Roderick

I think the opposite of you. The reason it is such a long season is why I am okay with the amount of teams in playoffs. If your team is out of it right away even though your team is doing okay because the Detroit Tigers start out the season 35-5 in 1984, then what is to keep your interest (your money) for baseball? You equalize that by weighting the chances in the playoffs: wildcards teams have to play-in to the playoffs and the division winners and/or best record get a bye.

https://theathletic.com/3114917/2022/02/10/bowden-the-first-move-each-nl-team-should-make-when-the-lockout-ends/ Jim Bowden - First move every team should make Milwaukee Brewers Offseason needs: Right-handed power-hitting right fielder, utility infielder, backup catcher Biggest moves pre-lockout: Acquired RF Hunter Renfroe and INF Mike Brosseau; signed C Pedro Severino First move they should make post-lockout: Sign LF/DH Eddie Rosario to two-year, $18 million deal The Brewers need more offense and with the universal DH likely on the way, Rosario would be a solid, affordable fit. Rosario, last year’s NLCS MVP, showed off his hitting skills and power in October during the Braves’ championship run. For Milwaukee, he could play left field on days when Christian Yelich needs to rest his back. Rosario, 30, had his best year in 2019 when he hit 32 homers and drove in 109 runs with the Twins. He owns a career slash line of .275/.309/.473, which is about what the Brewers should expect from him. However, his power and clutch performance are good enough, and he’d fit nicely on their payroll and in their lineup.

Brewers top 20 prospects per Law/Athletic https://theathletic.com/3113134/2022/02/08/brewers-top-20-prospects-for-2022-keith-law-ranks-milwaukees-farm-system/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983 Keith Law has Ashby as #7 Brewers prospect Ashby was awful in his major-league debut, and in his last game of the season; between those two appearances, he threw 24 1/3 innings in the big leagues, striking out 33, walking six, with a 2.22 ERA, mostly working in relief. He’s a four-pitch guy, sitting mid-90s without much life or movement, with a plus slider that kills right-handed batters. It’s largely a matter of command and control for Ashby — he doesn’t repeat his delivery that well, and while he didn’t walk many guys in the majors, he has had consistently higher walk rates in the minors. If he can get to 50 control and 45 command, he might be able to start. He should be very effective in a swing or relief role if he can’t. Small #11

Because fans are the customer. Example, if you were making widgets and your factory stopped making them because of a labor impasse. Shouldn't mgmt and labor keep in mind that ABC Company that buys all of their widgets may start buying some widgets from a competitor if the impasse lasts too long? At least smart people would. Heck, ABC Company may end up switching to the pro bowler tour or something.

Keith Law (so take it for what it is) Top 100 85. Bryce Turang 88. Sal Frelick https://theathletic.com/3074113/2022/01/31/top-100-mlb-prospects-2022-keith-laws-rankings-with-adley-rutschman-at-no-1/?source=pulsenewsletter&campaign=%7B%7BcampaignId%7D%7D

The issue (or perceived issue) is that the larger market teams would spend the money on payroll, but they have to give it to the small market teams who pocket the cash and don't raise payroll. Therefore, money that would have gone to the players (with the union getting their cut) instead goes into the owners' pockets. Meanwhile, small market or rebuilding teams would argue that spending a few million extra on payroll won't necessarily make the team any better, and it may keep them from giving playing time to a young player trying to prove himself, and hurt them long-term. Obviously, adding payroll doesn't always make a team better, so maybe they could come up with something like: if the team receiving the revenue-sharing funds doesn't spend it improving their team in some fashion, then they have to put it back into the pool. The money wouldn't necessarily have to add to payroll, but maybe they upgrade the locker room, or get a new scoreboard... something that isn't just "pocketing the money." The union is looking to get rid of things designed to somewhat level the playing field between the big markets vs. small markets, so I'd hate for these things to go away. I'd like to eliminate the uneven playing field, not make it worse. The now expired CBA had in it's language pretty much what you said about improving the club. Players said small market owners were pocketing the money. Neither side can come up with a concise way how the money should be spent or how to prove where the money goes. Some type of min. floor on payroll for teams receiving revenue-sharing. But not by year, but maybe over a three year average.

If the Brewers are out of the pennant race the year before free agency, we are trading him for the best offer. That's just the way it is. Whatever the best offer is, it is going to be better than a comp pick (if there is one after the cba).

Actually, I assume the media companies want clicks in whatever shape they are. I doubt many are blocked.

I sure hope he can provide a boost, as we have big holes to fill with Boxberger and Strickland. I wouldn't mind signing one of those guys back for the right price.

https://theathletic.com/3075009/2022/01/18/mlb-trade-scenarios-jim-bowden-evaluates-your-proposals-for-josh-hader-matt-chapman-ketel-marte-and-more/ Someone proposed this on a Jim Bowden trade article. Brewers trade LHP Josh Hader to Mets for INF/OF Jeff McNeil, OF/1B Dominic Smith and RHP J.T. Ginn — Douglas H. .... you’ve made me an offer I can’t refuse (as the Brewers). I think Smith, if given a chance to play first base every day, would hit .300 with 20 home run power and a .350 on-base percentage. McNeil has been a .300 hitter in three of his four big-league seasons, and Ginn projects as a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter. I think this trade is too good for the Brewers to pass up. I’m making it. I’m making it from the Mets’ perspective, too, and think it would be a game-changer for them. Interesting idea, Douglas.

Player always gets the deciding vote regardless.

I think you are undervaluing the current trade market for starting pitchers. There are not many available and even less in FA. Starting pitchers are at a premium right now in the trade market which makes the Reds move even more confusing as they could have gotten a decent piece or two for Miley in this trade market. I think the Brewers could get someone like Keplar for Houser. Lauer has a lower value and wouldn't be able to get Keplar on his own. He would be closer to a Tellez type of a trade. I don't care what the trade simulator said for Lauer and Houser, to me they both have great value to Brewers and should be treated accordingly when asking for trade prices. Not any of this Tellez equivalent for Lauer. I'm not against using them in a package to get a premium player. Run a package one of them, Mitchell, Turang up the flag pole and see who salutes.

They played the abbreviated 2020 season with a DH. I don't see why they'd wait a year to throw it in if part of the new CBA. Nelson Cruz is crossing his fingers. Many more teams will be an option and bump up his pay pretty good. Edit: I should have said, unless Sal Bando is advising about DH spending ....

Nah, I'd rather he sink or swim in AAA first. It isn't going to help him to get 5th OF sporadic at bats. Plus I'm thinking it would be a sinking....

Yeah, that stuck out to me. If the coach calls for a shift and he doesn't shift, he is pulled from the game if you ask me. So it must be something different?....

"....but as you said, Goldstein seemed pretty confident they've been told not to." Just a couple of GMs talking about their roster and their needs is all that is going on........

Just because they don't spend money before training camp, doesn't mean they have no intention of spending yet this year. They will have to sign a bullpen guy or two before the season, but maybe DS/MA feel like waiting until trading deadline to see where are deficiencies are? If you spend money now on a 1B upgrade and Urias or someone gets hurt, will they be able to replace? Whereas you can hold that money now and have the money to use at the trading deadline. Also, you said it yourself. 2-3 year window. Overspend this year and it doesn't work out, it quite possibly hurts our chances the next two years. That said, I sure would like to trade for Matt Olson and get a bat for cleanup.

Didn't Yelich have excellent exit velocity on his hits last year? The problem was they were just hit into the ground. So if he can tweak the launch angle even a little bit and get 5/5 more singles/doubles, he would have been .273/.383/.405 using last years base stats. Not anything to write home about, but not a black hole that is only looking for walks.

They really wanted to get rid of him and any remnants of him around, eh?

https://theathletic.com/2995533/2021/12/03/rosenthal-labor-dispute-is-about-one-thing-freemans-destination-could-impact-olson-verlander-mystery-more-notes/ the Brewers dangled Jackie Bradley Jr. in trades for a variety of other outfielders, including the Blue Jays’ Randal Grichuk, sources said. Unlike the Renfroe deal, in which the Brewers parted with Bradley and two infield prospects, a Grichuk trade would have been one-for-one. So, why lose the prospects, infielder David Hamilton and Alex Binelas, who ranked 16th and 17th for the Brewers respectively, according to MLBPipeline.com? Because in the Bradley-Renfroe exchange, the Brewers created greater payroll flexibility for 2022, saving about $10 million. The Bradley-Grichuk swap likely would have been a financial wash. And Renfroe was just more appealing overall. Both Renfroe and Grichuk are entering their age 30 seasons, but Renfroe is coming off the better year (112 OPS-plus to 89), and his contractual status gives the Brewers a measure of added flexibility. Grichuk is locked into $9.3 million salaries in each of the next two seasons, while Renfroe is projected to earn $7.6 million in arbitration in 2022 before becoming eligible for the process a final time in ’23. He potentially would have greater trade value if the Brewers faced a financial crunch, particularly if he and Grichuk were similar to what they were in ’21.

I'd hate it during the lockout, but I agree... It's time to level the playing field, even though I know there is almost a 0% chance of that happening...........................ever! Every other sport has a level playing field and its long past the time where baseball does as well. How can they? How can you take some of the Dodgers local TV money away and give it to the Brewers? Basically you hope to increase the amount they give to small market teams, and can do that from the players point of view if they institute some type of floor spending for those teams (even if the team isn't really logically ready to spend that amount of money yet). I thought splitting internet revenue equally would be the long-term cure way back when. But basically the local TV being streamed is still "local". So unless they put something out there now that 20 years from now, all TV revenue would be subject to splitting. So that it is longer than whatever is the longest contract out there. Then you have to figure out how to handle the teams that own their own TV (hence the team would not negotiate for the best amount they could, and would let the TV arm of the company make a bunch of money).

https://www.mlb.com/news/free-agent-match-for-each-mlb-team-2021-2022-offseason?partnerId=zh-20211122-505698-mlb-1-B&qid=1026&utm_id=zh-20211122-505698-mlb-1-B&bt_ee=%2BeDe0NSmzwSBiSj1gAy0j%2Fd6WMfdYUpxUHq3frvtP90NYkAegboh2pC4Bh0xfvN2&bt_ts=1637586636946 Here is 1 free agent each team should target Brewers: Mark Canha, OF Canha has been a steady performer for Oakland the past few years, but unlike some of the top free agents, the 32-year-old could fit within the Brewers’ payroll limits. Canha has also played first base during his career. Given Milwaukee’s need for a right-handed option at that position, his versatility could be put to use.

Don't give up hope. He could KRod/Jeffress back with the team again.

I don't know Riefert. But, if we can get a usable piece for a bullpen guy from A+ because the other team has a roster crunch, that seems like a trade you make and fill in the minors with whatever retread arms you need to to complete the roster.

Not really at that price and those years. What was the average corner OF ops? Just curious how much above average he really or is his value really in his versatility?