Harold Hutchison

That decision's this off-season. At that point, I'm not opposed to keeping Pina as a #2 catcher, or moving Pina in a "sell high" deal. I think the contention window is coming a lot sooner that some others think. Even with down years from Villar and Peralta, the ill-advised Neftali Feliz experiment, and Braun and Anderson missing a bit of time with an injury, the Brewers are about 3 games up in the NL Central. I have no problem continuing the plan of developing, but it doesn't hurt to be thrifty buyers, either.

If Lucroy comes as a cheap acquisition in a trad,e I have no problem. He is one of the best catchers in the league. Never opposed to an upgrade. As for FA... if the Ranger's don't QA him, again, I have no problem bringing him back. Buys time for Nottingham to develop. If Nottingham does a Garrett Cooper in AAA, then it will be a nice problem to have. If it takes time... we got Lucroy to hold things down.

It's a bit of a numbers game. Drake and Torres (who was the other option I considered for the DFA move) are probably the most expendable of the bullpen assets, and Knebel, Pazos, and Hader become a "Nasty Boys" bullpen that shuts down any offense after the 6th inning.

Mariners get: 1B Jesus Aguilar Brewers get: LHP James Pazos Brewers DFA Oliver Drake, call up OF/1B Garrett Cooper Thoughts? Good trade, bad trade, or is it ugly?

This year has been a pleasant surprise. That said, I don't want to deal the future. I want to see the Crew give young players a shot. Let's refine them for 2018 and beyond in a pennant chase this year.

If his hand isn't hurt too badly.

Based on his numbers in the minors in 2015-2016, I think this kind of outing (a quality start) is what Suter can do if given a shot. A lot of it depends on just giving him a shot and cutting out the constant shuffling (Milwaukee-Colorado Springs, bullpen/rotation). But this outing, his dominance in the pen last season, is why I have had him at #1 the last few ballots.

When it comes to baserunning brainfarts with Villar, i think it's just an instincts or low baseball IQ issue. Some players for whatever reason are naturally smart baserunners, when to use their speed to take extra bases and when not to take the risk. They consistently understand game situations at a given time. Villar is the opposite. The wheels in his brain aren't processing these things as smart baserunners do. So say there is nobody out and Thames/Braun are do up next, the smart baserunner naturally thinks it's not worth the risk to try stretching out a double into a triple if it's likely going to be a close play at third. Villar on the flip side gets lost in the moment and takes the overly aggressive approach. Same for to often trying to steal third. His mind just sees hey, i think i can steal a base here. The smarter baserunner thinks, hey maybe i could steal third here, but with two outs and Braun at the plate down a run, the risk/reward ratio just isn't worth it. I'm in your camp in wanting to see him play because last year showed that Villar has rare leadoff talent. He hit for average, home run/doubles power, and drew lots of walks, but odds are pretty good in mu view that those frustrating brainfarts on the bases and sometimes defensively will always be a part of the package when it comes to Villar. It's in his baseball DNA, similar to Carlos Gomez. Lots of talent, but to often questionable decision making. I like that aggressiveness in Villar. The big problem, IMO, is getting him enough ABs to get back on track after missing that time while hurt. Now, Sogard's been hot, but looking at his pre-2017 stats, I think a regression to norms is probable.

I'm reluctant to make any big-ticket deals. The competitive run in a pleasant surprise, but at the same time, I'll just channel Keith from "Survivor" and say, "Stick to the plan." If the Brewers need boosts, try out these young players in AAA and AA who are on the 40-man. Or even clear off a Garza to see who can contribute. THIS is the time to see what Woodruff, Suter, and the other prospects have. The Vogt move was good, in so much as it cost little. That is what I'd look to make. EDIT: My thinking? Perhaps Miguel Montero might be able to help solidify things behind the plate. Would be highly motivated in the playoffs, especially if the Cubs sneak in past the Rockies...

Off on record, MVP, Cy Young, Rolaids, and ROY to date. Wrong on the first to be dealt, too. Did call the surprising/disappointing so far this year.

"Iffy-hit" ?? He's got all the tools to be an offensive force, uses all the field, doesn't strike out a ton, has power to all fields, this without his body totally filled out. He's an emerging star. Right now. No way his arby years will be $4 million, $6 million, $8 million. More like double that. If they could get him for 7 years $72 million it would be a bargain. Month by month .OPS during Arcia's career: August 2016: .565 September 2016: .691 April 2017: .706 May 2017: .620 June 2017: .848 He's had a very good month, but what is the real Arcia? The .848 OPS in June (which would, if it becomes normal season-long production, be worth $15-$20 million a year). But the 2016 numbers at Colorado Springs are a red flag in my mind. Arcia posted an OPS of .800 in Biloxi, but regressed by 77 points of OPS in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in professional baseball. Better to wait two years and see if what you say turns out. In the meantime maybe try Hiura at short in the minors, just in case the real Arcia is closer to the sub-.700 OPS as opposed to the .848 OPS, especially since a couple of the shortstops the Crew drafted this year aren't signing. I really liked Workman and Campbell.

According to Fangraphs, you're right. The Brewers have a bottom 5 roster BUT they have for the most part been healthy and played to career highs almost across the board except for Braun. The Cubs and Cards are more talented on paper without question. And yet here we are on July 2 and it hasn't really been a fluke. The Brewers have played well and the Cubs don't look like anything close to the same team. Ditto the Cards. I'm not sure I see the Cards plans to do much of anything. It's not always about the talent on paper - it's how the manager uses the talent and if he can get the most out of said talent, and the fight in the team. Walter Payton was only 5'10" and 205... but you try stopping him when he had the ball with the game on the line.

Arcia's defense is good, but paying up to $20 million a season for a good-field, iffy-hit shortstop doesn't make sense. Right now, aside from the last six weeks, that's what he is. He's on a hot streak. It's exciting. But his career OPS is .699. His 2016 OPS at Colorado Springs was .723. If he can show he can deliver an .800-ish OPS through 2018-2019, go for it. But I need more than just one month.

For 2016, one of my "what-ifs" would have been an outfield with Khris Davis in left, a healthy Santana in center, and Braun in right. The offense would have been awesome. 110 home runs from those three alone is not out of the question.

Probably not, but if he were to rebound - he'd be a 2018 flip candidate.

I think Cordell's bat is far better than Yuni's. The thing is... if Arcia improves to a .760 OPS, Cordell still looks like he can put up an OPS about 100 points higher. Yeah Arcia's glove is very, very, very good. But is it worth giving up that 100-150 extra points of OPS? And what if Arcia only can get his OPS to the .710 range? I think at some point, it may not hurt to consider getting the extra OPS, plus what Arcia could net in a trade. Someone could very well overpay for the web-gem defense, and the offensive production at shortstop is improved by 20-25% in terms of OPS.

I hope he does well and makes this very difficult for the front office. But in 2016, Villar had an OPS of .826 playing most of the time at short. They didn't need to call him up when they did with the underwhelming numbers at Colorado Springs. Today, yeah, he's hot this month, but can he make it stick? I dunno. But if Ryan Cordell can add 150-200 more points... maybe it's time to think about making a switch.

Arcia's defense is good, I'll grant that. That said, I'm not sure I want a sub-.700 OPS out there every day. Ryan Cordell could likely put up an OPS 100-150 points higher at short. Hernan Perez put up about 100 points higher year-to-year. Seems to me that they might be alternatives if Arcia's bat doesn't improve to a good OPS (ideally along the lines of what he posted in AA in 2015). If Arcia's bat isn't there, it may be worth putting Arcia out there. Someone may overpay for the ESPN "web gem" defense.

Hiura to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, perhaps?

The Francis/Rose tandem is the one I think will really make this a superb draft for the Brewers, especially as starters. Now, I may hold off on votes until I see how they do, but those two really excite me on a pitching perspective.

I like that option. Would be good to have that "toolshed" option in the pen. BTW, Ronnie Gideon with another homer and a double. Methinks he has shaken off the slump (first time in full-season ball), and will probably stay in my top 10 ont he next ballot.

My read as well. I think he will move up fast. That said, I think Francis and Rose are the sleepers so far. If both are developed as starters, it would bolster the farm big-time.

I like Hiura, and thin the Brewers should get him in the lineup every day - try him at SS, 2B, 3B, LF, CF... the bat is that good. If Arcia can't get it together offensively... why not have Hiura take that spot? Lutz... I like, from the reports. He's got power, he's refined somewhat as a hitter. Might surprise a lot of folks. Lemons - could be real high-ceiling. This one's a roll of the dice, but at 46, and given the history of the Brewers really struggling since 2000 to hit with picks, why not roll the dice on a guy with a fastball hitting 97? Harrison - If he catches, he's awesome. It looks as if he didn't get reps, and may be rusty. Even so, with that bat, I'd keep him behind the plate. Murphy - Could be intriguing... Egnatuk - I'm intrigued by the raw power. Maybe a 3TO bat? Hairston - I see a future Hernan Perez here Francis - I think this could be a steal. His fastball is also topping at 97. Rose - Another potential steal - only with four pitches that he uses well. Maybe get him to throw a splitter or cutter as well? Carroll - I get a Cirillo/Garrett Cooper vibe from him.

That isn't really true. It is more no one really knows if he can or not because he hasn't played there that much since his freshman year. What's the likelihood that he'll stick behind the plate if he was moved from Catcher in college? (not flaming, asking seriously for your thoughts, I know almost nothing about him). From what PerfectGame said in the DRaft Picks thread... My inclination would be to put him behind the plate and see if he can catch.

Jeren Kendall seems to be slipping... I'd be happy with him at 34.