Harold Hutchison

So if they have better pitching and hitting, they'll be a better team? Hard to argue against that! Look, I can't say you're wrong, and you have a right to your optimism. I just don't agree. Remember, with Jeffress and Smith gone, it will be difficult (at best) for the bullpen to be as good as it was this season. Rotation can certainly be better, but not good enough to compete for WC even if everything goes right. Finally, as proven in another thread having a LH power bat would be nice, but it's not as important as you think it is. For example, having a productive Santana and Brinson in the OF would make a world of difference compared to the Flores, Kirk, and half a horrible season of Broxton in the OF. See, they are all RH, but much better results. Even with Lucroy gone, I can see them putting up more runs in 2017. Mostly because of the pathetic output from the OF for most of this season, and the game of musical chairs at 3B for half a season. I have to agree. The Brewers will have a decent offense in 2017, one that can get better when Brinson comes up, and which adds Ryan Cordell on the bench as another supersub. The real task for 2017 is to evaluate the in-house options at starting pitchers, whether they are on the 40-man, or at AA/AAA this year. My assumption is that Garza and Guerra are sell-high options. Maybe they get more lottery tickets (in terms of low-A players who may or may not work out). Peralta may be someone to deal at the deadline (or over the off-season if the market is there). Nelson, Anderson, and Davies are 3/4/5 starters. It's time to throw Jungmann, Suter, Hader, Wang, Burgos, and Lopez into the mix and see what they have got. I figure we'll also see Ortiz and Woodruff around this time next year. Some will start, others may be in the bullpen, but 2017 is the year to see who does what.

Agreed. Plus, it isn't just Perez, there is the value provided by whoever is acquired in exchange for Scooter Gennett.

He should be having more than just a solid season when he is 24 years old at AA. He dominated some lower levels as a college draftee. Color me not too impressed. Not saying he isn't a prospect, but sure isn't something special at this point. I have seen some make it seem like his power won't play at a corner OF position, but he has an OPS over .800 and 20+ homerun power. His slugging % is actually quite high. He has a Marcell Ozuna type line and that isn't too bad. I think he has 20-25 HR power, plus he can play 3B, SS, 1B, all three OF positions, and I bet in a pinch, he could cover second base as well. He provides depth, and that has value on its own. Ideally, if Isan Diaz explodes and can move up the ladder very quickly, Cordell and Hernan Perez become part of a "Bench mob" that can give the Crew that extra edge.

I think the Brewers are competing in less than three years. But right now, the most the Dodgers get for Puig? Scooter Gennett and Taylor Jungmann. They can give the Brewers Cody Ballenger and Austin Barnes. We're doing a favor taking almost $18 million in payroll off their hands, and they get a second baseman to replace Utley.

I like it. The Brewers have a gaping hole at first base. Slide Braun over to first until Ronnie Gideon comes through the system (I'm in love with his power bat - looks very promising). The 2017 outfield looks like Santana in left, Brinson in center, and Broxton in right. Young, but good. Arcia's gonna be the 2017 shortstop. Third base and second base will be handled by some combo of Perez and Villar. Catcher by some combo of Pina, Pinto, Susac, and/or Maldonado. That is a starting eight that I like. The good news kinda ends there. The bad news, aside from catcher, I don't see depth in-house. Rivera's a nice bench option, but he's good-field, no hit. Orf's an OBP machine, but not much pop or speed. Cordell becomes interesting as an option, but I think I'd give him until mid-2017 before calling him up. The outfield has more options, but I think Counsell's too enamoured with Nieuwenhuis. I like Michael Reed as a 4th OF option - he has OBP skills, but regressed a little at Colorado Springs. Now, help could come from whoever the Brewers get from trading Scooter Gennett and Chris Carter. But that is the weakness I see now.

I see him as a lot like Villar or Perez, only with 20 HR power. Could be, at worst, a very valuable bench asset. Best case, he helps make things complicated with his performance. I like him a lot, and am excited the Brewers got him. Plus, this give the Brewers... options this offseason. They can sell Villar or Perez high, and have a replacement in the system.

There need to be some answers on this. Bradley's just become a steal for the Braves. That said, this is the same PD staff that pushed a 31st-round pick (LHP Brent Suter) to the majors, and Suter was dominant for the most past in 2015 and 2016 in AA/AAA. So, I'm not ready to say housecleaning, but there need to be answers.

Well, not the first time the Crew "bought low" and got success. Remember Scott Podsednik? Look how the Brewers flipped him for Carlos Lee after two seasons (the less said about the return for Lee, the better). That may be more important than the trades. It's a "moneyball" move that a small-market team must be able to hit on a couple of times to become a real contender.

My top five for each award: Pitcher: Brandon Woodruff - very good all year Brent Suter - Did VERY well at Colorado Springs Josh Hader - Dominated at Biloxi, decent at Colorado Springs Jon Perrin - Dominated all year Wei-Chung Wang - Back in contention for a roster/rotation spot Player: 2B/SS Isan Diaz - Just a steal in the Segura trade 1B Ronnie Gideon - HUGE power numbers 3B Lucas Erceg - Just dominating after the draft 3B Weston Wilson - While Erceg got the press, he posted a .937 OPS C/1B Mitch Ghelfi - Posted VERY good numbers for Brevard County

Thanks. Just a few thoughts: 1. Braun, I intend to keep around. I see Santana as a trade chip - as there are younger OF options. 2. Cooper is, I think, an unheralded talent, and looks like a right-handed Overbay. In any case, Reed's more a 4th OF type, and I'd rather use him to rest everyone else. 3. I'll stick Villar at third, Perez at second for now. Then again, they can play any infield position other than 1B. So... six of one, half a dozen of another. 4. I don't see the rush for Brinson in 2017. Give him a full year at AAA. Rushing him could be a mistake. In fact, I'm not happy that Arcia was brought up this season. With the performance of Villar, Gennett. and Perez, there was no need to do so.

Given the OBP skills, speed, and the bat... I'll take that shot right now. One of the more exciting players on the roster. Nieuwenhuis is a back-of-the bench 5th OF type, IMO. The problem is Counsell plays him so much. To be honest, Reed/Wren/etc. may be a better option, if only because they are less likely to block Broxton. I think 2017 is the year of throwing starters to the rotation and seeing who can rebound enough to bring a haul, who can become a contributor, and who can maximize their value. Guerra is a sell-high, especially if his first half of 2017 is very good. If Peralta's straightened out, he might be a good trade chip as well. Nelson, I'll move if I get blown away by an offer.

RELEASE/DFA: RHP Matt Garza OF/IF Jake Elmore OF Kirk Neuwenheis LHP Chris Capuano OF/1B Andy Wilkins 3B/1B Garin Cecchini 3B Will Middlebrooks LHP Sean Nolin RHP Rob Scahill TRADE: 2B Scooter Gennett 1B Chris Carter C Martin Maldonado ADD: LHP Josh Hader LHP Wei-Chung Wang OF Brett Phillips OF Lewis Brinson C Josmil Pinto 1B Garrett Cooper OF Kyle Wren OF Victor Roache UT Nate Orf

I think that Maldonado's not who I'd keep on the 40-man this winter. Great backup for Lucroy, but not a starter, and I'd rather go with Pina, Pinto, and Susac for the short-term (through 2018).

Just saw this from BrewCrewFever.com - two visions of the Brewers in 2017 http://brewcrewfever.com/2016/08/25/551/ What would your plans for the 2017 Brewers be? Short-term (that season), medium-term (the next two-three seasons), and long-term (2020 and beyond)? Who's on the 25-man roster? Who do you shoot for in free agency (if anyone)? Rule V picks? Who do you try to trade? I'll kick it off: 3b: Villar - leadoff hitter and has earned a spot in long-term plans 2b: Perez - Boomeranged back onto the major-league roster after becoming a free-agent over the off-season 1b: Braun - The many outfield prospects seem to be an indication to move someone to first. cf: Broxton - Looks like he was a steal in the Rogers trade rf: Santana - 2017 is a big test to see if he's for real or not lf: Cooper - I think he has little left to prove at AAA - time to see what he brings to the table in the majors. c: Pina - Could be a decent stopgap until Nottingham is ready ss: Arcia - Needs the bat to really come around. [pitcher spot] bench: Susac - Will be the Brewers #2 catcher Rivera - Backs up IF positions Pinto - Not only adds a third catcher, but backs up 1B as well Reed - Need to clear room in AAA for Phillips Orf - Very good OBP skills and OK bat, plus versatile rotation Nelson - Best starter on the team Peralta - Looks to have straightened out, could be a huge trade piece if he does well in the 1st half Davies - Ran otu of gas in (almost) first full season in majors Guerra - The find of 2016 should be a "sell high" option if he does well in the first half Suter - 2017 is the year to see if he can be starter or a versatile arm out of the pen bullpen Thornberg - New closer Torres - 8th inning guy Knebel - 7th inning guy Marinez - middle-relief Blazek - middle-relief Jungmann - long-relief Cravy - long-relief TRADE BAIT: 2B Scooter Gennett - Perez needs to start and is a better bat. Gennett's improvement should fetch something 1B Chris Carter - Power bat is great, but need for openings in OF warrants a deal C Maldonado - Can't afford poor bat without Lucroy as the #1 C RHP Chase Anderson - Not the best, but just see better options FREE AGENT SIGNINGS: None - I want to go in-house and see who can do what in 2017. Won't pass up a steal, but in 2017, that money's better spent on scouting and player development SHORT-TERM GOALS: 1. Determine the progress on the rebuild and figure out if/where some players will contribute. - Is Suter a starter or reliever? - Can Santana stay healthy and contribute over a 162-game season - Can Garrett Cooper play in the majors, and if so, where? - Can Reed be a 4th outfielder? 2. Flip Peralta for prospects 3. See if Rymer Liriano can rebound from horrific injury (he plays in AAA) 4. Settle Braun at first base MEDIUM-TERM GOALS: Over .500 by 2019 Gain a long-term outfield of Phillips, Brinson, and Broxton Move Santana and other players displaced by younger prospects LONG-TERM GOALS Playoffs in 2020 Fresh talent throughout farm system Find new "face of franchise" to replace Braun

I think it is too soon to tell what Suter can do. We know he can pitch. One does not just post a 3.50-ish ERA while pitching half the time at Colorado Springs without some talent. Maybe it's not measured in terms of mph on a fastball, but Suter is a talented pitcher, period. He may be the kind of pitcher who runs together a lot of good months, then has a "bad" month in the season. He certainly seems to do reasonably well in just about every role, from starter to middle relief to set-up to LOOGY to maybe even as a closer.

Plus, if someone gets hurt, Perez can fill in for them with very solid offensive performance.

Control (very few walks) and inducing ground balls (even in last night's start, he had 8 groundouts to 2 fly outs). Honestly, I will see what a larger sample size does. Suter had a rough April in Colorado Springs, then was lights out. In any case, I'd rather pay league minimum for Suter than eight figures for Garza or seven figures for Anderson or Peralta (although Peralta has pitched well since his return from the minors).

1. Broxton could be a flash in the pan, could get hurt, etc. 2. Reed didn't exactly set Colorado Springs on fire, and I'm probably higher on some of his skill sets than most here. 3. Phillips and Brinson are probably not going to be ready for Milwaukee until 2018. 4. Santana has had problems staying healthy. 5. A Gomez rebound could lead to someone paying a bit for him. What's wrong with getting a couple more lottery tickets, especially if the price is quite cheap? I bet the Crew could get Gomez to come back on a one-year deal with an option year for about $3-4 million a year. DHonks is right - the pickings are gonna be slimmer than an anorexic supermodel for Gomez. If he stinks, the Crew's not out much. If he rebounds, the Crew can sell relatively high, maybe for the kind of return Gerardo Parra got.

I'd add a team option, but I like the concept.

He had a rough spot early this season in Colorado Springs where he was very hittable, then was lights out from about May 3 on. And he has flashed that control/command over the last two years. Not the best debut, but there have been worse debuts.

Well, his debut's over. 4.1 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 HR. Not as good as some would like, but given that first inning, I'm okay with it.

Second inning better than the first.

No hitter still intact Primarily using the slider. Interesting they have Pina there - of course, he caught Suter in Colorado Springs earlier.

Well, the jitters are probably out... and no real damage.

Suter was missed on a lot of ballots. Not worth being angry about.