narwhalattack

According to people on Twitter, MLB has cleared Moncada to sign. I wonder how many people really expect the Brewers to sign Moncada.

Well, seems like this is how we get our veteran bullpen presence. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/01/brewers-in-serious-talks-to-acquire-papelbon.html

It makes sense that they're at least taking a look at him, but I doubt that they'll come even close to signing him. More likely that either the Yankees, the Red Sox, or even the Cubs sign him.

I've said this many times on the MiLB forum, but I'll just say one more time that I could care less how Mayo rates someone, I don't have much respect for him as a prospect evaluator. As an example he thought Jungmann had 3 plus pitches prior to draft and my personal opinion was that he didn't have one. The only guy with any real credibility doing that work for MLB is Jim Callis, Bernie Pleskoff is alright but most everything he writes reads like the parents of the young man wrote the article. Arcia is a toothpick right now, but has surprising pull power for his size, his brother has a much different natural build. If Orlando fills out a little bit he'll be a 10 HR/year guy. Like all players I wish he was spending his off season in the weight room working on his athleticism instead of playing winter ball, but that it is what it is. The one thing I continually tried to point out about Arcia in the Link Reports when he was in WI was how he impressed me with his contact skills. He would swing at bad pitches and manage to put them play, the kind of bad pitches that most hitters just swing through entirely. When he swung at pitches in the zone he hit line drives to all fields... He's capable of being a .300 hitter with better pitch selection, and it is improving, regardless of his size. While all hitters tend to get themselves out, Orlando was especially susceptible with his aggressive approach and contact skills with those early in the count weak grounders on horrible hitter's pitches. Just to add to what SRB said, Jim Callis also seems to have a favorable opinion on Sardinas. http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/26271672/v37149215/callis-on-brewers-acquiring-sardinas-knebel-diplan/?c_id=mlb

If we indeed did get Sardinas, Diplan, and Knebel, I think that's a solid package. It's not as if we were gonna get someone like Gallo anyway.

I would say [insert unbelievably large number] to one.

Question: If the Brewers sign Shields at some point, do they lose a draft pick?

According to Jon Morosi, the D-backs are looking for another starter. Perhaps they'll be interested in either Lohse or Gallardo?

There are rumors going around that the Phillies and the Nats are the frontrunners.

So far some HS pitchers that intrigue me are Justin Hooper, Beau Burrows, Ashe Russell, and Mike Nikorak. Not so sure about any of the position players yet, but Demi Orimoloye is interesting. Considering that Ray Montgomery seems to like toolsy guys when it comes to evaluating position players, I'm guessing that Orimoloye will be on his radar as the draft approaches.

I have a hunch that the Braves will send a reliever to the Brewers. Nothing solid about my speculation- just a hunch.

Even on draft day it will be hard to predict who the Brewers will take. Nobody expected the Brewers to take Medeiros, although we do have a new scouting director.

As of right now it doesn't seem likely that Kirby, Matuella, Hooper, Rodgers, and Cameron will be available by the time the Brewers are picking.

The Brewers drafted Roache and Coulter in 2012. In 2013 they selected Devin Williams in the 2nd round and they were without a 1st round pick due to Kyle Lohse.

Now if he could start hitting for power he would be golden.

I think Nelson has good stuff, although it seems he needs to work a bit more on command and he needs to improve his changeup.

Good, bad, or in the middle? I have no idea. I'm not a subscriber. Just putting this in here in case someone is a subscriber and wants to read it.

A bit about Medeiros. Behind the paywall, but may be an interesting read for subscribers: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=24447

Harrison's been on a slump lately, I think. Maybe he's just getting some rest.

Seems like as Harrison is cooling down, Gatewood is heating up. 'Tis the nature of prospects, I suppose.

So I read this tweet and at first I thought that it was talking about Zack Greinke.

Gatewood is finally hitting above the Mendoza line!

An ugly, ugly game for Medeiros. Been a pretty rough season for him so far, although the sample size is small.

Update: According to Ken Rosenthal's source, the Brewers are not in on Lester.

Lester's been scratched from his next start and Workman is pitching in his place. Seems like Lester's gonna get dealt soon... but to whom? And the baseball world holds its breath...