nate82

I think the chances of Cephus returning is at about 5%. If Cephus comes back he might be able to get his stock value up to a 2nd round pick which probably doesn't change all that much of where he would be picked in this upcoming draft. Cephus looks to be a 3rd-5th round draft pick and if he come back he could maybe boost his value into a 2nd round pick. I don't think it would be wise for him to come back and risk injury to improve his draft position.

The Badgers offense looks to be really bad at WR next year are we sure we want Mertz starting with what looks to be a well below average receiving group?

I would sign Russell to a minor league contract. The Brewers are rather thin at SS in the upper minors. I am not even sure who will be starting in AAA at SS.

Has the ball changed? It probably has changed but I don't believe it is impacting the game at all. I believe this is just the hitters making an adjustment on how they swing. There will be and already is an adjustment on how pitchers attack batters now.

This is probably going to carry on to the deadline and then even may be into next off season.

According to baseball-reference Similar Batters Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (971.0) Ramon Laureano (967.6) Jeff McNeil (946.4) J.D. Davis (937.9) Jesse Winker (936.2) Bill Howerton (934.6) George Puccinelli (934.2) Tyler Naquin (931.7) Austin Meadows (929.0) David Dahl (921.9) Similar Batters through 24 Ramon Laureano (967.6) Eric Hinske (957.7) Geoff Jenkins (950.5) Tim Salmon (945.0) Wally Judnich (941.6) Terrence Long (940.4) Pinky Higgins (936.4) Preston Wilson (934.7) Charlie Hickman (934.1) Magglio Ordonez (931.1) So two players Andujar has been linked as being similar that some wanted from the Mets. I don't really get the hate for Andujar as he is very similar to Hiura also. Andujar is also really close offensively and defensively to Castellanos. The hate for Andujar is really unjustified especially if anyone thinks he can't play the OF I wouldn't be surprised if he played as well as Braun did when he made the switch to the OF. Andujar as the #4 or #5 hitter in the lineup would be very exciting for the Brewers and would help solidify the lineup I wouldn't be surprised if Andujar is out producing Castellanos in 2020 and beyond. If Stearns could get Andujar, Garcia/Dominguez, and others for Hader that is a big win for the Brewers. I believe a trade of Andujar, Dominguez/Garcia, Medina and Alcantara that is a very solid return for Hader. I don't believe the Dodgers will have either May or Lux after they trade for Lindor so I am not sure the Dodgers could beat that deal especially if the Yankees go Andujar, Dominguez, Medina and Alcantara. For the Dodgers to beat that they would have to do May/Lux, Ruiz and a low level prospect and I just don't see the Dodgers parting with both May/Lux and Ruiz. I believe that will throw the Dodgers out of the running. Maybe the Phillies jump in and try but I don't like the Phillies prospects compared to the Yankees and I really don't like anyone in the Dbacks organization. The only other teams that could beat the Yankees offer would be the Twins or the Angels. If the Angels offered Adell plus lower level prospects for Hader or if the Twins offered Lewis/Graterol and Jeffers. I don't believe Hader will be traded but if he were traded I believe the Yankees have the strongest hand that the Brewers like and it starts with Andujar.

Nothing more than Twitter rumors but it sounds like those first two pieces (Garcia and Andujar) are agreed on. It's the sweeteners preventing a deal to this point. Also seems like other teams are jumping in to help drive the offers closer to what the Brewers are willing to accept. IF...IF this is true...those 1st two pieces are incredibly underwhelming, at least to me they are. Again, no Gleyber...no deal with the Yankees. Especially since I bet you could get the Dodgers to part with Lux at least. I mean obviously rankings are just that...rankings, but Garcia is only ranked as the 62nd best prospect in the minors(not to mention only at AA, does nothing to help this years team, or even next years probably). You should do better than that for a weapon like Hader...a proven major leaguer(at least 1...Andujar doesn't qualify as that to me) and at least a top 20 prospect(in all of baseball). Dodgers for Gavin Lux and Dustin May makes a lot more sense to me...I just want a crap ton for the best weapon in all of baseball. Ummm might want to do some research as Garcia ended the year in AAA.

If the rumors of Stearns wanting top notch prospects in return for Hader are true I think the starting point is Dominguez from the Yankees plus Medina and a lower level prospect like Kevin Alcantara. I think this board would be holding pitch forks if this is the return Stearns gets for Hader. I think most on this board want major league ready or players in the majors already for Hader and I just don't see Stearns making a deal like that. I am going to repeat this but I truly believe Stearns is looking for prospects being the headliners in any deal that involves Hader.

In one of Heyman's articles he states that the Brewers are looking for a top prospect(s) in return for Hader. So I am assuming that means they are looking at a prospect laden deal versus a deal that will be major league ready or major league players heavy. So I am thinking the Brewers are looking for a return where they are getting a prospect in the 5-15 range and another in the 50-75 range plus lower level players. I don't believe the Brewers are looking at players who have already eaten some or most of their pre-arbitration years in a return for Hader. I believe most on here will erupt and will be calling for Stearns head if what has been rumored is true. I don't think the Brewers are going to get what Stearns is looking for and Hader will be on the team until at least next year the latest and the earliest he may be traded would be by the trade deadline during this upcoming season. Maybe a team gets desperate and needs a bullpen arm and gives Stearns what he is looking for during the trade deadline but I think most are going to be disappointed with the return as it will be more prospects than it will be MLB ready players.

I don't think we can count on Knebel until about June or so. I know he is projected to return in May I just don't believe he will be ready by May and it maybe closer to mid June when he will be available. It is still too early to speculate when he will be available but I am taking the May schedule with a grain of salt. We should know more by the end of spring training if it will be May or later.

The only thing I didn't really like was the ending of the movie. Everything else was very Star Warsy and it was better than the Last Jedi.

Except the Yankees have had more discussions with the Brewers for Hader than any other team. So Stearns must like the Yankees as a possible trade partner for Hader.

What about Hunter Dozier from the Royals? He had a breakout year last season in his 2nd season in the majors. I am not sure on his value but he would be someone I wouldn't mind the Brewers going after. He will be 28 for the majority of the season and won't turn 29 until August. He is not all that expensive so it might take a bit more maybe a Ray Nottingham and a lower level prospect.

Is it just me or has Brown massively improved defensively this year?

For whatever reason I am not all that excited for the new Star Wars movie as I was for the others.

I don't have as much faith in Bell's May/June numbers and I believe he is more somewhere in between what he did from July - September. That puts him just above Thames and others. Cost wise the FA have more value as the production gap to me is not enough to warrant giving up anything more than what it would require to get Thames or Smoak.

I think he's supposed to be ready by Spring Training, unless I'm mistaken. I thought it was later but I could be mistaken also.

You are looking at this completely wrong. The value of Bell is at someone outside of a top 100 prospect not if the Pirates would accept that. They obviously will not accept it as they believe the value to them is worth more than what the market is offering.

Any of the FA available right now would get you about the same value as Bell and won't cost a prospect. There is also Smith from the Mets who could give you similar production. Thames a FA would give you about the same production as Bell at 1B. Encarnacion is another who could give you similar production at 1B. Smoak is another player who can give you similar production. All of these players minus Smith won't cost a prospect and can be had for a similar dollar amount as Bell. If you want to go further the cost per production is in favor of the FA over a trade for Bell.

When you take into account the 1B/DH market is over saturated with similar talent it is actually correct. You can laugh at the value for Bell but the free agent and trade market has more 1B/DH types than there is demand for them. The Pirates will be lucky to get one top 100 prospect for Bell in this market. A pretty comical take all around. In 2019, in 527 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL at bats, Josh Bell hit 37 home runs with a .936 OPS Between 2017-2019, in 1025 CLASS A+ AND BELOW MINOR LEAGUE at bats, Tristen Lutz has hit 35 home runs with a .781 OPS And Tristen Lutz will not appear on any 2020 Top 100 prospect lists. In fact, I'm willing to bet that he won't appear in any Top 200 lists. Not many have been published yet, but he's not listed in Top 200 prospects on this list... https://prospects365.com/2019/10/21/ray-butlers-2019-end-of-season-top-200-prospects/ I would not be just me and the Pittsburgh Pirates laughing at a Tristen Lutz for Josh Bell trade proposal, but everyone in baseball. Nice deflect on the over saturation of the 1B/DH market which is what is dragging Bell's and others value down.

When you take into account the 1B/DH market is over saturated with similar talent it is actually correct. You can laugh at the value for Bell but the free agent and trade market has more 1B/DH types than there is demand for them. The Pirates will be lucky to get one top 100 prospect for Bell in this market.

I think Betances has a return date from his injury around June or July which probably means August at the earliest. If you sign Betances it would be for the 2021 season and not the 2020 season.

I think the Bucks missed Bledsoe's defense last night as Curry was getting into the lane and causing problems.

That's why I said some have used it to get away with texting family members or whatever. I know a cop who does this constantly when he is driving in his car and will use the excuse he is using his phone for work when he is clearly not. In some states at least in AZ you can still use your phone when using the GPS function like maps.

First part you have to inform the State Troopers as they are the ones with jurisdiction and maybe they will investigate. MAYBE. Would have to have some kind of evidence to get them to think about doing something. Second part there is a statute that says if it is part of the job you can use it. The laptop in the cops car is part of their job function to use while driving though some officers have used this to get away with texting while driving with their family members.