Harold Hutchison

I wish I could hear Bob Uecker doing the play-by-play of that game!

Who?

I was thinking: Frelick Adames Yelich Winker Tellez

For me, it is nice to have players who can work the pitcher. I disagree with some in that I think working a pitcher is something that every baseball player can learn, and there are certain skills (laying down bunts, shortening a swing) that also can be learned. The extent to which some players can do the latter skills can be debated, but when you have Corbin Burnes on the mound, there's a runner on third with less than two outs... then why isn't a squeeze play considered an option? I know analytics are a thing, but too many see them as holy writ rather than as one tool (an important tool, mind you) among many to evaluate a player. Baseball Mogul is fine and dandy and one of the best simulations there is, but when you really look at it, baseball is played by human beings, and analytics don't tell the whole story.

Upside? Toro couldn't get above the Uecker line in over 300 ABs. Winker was atrocious last year. And to be honest... why Winker when you had Frelick/Mitchell/Taylor/Ruiz/Yelich already? Not saying the Crew can't flip him if the issue is forced, but I'd rather have gotten A/ACL/DSL lottery tickets.

I am operating under the assumption of an OD outfield of Frelick in left, Mitchell in center, and Taylor in right. Three relatively young CF-types (in other words, they get to a lot of balls). So, defensively (for those who defend the shift of Braun from 3B after a ROY season), it's hard to top that. Maybe you work Yelich in the OF part-time to give them breaks, but out of the six of Frelick, Mitchell, Taylor, Ruiz, Perkins, and Yelich, the 2022 NL Gold Glove finalist is sixth out of six defensively. On the flip side, if he's not running all over the field to make catches, perhaps he stays healthier and the offense goes up. The shift ban will also help, true, but DH Yelich could be a 3-3.5 WAR guy at worst. Maybe he gets back to the 2018-2019 form. Even in 2020, his ISO was pretty good, his BABIP was an outlier.

Leading off, Yelich posted a .767 OPS, per Baseball Reference. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=yelicch01&year=2022&t=b I think 3 WAR is possible. Yelich's LD percentage was a career low, and BABIP is trending upward. He's not washed up by a long shot.

Yeah, could be that RH platoon option for Felick/Mitchell and putting Taylor as starting RF, maybe he and Ruiz compete for 4th OF. Yelich as full-time DH in that scenario. If Weimer/Churio force the issue, he's depth at AAA.

Turner at third would be the only way for this to make sense. But if this was even possible, why pick up Wong for $10 million? Why not have Turang/Urias take over second? Even if we got Turner, we'd have to go full Bobby Bonilla to get him.

Turner at third would be the only way for this to make sense. But if this was even possible, why pick up Wong for $10 million? Why not have Turang/Urias take over second? Even if we got Turner, we'd have to go full Bobby Bonilla to get him.

The only way to pull something like this off, IMO, is to go full Bobby Bonilla. I went 8 years, $250 million, deferred $90 million to be paid out over 30 years. Then was able to extend Woodruff/Adames, and went a bit Bonilla there, too.

The only way to pull something like this off, IMO, is to go full Bobby Bonilla. I went 8 years, $250 million, deferred $90 million to be paid out over 30 years. Then was able to extend Woodruff/Adames, and went a bit Bonilla there, too.

Trade with Orioles - Brewrrs get RHP Grayson Rodriguez, LHP DL Hall, IF Jordan Westburg, IF Jackson Holliday for RHP Corbin Burnes, IF Luis Urias, SS Eduardo Garcia, OF Hedbert Perez https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-106422/ Trade with Mariners - Brewers get OF Jonathan Clase, 3B Joe Rizzo, 2B Kaden Polcovich for OF Hunter Renfroe https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-106423/ Woodruff - signed to 6 year, $120 million deal, with $30 million deferred (paid out over 15 years) Willy Adames - signed to 6-year, $90 million deal, with $15 million deferred (paid out over 15 years) Eric Lauer - signed to 5-year $30 million deal Adrian Houser, signed to 4-year, $18 million deal (two team options at $6 million each, $2 million buyout for first option, $1 million buyout for second option). C: Victor Caratini ($2.80M) 1B: Rowdy Tellez ($5.30M) 2B: Brice Turang ($.7M) 3B: Jordan Westburg ($.7M) SS: Willy Adames ($12.5M) LF: Sal Frelick ($.7M) CF: Garrett Mitchell ($0.70M) RF: Tyrone Taylor ($.7M) DH: Christian Yelich ($22.00M) Bench OF: Jace Peterson ($2.5M) Utility: Keston Hiura ($2M) Utility: Cam Devanney ($0.70M) Backup C: Mario Feliciano ($0.70M) SP1: Brandon Woodruff ($15M) SP2: Freddy Peralta ($3.5M) SP3: Eric Lauer ($6M) SP4: Adrian Hauser ($4.5M) SP5: Grayson Rodriguez ($.7M) CL: Devin Williams ($3.20M) RP: DL Hall ($.7M) RP: Jason Alexander ($.7M) RP: Jake Cousins ($.7M) RP: Hoby Milner ($1.10M) RP: Brent Suter ($3.10M) RP: Aaron Ashby ($1.00M) RP: Justin Topa ($.7M) Payroll is 28.54% under budget

Trade with Orioles - Brewrrs get RHP Grayson Rodriguez, LHP DL Hall, IF Jordan Westburg, IF Jackson Holliday for RHP Corbin Burnes, IF Luis Urias, SS Eduardo Garcia, OF Hedbert Perez https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-106422/ Trade with Mariners - Brewers get OF Jonathan Clase, 3B Joe Rizzo, 2B Kaden Polcovich for OF Hunter Renfroe https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-106423/ Woodruff - signed to 6 year, $120 million deal, with $30 million deferred (paid out over 15 years) Willy Adames - signed to 6-year, $90 million deal, with $15 million deferred (paid out over 15 years) Eric Lauer - signed to 5-year $30 million deal Adrian Houser, signed to 4-year, $18 million deal (two team options at $6 million each, $2 million buyout for first option, $1 million buyout for second option). C: Victor Caratini ($2.80M) 1B: Rowdy Tellez ($5.30M) 2B: Jordan Westburg ($.7M) 3B: Jackson Holliday ($.7M) SS: Willy Adames ($12.5M) LF: Sal Frelick ($.7M) CF: Garrett Mitchell ($0.70M) RF: Tyrone Taylor ($.7M) DH: Christian Yelich ($22M) Bench OF: Jace Peterson ($2.5M) Utility: Brice Turang ($.7M) Utility: Mike Broussard ($1.5M) Backup C: Mario Feliciano ($0.70M) SP1: Brandon Woodruff ($15M) SP2: Freddy Peralta ($3.5M) SP3: Eric Lauer ($6M) SP4: Adrian Houser ($4.5M) SP5: Grayson Rodriguez ($.70M) CL: Devin Williams ($3.20M) RP: DL Hall ($.7M) RP: Matt Bush ($2.00M) RP: Jake Cousins ($0.7M) RP: Hoby Milner ($1.10M) RP: Brent Suter ($3.10M) RP: Aaron Ashby ($1.00M) RP: Justin Topa ($.7M) Payroll is 27.92% under budget

If it nets a World Series appearance or a championship, is it a bad idea? The chances of the Brewers getting those are higher with Burnes/Woodruff/Adames than without them. Trades for prospects don't always work out. How well did the prospects the Marlins got for Yelich pan out for them?

The Brewers get a Cy Young-caliber pitcher for eight years at the top of the rotation. Even if you don't keep Woodruff, you have Burnes-Peralta-Lauer-Houser-Ashby as the top 5. Still a superb rotation. Maybe Burnes doesn't go for it. But maybe he does, Is $3 million a year starting in 2031 really going to break the franchise? I'd argue it wouldn't.

Buying out free agency and getting cost certainty is worth it, I think. Keeping Burnes, Adames, and Woodruff also worth it, with $6 million in deferred money for 15 years - not horrible. More importantly, the plan would be to flip Lauer/Houser if enough young starters push their way up through the minors. Turang and Frelick are better options, and cheaper, I think. Plus, Wiemer could force his way up. In that case, we move on from Tellez. Renfroe should net some prospects in a deal.

Went to a 2.0 version. Burnes - signed to 8-year, $250 million deal, with $90 million deferred (paid out over 30 years - going full Bobby Bonilla). Woodruff - signed to 6 year, $120 million deal, with $30 million deferred (paid out over 15 years) Willy Adames - signed to 6-year, $90 million deal, with $15 million deferred (paid out over 15 years) Eric Lauer - signed to 5-year $30 million deal Adrian Houser, signed to 4-year, $18 million deal (two team options at $6 million each, $2 million buyout for first option, $1 million buyout for second option). C: Victor Caratini ($2.80M) 1B: Rowdy Tellez ($5.30M) 2B: Brice Turang ($0.7M) 3B: Luis Urias ($4.30M) SS: Willy Adames ($12.5M) LF: Christian Yelich ($22M) CF: Garrett Mitchell ($0.70M) RF: Tyrone Taylor ($1.25M) DH: Keston Hiura ($2.00M) Bench OF: Sal Frelick ($0.70M) Utility: Jace Peterson ($2.5M) Utility: Mike Broussard ($1.25M) Backup C: Mario Feliciano ($0.70M) SP1: Corbin Burnes ($20M) SP2: Brandon Woodruff ($15M) SP3: Freddy Peralta ($3.50M) SP4: Eric Lauer ($6M) SP5: Adrian Houser ($4.5M) CL: Devin Williams ($3.20M) RP: Jake Cousins ($0.7M) RP: Matt Bush ($2.00M) RP: Ethan Small ($0.70M) RP: Hoby Milner ($1.10M) RP: Brent Suter ($3.10M) RP: Aaron Ashby ($1.00M) RP: Justin Topa ($0.7M) Payroll is 9.08% under budget

I think he isn't dealt. I think they roll for the title, and the Hader deal happens in the offseason.

I think he isn't dealt. I think they roll for the title, and the Hader deal happens in the offseason.

Wong and Renfroe are probably the easiest savings on the roster. There are replacements (Turang and Taylor/Frelick/Wiemer) at AAA, and the combined savings is about $18 million, give or take. It's a bet on the prospects, but if you want to either extend one or two of Burnes/Woodruff/Adames, that's probably how it happens.

Taylor in RF short-term, Wiemer probably by the end of 2023.

The three players in the Renfroe deal are A-ball position players, all pretty young.

Burnes signed to 8-year, $200 million deal with $60 million deferred (paid out over 20 years) - went full Bobby Bonilla. Woodruff signed to 6-year, $90 million deal. Willy Adames signed to 5-year, $67.5 million deal. Hunter Renfroe to Seattle for UT Bryant Mendez, OF Jonatan Clase, 2B Hogan Windish. C: Victor Caratini ($2.80M) 1B: Rowdy Tellez ($5.50M) 2B: Brice Turang ($0.70M) 3B: Luis Urias ($4.50M) SS: Willy Adames ($13.5M) LF: Christian Yelich ($26.00M) CF: Garrett Mitchell ($0.70M) RF: Tyrone Taylor ($2.00M) DH: Keston Hiura ($2.00M) 4th OF: Sal Frelick ($0.70M) Utility: Mike Brosseau ($1.00M) Utility: Jace Peterson ($2.5M) Backup C: Mario Feliciano ($0.70M) SP1: Corbin Burnes ($17.50M) SP2: Brandon Woodruff ($15.00M) SP3: Freddy Peralta ($3.50M) SP4: Eric Lauer ($5.00M) SP5: Adrian Houser ($3.00M) RP: Brent Suter ($2.5M) RP: Aaron Ashby ($1.2M) RP: Matt Bush ($2.00M) RP: Ethan Small ($0.70M) RP: Hoby Milner ($1.00M) RP: Devin Williams ($4.00M) RP: Justin Topa ($0.70M) RP: Jason Alexander ($0.70M) Payroll is 8.15% under budget

I'd agree. I had my concerns as well (not using Peralta in the 2018 NLCS, no Braun at 3B against lefties, the seeming lack of some basic fundamentals and skills among players), but he's been an excellent manager. I'll say it: Counsell is probably the best manager in Brewers history. The last managers I saw who could get more from teams were Ned Yost (look at the 12-game improvement from 2002 to 2003, among other things) and Tom Trebelhorn (whose teams dealt with lots of injuries).