Lucroy fan

overreact much? The difference is they still have their franchise player and they are active on the pitching free agent market. The only difference between what the the Twins are doing now compared to what the Brewers did two years ago with the Marcum/Greinke trades is instead of trading their young affordable position prospects for pricey veteran starters with only a couple years of control they are trading them for young affordable pitching prospects. Obviously, this is riskier but the posibility if it works out is that their future rotation could stay together a lot longer than the 1-2 yr window the Brewers rotation had from those trades.

I don't know about that. He coached Favre and Wilson in the pros thats got to be more marketable then playing for Canada as far as recruiting offensive players

Hey guys I just blogged about 8 guys I'd really like to see considered by Barry. Please check it out and let me know what you think. Warning: A lot of NFL names are on this list, because I believe its a huge recruiting advantage in the 21st century. I mean if Bill O'brien can outrecruit Wisconsin in his first year with massive sanctions attached to Penn State its obvious recruits care deeply about playing on Sundays. A lot of names have been discussed but some that I think deserve serious consideration are: Kliff Kingsbury (Texas A&M OC)- Helped mold Case Keenum and "Johnny Football" could bring top caliber Qb's to WI Joe Lombardi (Saints QB Coach)- My personal pipe dream Josh McDaniels (Patriots OC)- Would be a bit of risk. At times looked like Bill O'Brien and other times like Lane Kiffin Explanations and other candidates can be seen on the link http://bennylips.wordpress.com/2012/12/05/8-choices-that-could-have-wisconsin-playing-in-the-national-title-game-in-4-years/

I'd take him or another recent Pirates DFA Juan Cruz over Loe in a heartbeat next year. In fact, I'd be willing to add either one to the team right now. I'd lean towards Cruz, because of experience and better numbers. I see no harm in trying a cheaper alternative for a bullpen "workhorse" than Kameron Loe, but I'd leave Loe in his current role for now. The money saved here + K-Rod's money coming off the books should allow us to sign a decent 8th or 9th inning arm as well.

Tolleson and Ethan Martin would be enough for me if they are willing to absorb the whole contract

As far as your Bonds argument you are the only one who has used the words "clubhouse cancer" and "Upton" in the same sentence. I said he might be a bad club house prescence and people have said he has a bad attitude as well. Those terms are very different than being a cancer. If you want to keep arguing with yourself be my guest. Nobody trades a superstar talent about to enter the prime of their career having a down year no less expecting to get more talent in return. If he is gone for anything less then a massive haul it will be obvious that someone in the D'backs organization wanted him out.

Also, Nate you made my point about Ramirez. If 30 million on the free agent market gets you exactly Ramirez he has no trade value. You would be better taking the 30 million spending it on the market on the similiar player and asking for a cost controlled talent in return. If Weeks was a 24 year old superstar on the block after almost putting up MVP numbers the previous year you bet there would be red flags as to why he was on the block. Also, Upton has played 130+ games since 09 so your Weeks comparison is weak at best.

Raw Biz, Glad you brought up Lawrie, because with Upton I could see a similiar situation where there are rumbling of a "bad attitude" or whatever you want to call it and then four months later after he is potentially dealt just like Lawrie we see an ESPN feature explaining what exactly caused the parting of ways. I don't think it can be a decision on talent if they trade Upton by the DBacks brass, because you rarely get that kind of talent back. For every Texiera deal there are many times more Miguel Cabrera/ D-Train for Maybin/ Miller, Johan for Gomez and other failed prospets etc. etc.

No Ramirez does not have less value than Green does and $30m buys you exactly Ramirez in the free agent market. Are you talking out of your rear or do you know something that hasn't been reported about Upton? I have heard absolutely nothing like what you are claiming so I am going to with this being an outright lie as there is no evidence that supports your claim of Upton being a clubhouse cancer. Upton is definitely not a Gary Sheffield type. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/06/kendrick-expects-more-consistency-from-upton.html http://www.hardballchat.com/2012/07/could-diamondbacks-trade-justin-upton-following-boos-and-team-struggles/ There have been talks about his effort and attitude since he played in the midwest league. I was literally sitting outside the South Bend dugout in Beloit when Upton was in a verbal altercation with one of his coaches, because he didn't think he should be playing there. There is a reason Brewers fans have stuck by Braun through all his public adversity and there are reasons the fans are constantly on Upton in Arizona. That doesn't mean he is a bad teammate, but just like his brother B.J. there have always been questions about his make-up. I don't know if all of them are warranted but they are out there. I mean if you were that good as early as he was you would probably be that cocky too. Why else would a 24 year old superstar given comps as highly as Ken Griffey JR be on the market? He is a tremendous talent no doubt but there are also reasons he is on the market.

chip in Money? The brewers would have to give up 10-15 million to even out that deal. Ramirez has less value than Green does, because you can get a lot more on the open market with 30 million in cash than you could with just Ramirez. The fact of the matter right now in 2012 Upton is a bad clubhouse presence with a .270 avg and 7hrs. Yes, he will rebound, but its hard to say if his ego will prevent him from reaching the "hof potential" label he has had since he's been drafted. Therefore, he is a risk and that certainly effects his value. Upton is a Gary Sheffield type and those players are rarely traded for equal talent, because of the other factors/influences involved in trading him. Basically, if the D'backs want to move him it will be an addition by subtraction move on their part. I agree we don't match up well, because we have little cost controlled talent at the mlb/aaa level and our pitching prospects wouldn't interest a team that has probably has some of the best young arms in baseball in their system. It is a pipe dream, but never hurts to put in the phone call to gage how serious the D'backs are about moving him.

I'd offer them Hart, Axford, Parra/Veras/Loe (one of them), and Green. I don't think thats enough but if they are willing to work within the parameters of Hart/Axford you keep talking. Upton is a cost controlled middle of the order hitter about to enter his prime and he plays in an organization that quite honestly has enough cost control young pitching right now, so if we can get him without putting in Gallardo or a top pitching prospect I say go for it.

Take it for what it is worth but Callis doesn't think Profar is untouchable. From his chat yesterday. Does Profar change positions, or how do you project him in Texas or do you see him being trade bait? Jim Callis: Depends on whether he sticks with the Rangers. If he does, I believe Andrus stays at shortstop and Profar may go to second base and push Kinsler to the outfield. If he gets traded, no reason Profar can't stay at shortstop. I guess I don't see much of a difference in Lawrie who was traded for two possible post-season runs with Marcum or potentially Profar who would be traded for one solid pretty much guaranteed post-season run with Greinke.

For sure, I think baseball in general that puts too much stock in gritty veterans. Apparently, there is something we the average fan are missing, because we obviously aren't putting the same amount of value into 500-1000 mlb at-bats of experience in strikeouts, groundouts, and hitting into double plays as most of the decision makers in baseball.

Green got called up for the sake of being called up. He is not playing everyday and that is the wrong decision. If they are going to give the kid a shot then give him either the starting spot at 1st or 3rd for the forseable future. Lets learn from Gamel and stop messing with our prospects. 10 at-bats a week is not setting Green up to succeed in the big leagues.

Hey guys I am an old member (Hart of Milwaukee) with a new account. I recently wrote a blog summarizing what I think the Brewers top 5 solutions should be at 1st base, because like many of you I fear a Conrad/ Ishikawa platoon. Ill list the options, but if you want the rationale please check the link. Please move this thread if you have a better spot for it. 5. Trade for Lars Anderson 4. Sign Derrek Lee 3. Call up Gindl and move Hart 2. Call up Green and move Ramirez 1. Trade for Brett Wallace http://bennylips.wordpress.com/2012/05/03/how-should-the-brewers-fill-1st-base/