Warning Track Power

Walker also brings something the current Brewers don't have a lot of and that is relatively limited Ks. The everyday lineup currently looked like this in 2017: 1. Villar: 132 Ks in 403 ABs (33%) 2. Thames: 169/463 (37%) 3. Braun: 76/380 (20%) 4. Shaw: 138/538 (25%) 5. Santana: 178/525 (34%) 6. Broxton: 175/414 (42%) 7. Pina: 79/330 (24%) 8. Arcia: 100/506 (19%) Walker in his career has 754/3860 or 20% or 77/385 (20%) in 2017. Less Ks is necessary to get into this lineup to help prevent the streakiness. Walker-type hitters will help alleviate some of this.

I will not be surprised in the least if the Brewers sign Arrieta. I think Stearns values his prospects, as he should in a small market, to the point that he will be unwilling to deal them for a Chris Archer type. Arrieta makes the most sense from a roster building standpoint with Stearns at the helm. Perhaps the delay in Arrieta's signing is the fact that the Brewers have offered the biggest deal and he is waiting for the Cubs to match it.

I would tend to agree with you to some degree. Villar being on the roster currently does not mean he'll be on the roster at the start of ST. We also could go to camp with the plan for Perez/Sogard to compete for at bats in a platoon role there if Villar was traded and nobody else brought in. I think it's far more likely though that Villar remains on the roster to compete in ST for the starting gig, or we bring in Walker and then trade Villar for whatever we can get. I suspect Villar competing for the starting gig is the route we take. In a playoff race in late August through September, giving a guy at bats to help fix mechanical issue and get back on track is not a real option. Whoever is putting up the best results at that given time should be starting, period. It's a far different dynamic after Villar has had an offseason to work on things and will have a full ST to earn the job. Exactly. It's such an obvious reason as to why Sogard and Perez played more than Villar down the stretch that it really shouldn't have to be mentioned.

What prospect capital? Castro's market isn't great. He's a salary dump. They'd take a Hernan Perez to be their everyday 2B (and potential flip candidate) and a lottery ticket type or two low level guy. This is all assumption about his market and cost. With Villar on the roster and Walker still available, I would much rather explore those options than make a trade that arguably doesn't improve upon some combination of Villar/Perez/Sogard.

Yuck... In 60 IP in 2016-2017, his ERA is 6.9, FIP 6.32 and WHIP of 1.9. 2017 alone, while is ERA was 3.92, his FIP was 4.71 and WHIP of 1.76. Have to believe this is simply a depth move.

That team in 2018 will be insane. Keuchel-Verlander-Cole-McCullers with that everyday lineup. Wow!

Maybe...but even if true, I would rather take my chances with a Villar turnaround than spend the prospect capital necessary to acquire Castro. Even in his down 2017, Villar's OBP was .293. Castro's career OBP is .320 and was .296 in 2015 and .300 in 2016. OBP is going to be a huge thing moving forward for me with the Brewers given the high strikeout totals of Santana, Thames, Broxton, Brinson, Phillips and Shaw.

I would rather sign Walker for the next 2 years than bring in Castro. The past 3 years (162 game average): -Walker: .272/.344/.790 23 HR, 76 RBI, 61 BB, 118 K -Castro: .277/.310/.728 19 HR, 79 RBI, 27 BB, 119 K This team needs the OBP of a Walker more than another free swinger like Castro.

In the heat of a playoff race, Villar and his lost season had no place starting when you had the offense of Walker and the defense of Sogard/Perez.

This pretty much sums up my feeling on the situation. I could care less about what happens to Villar, Sogard or Perez if it means bringing Walker back into the fold. A position of question becomes a position of strength with Walker on the roster.

If Walker signs a 2 year $22 million deal as I suggested, I have zero issue with dealing Villar as a piece in a deal for a SP or cutting Sogard or Perez as I view them as 25th man type guys. Cutting Sogard or Perez significantly impacts our flexibility, which is critical when carrying 12 position players and 2 guys that are 1b only(aguilar can play 3b in an emergency, Thames is like Matt Holliday in LF). Signing Walker probably means trading Villar and also probably means we have to keep Perez over Aguilar. If we didn't make the move, Perez could be the one to go and Villar could be the emergency 3rd CF option. If Villar goes, I think it's important to keep Perez for that job...which weakens our bench not having Aguilar. And trading Villar now probably would be throwing away significant value. He's almost certainly something between the 2016 and 2017 versions. Even being roughly at the midpoint is a valuable player. It's a tough call really. Walker is more stable/certain, and his hitting style complements our roster better. Villar has the better upside, and is much cheaper, and keeping him likely means we can also keep aguilar. If the Brewers sign Walker, the 5 man bench could be: C: Vogt IF: Sogard OR Villar OF: Brinson OR Broxton (Assuming Phillips starts) UTIL: Perez 1B/PH: Aguilar I guess I don't understand why flexibility is sacrificed if Walker is signed when Brinson/Broxton/Perez can cover the OF, Sogard/Villar/Perez can cover 3B/2B/SS and Aguilar/Walker can cover 1B. What am I missing Keith Stone?

This may be why a deal doesn't come together...or why a deal may just be a straight up Santana for Salazar, which I would not like.

I like the comparison. When Ray was drafted, I envisioned a Kenny Lofton type player. Let's hope he can become either of those guys.

If Walker signs a 2 year $22 million deal as I suggested, I have zero issue with dealing Villar as a piece in a deal for a SP or cutting Sogard or Perez as I view them as 25th man type guys.

I would be quite surprised if Neil Walker were to get the 3-4 year deal he was supposedly looking for at the outset of the offseason. With Villar and Sogard on the roster still and Perez able to fill in, 2B in some people's eyes may no longer be a priority. However, I am not one of those people who believe that. While I would love to believe that Villar will bounce back and be at worst an average between the 2016 and 2017 version (.267/.339/.762, 15 HR, 42 SB), I want protection against that. Sogard and Perez do not represent that protection as them playing everyday would likely represent a replacement level player. Walker represents the perfect bridge to Isan Diaz or Keston Hiura on a two year deal. If Walker were available at 2 years $22 million, I think it represents a win-win for the Brewers and Walker: 1. As a bridge to their prospects; 2. As a potential trade piece at the deadline should they fall out of the playoff race; 3. As a starter that would make Villar available in a deal; and 4. As a last big-ish contract for Walker. I hope the Brewers and Walker can find common ground on a reunion.

Links? https://www.letsgotribe.com/2018/1/4/16849326/indians-still-willing-to-trade-danny-salazar From the Santana thread which mentions Schwarber as a potential target for Salazar.

Was there a specific proposal that was ludicrous? As you mentioned it's certainly understandable that another organization would target Shaw. No players were specifically mentioned by the caller. Rather he was quite upset that the Padres weren't going hard after Travis Shaw. The implication was that he was available and could be had relatively easily. That call got me thinking that the equivalent of that would be us Brewer fans being very upset that the Brewers weren't actively trying to trade for Jose Berrios (another small market stud who almost certainly isn't going anywhere).

If the sea was Burnes for Archer straight up...I wouldn’t hang up the phone until the paperwork was official.

Neil Walker Always liked Howie Kendrick and he hit like I thought Rickie Weeks would have (career .291 AVG with a .334 OBP). At this point though, Walker is 2 years younger, switch hits, has more pop and walks more. Give me Walker on a 2 year $22 million contract and let's go.

Good point and one that I value about Stearn's team building. I love the emphasis on defense and while the versatility can drive me crazy with Counsell putting Perez in the OF, I also love the depth that it can create. Santana, who I like as a hitter except for the Ks, profiles much more as a DH than a RF (see K. Davis). It would be interesting to see if the Red Sox fail in their attempt to sign JD Martinez, if they would be willing to trade say Jay Groome for Domingo Santana.

Given the lack of real trades involving the Brewers, I thought this would be a good topic to start as I continue to hear trades on TV, radio or other fan sites about the Brewers that make me shake my head. My favorite one to date was a proposal on MLB Network Radio from a fan of the San Diego Padres that they should be targeting Travis Shaw. While I understand the desire of other fan bases to target Travis Shaw, a fan of another small market should understand that youngish, cost-controlled, 30 HR 3B with good defense on a playoff contending small market team are about as untouchable as they come barring an unbelievably one-sided offer.

http://www.bleachernation.com/2018/01/05/report-cubs-original-offer-to-alex-cobb-was-three-years-and-42-million/ According to this, the Cubs offer for Cobb was 3 years $42 million. If this is what it would take now, while not loving it, I think I would be comfortable with the Brewers offering this. I wouldn't be happy or sad either way if he accepted or rejected it.

I think he had TJ surgery. http://www.stltoday.com/sports/trevor-rosenthal/article_c009f0fb-47da-551f-8c96-4d620f62f712.html You are correct

This is a great point. I think our collective frustration about the lack of sexy moves by the Brewers (no Chacin, Gallardo and the rumored Logan deal don't qualify) have made us question what is going on, especially when the Brewers are rumored to be going after areas of strength (OF). To me, this signals there are a ton of moving parts (different trade and free agent signing scenarios) going on behind the scenes. It will take just one move (signing Cain, trading Santana, etc...) to set off a flurry of other moves.

This is a HUGE overpay and a total win now move. Brinson, Ortiz and Diaz is more than I am willing to pay to get Duffy and I have zero interest in Woodruff for Merrifield especially with Villar/Sogard on the roster and Walker still available.