wildcat2237

I gotta think Zimmerman, Leake, Ross, and Desmond are just the tip of the iceberg on the "opt-out." In fact, I would set the over-under at about 30 players. If I had millions in the bank I would like think long and hard about whether or not to travel and interact with thousands of people, versus just sitting out one year. This is especially so if you have a wife, kids, or elderly parents.

At this point I am 100% indifferent. A 60 game season does not excite me at all. My only question: Could the players refuse to report and file litigation?

Thus far, the only release that truly shocks me is Jon Olczak. At one point recently I had him in my top-25. Dude never had amazing stuff, but I thought he had a chance to be an average MLB middle reliever.

Arizona resident here. I know a few folks who work for the cities where spring training is held. Generally, there is a lot of doubt a 2020 season happens. There are currently ZERO plans to re-start spring training. The Arizona governor just issued an indefinite stay home order yesterday. Peak hospitalizations are expected here in May. I'm hearing that if they cannot re-start spring training by June 15, the season is likely scrapped completely. Even if these stay at home orders are lifted May 15ish, that gives MLB 1 month to get players back to AZ and Florida and to throw together a two weekish spring training. Then you get the whole issue of 30-50 people traveling together in close quarters for 4 months. I'm just not seeing it. I'd even be surprised if we see a full college football and NFL season.

Thanks for the hard work, Reilly. Im certain the lack of turnout is due to distraction with current events and not lack of interest in the Brewers. Sadly, I'm doutbful a 2020 season is played.

As long as I can remember. No reason to risk any injury to a pitcher batting in ST. Plus it gets a few more AB for a position player. They always use the DH until the last week or so of spring. Even then, pitchers typically only hit if its NL versus NL....

I think the 2020 payroll is a direct result of money-saving to eventually try and extend Yelich. I won't be surprised if we see some of this again in 2021 as well. Trading Yelich would be bad for Milwaukee baseball business, even if it may be the best thing for Milwaukee Brewer roster construction. I am Mark Attanasio. Nice call. I figured an extension was not in the cards. I also was not aware that Yelich loves Milwaukee so much.

So far, Lazar has a much higher K rate than Suter did. Lazar's K rate at A-ball last year was very similar to Mike Fiers (12.4 for Lazar, 12.0 for Fiers, 8.4 for Suter), if you're looking for a high 80's FB comp. I'm pretty sure Fiers was always a 91-94 guy in the minors. It is just really really tuff to be a successful big league right hander throwing 87-88. I hope I am wrong on Lazar.

Faria was already DFA'd, cleared waivers, and is in camp as a non-roster invitee. I think Black's spot in the pen is pretty much assured too. Good to hear on Faria. I am not shocked the entire league passed on him on waivers. On another note, I doubt Black is a sure thing. He looked really really bad.

Supplement to my earlier post: 1. Forgot to mention that Faria looked terrible against the Cubs. Every ball they hit was hard contact. Not fooling anybody. At this point he is a waste of a 40 man spot. Also attended today versus the Reds, comments as follows: 1. Morrison has serious pop. The ball was not flying today and he was able to hit one out to a deeper part of the park. 2. Lauer is good. Has command of three pitches. 3. Ray Black had no fastball or offspeed command. With no options remaining I fear his time is limited.

I live in Arizona and was able to attend today. My thoughts: 1. Arcia doesnt want to lose his job. Much different plate approach. 2. Freddy seems to have added a breaking pitch. Cubs hitters were waiving at it. 3. Rasmusson is filthy. If he stays healthy he will reach the bigs this year. Absolute gas. Meets the eye test body wise. 4. Corey Ray and David Freitas do not meet the eye test. Neither look comfortable at the plate.

I'll do the tiers as well... Tier 1 - Potentional Top 100 in near future 1. Ethan Small: Could be a front end MLB starter. I'm putting him here based on potential. With a big year he is a BA top 50. 2. Brice Turang: Really hope his body develops. Talent is there. With a big year he could be a BA top 100. 3. Drew Rasmussen: If he stays healthy we have a quality back end reliever. Throws gas. 4. Mario Feliciano: Huge year for Mario. A nice year at AA may land him on the BA Top 100. But he is a catcher, so we must be patient. ---- Tier 2 - Guys Who Could Quickly Move Into Tier 1 with a big 2020 5. Dylan File: "Misses bats and pounds the zone as often as a consensus Top-50 prospect." - Scout 6. Zack Brown: I'm not giving up on Zach. Has had success at AA. 7. Corey Ray: Talent is there, needs to get on base more and K less. 2020 is gigantic for him. 8. Aaron Ashby: Not sure what to think here. I'm higher on him than most. 9. Eduardo Garcia: Big potential. ---- Tier 3 - Intriguing players 10. Tristen Lutz: I've watched him in person. Never been impressed. 11. Antoine Kelly: Potential. 12. Payton Henry: Never been impressed. 13. Max Lazar: Low ceiling. Suter part 2? 14. Phil Bickford: High ceiling. Looked good in spring training. 15. Bobby Wahl: Big league reliever. 16. Chad Spanberger: Big power. Will the OBP develop? 17. Eric Yardley: Probably a low ceiling. But could be an MLB reliever. ---- Tier 4 - Just guys to watch 18. Devin Williams: Could be an MLB reliever. 19. Lucas Erceg: Big power. Time to put it all together is now or never. 20. Jacob Nottingham: The star has faded and is getting very dim. 21. Trey Supak: Low ceiling. Aaron Wilkerson part II. 22. Bowden Francis 23. Alec Bettinger: 24. Joe Gray: A 25. Justin Jarvis: 26. Jesus Parra: 27. Carlos Luna: 28. Jhonnys Cabrera: 29. Micah Bello:

I'm really excited about this one. Huge upgrade over Hernan Perez for the super utility role.

I'm really excited about this one. Huge upgrade over Hernan Perez for the super utility role.

This was an excellent post by the OP. Yelich is under contract through 2022. Hader is controlled through 2023. I personally believe the Brewers are in a Yelich window that will run through 2021. This is why I am not a fan of the reduced 2020 payroll. I think this year and next year are the two "shots" at winning big. The farm system stinks, and unless some players have Trent Grisham type years in 2020 I think the Brewers will need to tear it down during the 2021-2022 offseason. I am not sure 1 year of Yelich and 2 years of Hader will be enough to bring in the talent needed for a quick rebuild. Others will also need to be traded, however, I dont want to guess who will be valuable in 2021-2022. It could be Woodruff, Lauer, Urias, Hiura, Peralta, Burnes etc.

This was an excellent post by the OP. Yelich is under contract through 2022. Hader is controlled through 2023. I personally believe the Brewers are in a Yelich window that will run through 2021. This is why I am not a fan of the reduced 2020 payroll. I think this year and next year are the two "shots" at winning big. The farm system stinks, and unless some players have Trent Grisham type years in 2020 I think the Brewers will need to tear it down during the 2021-2022 offseason. I am not sure 1 year of Yelich and 2 years of Hader will be enough to bring in the talent needed for a quick rebuild. Others will also need to be traded, however, I dont want to guess who will be valuable in 2021-2022. It could be Woodruff, Lauer, Urias, Hiura, Peralta, Burnes etc.

Huge fan of the signing. I'm into high OBP, especially right before Yelich in the lineup. Holt has figured out the OBP game the last few years. Could Arcia and Urias both be headed to AAA?

Good news for the Brewers. However, I am hopeful this whole thing doesn't sour Hader and impact his 2020 performance.

Guerra is a AAAA player, so yeah, good chance he clears waivers. Especially this late in the offseason.

This is the guy I would get rid of. His big league stint last year was horrid.

As stated by sveumrules, would be an excellent trade target if the Reds were not in our division. They are clearly going for it this year and I doubt they want to improve the Brewers.

Here is a link to the MLB Pipeline Top 100: http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2020?list=prospects Gotta say I'm very disappointed as this is just not sustainable. I'm really hoping Small, Lutz, Feliciano take a big step in 2020. With a good year I think both Small and Feliciano could be top 50 by this time next year. However, ultimately I think Yelich and Hader trades will be needed to re-stock the system.

Yep. Here is the link to the MLBTR page: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/01/marlins-rangers-reportedly-finalists-to-sign-pedro-strop.html I'm relieved. I wanted nothing to do with a big league deal for this guy.

I would be curious as to why you think this? I don't really see any evidence in it changing. Agreed. Baseball is actually doing very well, at least regionally. Specifically, the TV numbers are excellent and thus the TV deals are big money. Attendance is also healthy, with the exception of Miami and Tampa. So unfortunately, until people decide to watch something else on TV in the summer, nothing is going to change. Baseball fills the regional summer TV programming void and has for many years.

There is even a decent possibility that the pieces we get after trading him in a couple of years amount to more than the pieces we traded for him. That is how buying low and selling high works, and that is how a market like Milwaukee will win a World Series. Milwaukee will not win a WS by continually signing 31+ yr olds at "highest bidder" prices (and especially highest bidder years). Excellent post. If his production stays at or near his current level, you have to think a full or half year of Yelich brings back a nice haul. Back in 2012, a half year of Greinke brought back Segura and two lottery tickets. I would think a half year of Yelich nets at least that return.