This is a great post Ennder..and I'd like to touch on the highlighted quote. First i agree with you that Gray isn't an ace, but Verlander and Darvish are. I also agree with you that they need 4-5 players..Here's what i would have done, and I think you could have done it all without touching Brinson. Now, right or wrong I'm going to base this on the prospect rankings(by system that teams gave up to acquire these players). Now also keep in mind, the topic was about what was needed to compete THIS year...so control is NOT an issue for this comparison. Here's who I would have targeted: Darvish/Verlander Wilson Kinsler Granderson That's 4 guys that touch on the Crew's major weaknesses this year..now who would I have given up to acquire these players?? Again remember, really the only baseline we have to compare is the prospect rankings by organization.. Brewers get: Yu Darvish(the Dodgers gave up their #4, #17 & #27 prospects) Brewers give up: (#4 Brandon Woodruff, #16 Trey Supak(had to substitute him for #17 Ryan Cordell), #27 Larry Ernesto Brewers get: Justin Wilson Brewers give up : Isan Daz and Jacob Nottingham Brewers get: Ian Kinsler Brewers give up: Hard to judge what it would have taken, but given the Brewers would have taken on salary it couldn't have taken too much..so lets just say they give them a top 30 prospect..Let's just say Kodi Medeiros Brewers get: Curtis Granderson Brewers give: Again, hard to say, but let's just say it's a minor piece...pick whoever you want. In looking at this, would that REALLY have been giving up that much for the Brewers in gaining those players?? I don't think so. I'm in agreement on this. I would have tried to get Darvish. Dodgers didn't give up the farm and got a stud for a couple months.