Roderick

Yeah, I would attribute that bat hitting the trashcan video (since it is the only one at least so far) as more of the bench picked up a tell on the pitcher and was relaying that. That is on the pitcher. I have no idea if correct, but others were claiming the Astros had better hitting stats on the road, which would also discredit at least the effect of the cheating. But if getting signs to the batter is prevalent, another reason to pitch fast like Suter. Signs can't be relayed to the batter fast enough.

I assume if the player plans, they "reside" in a tax friendly state. That way they are only paying Wis tax on the 81 home games and then whatever the state tax is where they play away games. I would assume that works.

So let Pomeranz walk for 1 million? If 3 at 24 million won't get it done, but 3 at 25 million will, it would be asinine to not give him the extra million. Well your willing to go $25M, now $26M gets the job done. Can't we just go another another $1M?

No you don’t. Arby salaries aren’t guaranteed. If he still looks lost in Spring Training, you cut bait and move on. Yeah but your paying $800K+ to see what Shaw looks like. That is quite a chunk of change, especially if you plan to do the same thing with Nelson.

Could be they still try to re-sign, just not at that cost? If they still have a need at 1B and no otehr team has bid higher, I could see Thames coming back for $6M or something.

I like that the strike is called if over any part of the plate. If the pitcher catches a fraction of the very bottom of the zone at the very beginning of plate and the pitch drops from there - it is still a strike. Batter has to move up if the pitcher can do it. Could we see more Dave LaRoche LaLobs? For those too young.

Don't undersell him. This was a big dick move.

Ray has 0.1% chance of getting taken....at most. Even if taken, he’ll likely be offered back. I’d forgotten the new guy—Feyereisen. So two arms to protect, maybe Peterson, Griep, or Brown I can see someone taking Ray to see if they can fix his swing. With the added active player on the roster, and if it has to be a bench player, he can be the pinch runner, spare OF as they work with him. I assume it would be a team that really liked him in the draft that wants to get a close look. You never know if a team like the Pirates that will pack it in for 2019, would do what San Diego did a few years ago and grab Rule 5 guys.

Yeah, there are too many other issues on the todo list to assume we would get that far down the pecking order. 3B, C, and SP need to be addressed before worrying about upgrading SS.

It comes down to me that I would rather rely on Pina at catcher next year versus Shaw at 3B next year (when compared to those positional MLB averages) - with the added benefit of saving money on costs (Shaw arby vs Pina). So Grandal money goes toward Moose inflation and a SP. But can't assume Moose, so have to keep Grandal option open. Basically have to count on full-year Hiura, a luckier Cain, a better Arcia and hope Braun and Thames can have another good year to keep offense decent.

Suter proved to be an absolute weapon for the Crew down the stretch. I know people aren't in love with his stuff but the guy provides so much from a locker room/glue standpoint that if his performance next year mirrors anything even close to what he showed this year, he's an incredibly valuable piece to have for a team that doesn't really have any guys that you can count on for 7 every time out (at this point in time). With his versatility, I wouldn't at all be surprised if we look at Suter a year from now as the team's MVP. Regardless of stuff, he knows how to pitch and he's just a gamer. This particular point about Suter has been hashed over and over again, especially when he was a starting pitcher but it is worth revisiting in any convo about him. His pace is such a change up to anyone else in the league and the first time through an order for hitters it is just odd and uncomfortable to hit against him. Someone will need to verify this for me because I am bad at the internet, but when he was a starter I felt like his first time through the order was good to possibly even above average and then he struggled the 2nd time through. When you bring him in after a starter throwing 92-97 you get hit with a slower pitch at an electric pace and I don't care who you are .. it is uncomfortable. Suter in that mid game 2-3 inning role makes so much sense why he was successful and I would hope/expect that to be the norm from here on out. Incredible piece to have in the bullpen. If they allow 14 pitchers with expanded rosters, CC may even limit starter innings even more than prior years (is that possible), which makes Suter just as valuable as a starter if he pitches 2 innings every three days, especially since you would hold him for leveraged appearances.

I think and fear it'll be Turang. The Brewers window is open now and I'm afraid they're going to give away a future superstar(since he's really the only elite prospect still in the minors) and the Brewers have enough talent at the big league level, but they also have a great number of holes. But I really hope that doesn't happen. I don't think Lutz or Turang moves. We can't give yup on guys who have a good high end upside. Sure we can. I would think by definition that Turang and Lutz would be the movers. They would be the good enough options that other teams would want. It isn't Supak that is going to get a deal done. I don't have a problem trading away prospects if we are getting back players that we will have for 3+ years and are relatively cheap. Example - someone has a blocked 3B that is ready to see if he can cut it at MLB level, I would be willing to trade Lutz/Turang for him and not have to spend free agent money on Moose and arby money on Shaw (hence saving it for Grandal and/or a starter). We haven't seen Stearns trading away top prospects for players that are just signed for one year, and I don't think he starts now.

Thanks, I completely missed that part of the rule. i haven't seen anything making the 13 pitcher limit official. i know that it's been recommended, but i have yet to see a formal decision announced. It would be curious if they do end up with that rule, how they classify an Ohtani / Lorenzen/ Kieschnick or if they wouldn't be allowed to pitch if there were already 13 other pitchers on the active roster.

He'll probably end up signing a minor lg. deal or a low cost MLB deal. I wouldn't be surprised if Stearns offered him $1M to stay. Not a big loss if he goes. I wouldn't mind that. But with one more bench player on the roster, the value of a super utility guy is lessened.

Yeah, but McGehee and to some extent (over two years) Bill Hall had huge dropoffs that happened even younger than Shaw. I do not trust Shaw to come back to 2017-8 form. My best case is thinking in the area of .725OPS. So I am almost ready to say no tender regardless if Moose goes elsewhere.

Chase Anderson – $10.3MM – club option for $8.5MM Yes - option (should have some value over contract for trade if we don't want) Jimmy Nelson – $3.7MM No. If a team doesn't agree to arby, they can negotiate with that same player the same as everyone else, right? If so, I would do that with Nelson. Hernan Perez – $3.0MM NO Corey Knebel – $5.125MM YES Alex Claudio – $2.2MM Probably Travis Shaw – $4.7MM I would hope they figure out 3B before you have to file arby (mid-January ish, right?), I would hate to have to arby Shaw because we haven't been able to sign/trade for a 3B. Manny Pina – $2.2MM – club option for $1.85MM with a $150K buyout YES Cory Spangenberg – $1.5MM Probably, especially if he still has options. Zach Davies – $5.0MM YES Junior Guerra – $3.5MM Probably Tyler Saladino – $1.0MM NO Orlando Arcia – $2.7MM YES Ben Gamel – $1.6MM YES Brent Suter – $900K YES Tyler Austin – $1.2MM NO

I realize that. The first year is the hardest year to budget usually - as you have more commitments and less planning time. In our instance we can fit him in 2020 (with no Grandal), and he carries forward as a commitment to budget around. Hopefully the Braun savings in 2021 can for other team needs. I don't especially want Wheeler unless the price is right, but we can afford him unless someone with deep pockets really likes him (Cole, Stratsburg, Ryu).

If Grandal goes somewhere else and we go the Pina route, then you have $18M to spend on pitching. I assume it would be a tier below Wheeler and more in the $12M/year market and use the extra as needed - but if they really like Wheeler, they could make it happen.

A better way might be to go after not so young controllable players. Garrett Cooper turns 29 in December, so it's highly questionable if Miami sees him as a core player of their rebuild, but he'd be a nice fit on this Brewer team as a RH bat with ability to play 1B and corner OF. With having Trent Grisham, I'd do a Gamel for Cooper swap in a heartbeat if they would do it. Although Cooper seems like a player that should be getting everyday at bats and with Braun/Thames for 1B, just not sure it would be a fit. I would like to have Grisham in the minors to start the year, so he is getting everyday at bats. He can come up when Braun inevitably gets hurt or midseason.

Houser and Woodruff would seem to be locks. You aren't going to get value trading Davies, so he is in rotation. I think they use Chase Anderson money to sign Lyles, even knowing he won't pitch like he did for us this year. Gio only if cheap. Maybe Suter into the rotation, but I love him as the 2-3 inning guy for when Counsell takes a starter out in the 4/5 inning. Looks like need at least one free agent starter that is pretty solid. If they can't resign Grandal, all of a sudden they have a lot of money to spend on the second tier of starting pitcher free agents. Not the first option (or even second option) but who knows: Peralta, Burnes, Nelson. Plus by midseason, maybe some of the minor league pitchers will have improved and be ready to help.

I would hope that they get him a bunch of 1B practice in spring training next year. That gives us alot more options on who to play. If Thames gets in a slump/injured, Braun to 1B and Grisham/Gamel starts OF.

We'll have a ton of relievers on the roster for the wildcard game. You can reset your roster after that game, so you won't have your first two starters for the next series (Houser for sure) on the roster for this game, making room for other relievers. Since it is Woodruff, go 10 pitchers and 15 position players. Woodruff, Claudio, Guerra, Hader, Pomeranz, Peralta, Lyles, Suter, Jackson, Anderson (extra inning insurance) Gio and Houser on rest for next series.

I don't know that he would have much choice. We're not signing Rendon. I don't see Donaldson coming here. And the rest of the free agents aren't any better than Shaw, and are older to boot. Hope and pray on Shaw and try to find a club that has a guy blocked by their current 3B you can trade for. Unless you find that blocked player - I wouldn't play around with Moose. 2 years $25M

Thames has a $7.5M club option for next season, do you think the Brewers should pick up that option? Next season MLB will likely have a 26 man roster, if the Brewers pick up Thames option, Thames will play a lot of 1B with Braun rotating between LF and 1B. Next season's bench: Pina, Gamel, Shaw, Spangenberg and (Thames or Grisham) 1B is a relatively easy position to replace production at, but I think exercising that option is a no-brainer. Yeah, I "assume" it is exercised. But, its a long offseason, and maybe some team will want Thames enough to pry him from Stearns. So if Thames is traded, I can then see a scenario where they pay Shaw the arby for the chance he makes a comeback. If he only improves to below average, he can be backup at 3B, 1B and PH. If Thames isn't gone, I wouldn't offer Shaw arby.

Will be interesting to see if Albers is the odd man out. One can always hope. As you can tell, I don't trust Albers. I would rather go with Davies or Black, if it came to it.