Harold Hutchison

Clark is turning into this 3TO guy who can steal 30-40 bases a season. A very intriguing prospect...

You know.... I like all those choices! Not sure what happened with Perrin - that bullpen time was mind-boggling. Gideon flashed something in June... dunno what the deal he had in April and May... still a prospect, but he may drop. Clark and Michael Reed are probably the two best OBP guys in the system, and both seem to have power and speed, too.

Wait and see, folks... wait and see... Mua ha ha ha... EDIT: Seriously, at this point, Corbin Burnes would have to be the prohibitive favorite based on his performance, although Nate Griep looks like someone who could be a fast riser for the back end of the bullpen, Troy Stokes Jr. has emerged as probably the best all-around bat among outfield players, and Trent Clark's added power and superb OBP skills all recommend themselves as well.

I think this season, the Brewers need to play it out - don't mortgage the farm for pitching. This is the season to find out who is in the core, who is solid, and who to try to deal. If we end up in the post-season, great. If not, well, we got to season the young players early for the 2018-2020 runs.

Can you define for me what is not a "major" disappointment? If a 20% walk rate and a 125 wRC+ as a 20 year old in the leagues most pitcher friendly park (while stealing 23 of 26) is a "major" disappointment, Im not what will make you happy. Im glad Im not your son. This. If you spend just a few seconds looking beyond batting average, Trent Clark is put together a very impressive season. I would say that Clark arguably has the best OBP skills in the system (Michael Reed is probably his best competitor in that regard as well - he's leading Biloxi with 35 walks - the next closest was Dubron with 25 in 99 more PAs).

There's also no need to rush. This wasn't supposed to be THE year. There is lots of talent coming up. Stand pat. Refine the players. Worst case, they are tempered and have the experience of a playoff run for next season.

What about a package centering around Davies and Jungmann with Ray and Wren? Give the A's two pitchers, a stopgap CF (Wren's stuck behind other players), and a CF prospect?

That does make a bit more sense to me. Using someone like Davies would keep the pitching prospects home. Davies, Ray, Lara, and Medeiros would be a good package, IMO. This is also where I think the Garrett Cooper trade bites us where it hurts. I think a Davies-Jesus Aguilar combo would have meant the Crew might be able to get away with tossing in just one of Ray/Lara/Orimoloye/Harrison. I'd still think about offering Davies and Aguilar, but now, the question becomes who spells Thames against tough lefties? Cooper was ready, now... Cordell? Braun to first?

I would not call Matt LaPorta a bust. He was the centerpiece of the CC Sabathia deal and that got the Brewers the 2008 Wild Card spot. No, LaPorta's a success just on that alone.

Like the pick-up of a LHP, but hate hate hate giving up Cooper for him. Aguilar for Seattle's Paxos would have made more sense. Does seem to point to the Crew keeping Suter in the rotation especially if he holds up. Perhaps in Guerra's spot if Guerra doesn't improve from 2017?

The sheer dominance at the levels remind me of Suter in 2015/2016. There's a very low ERA, very low WHIP. K/BB ratios also look very good. That said.. it looks like Jon Perrin lost a good chunk of 2017 in the bullpen. What happened there??

Ramirez might be someone to stretch out as a mop-up/extra-innings guy. His bat means you don't need to pinch-hit for him, and he can save the rest of the bullpen.

To me, the prospects offer two things: 1. Potential trade chips. 2. Replacements for people traded. Don't just think about dealing Garrett Cooper - maybe the Brewers can get a better bullpen arm by moving Aguilar, and them promoting Cooper.

Comeback player of the year: Domingo Santana - injuries derailed his 2016, so I'll give him the award. Rookie of the Year: Manny Pina (position player)/Brent Suter (pitcher) - Pina's been an excellent replacement for Lucroy, and Suter has tossed two solid starts his last two outings. Cy Young: Chase Anderson MVP: Jimmy Nelson

No, an .841 road OPS is not bad at all, but it is much more in line with his career numbers which, as you noted, is not all that impressive in the power department. I have no doubt he has a very good hit tool and knows how to get on base but his ability to get to his power tool in games is questionable. I'd like him as a bench bat if he could handle the other corners. Cooper's played some OF in the past. Really, I feel his value is that he makes it easy to trade Aguilar for some bullpen help or prospects. You deal Aguilar to Seattle for James Pazos, then bring up Cooper to take his spot and DFA/option a poorly-performing reliever.

Clancy, have to hand it to you. Suter is looking like the second coming of Mark Beuhrle. If he keeps that up, he'll have a spot. But they'll still trade for Quintana, and say thanks to Garza as he's dispatched. Garza is valuable as a #5. He's not going anywhere. Could Woodruff be a cheaper option?

Clancy, have to hand it to you. Suter is looking like the second coming of Mark Beuhrle. If he keeps that up, he'll have a spot. But they'll still trade for Quintana, and say thanks to Garza as he's dispatched. I'm worried that they will overpay for Quintana and/or Gray.

Nelson, Suter, Davies, Anderson, Garza

Can we at least say Suter deserves a long look in the rotation? Last two starts have been quality starts - in fact, he's arguably dominated.

I agree, but there is a need for some bullpen help, and Aguilar is the type of asset who could be flipped for said help. Cooper looks like he will be able to post a similar OPS, will be under control for open more year, so why not flip Aguilar? If Suter is past the 50 IP mark, Cooper is probably my #1 vote as things stand.

I think both are real - as in they are legit players. They are maximized in a platoon, but they are both legit guys who could do reasoably well playing every day. The title of the thread, though, is asking the wrong question. We need to ask, "Which of these players is more replaceable?"

The numbers from 2015 and 2016 in the minors said otherwise. These starts are better than what I expected on a constant basis, but who needs a TOR guy? If Suter keeps pitchin' like this, he IS the TOR guy we need...

I don't think anyone really has any idea what he can do defensively right now. He was the DH all year, including for Team USA to protect his arm in his draft year. His arm is apparently healed and he's a good athlete. Honestly though, my guess is if the Brewers are playing him at SS or 3rd base in the near future, things aren't going that well for him and they're trying to improve his value by seeing if he can handle those positions. If his arm is healthy...and it sounds like it is, and if he's as good of a hitter as the scouts all said, he should sail through the system. Playing him anywhere other than 2nd/LF would only slow down that progress. As to whether he could...again, nobody has seen him throw and really knows. A lot of people have opinions, but most of those are based on other opinions of people who haven't watched him play defensively in a while...and probably didn't even watch him play much then as he wasn't much of a prospect coming out of HS. So flat out dismissing the idea is just guessing(as I am). But really, the best question would be why? If he can be a elite hitter for the Brewers at 2nd base....all the better. No reason to make a blue chip prospect move. It's about adding options. If Hiura can play 3B, that means you can replace Shaw (directly) or Thames (indirectly). If Hiura moves up as fast as folks here expect, why not? If Hiura plays some shortstop, then the Crew has insurance in the case that Arcia's hot streak is just a flash, and he reverts to the sub-.700 OPS hitter he was before June. If Hiura is as good a hitter as people here think he is, I bet he could be plugged in just about anywhere on the field. I think too big a deal is being made about defense sometimes. If Hiura posts Wade Boggs-like numbers, stick him at third, short, or even right. Just get his bat in the lineup.

To get Quintana or Gray without breaking the bank is something I am all for. But we don't break the bank. I'm thinking Ray, Ortiz, Brinson, and Lara for Gray and one of A.J. Puk or Grant Holmes.

I wonder if Hiura could play shortstop or third... I'd like to see if he could fit across the field.