round and CB-B and the 3rd round. * For a contract between $15 million and $30 million, the team losing a free agent gets a pick before the pick of the team that signed the free agent in the third round and "sandwich picks" between the CB-A and 2nd round and CB-B and the 3rd round. * For a contract below $15 million, the team losing a free agent gets "sandwich picks" between the CB-A and 2nd round and CB-B and the 3rd round. Players would have three years of team control, and three years of arbitration. The minimum major-league salary would be bumped up to $750,000 a year. There will be more revenue sharing, with teams eligible for a CB pick getting 25% more revenue than those who aren't.

Kratz could be a good mentor to Nottingham... This is an exciting deal. Who knows? Maybe Grandal likes Milwaukee, likes being on a winning club, and decides to stick around.

That's probably not a given. If he continues to slide, the QO might very well be his best option. I can't stand the guy, and he might not be much better than any of the homegrown guys I like anyway. I'd pass. I think they're just looking for bargains and aren't really interested in so-called premium starters unless they really are likely to be head-and-shoulders above the rest and represent a good value. They have to do due diligence, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're really as interested in big-name starters as some of the rumors suggest. Agreed. Find out the Giants' initial ask, then see how flexible they might be. See if negotiations will work, or if further discussion is a waste of time. I could live with a package of Lucas Erceg, Mario Feliciano, and Adrian Houser for Bumgarner. If they want one of the young guns... I'd probably pass, and wait for Brent Suter to come back from his Tommy John.

That is my problem right now. I'd do an even Anderson-for-Bumgarner swap or a Nelson/Grisham-for-Bumgarner deal. But not one of Peralta, Burnes, or Woodruff in addition to prospects.

The one thing jumping out at me is both of these players draw walks and have high batting averages. Vargas is not a home run hitter, but he gets the other two true outcomes a lot. He reminds me of another walk-drawing high-average 2B without much power who was a favorite of mine - Jeff Pickler. Valerio has that vibe, albeit with less speed and he seems to be able to hit home runs. I think both are more likely to be with one of the Maryvale squads given their performance.

The Giants want an overpay because he is their face of the franchise. Any of the young guns constitutes an overpay. I might go Trent Grisham and Adrian Houser for Bumgarner, but the Giants would have to add OF Alexander Canario and LHP Jesus Gomez instead.

Yup. You could talk me into Bumgarner and Smith for Peralta + or Corey Ray +. The perception of Bumgarner has been skewed by his otherworldly playoff performances and I suppose that's a good enough reason to make a strong play at him. Don't get me wrong, he's been an Ace, just not at the level I think people think he is. Freak injuries or not, his peripherals are trending down with a ton of innings on that arm. I'm just not convinced he's worth a significant return. Bumgarner is only 28. So, there is a chance to catch a rebound from him. That said... I'm not willing to overpay. Giants get: RHP Chase Anderson SS Luis Aviles Jr. RHP Aaron Wilkerson RHP Nate Griep Brewers get: LHP Madison Bumgarner LHP Will Smith

Check out my new thread on the guy we got from the Mets compared to someone we already had... Would love your take on Vargas...

Here, we will take a peek at two second basemen in the Brewers system at the DSL. One, Felix Valerio, was recently acquired in the Keon Broxton trade. The other, Victor Vargas, was with the Crew's DSL affiliate in 2018. Both are 5'7". Valerio weighs in at 165 pounds, Vargas at 160. Here are their numbers: Valerio: .319/.409/.433 .843 OPS in 263 ABs, 16 for 22 in stolen bases, 34 BB to 21 K Vargas: .302/.414/.438 .851 OPS in 96 AB, 16 for 23 in stolen bases, 17 BB to 28 K What we have is some very impressive OBP skills by both players. Vargas, in particular, draws walks - almost one every five ABs. He also strikes out a lot - 28 times in 96 ABs is very high - 29.1 percent. But he also has speed - in 36.5 percent of the ABs, he stole as many bases as Valerio. Both also have flashed very good hit-for-average tools. Valerio does have more power - 17 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 homers to Vargas's 7 doubles and 3 triples. Vargas has a slightly worse glove, but in many ways, these two players are very similar. Keston Hiura may want to look over his shoulder... the Crew could have one or two potential successors in Maryvale this summer!

Haven't seen you around in a while, foamboy1! Hope all is well!

I'd say Broxton is well above average, if not excellent, on defense. His biggest limitation is hit inability to make contact.

Broxton noted 1.6 WAR in 2018 despite a sub-Uecker line and having all of 89 plate appearances. That speaks to how impressive his defense is. If he hadn't hurt his wrist in 2016... I wonder if the Brewers would have gone for Cain in the 2017-2018 offseason.

Possible, but more likely Tyrone Taylor ends up as the 5th OF. Gamel could be the 4th OF... big push now is to find a match for Thames... unless it's an Aguilar-Arcia-Shaw-Thames infield. But Gamel can play enough 1B and has seen time in CF. Wahl does seem like another Knebel - or Turnbow. Could be an interesting flip candidate. Hill and Zavolas are both interesting arms. Could be part of another pitching wave. Valerio's .843 OPS is only eight points below that of Victor Vargas, who I put on my Top 25 list for the latest poll. Both have good OBP skills - Valerio makes more contact and may have more pop, but Vargas posted a .414 OBP. Vargas also matched Valerio's SB total in about a third of the ABs. Valerio is good, but part of a crowded infield at rookie level.