Eye Black

The trade is being discussed in this Major League forum thread.

Wow, that’s a GREAT deal for the Cardinals. I expected a better haul for Goldschmidt, even for just one year of control.

IMO, the ability to take on the risk involved with swimming in the deep end of the pool when it comes to pitcher free agent contracts is the single largest divide between the organizations with unlimited spending capabilities and the more financially burdened clubs.

Yes, primarily in jest. I enjoy seeing the landscape of talent shift teams during the off-season, but I think it’s obviously a natural reaction to watch other teams improve their rosters and subsequently daydream about the next move for the team of your own rooting interest.

I included them just because I haven’t ruled out a Grandal reunion with the Dodgers, even with Austin Barnes.

I am convinced more than ever that Yasmani Grandal is the correct answer to this question. I think Grandal should be the Brewers big off-season splash, even with the parameters of having to give up a second round draft pick and a good amount of money to sign him. I think a switch hitting catcher that both walks and hits for power could be a real weapon in the Brewers lineup. He also isn’t nearly as bad defensively as was witnessed in a minuscule post-season sample. Here is a quick look at the moves thus far this off-season and teams known to be in the market for catchers (let me know if I missed anyone and I’ll update the lists)... Trade Candidates J.T. Realmuto Yan Gomes Omar Narvaez Mike Zunino Francisco Cervelli Salvador Perez Wellington Castillo Russell Martin Carson Kelly Free Agents Yasmani Grandal Wilson Ramos Kurt Suzuki Brian McCann Jeff Mathis Robinson Chirinos Jonathan Lucroy Martin Maldonado Matt Wieters Devin Mesoraco Nick Hundley Chris Herrmann A.J. Ellis James McCann Stephen Vogt Drew Butera Teams in the Market for Catchers Nationals - Yan Gomes, Kurt Suzuki Braves - Brian McCann Mets - Wilson Ramos Phillies Brewers Dodgers Diamondbacks - Carson Kelly Rockies Rays - Mike Zunino Red Sox Astros - Robinson Chirinos Mariners - Omar Narvaez Rangers - Jeff Mathis A’s - Chris Herrmann Angels - Jonathan Lucroy White Sox - James McCann Reds Padres

I never expected the Brewers to make a serious play for Corbin, but I did think if the Yankees signed him it would increase the likelihood the Brewers might end up signing J.A. Happ. I would now bet on a return to NY being the most likely destination for Happ.

The Marlins are going to lose 120 games playing in the NL East next year.

Per Jeff Passan... Sources: Coveted free agent starter Patrick Corbin is close to agreeing on a six-year deal. Team is unclear at the moment. Per Jon Morosi... Sources: Patrick Corbin signing is imminent. He will receive a 6-year contract, as @BNightengale first indicated this morning. @MLB @MLBNetwork EDIT: Signing with the Nationals.

I had the same thought. Jean Segura ranked just inside the top 50 of the Fangraphs trade value series this past summer, one spot behind James Paxton. I assume there is at least one solid prospect heading to Seattle along with Crawford. It is kind of crazy that Segura is going to be playing with his 5th different major league organization.

Per Bob Nightengale...

I’d be for finding a way to add Marco Gonzales to the rotation. Interesting thought.

If the Brewers spent $120 million on payroll next season they would still be in the bottom 1/3 of the league in salary. I agree that the front office is going to be careful to leave themselves with some payroll flexibility to utilize during the season as needed. I also tend to believe that the maximum payroll the Brewers would be willing to take on is closer to $125 million than it is to $110 million. One thing the Brewers have going for them from a salary standpoint is they really haven’t had to invest a lot of money into their pitching. The Brewers don’t have a single pitcher that will make more than $7 million next season. Here are the Brewers top ten pitcher salary commitments for next season... Chacín - $6.75 million Anderson - $6.5 million Knebel - $4.9 million (arbitration projection) Nelson - $3.7 million (arbitration projection) Jeffress - $3.175 million Guerra - $2.7 million (arbitration projection) Albers - $2.5 million Davies - $2.4 million (arbitration projection) Barnes - ~$0.6 million (pre-arb salary) Hader - ~$0.6 million (pre-arb salary) I know their budget is in another stratosphere, but by contrast the Cubs have the following pitching salary commitments for the 2019 season... Lester - $27.5 million Darvish - $20 million Hamels - $20 million Chatwood - $12.5 million Quintana - $10.5 million Morrow - $9 million Hendricks - $7.6 million (arbitration projection) Cishek - $6.5 million Strop - $6.25 million Kinztler - $5 million Again, I realize it’s comparing apples to oranges, but the Brewers current top 10 pitchers combined are going to cost the team less than $35 million next season while the Cubs have $125 million sunk into their top 10 pitcher salaries.

I think the 50 million from the digital agreement went to Maryvale being rebuilt. That is what Haudricort has stated on multiple occasions, but it doesn’t totally make sense to me. It’s not like they cut a $60 million check for the Maryvale renovations and operations costs. I assume it’s a capital expenditure they have budgeted properly in order to finance over time. Sure the financing of the capital project will likely come from the same pool of money that includes the BAM revenue, but I have a hard time believing they just took a lump sum of money from “X” and spent it all on “Y”.

Framework of the deal... Mets Receive: Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz, $20 million Mariners Receive: Jarred Kelenic, Justin Dunn, Gerson Bautista, Jay Bruce, Anthony Swarzak

I never developed much animosity towards Sheffield. IIRC, the Brewers organization also carried some culpability for the dissolution of their relationship.

The original theory being reported was that the Mets wanted to trade Syndergaard and sign a free agent starting pitcher such as Patrick Corbin. I don’t disagree that it sounds a little far-fetched, but a week ago I would have had my doubts about the trade they are on the verge of pulling off with the Mariners as well. I am NOT advocating for this, but apparently the Mets want to acquire an elite relief pitcher to pair with Diaz. If that is the case I would assume Josh Hader would interest them. Hader is represented by CAA, the agency where Van Wagenen co-led the baseball division until earlier this off-season. Again, I am NOT advocating for this as a Brewers fan, but if the Mets want to win now this is what it could look like... Brewers receive Noah Syndergaard. Mets receive Josh Hader and Corbin Burnes. Mets sign Patrick Corbin to 5-years, $115 million.

The reports overnight say the Cano deal will NOT include Mets 2B Jeff McNeil. Losing Keston Hiura as part of the deal for Syndergaard would be slightly easier to stomach if the Brewers could also get McNeil in the deal. McNeil is a high contact rate lefty hitting 2B with some positional flexibility. Beyond likely Hiura and Burnes I have no idea who else the deal would include (probably at least a couple of additional pieces). A random connection is Josh Hader, Ryan Braun, and Jimmy Nelson are all CAA clients (none of them had been directly represented by Van Wagenen, however).

I have been mostly indifferent regarding whether or not the Brewers non-tender Schoop, but now I am rooting for it simply to find out their alternate plan.

Edwin Diaz would be part of the deal.

I’m slightly curious why the guy who helped represent Noah Syndergaard until a month ago is seemingly so intent on moving him? I’m far from a conspiracy theorist, but the fact that no one outside of the doctors and Thor himself would likely know Syndergaard’s medicals better than the CAA staff is slightly disconcerting. I also think it is strange Van Wagenen is on the verge of trading for the mega Cano contract he personally negotiated as an agent.

I’m slightly curious why the guy who helped represent Noah Syndergaard until a month ago is seemingly so intent on moving him? I’m far from a conspiracy theorist, but the fact that no one outside of the doctors and Thor himself would likely know Syndergaard’s medicals better than the CAA staff is slightly disconcerting. I also think it is strange Van Wagenen is on the verge of trading for the mega Cano contract he personally negotiated as an agent.

I thought The Athletic article, If the Giants really are taking trade calls on him, one key question: How good is Madison Bumgarner right now?, written by Eno Sarris was a spot-on depiction of what type of pitcher Bumgarner is right now. The article includes a lot of good analysis, but at one point summarizes with: “His velocity is down. His movement is down. His command is down.” Some other interesting observations from the article are below. Baumgarner’s Home versus Road splits since the start of 2017: [pre]Season IP K/9 BB/9 HR/9 ERA Home 116.2 8.0 2.2 0.8 2.39 Away 124.0 7.7 2.5 1.5 4.14[/pre] In addition to the above chart, Eno Sarris also shared a graph showing that Bumgarner’s average velocity peaked at 93-mph in 2015 and is now down to just over 91-mph. His max velocity in 2015 was hitting 97-mph and last season he maxed out at 93-mph. The article concludes that the Giants may very well end up keeping Baumgarner since the offers likely won’t match their asking price. Now more than ever I have trouble believing a GM will cough up a bonafide top 50 prospect in a deal for Baumgarner.

He may fetch a fringe top 50 prospect with an above average risk profile, but if that’s the case I can’t imagine them netting much else in return. I think we just value the current iteration of Madison Baumgarner differently, and you could be right that some team will come in with an overwhelming offer, but in that case I hope it isn’t the Brewers. Looking at some recent comparables as far as starting pitcher trades, we’re less than a year removed from two years of control of Gerrit Cole being traded for an unspectacular return of Michael Feliz, Colin Moran, Joe Musgrove, and Jason Martin. Two arb years of James Paxton went for an okay return of Justus Sheffield, Erik Swanson, Don Thompson-Williams. On the flip side Chris Archer netted a very nice return for 2.5 years, so an overpay is certainly possible.