Warning Track Power

If I am the Brewers, that is one TOUGH trade to make but I think I am doing it. Combining this with a Dozier trade (who you might have to re-sign given Hiura is then in New York), I like our chances to make the playoffs AND have success there.

I'll help out. Here you go: - Brewers love Machado and have made a very good offer. The names tossed around include Phillips, Ortiz, Burnes, Lutz, Woodruff, Arcia, Bando, T. Williams, Houser, Peralta, Ray, Erceg, Dubon, Gatewood, Brown, Nottingham, Stokes, Carmona, Medeiros, Ponce and a few others. That's just a preliminary list - I'm guessing some other guys have been talked about. 50% chance we get something done. - Brewers won't include top prospects such as Hiura - but you never know if that will change. - Brewers don't want to increase their offer any more except for if they have to. It's coin flip that we increase the offer. - Phillies have made a good proposal. Brewers might have to increase their offer to beat, but maybe not. It's toss up that we don't have to increase the offer. - Yankees made an offer but not good enough - 50% chance that could change. - Dodgers had a proposal but it was rejected. 50/50 they may come back and try again. - Between 2 and 29 other teams have inquired on Machado. - O's will wait until after the all-star break to announce trade. But that may change if they feel they can get more by waiting. Odds are about even that things get wrapped up this week. - Orioles have been scouting Brewer players. 50% chance the Orioles scout Brewer players and eat peanuts at the same time. - Mark A wants to go 'all in' but Stearns does not. If a deal is done, that means Mark A won the battle. If not, then Stearns did. Even money that Stearns wins this one, but you never know. - Come back later tonight and I will scramble all these things up, re-word slightly, and add some random percentage points. Of course, I'm leaving and never coming back if anyone questions me. Never means about 50%. Reilly...this was awesome. I actually read it and took it literal on first glance. This was done though because I think in the past you mentioned you actually did have a source in the Brewers front office. Is my memory correct on this?

Houser warming up... Counsell you are Mike McCarthy questionable sometimes.

Awesome start to the inning Miley...

Miley should have been bunting. Take your shot with Thames and Cain with 2nd and 3rd. Counsell makes some seriously maddening moves sometimes.

Honestly, as much as I want the Brewers to win the World Series, I just don't think the acquisition of Machado alone puts them over the top in 2018. A lineup of Cain-Yelich-Machado-Shaw-Aguilar-Braun/Thames is arguably the best top 6 in baseball but the rotation is still missing the TOR SP in the playoffs. An TOR additional trade is REQUIRED if the Brewers pay the cost to acquire Machado because Machado alone does nothing to improve upon a rotation that is still lacking.

Just a thought (even if it isn't based in reality).... Say Machado was on the block and was controllable until after the 2020 season. How much would you be willing to offer the Orioles then? Would Hiura, Burnes and Peralta be enough?

How awesome would it be if the Brewers somehow swung Machado and Syndergaard? It would gut the system getting Thor but man this would be unreal as a Brewer fan.

This would certainly make a lot of sense. If Woodruff is moved though, it better be for something significant.

I may be foolish in thinking so but I believe Arcia will figure it out in Triple AAA, will be back in August and be the "deadline acquisition" for SS. To this end, I would focus on upgrading 2B and my target would be Brian Dozier (assuming his cost wouldn't be too prohibitive). The numbers indicate he is about league average on defense and, as has been mentioned elsewhere, is a second half hitter (.304/.394/.985 in 2017 & .291/.344/.990 in 2016). Acquire him and stick him in the leadoff spot for the second half and the lineup lengthens significantly: Dozier-Yelich-Cain-Shaw-Aguilar-Thames/Braun If Saladino/Arcia can just hit .250-.260, I like that offense immensely as they chase October.

We can absolutely match up with one of those names. Hell, for 1 game, it does risk some later game issues, but you could start Hader and work backwards. I agree with the general premise but one of those names is not like the others in the list of 3. Assuming you mean Quintana... My point on Quintana is that in 7 starts against the Brewers: 49 IP 4-1 0.92 ERA 0.73 WHIP

I just can't get behind selling significant pieces for a rental bat. Especially when the rotation does not have anyone close to being able to match up with Kershaw/Scherzer/Quintana in Game 1 or a Wild Card game. Either get the ace or make smaller moves (Dozier/Escobar).

I have to believe Arcia would need to be involved in the deal. Given the Orioles ownership, I think it would have to be something like Burnes, Arcia and Ray for Machado.

This. As a lifelong Brewer fan born in the summer of 1982, not experiencing playoff baseball for 26 years man...I am not too proud to say that I started crying when Braun hit that HR in the 8th to take the lead. Can't imagine the feeling of a World Series.

Great post for sure. The difference between Stearns in 2018 versus Melvin in 2008 (throwing out the pressure to make the playoffs for the first time in 26 years), Stearns has targeted controllable talent in the Yelich trade, Shaw trade, Villar trade, etc... This makes a Machado trade EXTREMELY unlikely unless its for spare prospect parts. If Stearns' past is prologue, then any significant trade will be for a controllable piece which puts the deGrom, Syndergaard and Realmuto types firmly in play.

Definitely agree that the lineup has been more problematic than starting pitching. However, as currently constituted, I believe the Brewers are built for the regular season with their depth and would be out pretty quickly in the playoffs due to the lack of a true ace. In the Divisional Series, they could face Scherzer or Kershaw or Quintana (who kills them) twice while throwing who...Chacin? Anderson? Same thing with the Wild Card. Much like the Braves, Phillies or Diamondbacks who have rotations built on depth rather than a true ace, the Brewers are an ace short of being serious World Series competitors in my opinion.

This is my exact feeling on the situation. I would love to upgrade the C and 2B positions, but I am only comfortable moving Hiura in a deGrom or Syndergaard deal.

I think you are on to something here. I know the Brewers would likely do it given Dozier is the better player, but I think the Twins would as well. They are having a down year after a playoff season last year and really don’t need to rebuild. Getting a major leaguer with team control for Dozier makes sense. Dozier happens to be my favorite target for a bat and if coupled with a move for an Ace, the Brewers may find themselves playing deep into October.

I believe Dozier would only be targeted if there was a corresponding move that would send Hiura somewhere. If the Brewers believe they are a contender this year, they need to acquire a TOR SP which won’t occur (most likely) without moving Hiura. Acquiring a TOR SP while trotting out Villar/Miller/Perez at 2B, would seem awfully shortsighted. If the Brewers don’t acquire a TOR SP, there really is no reason to use assets to acquire Dozier because 2018 will not be their year.

I could see the Brewers dealing for him as a potential longer term solution if a trade could be had where Hiura is dealt for a TOR SP.

I 100% disagree with this. There is ZERO reason the Brewers couldn't/shouldn't sign him long term...they have the payroll flexibility to do it easily. Wowza...I wish the Brewers could sign him long term and not have it dramatically impact how they operate over the next decade but I just don't see it. The Brewers can only compete regularly with the big markets by having substantial depth and allocating so many resources to 1 of 25 would inhibit them from accumulating that depth.

Given what the Rays reportedly thought they would receive for Archer prior to the season, I would venture to say the price tag on Snell would be as high or even higher as Snell is under contract through 2022 and is 25, 4 years younger than Archer. If anything, I would be more focused on acquiring Archer at this point given his value may be depressed due to injury.

Jesus...I would rather have Yuni.

Yuni welcomes all your hugs

I would not bat him leadoff. He'd be a decent upgrade but I would probably put him 6 or lower. Get our best hitters the most at bats. Harrison doesn't even check the box of a good OBP. Harrison doesn't walk much I agree but is a .280 career hitter. I don't need him to bat leadoff but very much like the idea of him in the lineup.