Playing Catch

From a small-market team perspective and for competitive balance that makes good sense, but the players union already hates the current rules. Expect teams to have less control in the future rather than more.

Hey, @Spencer Michaelis,you mentioned on the last podcast that Made was considered the top DSL prospect. Did you mean league-wide, or just for the Brewers?

My point was that if it's a legitimate take to "move Yelich to 1st," considering there has been zero indication that it will happen, it certainly is a legitimate take that Frelick can play 3rd base in the future, considering what happened in Spring Training. Not arguing if moving Yelich is good/bad or otherwise.

Glad they got Broughton. That is a salve for losing out on Levonas, if indeed that's how it shakes out.

Before the deadline, I think many of us believed the likeliest outcome was that the Brewers would acquire two inning-eating style starters and a bullpen arm, with an outside chance at a bat. We also wanted to somehow keep most of our good prospects, if possible. With that in mind, the deadline was fine. I would have liked to pick up a lefty stick, but I'm not sure there were many out there to be had. I like Means as the prospect cost wasn't that significant, if indeed Means is a high-leverage guy controllable for years. I believe the Brewers will trade Devin in the offseason, so they will need some high leverage guys. Considering the prospect cost of Kikuchi, Civale was a steal. If Montas gets back to the pitcher he was in Oakland, his cost too, will be insignificant barring Wiemer turning into Torii Hunter. I think the worst part of the deadline was the Cardinals getting Fedde for cheap -- although I think Edman has a lot more value than a lot of people think.

I like this. I agree that too many of us here quickly dismiss the seriousness of Frelick playing 3rd. Now, perhaps that since his getting time there in Spring Training has led himself, or others, to cancel it as an option, but they obviously were serious about the possibility at the time. I find it odd that there has never been any hint of the organization trying to move Yelich to 1st, but that is a legitimate possibility based on many posters here. I respectfully disagree with this. Not that he's a lock, but I want him at short. I was skeptical that Ortiz could match Turang's prowess in the dirt, but I think he is one of the best fielders --- including his throwing, that I've seen in a Brewers uniform. His smoothness and quickness of actions are special, and clearly we've noticed different things, because I find that his throws often hit the guy square in the nose time and time again.

I am not concerned at all about finding a stopgap third basemen. Just about any infielder with a middling arm can play there. Heck, the Brewers have Monasterio playing over there. Now, if Wilken or Boeve don't continue their growth, and flame out, then the Brewers may have issues. Alex Bregman looks like he's playing himself into a Hoskins-like contract. Perhaps the Brewers look to a free agent at 3rd. Long story short, one can't rush prospects to the big leagues. They all have a unique timetable driven by performance. Presuming health, I would guess that Wilken starts in AAA next season and if he hits at a wRC+ of around 120, he'll be called up by June.

Seriously, in the history of baseball, there's a low percentage of pitchers that ever allowed 12 earned runs.

Yeah, right now, he's their best hitter. He'll be batting third* for a long while. *I know modern convention has your best hitter batting 2nd, but I really prefer a lefty batting second, since then the first basemen has to hold the runner at 1st, thus opening up the left side of the infield.

Looking at next year, it's really easy to lose sight of the fact that this season was always a soft rebuild. In their most common lineups, they are starting two rookies, and three sophomores. Leading the division is great, and one should never take for granted a shot in the playoffs, but sending prospects for pitching wouldn't be very prudent. If Ortiz and Chourio (and Mitchell, for that matter), have a similar jump in productivity as Turang, and to a lesser degree, Frelick, next year's lineup will continue to be deep, if not spectacular. Sprinkle in some Tyler Black and Brock Wilken, along with all of the pitching coming up, and the Brewers "competitive window," looks to just be opening.

Anyone else notice that Tyler Black has grown 3" this season? Pretty impressive for a 24-year-old. Speaking of height, Juan Ortuno is 5'8". Buuuut! Being that he's a middle infielder playing first base, perhaps he too, can grow like Tyler Black.

I don't want to be a downer, but other than my belief that THIS year will be Chourio's breakout, All of the other things are questionable, except for Devin's health... and I believe Devin Williams will be traded this off-season. Let's say Montas pitches really well for the Crew these last couple of months. Do the Brewers pick up the option? $14M. a $2M buyout according to Cot's.

Yeah. I put it in the prediction thread. We've got a lot of threads going. I was mostly responding to the idea of giving up Wilken.

Let's go get Skubal. As far as I'm concerned, I would give up A LOT. Misiorowski, Wilken, Black, and a Carolina SP. I would NOT do a trade that featured top players at EVERY minor league level, as I think their older guys don't necessarily have a pathway, whereas it's easy to imagine the Brewers needing Lara, or Pratt, or Bitoni in future seasons.

I'd give up Wilken and Misiorowski for Tarik Skubal. Edit: sorry. This is the Flaherty thread.

Yeah, this basically says that the Brewers didn't feel confident that Wiemer would ever be able to hit .200, which surprises me because of his defense and power. Lots of no-hit centerfielders in MLB. Or, I guess the team really likes Montas for some reason. Admittedly, I haven't liked Montas ever since is 50-game suspension for performance enhancers.

I'm with Oxy on this one. Perhaps not a conspiracy, but phantom-like injuries are an easy way to stockpile arms on your roster without having to release/option guys. They've got a number of players getting ready to come off the IL. It's a good time to rest a few arms before the push begins. We know teams do this. After all, it's why Eppler got suspended for the whole season. So long as the player/agent are on-board with the rest, I see no reason for them to be considered "phantom". With all of this said, it is entirely possible that yes, all of the injuries are completely legitimate.

I hate this. I don't understand it. I am confused. I like cheap Junis more than less cheap Montas. Apparently, my prospect love for Wiemer will remain unrequited. Say it ain't so, Joe-y.

Yeah, that's my pick.

All of those guys make sense. Lowe is always hurt, however.

Do we know how he's looked in the field?

I'll guess that the longer-term plan will be Tyler Black.

I actually wonder from time to time if they "help each other out". It would make some sense, actually. Even if it's a little collusion-y.

With the trade-deadline approaching, I'm checking in on the longer-term plans for the division. The Cardinals rotation can't ALL be healthy the WHOLE season, can they? That rotation was put together to contend THIS season, not next. I have to think they're looking for rentals and perhaps try to sign a couple free agents this off-season. They're in pretty good shape, salary-wise. Other than Arenado, Contreras, and Gray, no one else is committed long-term, but they are currently merely $1M shy of last season's record high opening day payroll. The Cubs are in a weird spot, both now and in the off-season. I understand that they are committed to a number of players for the foreseeable future, but should they be? If I'm Hoyer, and I'm punting on 2024, I think I would consider a more significant re-build. Not because they need more prospects or young players as much as they just need different players. Their lineup is filled with decent or better starting major league players, but obviously, the combination of players isn't working. Replacing Wisdom, Morel, one of their outfielders. They need a catcher badly. I just don't see a bunch of winners there. Both Taillon and Hendricks are signed through 2026. At $214M, they are currently sporting their record-high opening day payroll. The Reds need more pitching and to get healthy. I have to think they'll be better next season no matter what. They are $36M under their record high opening day payroll in 2019. The Pirates rotation is scary good at the top, but any sort of injury issue there, and what else can they lean on to scratch out wins? A good bullpen, I guess. They are $14M shy of their record-high opening day payroll in 2016. The Brewers have been beat-up with a below-average starting rotation all season, and their bullpen hasn't been lights-out, but their lineup has been collectively strong. It is hard for me to imagine that the Brewers won't be better in 2025. William Contreras and Megill are the only significant pay increases next season as they will be in their first arbitration season. They are currently $28M under their record high opening day payroll from 2022.

I like that approach, and agree that is the typical tack for developing hitters. But I would presume that for 17 year-old hitters, the development team would be a bit more hands-on. If the coaching staff is literally not providing any criticism or feedback for a 17-year-old hitter, I would argue they aren't doing a very good job coaching.