BrewersNation

I would add Robert Wooten to that list too jjfanec. If the Crew decide to groom him as a closer/reliever (and I assume that is still the plan), he could shoot up the system. He's dominated so far.

His price may have gone down a little now that the DBacks only had to give up Bonifacio for Rauch...

Damaso Marte for Gillespie and Anundsen

The problem with the idea that C Angel Salome is serving a suspension is that Michael Brantley is also suspended...yet he started.

I'm glad the above quoted scout said that Michael Brantley has a chance to be an All-Star. I truly hope he is not the PTBNL in the Sabathia deal. He has amazing plate discipline for such a young player, speed enough to play center field, a high batting average, and a high enough OBP to be a lead-off hitter. Match that with Don Money's assertion that Brantley is the best player on the team because of his smart baserunning and overall smarts in baseball, he should be rated higher on the list.

Mark Attanasio has repeatedly said that the team is going to finish in the red this season. They are going all out in 2008 because they can only afford this financial hit for one season. I don't think Milwaukee will approach a $90m payroll again next season. That is, unless the team will take a financial loss again. In that case, you are right.

Prince Fielder is the best chance Milwaukee has at landing a top-flight pitcher this off-season. With the current payroll at $90m, the team is already going to finish in the red. Mark A has already said that multiple times. This winter, the Crew will look to shed some salary room (Mota, Gagne, Sheets, Sabathia, Cameron). Prince will probably get $8m or so in arb, so it would allow the team to get someone like Matt Cain or Zack Greinke. Brad Nelson is a perfect candidate for first. His .300+ average and .400+ OBP will translate nicely to the bigs. Will he be a star? No. Will he be serviceable around other players that can pick up the slack? Yes. Teams are built on pitching, and a Gallardo, Parra, Soup, Bush, McClung/Villanueva rotation is not going to be a post-season caliber rotation. The team doesn't have that much money to spend this off-season either. Nelson is a fine stopgap until Gamel can learn first base, or Melvin can get a decent first base option on either the trade market or from free agency.

Pena, ahem? Pena and his 1.54 WHIP probably will not translate well to the big leagues. I agree he'll probably be called up, but I'm not sure how he will fare...

My dream moves are highly unlikely...but I think they would help the team a lot. Deal 1: 1B Prince Fielder to SF for RHP Matt Cain - prospects would be involved on both sides, I'm sure. 2B Rickie Weeks + OF Lorenzo Cain + RHP Amaury Rivas to BAL for 2B Brian Roberts + RHP Jim Johnson Our starting lineup C Jason Kendall 1B Mat Gamel/Brad Nelson 2B Brian Roberts SS Alcides Escobar 3B J.J. Hardy LF Ryan Braun CF Mike Cameron RF Corey Hart Starting Rotation RHP Yovani Gallardo RHP Matt Cain LHP Manny Parra RHP Dave Bush RHP Seth McClung/RHP Carlos Villanueva Bullpen LHP Mitch Stetter LHP Brian Shouse RHP Villanueva/RHP McClung RHP David Riske RHP Jim Johnson RHP Luis Pena CL Salomon Torres Not to mention we just saved tons of money with that lineup...

I would like to see the Brewers go after Jon Rauch in Washington. He would be under the team's control through 2010, and he has proven to be extremely effective in the closer's role. Salomon Torres will be a Brewer through the 2009 season, so Rauch could presumably take over as closer in 2010. His ERA is at a fantastic 2.38, and Washington still has Chad Cordero to reclaim the closer's role next season. Thus, Rauch is expendable. He will cost a lot though, and the Nationals are notorious for trying to pull a fast one on teams. They offered the Brewers a Cordero-Weeks trade in the off-season. I wonder if the team would be willing to part with Rauch and another prospect for Weeks. Doug Melvin could then acquire Ray Durham to man second base for the remainder of the year. That is a far-fetched idea, but it would improve the team in multiple facets.

Yes but Burrell is not just another power hitter. Burrell currently has a .412 OBP the Brewers don't even have a player who is near a .400 OBP on the team. Hardy is the only player close to .400 OBP and he only has a .362 OBP. Burrell would be the OBP guy the Brewers are looking for. A lineup of Braun, Fielder, and Burrell would be intimidating. Burrell is also on pace to strike out more than 130 times this season, and has never struck out less than 120 times. I agree the OBP would be nice, but get someone who doesn't strike out and can bat for a high average. Burrell has hit just north of .250 the last two years. Cameron can do that and play much better defense.

I would not want Pat Burrell. The Brewers do not need another power hitter that strikes out over 100 times a year. If Prince is traded for a stud pitcher (like Matt Cain or Zack Greinke), you could see either Brad Nelson or Mat Gamel step in at first. It will be interesting to see what the Brewers do with Cameron. Do they not pick up his option and release him? If they do that, do they give Tony Gwynn Jr. a shot in center? Do they make a trade for a center fielder like Coco Crisp? There is no one attractive in the free agent market at center field, so that is not a realistic option.

I wrote this article about acquiring Cain earlier today. http://brewersnation.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/playing-gm/ It would be... SF gets - Weeks, Errecart, Cain MIL gets - Cain The other trade would be... ARI gets - Cameron MIL gets - Tony Pena + low-level pitching prospect

Maddux is nothing more than a "feel good" move to make fans feel like the Brewers are actively trying to win. He's essentially just like Dave Bush, but may do a little better in Sept. as he will have the veteran experience. Someone like a Cliff Lee or a Jonathan Sanchez could be a great find for the Crew if they can pry them away without giving up too much. That's probably just wishful thinking though. Both would be available for the right price, though.

Good point. Santana didn't cost as much as Seattle paid for Bedard though. Seattle made an awful deal.