brewcrewdue80

im not sure Gimenez is an Opening day backup. Im guessing he was brought in to help the Cubs Catcher and show him what Darvish Likes during Spring. But likely not added to the Cubs 25man.

How many times has Yelich posted a 30/30 season? Heck how many times has he even done one of those? Brinson is also far and away the superior defender. If Brinson can make enough contact to hit 270-280, he'll be light years ahead of Yelich and a legit superstar. I've never heard of Brinson being an elite defender and actually read questions to it. It's assumed Speed will lead to great defense. The best Brinson's speed has gotten him in a season is 24SBs when he was 19. I honestly feel Brinson won't be great on the basepaths and not reach 25 or more SBs in any full season. Brinson has had troubles with his OB ability previously and I think he's a guy who varies a .345 year with a .319 year. Yelich is Gold with .360+. Yelich for Brinson, Ortiz and Diaz at this stage would be a steal. Probably have to throw in a 2nd SP prospect like a Pennington or Lemons. Is that deal really big, yeah but you're getting Elite in return vs Prospects. Elite entering his Prime years controlled in all of them. And already posted his H/A splits for his career it is 80pts OPS better on the road. That's not a small sample anymore.

It's odd to me that A/AB would lead to Yelich now in trade acquire. The idea of taking on a contract and prospect return and a Darvish signing to now the need of multiple top prospects to get Yelich. I mean, I guess if you went B and C are Yelich and Santana for Kipnis/Salazar? But it just is odd in that if A were Ellsbury where are the +3 CFs moving for? You'd assume for a SP? but who as Tampa doesn't need them. Now you'll be using Brinson most likely to get Yelich and a SP+ I'd assume. Yelich doesn't seem like Plan A but more like Plan D after some other moves happened. This is frustrating to continue to be told rumors but then nothing happens. December, January, we're almost in to February!

From the Start I've been chiming Lynn more than anyone else. 4-70million. You get a workhorse who I think is miffed about his time in St. Louis. Name him you OD starter, give him a "you're the guy" feeling and watch him put together nice season, after nice season. He's the only FA SP who gives you 33 start confidence for the next 3 years.

Bryant's first Arb happened recently at a record 10.85mil. Considering that was after just a 1mil pre-arb I'd assume he closes in on 18mil for next season. The Cubs are already paying big for their studs. With that said, if they signed Darvish, it really puts them over the top for the next 3 seasons. I'd expect 100-win projections and reality all 3 years. You're moving a Dominant Darvish to the NL where his stats improve on K/BB rate. His career numbers are outstanding. His splits in a way explain his poor post-season. In Wins He's a 2.04 Career ERA. In no Decisions a still Ace like 2.93 ERA. But Losses. He's a terrible 6.12 ERA. When it goes bad for him and he doesn't have it, he just loses it. On average that comes to 32% of his games started. Kind of a higher rate than expected but if he gave you 33 GS he's an Ace for 22 1/2 of them. The other 10 1/2 you're trotting out your 24th and 25th men to finish the game for you. Taking this stat: Lynn is a 28% rate. And an Ace too on the wins even higher, but a #2 for no-decisions-3.37. Also worse 6.5 Losing ERA Cobb is 30.4%. Worse 6.64 ERA in Losses. But a better 1.65 ERA in Wins. a worse No decision though at 3.36. Arrieta is a 28.4% rate of the worst in losses- 7.17 ERA The best 1.6 ERA in Wins, But by far the worst 4.04 in no decisions. So the Win pcts become: Arrieta-44.7% Cobb-41.7% Lynn- 39.3% Darvish-42.7% but 67.9% Ace like ERA when including No-Decisions. Darvish and Cobb have strictly been SPs. Arrieta (6Games-6.75ERA) and Lynn (22Games-3.16ERA)do have some RP involved in these stats. A little Behind the numbers. More reason to hate Arrieta

Agreed on the trade proposals including Mejia. At this stage he's a deadline deal or a guy like touted here with Brinson. Mejia's trade would have to move the Indians WS chance needle to include him. Santana/Woodfuff just about noone on the Brewers do that. And no, Trading 3 quantity prospects(say Ortiz, Diaz, Peralta) when making a Santana for Kipnis/Salazar isn't getting Mejia either. To make a 10 player trade among 2 teams is just fantasy, not reality. Seems the buzz is gone and now we wait a couple days for something to develop in to even just "Buzz". I am in the real belief that A was Ellsbury waiving his no-trade clause to come to Milw on trade. If I'm taking a SP prospect back, I'd want Justus Sheffield over Albert Abreu. Younger and farther along in reaching the Majors. BA ranked him 41 to Abreu's 77. Maybe you kick back a Phil Bickford to the Yankees as the guy has his issues and delayed progression but still valued. But all that was hinging on Ellsbury to waive his no-trade clause and I feel he wouldn't. The Yankees are a WS contending team, Ellsbury's career has been nothing but Big Market WS contender teams, to move to Milwaukee where logically does he fit, when coming from Boston/Yankee background?

I think this has been known for awhile now or at least since the Cain rumors to the Brewers have come up. This is a very logical move for the Brewers. Depending on the return for Santana the next option would have been Arrietta or Darvish but it looks like Darvish is going to the Twins. Another scenario that would clear some space for the Yankees to sign Darvish would be moving Gardner as he is owed $11m this year and $12.5m next year with a buyout of $2m. His salary would also increase to $12m this year if he is traded in the form of a bonus of $1m. But that only brings the Yankees down to about $170m which is close for the Yankees to sign Darvish and also to be able to sign someone next year assuming the Yankees are going to stay below the cap next year which I don't believe they will do. The Yankees trading Gardner makes a little bit more sense than Jacoby as Gardner still has some value and wouldn't cost a big time prospect for a team to take on his salary. When I looked at BRefs Yankees contract, I recall seeing them at 160mil for this year. They had Stanton in it who I know is new, so who are they missing? All of HighHeat's A leads to B, C to D R to Z or however this alphabet soup of ideas, began in November? I mean I get that there's talks and side deals hashed out, but from November seems too long a holding pattern among the other Teams and GMs. But Really I think it's that the Alphabet in HH's idea went to an R and now it seems near 20 pre-arranged scenarios are played out. When most likely Im thinking its 5 or 6. I mean with so many scenarios being possible its Stearns Fault on this offseason being slow then!

Oh man dropped Ortiz out of the top 100? Wonder where to

Or Shaw really breaks out with one more season under his belt and if his child gets past health concerns. Let's get interesting. If Milw were to take on Ellsbury And trade Shaw to the Yankees, I'd expect Gleyber Torres(is A his health?) as beginning of package return. Add one of the Yankees SP prospects. And we are maybe near a deal? If I'm reading BRef's salary projection to Yankees right, they certainly have a lot of space below 200mil already, so I wonder how much they'd pay of Ellsbury's salary, which at a point removes the return to the Brewers. Not sure where you are playing Torres(will he be healthy to play OD?) If you remove Shaw, 3b then, but I'd figure Torres more a 2b for 2018? I mean Torres is about a 95% fielder and lower at his SS/3b minors rate. And that's before his injury. Are you wanting to put up with that % for 3b? Also, does his bat fill up a 3b batter profile? A little underwhelming but this is a guy who's 21 on the cusp of ML starts. Just a wild trade idea

If the HighHeat rumor of deals happening if "A" happens, and an Ellsbury rumor who has no trade rights, wouldnt you suspect "A" to be Ellsbury accepting a trade to Milwaukee? And then the 3 team move idea? Well Ellsbury is a Brewer, Santana is movable for the Tribe return, etc., etc. Or what if "A" is all on BA's top 100 coming out and so and so being: in it or near the top of it? Haha, how great is tomorrow going to be with a Trade and a new top 100 to discuss!

Happened to have Espn on yesterday, report was Brady suffered a cut/minor injury to a Finger on a hand. Loved Martellious? Wiley calling him out on this as a typical Brady thing. Jacksonville beats him and its that finger that cost Brady the game. Brady wins the game-hes so great he overcame this "injury" to beat Jacksonville...GOAT! There was another guy next to Wiley, former player, said the same and agreed. I hope Jacksonville lives up to the Sacksonvile name and puts Brady down early and out of the game. Pretty sure a NE vs the Phi/MN. The confidence on beating them is up there. Doesnt need a made up injury preventing his continued legacy to beat them

Yelich's road splits improve his power numbers drastically. The CF defensive position would be a little concern, but that bat will turn out elite for a CF away from Miami. Yes a very small chance to a trade, but who knows? You read around on here and the K guys need a contact/OB hitter. What if Stearns was contemplating the same thing? Moving on from say Phillips and Brinson and say the move cost Hiura, Villar with a Neil Walker signing. Thats a really challenging lineup suddenly put together. Yelich, Braun, Santana, Shaw, Walker, 1b platoon, Pina, Arcia?

Yelich has to also know his pitch selection coming this season will be awful. Why throw anything but garbage to him, what are you going to fear in Miami's leftover lineup? It's not that Yelich will lay down playing for Miami, it's that he'll be on a bad lineup team....I guess the good thing going for him is that he's not an Elite HR hitter so pitching to him you're giving up doubles, I suppose there's at bats to pitch him vs around.

So Yelichs name was brought in conversation. How about who was the main conversation piece before his name was brought up?

Maybe you change Team control 1 year less for the teams that aren't getting Revenue sharing. The teams that are getting revenue sharing-that goes in to a pool to pay those players their final year of team control. If a team signs a team controlled player to a contract then, the contract is paid out by said team. Trades would work in the same way. 6th year if traded to a revenue shared team. Reduced to 5th year if traded to a Revenue sharing team. Say Nelson goes to Arb every year. Year 6 would be arb valued to 16mil. Revenue sharing pays the Brewers that, giving them "16mil" essentially to spend on a FA. Small markets would be able to hold on to their Stars that extra year, while not being impacted with that final year's cost....Taking away that idea of being a Minor League team for the Yankees/Dodgers/Cubs. It's an idea, more players would hit FA a year earlier where a younger age adds to their value. You'd probably change how the draft compensation works. How about all-together? Maybe that opens the door to Draft day trading for the first 2 rounds? I just think lessening the team control for teams like Milw, Pitts, Cincy, Minn and Kansas City hurts them so much more as they aren't going to be participating in those FA signings. Maybe one here but it's not 3-5 high paying contracts the Big markets can pay....Except in the idea above where the 6th year player is paid for. Imagine that, you're best player's contract, "comes off the books" while still having him on the team and using the cash you would owe him on a FA. I dunno, maybe you limit the 6th year revenue shared to whatever the Sharing was going to be previously to teams? Maybe you still give draft picks to these teams if they have only 1 player or none paid for in a year? Just make comps start at 50? on down to 60. If we're removing compensations altogether, you're pushing back teams at 21-30 down up to 10 spots overall. Just spitballing here trying to figure out a way to get money in smaller markets to spend on FA as well as to keep the needed All-Pro players to compete on the level of the Big Markets.

If he has another bad year he's not getting 3-3.75, he's getting non-tendered and then just hoping to get a major league deal wherever he can get it. He wasn't guaranteed 6-10M when he turned down 23 and isn't guaranteed it now. Had he not somewhat rebounded in the 2nd half and played like he did in April and May all year he could have been non-tendered already. No way does he put up another season similar to '17 and still get tendered at 3M+. Wilmer Flores went from 2.2 to 3.4mil this year for a guy who played 110 games and value to -.2 BWAR. Villar has a year to at least bank on that was worth something. Flores? never worth over 1BWAR in any season. Up the middle players with any upside have value over 4million to teams. Eric Sogard is beyond worse and yet gets 2.4mil to be likely bad. Howie Kendrick is signed for 2/7mil or 3.5mil a year. 34years old and a 1.25 BWAR avg the last 3 years with a career .755 OPS. When an average ML salary is around 4million, you're not going to see a Villar dropped/non-tendered below that.

Nothing to see here, only a Spring Training Name for split teams. Hasn't been relevant in 4 years.

Agreed that a Division title likely Cubs are still within their WS window. Lester, Quintana, Hendriks, and Chatwood(remember) can obviously pitch a solid 4 of 5 rotation. Chatwood, likely becomes that Ace with Quintana to be the new Arrieta/Hendriks "Luck" On topic with Arrieta rumors. Posted somewhere my disproval due to his 2nd best pitch his 2 elite years becoming an afterthought pitch or he's a 2 pitch pony. Nevermind the velocity declines. The example of upside is Jimmy Nelson. Taking a 4.5+ and going to 3.5 and less ERA/Fip in 1 season. Why? He threw with higher velocity, Less Fastballs which was a poorly rated pitch for him the prior year and still below average, but a much improved Curve Ball to add to his previous best pitch the Slider. The Curveball went from near average to above average and he threw that more. Went from a 71% Fastball-15.5% Slider and 12.4% Curve to 61.3% Fastball 16.1 Slider and now 20.1 % Curveball. a 3 pitch mix, that made his fastball better by that curve ball being better. This is the opposite with Arrieta who went from under 50% Fast ball and 28.7% avg elite Cutter to 64.3% Fast ball avg and down to a non-elite Cutter at only 16% thrown. The Fastball was elite, but a loss in velocity and the worsened #2 (now 4th pitch) made his FB value to just above average. Steamer lists him at 4.2ERA with a 4.11 Fip projection in 18. Nice 177IP 11-10 #4 SP. That's essentially Tyler Chatwood's Steamer only his it valued to 137IP at 9-7. You want Arrieta, offer him 3/42million, that is what he's worth moving forward.

Corbin is a Why? Ray would be a go and get. I mean, you're trading away Santana for a rental that's likely worse than Woodruff. Now you are taking an every day OF for a #6 and 1 year at that? Honestly, the only trade that makes sense for the DBacks is Grienke this offseason and he provided a great year last season, they got more than what they actually paid for. So if you're getting what you paid for, to be a playoff contender, then they aren't moving Grienke this offseason either. Robbie Ray is self explanatory, TOR Pitcher teams attempt to attain. Dbacks attained one last year where they missed on Shelby Miller.

If we pay the young players more early, The Salary impact affects the amounts to give FAs, worsening this situation. Say you double the pre Arbs. What do most teams have? 12 in pre-arb avg? 15? 550-600k I'd guess doubled? to fit this idea? Well thats 7-10mil hit on a teams payroll. You're reducing 210-300 million that would be set to use on FAs. The Luxury Tax is hurting this FA class, but its doing what it was designed to do, stop these big market teams from collecting every top FA. Meanwhile (we) Milw are being tied to the likes of Arrieta, Cain, Cobb and Lynn. Sorry Players Association, the goal to help make the sport competitive hurts your FA signings this year's offseason. Just how it all worked. Blame Philly as their rebuild is still in rebuild. Blame Miami and the Sale of their Franchise, where an Elite Player was moved to another team who now doesnt need to buy in this FA. But really, blame the Luxury tax when the Economy is nutz in the outside but that tax didnt know it was going to end up this way, so FAs see themselves worth more because why not? Rich are swimming in money these days.

This was Musgrove's writeup in mlb's 2015 prospect ranking of Astros where he sat 8th of a very good Astros minors. His stats on the year were 1.88ERA in 100.2 IP on 19 gms 14 starts. Musgrove was one of six players the Blue Jays selected in the top two rounds of the 2011 Draft, and he was traded to the Astros the next year as a part of the two teams' 10-player deal. After a slow start to his professional career, he took a step forward in 2014 in the New York-Penn League. Musgrove takes advantage of his big, physical frame to throw his low-to-mid-90s fastball from a good downhill plane. He mostly attacks hitters with his fastball and pounds the zone with it, creating plenty of groundball outs. He also has a good curveball and some feel for his changeup, but both of his secondary offerings still need more refinement. As Musgrove advanced to full-season ball in 2015, he built on the momentum from the previous year by earning swift promotions from low Class A to high Class A and Double-A. He has all the makings of a future workhorse starter. I think of him as a Brandon Woodruff. I remember his name because in Brewer deadline deals I know it came up as a target. Pittsburgh is definitely going to use him as a Starter.

I'm not sure if I follow this, but if the Rays trade Archer, even if they have some decent young players, I don't see them buying a prime veteran in return...they're going into the tank if they deal Archer. No way, you are selling the rotation short. Odorizzi and Snell with Honeywell to come at any moment. Add Jose De Leon with Andriese as a #5 by the middle of season with the offense you're are putting on the team adding the 3b/1b combo. It won't be a finished product for the '18 season but Thames/Aguilar and Shaw have control multiple seasons beyond that, when Snell/Honeywell and De Leon could be taking off as SPs in '19.

Wow, on the Minnesota play. How does that possibly happen? May be the single worst effort I've seen from a defensive player who's one job is safety, ie don't let an offensive player by you for a TD. On top of it, he took out the CB. Please Jacksonville have a great defense against Brady and those Blessed with forever luck Patriots, because the QB opponents he has to potentially play through for another SB is just sad. The coaching miss calls and officiating luck and now it's simply 3rd tier rate QBs to face.

Wouldn't this be an obvious Archer from TB idea? They have no financial room to sign the Moose, so acquire that same talent in trading Archer. Tampa has the onslaught of OFs that the Brewers have to offer, so at 3b why not? Having traded away Longoria. The Choi signing may also come with the notion on maybe trading away Thames or Aguilar in that deal?

I like Musgrove, Im sure he'll be starting. Moran, based on offensive stats seems to have found some of what made him a top 10 pick. Pirates are in need of a 3b and he's ready to go. The Feliz Im not familiar with but he had a high K rate for a RP, comes with a lot of team control and RPs seem to have more Up years than down as a Pirate. It may look light, but I think it will pack more punch than what sits in front of the eyes now.