PrinceEatMeat

That's a pretty good return, but I don't see any way Melvin trades Greinke without getting a pitcher somewhere in the deal, and likely one that is close to MLB ready.

You can't take offers and shop them anywhere else right now. If other teams were talking to him, it would be tampering. Setting a price is an issue in the offseason, but not during the season while trying to sign a player to an extension. I understand he can't shop it now, but that offer will still be there in free agency. If he really wanted to stay and not test free agency, the Brewers would show their cards. If they don't think he'd realistically sign, why give him a number he can shop to other clubs in the off season. Just my outside opinion, but I don't think they ever got that far. They probably talked around the edges and realized Cain put the bid/ask too far apart. I'd love to be proven wrong and have them reach a decent deal before the deadline, but I just don't see it happening. I don't see it happening either. I agree that it broke down due to the Cain deal. I still think they have their best offer out there though. They probably had something around what Weaver got before the Cain deal happened, and I would guess they've upped it a little since then. Still won't be in the ballpark of what Greinke will be looking for though. Either way, the Brewers can't afford to not show their cards if their intention is to sign him to an extension. Greinke can't make a decision without a number out there. That's obviously a huge part of it. The only way they'll re-sign him at this point is if they keep him, and he realizes he likes the Brewers and their offer better than the the other teams out there who are interested. I just don't see any way that he won't go to the open market and see what's out there.

The biggest hope here is that at least a few of these teams get in a bidding war. It all depends on how interested they are in Greinke. It's probably varying levels, but we'll know for sure if Greinke officially becomes available. Best case is probably the Rangers and Angels duking it out, because they are division rivals and don't want each other to get Greinke.

I hope so too. But actually I wouldn't mind if this leads to Marcum coming back on a cheaper, short-term deal. Preferably for one year.

You can't take offers and shop them anywhere else right now. If other teams were talking to him, it would be tampering. Setting a price is an issue in the offseason, but not during the season while trying to sign a player to an extension.

Figure 6IP/start, that means he needs 12 or so starts to get up to 160. Starting every 5.5 days (a longer estimate) means he only has to start for 9ish weeks... which means they have a solid 3 weeks to get him into the rotation. Exactly. 3 weeks happens to be right after the trading deadline too. If both Greinke and Marcum are gone, then Thornburg will just slide right into the rotation. This plan will work out fine.

I love this move. Thornburg should be able to help the pen, and limit his innings at the same time. It's a good way to get his feet wet, and then he can move into the rotation when the need arises. It's very similar to Chris Sale as previously mentioned.

I find it very hard to believe that the Brewers best offer isn't already on the table. If Greinke was going to take it, he would've already. It's pretty safe to assume that he wants to hit the open market at this point. Anything is possible, but I don't see him signing an extension before the deadline. The only way I could see him returning is if they decide not to sell, he remains a Brewer the rest of the season, and then decides in the offseason to return after looking around.

Jeffy?

It's at 40, and he hasn't been added yet. A move will have to be made to add him. Thanks. I thought it was at 40 before his addition, but the 40-man roster page notes 42 players, which includes Gamel, Gonzalez, and Narveson. It's been messed up since the Maysonet confusion. Maysonet is on the 40-man, those 3 are on the 60-day DL. So it's at 40.

Agreed. They should just DFA one of them to make room for him on the 40-man. He should be playing now that he's getting called up. Don't see how he could be any worse than these guys. Gotta see what they have by playing him.

It's at 40, and he hasn't been added yet. A move will have to be made to add him.

Awesome. Glad he's getting a shot. Probably should just dump Izturis to clear the 40-man spot, but we all know that won't happen.

http://llleaguesports.com/bianchi-gets-call-to-the-brewers/21107/ Looks like it's Bianchi. Sweet.

I know most people say he'll end up at 2B, but I'm willing to take the risk if he's attainable.

I wonder if Garrett Richards would be a target? It's been speculated that Melvin wants MLB ready pitching. They don't really have any other pitching prospects that rival what teams like the Braves, Rangers, and Orioles have.

Why would they do that when they can just get rid of him and end their headache? They just need to dump him ASAP for the best package, and let someone else deal with him. I definitely wouldn't touch him for any significant package if I was a team other than the Nets though. He seems dead set on going there. If he gets traded somewhere else he'll probably be a problem again, and then walk in the offseason. Too big of a risk for anyone other than the Nets in my opinion.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/19554344/angels-likely-to-join-the-race-for-greinke----if-he-becomes-available Looks like the Angels are in. Let the speculation on a return package begin.

Sheets is starting on Sunday for the Braves. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/19553730/comebacking-sheets-to-start-sunday-for-braves

Apparently the 4-team deal is dead because Cleveland pulled out. The Lakers are also out according to Ric Bucher. If the Magic make a deal with the Nets it'll just be between them, but it looks unlikely. So the Magic are opening up discussions with other teams, such as the Hawks. In my opinion the Hawks could basically take Howard if they want to. All they have to do is offer Horford. They could probably convince Howard to stay too since Josh Smith is one of his best friends, and they have the cap space to go after Chris Paul or some other big free agent next offseason.

There's no way Melvin trades Ramirez after half a season. Obviously he should consider it depending on the offer, but seems incredibly far fetched at this point. He may trade him at some point during the contract, but not after half a season. There's a reason he signed him in the first place. I think most of us are in agreement that it's a bad contract, but I don't think Melvin and Mark A agree.

They may need to do both in the same deal to entice someone to take Gooden.

They don't need to carry 13 pitchers coming out of the AS break though. They would just get rid of Hernandez or Dillard if they wanted to do that.

Apparently Hamels made a comment today that he would consider returning to Philadelphia even if they trade him, so that's throwing more fuel on the fire that he'll be traded. Apparently Texas is seen is his likely destination, which we already basically knew. It's worth noting though, because Greinke's likely destinations are elsewhere then. If Texas gives up a big haul for him though, you have to think that'll improve the return Melvin gets for Greinke.

Yeah, I think everyone was confused when it first happened, including the beat writers. It was cleared up though, and they said he was optioned later and it was just a procedural move. The Brewers website doesn't even have him listed on the 40-man, but he's on there.