BrycePecore

The following would my off season moves going forward: 1. Sign ARam (3yr/$33MM) - Provides Crew with a solid middle of the order bat. 2. Sign Punto (2yr/$2.5MM) - Gives them a super utility player to replace Counsell/Hairston Jr 3. Resign Siato (1yr/$2MM) - A solid 7th inning option who can share the role with a younger reliever (Braddock or Kintzler) 4. Non-tender McGehee and Loe - Provides the Brewers with roughly $4MM in payroll relief. These moves allow the Brewers to fill all of their current needs and help them stay closer to their budget (roughly $95.5MM depending on arbitration raises). Rotation: - $35.45MM Gallardo ($5.5MM) Greinke ($13.5MM) Marcum ($6.5MM) Wolf ($9.5MM) Narveson ($450K) Bullpen: $14.3MM Axford - CL ($450K) KRod - SU ($9MM) Siato - MR ($2MM) Braddock - MR ($450K) Kintzler - MR ($450K) Parra - MR ($1.5MM) Estrada - LR ($450K) Lineup: $40.4MM Hart - RF ($9MM) Morgan - CF ($1.5MM) Braun - LF ($6MM) ARam - 3B ($11MM) Weeks - 2B ($10MM) Gamel - 1B ($450K) Gonzalez - SS ($2MM) Lucroy - C ($450K) Bench: $5.35MM Maldanado - C ($450K) Green - IF ($450K) Punto - IF ($2MM) Gomez - OF ($2MM) Schafer/Gindl - OF ($450K) I definitely think this team could compete for another division title.

I don't believe it will happen. Sounds like the Angels plan on playing Trumbo at 3B or in the outfield and having Morales DH or play 1B when Pujols needs a day off. But if they change their mind I would completely on board with trading for him.

I would like to see them sign Punto. He's a solid defender who can play 2B, SS and 3B and is affordable (he made $750K in 2011).

My reliever wish list goes like this: Set up: 1. Lidge 2. Rauch 3. Fransisco 7th Inning: 1. Siato 2. Hawkins 3. Dotel Middle Relief: 1. Zumaya 2. Wheeler 3. Coffey Add 3 of the guys listed above to Axford, Braddock, Estrada, Loe, Parra, Kintzler and McClendon and the Brewers should have a well rounded and deep bullpen.

You wouldn't take a shot on a 28 year old, All-Star caliber SS with a career line of .306/.380/.506 for 3yrs/$46.5MM if you didn't have to give anything up for him? His defense may be bad but his offensive numbers more than make up the difference even in a down year. His numbers last season were still better than both Gonzalez and Betancourt albeit in limited time (92 games). At $15.5MM/yr, Ramirez is actually a decent value.

If this is the case then I want Rollins at SS and am willing to roll the dice with Gamel and Green at the corners. But i still think Mark A. and DM have bigger plans in store.

$4-5MM which allows them to sign Furcal for $7MM/yr versus Betancourt/Gonzalez for $2MM/yr. or to add a quality set up man like Fransisco or Rauch to their diminished bullpen. It could also be used to resign Hairston Jr and Hawkins/Siato. DM can do quite a bit with an extra $4-5MM if he plays his cards right.

I would be willing to trade away Marcum, Thornburg and Gennett plus 1-2 lower level prospects for Ramirez and Nolasco. This would shore up our need for a middle of the order bat, SS and starting pitcher to replace Marcum.

I agree Johnson is injury prone and having another top of the rotation pitcher would help shore up their rotation but I just don't see them trading Ramirez for Greinke when they still have offers out to Wilson and Buehrle. But if neither sign with Miami then I could see them using Ramirez as trade bait to acquire a solid #2 starter.

You do realize the Marlins already have an ace in Josh Johnson who IMO is better than Greinke. Although it would be intriguing to get Ramirez for the next 3 years at a clip of $15.5MM per. Although we wouldn't be able to include Gamel or Green since we need them to fill out the roster. It would have to be a package which starts with Marcum, Thornburg and Gennett plus 1-2 lower level prospects. Personally I don't think the Brewers can afford to lose more prospects and expect to remain competitive long term..

DM can also sign a Garland or Pinero type pitcher for $5MM or less to fill out the rotation and provide a bit more depth. This would put them around the $90-95MM range which is quite realistic considering their increase in revenue from making the playoffs last season. Harang, Francis and Marquis are also possibilities.

Earlier in this thread I showed in an example how this could be possible while keeping their payroll in the $85-$90MM range. So it is possible.

There is now way the Brewers can afford both Rollins and ARam without trading either Hart or Wolf so I would say no to Rollins and insert Furcal instead. An infield of ARam, Furcal, Weeks and Gamel would be pretty solid especially when the starting rotation and outfield will remain intact. I would feel pretty confident going into next season with this roster. Then all DM needs to do is sign 1-2 veteran relievers.

We can have an infield of ARam, Furcal, Weeks and Gamel for roughly $30MM/yr while Fielder alone would likely cost $25MM/yr. And don't forget the Brewers commitment to ARam and Furcal will expire in half the time (3 years versus 6+). I would prefer they go with ARam and Furcal on 3 year deals and hope by 2015 both spots can be filled from within their farm system.

I wouldn't be opposed to signing ARam to a 2yr/$24MM deal with a vesting option based on either plate appearances or games played, but there are a few stipulations. 1. It can't restrict them from extending Greinke (5yr/$90-95MM). 2. They sign a veteran set up man like Frank Fransisco or Jon Rauch (2yr/$8MM). 3. Sign an above average defensive SS like Furcal to shore up the left side of the infield (3yr/$21MM). 4. Trade Wolf to free up some payroll space and have Peralta and Fiers compete for the final rotation spot in spring training. 5. Resign Hairston Jr as an insurance policy in case Furcal or Ramirez gets injured for an extended period. (2yr/$5MM) Starting Lineup. Furcal ($7MM) - SS Morgan ($1.5M) - CF Braun ($6MM) - LF Ramirez ($12MM) - 3B Weeks ($10MM) - 2B Hart ($9MM) - RF Gamel ($414K) - 1B Lucroy ($424K) - C Bench: Maldonado ($414K) - C Hairston Jr ($2.5MM)- IF Green ($414K) - IF Gomez ($1.8M) - OF Schafer/Gindl ($414K) - OF Rotation: Gallardo ($5.5MM) Greinke ($13.5MM) Marcum ($6.5MM) Narveson ($441K) Peralta/Fiers ($414K) Bullpen: Axford ($442K) - CL Fransisco/Rauch ($4MM) - SU Braddock ($414K) - SU Saito/Hawkins ($2.5MM) - MR Parra ($1.5MM) - MR McClendon/Kintzler ($414K) - MR Estrada ($414K) - LR I believe this roster would make the Brewers preseason playoff contenders in 2012 with a payroll in the $86-$90MM range depending on arbitration salaries. The Brewers would start the season with a balanced lineup, solid starting rotation and experienced bullpen. Their only potential concerns could be the young bench excluding Hairston Jr and inexperienced 5th starter but both can be addressed before the trade deadline if Green, Gindl/Schafer, and/or Peralta/Fiers struggle.

Personally, I would like to see the Brewers pursue an solid RF option who isn't going to break the bank like J.D. Drew. He could be had for $5M/yr which allows Hart to move to 1B. As for 3B, I don't have faith in either McGehee or Green for that matter since he demonstrated his inability to hit off speed pitches. I would look to sign someone like Wilson Betemit, who likely could be had for less than $2M/yr, since he plays decent defense and is a switch hitter. At SS, I think the DM needs find someone who can shore up the defense like a Clint Barmes or even Marco Scutaro if Boston decides to go with Jed Lowrie and doesn't pick up his option. Both could be had for $4M/yr. With the remainder of the Brewers available payroll sign a couple of veteran relievers from the following pool to help replace the loss of K-Rod, Hawkins and Siato: Koji Uehara ($3M) Frank Francisco ($4M) Mike McDougal ($1.5M) Bill Bray ($1M) Joel Zumaya ($2.5M) Todd Coffey ($1.5M) If you estimate Marcum signs for $6.5M, Morgan and Gomez for a combined $3M, and DM spends $5M on the remaining bench players (Kottaras $600K, Gamel/Green $400K, Hairston Jr $2M, OF Power Bat $2M) their starting day payroll would be roughly $90.5M which would provide them with plenty of depth in both the bullpen and starting rotation. I know the payroll seems a bit high but the Brewers are going to the playoffs and looking to break the franchise's single season attendance record so their should be extra money available next season.

I'd have to say Mitch Stetter. He was lights out against lefties in 2009 and I hope he can regain his confidence and control so Braddock and Parra aren't relied on to be the Loogy when needed. I've also been a huge Katin supporter but unfortunately DM doesn't feel the same way.

I think Roenicke should try Gomez in the #2 spot if he can get him to buy into playing small ball (i.e. bunting and keeping the ball on the ground) which seemed to work last season until The Man hit his first HR. Then he started to believe he was a power hitter. This lineup looks more balanced than batting Hart 2nd. Weeks Gomez/Dickerson Braun Fielder McGehee Hart Betancourt Lucroy Pitcher Also when Counsell starts at SS they could go with this line up. Weeks Counsell Braun Fielder McGehee Hart Gomez Lucroy Pitcher