Harold Hutchison

Free Wes Clarke!

The 2024 Milwaukee Brewers have a crowded outfield picture, with one established and highly-paid superstar and a bevy of talented youngsters. But has a report from The Athletic revealed their plan to resolve the logjam without dealing promising prospects? Image courtesy of © Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports Ken Rosenthal reported Saturday that, during the offseason, Sal Frelick worked out with former Boston Red Sox star Dustin Pedroia in the infield, which the Brewers confirmed with a tweet showing Frelick fielding a bunt at third base. While Brewers fans are familiar with Frelick patrolling the outfield grass at American Family Field, he saw infield action with North Shore in the Futures Collegiate League in 2018 and 2020. With the signing of Gary Sanchez finally official, the outfield crowding remains an issue despite this out-of-the-box move. Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, and one of Garrett Mitchell or Joey Wiemer could be the starting three in the outfield. Suppose Wiemer's adjusted swing boosts his offensive contribution, and Mitchell can stay healthy. In that case, this becomes a potent group, even without Frelick, who now seems likely to be seeing at least some playing time on the infield. Whether it is an experiment or a move that lasts, moving Frelick to second and third gives the Crew an option that provides a massive boost at the former position (his OPS+ of 91 in 2023 was almost 50% higher than that of Brice Turang, the team’s primary starter last year) and allows them to hold roughly even at third (Brian Anderson and Andruw Monasterio posted OPS+ figures of 86 and 87 respectively last year) based on his 2023 numbers, which were affected by a thumb injury he suffered. In this way, Frelick is a solid fallback option at third base in the unlikely event Tyler Black is not ready for MLB in 2024. He is a substantial offensive upgrade at second base over Turang, even without a potential offensive breakout. This is assuming his bat does not improve from 2023 to 2024 as he is fully recovered from his injury (it should be noted that improvement is likely: Ryan Braun had a resurgence in 2015 after he struggled with the effects of a thumb injury in 2014). If Frelick's bat improves, the Crew will look for ways to keep him on the field. Frelick's move to the infield - even if it is only part-time - also opens up many new possibilities on the trade front. Now, the Crew can move one – or both – of Willy Adames and Turang, quite possibly securing themselves help at other positions or a means to bolster their farm system even more than it already is. Milwaukee could also option Turang to Nashville to work on his offensive without burning MLB service time (something that could significantly improve the team over the latter half of the 2020s). Allowing Frelick to see time as an infielder could pay big dividends for the Brewers over the next few years. On the one hand, it lessens the pressure to make a deal involving their bounty of young, talented outfielders (Garrett Mitchell and Joey Wiemer, who both have performed well in the minors and have flashed potential in the majors, are being considered for Nashville or the bench at this time). It could get more of those young bats in the lineup. On the other hand, it does add to a middle infield logjam that could result in moving Freddy Zamora, Ethan Murray, or other players who may be stuck behind established types. We still don't know if 2024 will be the last year Adames is at short for the Crew or if an extension gets worked out (look at how Matt Arnold made Brandon Woodruff's return happen). That said, the Frelick move is the type of out-of-the-box thinking that needs to happen for the Crew to be successful in the current economic climate. In this case, the move could make the Brewers a team to contend with in 2024 and beyond. View full article

He has options, right? Could go to AAA. 1B/C will be crowded in Music City - Nola/Quero/Haase behind the plate; Clarke/Warren at first.

Except he already has catching on his plate - he's spent substantial time behind the plate the last two seasons. In 2022, he was the primary backup for Darrien Miller in Wisconsin - catching 28 games (26 starts) - in his 16 games with the Shuckers that year, he had three more starts at catcher. In 2023, he had 33 starts in 34 games at Biloxi. Again, he was the primary backup, this time for Jeferson Quero. Granted, minor-league rosters have often been larger, so Clarke's split backup catcher duties (with Alex Hall in 2022 and Nick Kahle in 2023), but he's been the primary backup both years.

Wouldn't be surprised if Quezada and Flores went to Carolina...

For the price of Esteury Ruiz, the Brewers got an All-Star bat-first backstop and coached him into a superb all-around catcher. But should they extend him, or deal him? Suddenly, it's not as crazy a question as it could have seemed. Image courtesy of © Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports This is a very tough question for the Crew, and there are strong arguments on both sides. For 2024, William Contreras still comes cheap in his last pre-arbitration year, costing less than $1 million and being the third-best catcher in MLB, according to Just Baseball. Even with the Brewers signing Gary Sánchez, the move isn’t likely to affect Contreras as much as it will Jeferson Quero (who seems likely to spend the bulk of 2024 in Nashville) and Eric Haase (who may find himself a roster casualty). In 2025 and beyond, though, the Crew will need to make a decision, especially with the highly-touted Quero pressing his case. Let’s look over the case for each long-term course of action. The Case For Extending Contreras Why should the Crew think about extending Contreras? For starters, there is his proven track record. In his two full MLB seasons, he has posted an .840 OPS, notched an All-Star game appearance, won a Silver Slugger, and garnered MVP votes. His defense, once considered a weakness, has been taken up a notch by the Crew’s coaching staff. That sort of known quantity is a good thing, and an advantage over Quero. Would it make sense to give Contreras an extension? He is 26 years old now, and not due for free agency until after the 2027 season, when he turns 30. The Brewers could, in theory, offer him a six-year, $75-million contract, buying out two years of free agency and avoiding arbitration, and they could lock down a solid contributor at catcher and designated hitter through 2029. That would have him in Milwaukee until he is 32, at which point he would arguably have topped Jonathan Lucroy as the best catcher in Brewers history. While the deal would be expensive, locking Contreras up now probably would not be a financial backbreaker for the team, especially after the Corbin Burnes trade and the potential departure of Willy Adames, whether by trade or via free agency. In addition, securing the services of Contreras could give the Brewers options through the 2020s. They could have Contreras team up with Quero starting in 2025 and put forth one of the best catching tandems in MLB. Locking up Contreras could also allow the Brewers to deal Quero to solidify another part of the team. In short, the case for keeping Contreras around is pretty straightforward. That said, it's not airtight, and not without an alternative. The Case For Dealing Contreras Here’s the case for dealing Contreras: Extending him would likely hinge on his willingness to sign a somewhat team-friendly deal and postpone his free agency to after his age-32 season. He may not want to do so. Consider the case of former Brewer Yasmani Grandal, who was able to sign a four-year, $73-million deal following his age 30 season. Signing the deal proposed above would bring down the ceiling on Contreras's career earnings, though it would also set a very high floor. Given the uncertainty caused by the bankruptcy of the Bally Sports regional networks, a Contreras extension could get too rich for the Crew’s blood. In addition, there is the presence of Quero, whom the Brewers might be more likely to convince to accept a team-friendly extension along the lines of Jackson Chourio’s, not to mention other talented prospects at catcher. The Brewers may like having Contreras, but with the depth in their minor-league system, and the team’s demonstrated ability to coach up bat-first catchers, dealing Contreras (while painful) won’t be fatal to the team’s hopes for solid contribution from catcher in the long term,, or arguably even the short term (see the signing of Sánchez). Contreras, as a top MLB catcher with multiple years of team control, could fetch an impressive haul for the Brewers. For instance, in a hypothetical deal with the Red Sox, validated by Baseball Trade Values, the Brewers would receive outfielder Roman Anthony, right-handed pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez, infielder Yoeilin Cespedes, and left-handed pitcher Brandon Walter in exchange for Contreras. While some of the position prospects return (Anthony and Cespedes) might be years out, Walter and Gonzalez could bolster the Crew’s pitching staff in 2024. Another option might be to plus up a Brice Turang package previously suggested, sending Turang and Contreras to the Marlins for infielders Xavier Edwards and Jacob Berry, pitchers Braxton Garrett and Thomas White, and Miami’s Competitive Balance B pick, a deal also validated by Baseball Trade Values. Again, this gives the Brewers immediate rotation help in 2024 in Garrett (who is controlled through 2028). Edwards gives the Brewers long-term help at second (allowing the Crew to move Joey Ortiz to shortstop if Adames is dealt), and the Brewers get not just two more prospects, but another extra pick in the 2024 MLB draft. The potential return could be huge for the Crew. That, in a nutshell, is the case for a trade. Overview In one sense, the Brewers really can’t go wrong with Contreras. If they extend him now, they lock down catcher for a long time. Dealing him now or in the 2024-2025 offseason has the potential to bring in a historic haul to help the Crew in the present and future. What the Brewers do is, in a sense, really up to Contreras at this point. What would you do with Contreras, Quero, and the catcher position for the Brewers? Do either of these big trade possibilities entice you? Join the conversation below. View full article

Last year, the Brewers got an incredible performance from an infield prospect who wasn’t even on the map when Andruw Monasterio emerged as a key contributor. But there is even more depth in the system. How deep are the Brewers in the infield? Image courtesy of Mike Krebs, Biloxi Shuckers (photo of Freddy Zamora) Put it this way – even after the Crew dealt Cam Devanney and Robert Moore over the offseason, the team still has a lot of prospects who may not make MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 or Brewer Fanatic’s Top 20, but who can be solid MLB performers at these positions, some of whom have sneaky upside. Second Base Felix Valerio (Double-A Biloxi) .224/.286/.345 with ten doubles, six home runs, 31 RBI, 19 walks, 54 strikeouts in 264 at-bats Valerio came to the Brewers in a 2018-2019 offseason trade with the Mets. He was decent in 2022, but the offense dropped off a cliff in 2023. The good news? He only struck out in 20.4% of hit at-bats and delivered extra-base power. But his walk rate also dropped from 2022 and 2021. Was it the ball used early in the season that caused struggles for a lot of hitters? Valerio is still very young – he will be 23 in 2024, but 2024 is make-or-break for him. Jose Acosta (Advanced-A Wisconsin) .225/.282/.419 with ten doubles, five home runs, 19 RBI, ten walks, 45 strikeouts in 160 at-bats The switch-hitting Acosta was an under-the-radar acquisition in 2022 with an interesting power bat. The big issue for him has been hitting for average, and his OBP skills declined slightly with Wisconsin in 2023, and he struggled to get consistent playing time. In addition to second base, he saw action at third base, first base, and corner outfield spots. Third Base Patrick Dorrian (Triple-A Nashville) .238/.312/.466 with 18 doubles, 21 home runs, 65 RBI, 34 walks, 127 strikeouts in 367 at-bats While much of his mark was made in the middle infield for the Sounds in 2023, Dorrian was primarily a third baseman in previous years. He has a solid left-handed power bat, and his defense is solid. The strikeout rate is a concern, but Dorrian’s development could be interesting. Zavier Warren (Double-A Biloxi) .236/.319/.406 with 15 doubles, 15 home runs, 63 RBI, 45 walks and 86 strikeouts in 377 at-bats While primarily playing first base, Warren still saw significant action at third base in 2023. The switch-hitter’s bat flashes a lot of power, and he’s been able to draw walks throughout his pro career, and he’s pushed his strikeout rate down by about 1% each year. While he’s primarily been a corner infielder professionally, he saw action at catcher in 2021 and has occasionally dabbled at the middle infield positions. Eduardo Garcia (Advanced-A Wisconsin) .208/.280/.326 with 13 doubles, four home runs, 29 RBI, 26 walks and 106 strikeouts in 298 at-bats Garcia had been a somewhat exciting shortstop prospect in 2022, but in 2023, he took a step back after primarily handling third base due to the Brewers drafting Eric Brown Jr. and a host of other shortstops. His defense has never been a question; it’s been his bat that has held him back. On an optimistic note, his walk and strikeout rates improved from 2022 despite the drop in OPS. Demetrio Nadal (Foreign Rookie DSL Brewers 2) .342/.478/.525 with six doubles, two home runs, 20 RBI, 24 walks, 19 strikeouts in 120 at-bats Nadal broke out big time in his second year in the DSL. While primarily playing third base, he also saw action in the outfield, at second base, and at shortstop. In addition to his defensive versatility, he showcased a dynamic bat, hitting for average and displaying excellent plate discipline. On the basepaths, he also demonstrated real speed (five triples and 33 stolen bases). Shortstop Freddy Zamora (Double-A Biloxi) .255/.352/.361 with 17 doubles, seven home runs, 51 RBI, 53 walks, 89 strikeouts in 377 at-bats Zamora was selected in the second round of the abbreviated 2020 June draft and provided a lot of hope in 2021. His injury-riddled 2022 allowed Cam Devanney to stage a comeback, but now Devanney is with the Royals. In 2023, he initially struggled due to the experimental ball but emerged with an excellent offensive season. In addition to some pop in his bat, he stole 17 bases. Ethan Murray (Double-A Biloxi) .256/.359/.370 with 16 doubles, six home runs, 48 RBI, 53 walks, 93 strikeouts in 351 at-bats Murray played a lot at shortstop and second base, spending more time in the former position. For a player whose big calling card has been defense, Murray had an offensive breakout in Biloxi, posting his highest OPS at the professional level and improving his walk rate over 2022. His numbers are almost identical to Zamora’s, giving the Crew options. Overview These players don’t show up very high – if at all – on top prospects lists. Given their harsh hot-stove economic realities exacerbated by the Bally Sports situation, as seen by Craig Counsell’s departure and the Corbin Burnes trade, the Crew may need to keep finding nuggets like Monasterio to stay competitive. View full article

The Brewers farm system is stacked with upper-echelon talent, but it's also a deep system. Let's look at some unheralded prospects at first base and catcher. Last year, we began looking over underrated prospects in the Brewers system. While many are looking at the Crew’s top prospects list – and rightly so, given that they have five players (Jackson Chourio, Jeferson Quero, Jacob Misiorowski, Tyler Black, and Joey Ortiz) on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, it would be very myopic to ignore other players. Last season, one underrated prospect became a crucial contributor to the Crew’s 2023 division title run. Can the Crew hit that Andruw Monasterio jackpot again?' One problem with looking at a Top 30 list on MLB Pipeline, much less Brewer Fanatic’s Top 20, is that it can miss players who can contribute a lot. Monasterio never cracked either list, yet he emerged as Brewer Fanatic’s Top Rookie in 2023. Are there other unheralded prospects who could embark on similar journeys? Let’s look at some of them at catcher and first base. Catcher Darrien Miller (Advanced-A Wisconsin) .228/.336/.364 with 20 doubles, seven home runs, 47 RBI, 43 walks and 76 strikeouts in 316 at-bats Miller dealt with a slump early in the season but still showcased pop and on-base skills in his second year in Appleton. His defense has never quite been up to the level of Jeferson Quero, but his left-handed bat could go well at American Family Field. Matthew Wood (Single-A Carolina/Advanced-A Wisconsin) .253/.377/.327 with 15 doubles, four home runs, 63 RBI, 73 walks and 68 strikeouts in 388 at-bats Which Matthew Wood bat is the real one? Was it the potential slugger in Carolina who posted a .956 OPS, or is it the OBP-heavy bat whose slugging percentage was 300 points lower in Wisconsin? Should Wood rediscover his power, he could be an excellent fit at American Family Field. The good thing is that his OBP skills were solid despite the slump in Wisconsin. He would be well-served to repeat at Wisconsin. Satchell Norman (Rookie ACL Brewers) .308/.425/.473 with six doubles, three home runs, 20 RBI, 19 walks and 26 strikeouts in 91 at-bats Norman probably wishes the Brewers had kept two ACL teams in 2023 – he appeared in only 30 of the 66 games the team played. His bat was arguably second only to that of Juan Baez in terms of being a dynamic contributor to the team’s success – his .897 OPS is superb for any position, particularly catcher – even though his defense was… adventurous. Edgardo Ordonez (Rookie ACL Brewers) .253/.384/.392 with seven doubles, one home run, seven RBI, 18 walks and 31 strikeouts in 79 at-bats Ordonez previously flashed a power bat in the DSL. It was still evident in his short sample from 2023 in the ACL – like Norman, more playing time would have been beneficial. That said, Ordonez also has a more refined defensive game than Norman, even if the bat isn’t quite as dynamic. As a left-handed hitter, though, Ordonez is a good fit for American Family Field. First Base Zavier Warren (Double-A Biloxi) .236/.319/.406 with 15 doubles, 15 home runs, 63 RBI, 45 walks and 86 strikeouts in 377 at-bats Warren moved to first base with Tyler Black’s shift to third base. While he struggled at the plate early in the season (as did many other Southern League hitters), he rebounded to post solid numbers overall. Warren’s a switch-hitter who has posted solid numbers since being a third-round pick in the abbreviated 2020 amateur draft. In addition to first base, he’s seen significant time at third base, but he has also worked behind the plate at the middle infield positions in college and his professional career. Ernesto Martinez (Advanced-A Wisconsin/Double-A Biloxi) .261/.345/.416 with 16 doubles, 12 home runs, 44 RBI, 40 walks and 79 strikeouts in 349 at-bats Martinez has quietly developed into a solid first-base prospect who recovered from a lost 2022 due to injuries. At 6’5” and 250 pounds, he has that Eric Thames-esque bulk to match the power numbers and OBP skills Thames displayed from 2017-2019. However, Martinez adds speed (54 steals over the last three seasons), and he also spent time in center field in 2021 and didn’t embarrass himself, either. His defense has also been excellent. Tayden Hall (Single-A Carolina/Rookie ACL Brewers) .274/.419/.320 with nine doubles, 25 RBI, 49 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 192 at-bats Hall brings in some superb OBP skills and a decent hit-for-contact left-handed bat. He spent much time on the injured list in 2023, though. In addition to first base, Hall saw limited action as a catcher and left field. Hall’s biggest issues appear to be his health and the lack of power, although he seemed to find some pop during the 2023-2024 season in Brisbane, which has launched some other Brewers prospects into big-time contributors. Wild Card Wes Clarke (AA Biloxi) .241/.392.,498 with 24 doubles, 26 home runs, 80 RBI, 89 walks and 147 strikeouts in 398 at-bats One big question Wes Clarke must answer in 2024: Is he a catcher or a first baseman? While Clarke primarily played first base in 2023, he was also Biloxi’s first choice to go behind the plate when Quero missed time, with 34 games behind the plate (33 starts). Clarke didn’t embarrass himself too badly on defense. He was also a legit power bat, leading Biloxi in home runs, doubles, OPS, and walks (topping Jackson Chourio in those categories in 112 fewer at-bats. His offensive profile is much like Russell Branyan’s, as he also led the team in strikeouts, but a 3TO bat is a nice asset at first base or catcher. Overview The Brewers are in good shape behind the plate between William Contreras and Jeferson Quero, but digging deeper into the farm system shows a lot of potential beyond them in the lower minors. Meanwhile, the Crew’s situation at first base is either solid with Warren, Martinez, and Hall or excellent if Clarke spends much more time at first base than behind the plate. View full article

Cortez had sheer dominance. Five walks all season. Not in a start or a week, ALL SEASON. Plus he had more that a strikeout an inning. Prado... something's happened there. I can't see/know exactly what, but the guy just didn't give up a lot of hits - his 5.3 H/9IP was identical to Misiorowski - and his walk rate was about 40% lower. He didn't have the strikeouts, but he looks like he took the Adrian Houser/Colin Rea approach. Hernandez's big outliers for me are his age (this was an age 16 season) and to a lesser extent, his control/command (1 HR, 9 BB all season). At 16, he's going to mature physically and won't be 5'11", 139 pounds. But he's already shown some very good/excellent things to me - particularly on the mental side of things. Not just in terms of not being intimidated, but also in knowing how to pitch and getting the most out of his stuff. And that stuff WILL go up a few ticks. He and Juan Baez are my big bets here (Yophery Rodriguez a little less so due to the crowded OF, but he could be a lefty Chourio with better strike zone judgement).

Tyler Black Opening Day 3B, all things being equal.Jackson Chourio Has a lot on his shouldersMelvin Hernandez Outlier performance in the DSL cant be ignoredJeferson Quero Only question is when, not if, he punches Eric Haase's DFA ticket.Juan Baez Potential SS of the future, albeit currently a bat-first optionDL Hall Is he a starter, or Josh Hader 2.0?Joey Ortiz Is he a Cirillo-esque bat?Robert Gasser Will be in Crew's 2024 rotation at some pointCarlos F Rodriguez Ace of the future? But a definite rotation contributor.Jacob Misiorowski Pure stuff. Floor is a right-handed Hader.Brock Wilken Third base or first base?Yophery Rodriguez Can he replicate Jackson Chourio's rise to MLB?Enniel Cortez Performance was a massive outlier in 2023.Eric Prado Also a massive performance outlierCooper Pratt Can he develop power?Wes Clarke Is he just a first baseman, or can he add part-time catcher to the mix?Mike Boeve Outstanding hit tool.Ernesto Martinez Could he be a late bloomer?Luis Lara Can he find a way in Milwaukee's crowded outfield?Luke Adams Outstanding 3TO+speed offensive package capable of playing either corner IF spot. Throwing my Top 20 out there.

Very interesting. Batting average hasn't cracked .230 since 2019, and the OBP skills are okay-ish, but it's not been above .300 the last two seasons. Think Jahmai Jones will be the likely DFA candidate here. As for the 26-man... does Haase have any option years left?

I think it depends on if Willy Adames is dealt or not. If he's dealt, Ortiz is at second, Turang at short, Black at third, Monasterio top bench option. If Adames stays, the Crew has Black at third, Adames at short, Ortiz/Turang platoon at second, and Monasterio is in AAA to start.

Hader 2.0 is a low-end outcome for Hall, but not a bad one. Ortiz looks to have a floor of 2017 Orlando Arcia - a near-average bat and excellent defense. That is not horrible to have for three years at league minimum. And if that is what the Crew has, then those still become valuable assets that can be flipped. Look at what Hader turned into: Gasser/Contreras (via flipping Esteury Ruiz). Always in motion, the future is.

@Brock Beauchamp Add: Enniel Cortez and Ernesto Martinez

There is a huge difference. I never said there wasn't. But we've seen both Contreras and Narvaez before him have glaring shortfalls fixed by the Crew's coaching. Clarke's had higher CS% figures in the past. 2023 could have been a blip. Hard to think that Charlie Greene and the coaching team can't at least narrow that gap. But I don't see Haase or Nola as long-term options - or much of an option. Navarreto... is he even MLB-caliber? Also, Clarke brings to the table something only one other catcher in Maryvale (Quero) has: Experience working with two of the Crew's top rotation prospects: Carlos Rodriguez and Jacob Misiorowski. That is a factor as well that might inch things toward a favorable outcome. And then there is a bat that outperformed Jackson Chourio's in several categories last year, which is also part of the equation. Take all that together, and I'll stand by calling Clarke the third-best catcher in Maryvale.

Woodruff's injury and the Bally Sports collapse is a tough 1-2 punch. That said, could this team really work well? I'd put the starters at roughly on par with 2018 - maybe a step higher as Peralta is a true TOR/ace type that the Crew lacked that year. There are a couple of vets (Miley, Ross, Rea) and a comeback candidate (Ashby) but also a lot of young prospects (Rodriguez, Hall, Gasser, Misiorowski, McKendry) in the mix as well.

Clarke does have the potential to complicate things. He's a legit 3TO bat and he's pretty good at 1B. Certainly, he could be an option if one of Black/Wilken stumble or end up dealt. That said, he's also spent substantial time (30+ games, 25+ starts each of the last two seasons) behind the plate. In 2023, his traditional fielding numbers were on par with Jeferson Quero (he was a bit behind in CS% in 2023). There is a case that he's the best catcher not named William Contreras or Quero in Maryvale this spring. Given the Bally Sports situation, there is a case for the Crew to move Contreras for a haul in the 2024025 offseason (three years of control for one of the best catchers in MLB should bring a LOT), and go with Quero/Clarke as their 1-2 at catcher.

Could be very intriguing with Quero, Black, and Hall... Maybe even a Peralta extension?

But the Crew was able to flip Ruiz for William Contreras and Joel Payamps.

I'd say a relatively low-end outcome is Ortiz being Atlanta-level Orlando Arcia (96 OPS+, excellent D) as opposed to the 2018-2019 Arcia for the Crew or 2023 Turang. Hall, at worst, is Josh Hader 2.0 for the Crew. Still an excellent return before even thinking about the CB-A pick...

Absolutely. Gasser doesn't have much left to prove in the minors. He could very well be in the 2024 rotation. Ashby will be back - and he could also be an asset in the rotation. Peralta-Miley-Ross-Ashby-Rea-Gasser is still pretty solid, and Carlos Rodriguez, Evan McKendry, Janson Junk, and Jacob Misiorowski are also options - even if DL Hall is staying in the pen to join Williams and Uribe as the 2024 equivalent of the Crew's "Nasty Boys" of 2018 (Knebel/Jeffress/Hader). Ortiz either bumps Turang at second or takes over for Adames at short. If the former, that's an upgrade. If the latter, the Crew will likely have the return from the Adames deal to help out, too.

Better yet, find someone who will sign under slot - and the Crew can replicate what they did in this most recent draft: Get a Cooper Pratt or Bishop Letson.