A Swing and A Drive

The current players put themselves in position to contend THIS season. I agree that Stearns owes it to the team to address areas of need via the trade market. Especially when the GMs of the teams you are contending with are doing as such. The Cubs and Dbacks just acquired huge upgrades with Quintana and JD Martinez. And neither team OVERPAID. With the Yankees big move, I think they will be out on Sonny Gray now. I also think the Astros will focus on bullpen help over rotation help, with McHugh coming off the DL for them. I think the Brewers are still the frontrunners for Sonny. I'm starting to be hopeful that his price will not be as high I we feared it could be. Rosenthal reporting that Brett Phillips would be included in a deal for Gray makes me hopeful that we can acquire him without Brinson now. Brewers get: RHP Sonny Gray A's get: OF Brett Phillips RHP Brandon Woodruff or RHP Luis Ortiz MI Mauricio Dubon or Isan Diaz RHP Freddy Peralta or Marcos Diplan If the Brewers can land Gray AND keep both Brinson and Hader, I'd be absolutely giddy. Holding onto Corey Ray and Monte Harrison would also be a coup, IMO. Heck, we'll even throw in Taylor Jungmann or Wily Peralta for free! (mostly to clear a spot on the 40-man, lol) Oakland would be the perfect spot for either of those players to salvage their career at this point. I still think this deal needs to get done ASAP.

We have 10 head to head games against the Cubs. So, don't worry. WE WILL WIN ALL OF THEM!

Maybe I missed something but if you don't think we are actually in contention now then why trade for Sonny Gray? I do think we are in contention now. And think that we should trade prospects for Sonny Gray. That's why actually was a "sarcasm" shade of blue.

No Sean Manaea is not available. However, in two years he will be and would be a good trade candidate then, when the Brewers might ACTUALLY be ready to contend. But at that point most BF.netters will be 100% unwilling to trade either of our top two prospects, Jake Gatewood and Monte Harrison, for him. lol

If they do move Gurriel to 3B and Bregman to SS, they have the option to call up 1B A.J. Reed to cover 1B. Don't think Villar would even be on their radar.

2 average middle infielders and 3 back-end starters? Oh boy. What's the reasoning behind your take For starters, I agree with MrTPlush's post above. You shouldn't be counting on unproven minor leaguers as your franchises core unless maybe they are a Top 20 prospect in all of baseball, and even then I'd pause. I do agree that Arica could be considered a core player because he's finally doing it at MLB level and is controlled for quite a while. I also think that Lewis Brinson has a more than 50% chance to become a core player also. However, the way I see it: SS Orlando Arcia Best Case comp: Francisco Lindor Likely comp: Alcides Escobar Worst Case comp: Jose Iglesias 2B Keston Huira Best Case comp: Ian Kinsler Likely comp: Kolten Wong Worst Case comp: Doesn't make it in the majors/Scooter Gennett LHP Josh Hader Best Case comp: Chris Sale Likely comp: Drew Symly Worst Case comp: Doesn't make it in the majors as a starter/bullpen LHP RHP Corbin Burnes Best Case comp: Michael Wacha Likely comp: Jered Eickhoff Worst Case comp: Doesn't make it in the majors/Jed Bradley RHP Brandon Woodruff Best Case comp: Dan Straily Likely comp: Collin McHugh Worst Case comp: Doesn't make it in the majors/Cody Scarpetta We all have high hopes for these minor leaguers and I hope at least one reaches their talent ceiling (best case comp) at the Major League level as a Brewer. However, I simply would not consider Alcides Escobar, Kolten Wong, Drew Symly, Jered Eickhoff, and Colin McHugh as core players on their teams, I guess. Valuable league average regulars and mid-rotation starters, yes. Core players? not yet, at least.

I'd say at this point Jungmann could be a 5th piece type throw in to a deal with a team like the A's. It would be more of a favor to Jungmann, so he could go to a team that would be possibly be able to give him an opportunity to salvage a career at some point. He will not really be worth a spot on our 40-man roster very soon.

Great post John Briggs! Use prospects now to land Gray. In the offseason, trade one of Santana, Villar or Broxton to re-stock farm assests. Their is some risk involved but the potential reward (playoffs) outweighs it, IMHO.

Stanton has a potentially franchise crippling contract that is heavily backloaded. He has negative surplus trade value. Yes, I'm serious. His contract would be a possible death-knoll for a small market team like the Brewers.

The Marlins would take that deal in less than a heartbeat. Unless the Marlins eat about $100M of that contract, they aren't getting anywhere close to that return. This isn't fantasy baseball fellas. lol

Bob Nightengale is now reporting that the Marlins will not be shopping several star players this deadline, including Dan Straily. I'll go ahead and take Straily off the trade target list.

Very creative. Could actually work. My main issue with it is that I think Miami could get close to that return for JUST Straily. I think Loria will leave Stanton on the Marlins books and let the new ownership decide what to do with him. Stanton has a full no-trade clause he'd have to waive. The deal highly benefits the Brewers. The Giants may feel that if they are taking on all of Stanton's contract, they wouldn't need to give up their top two prospects on top of it.

Nice thought but with the Rays only 2 games back in the AL EAST, I don't think he'd be on the block.

Hate to break it to you but MrTPlush's proposal for Gray would actually not be enough to land him. Coulter and Taylor have little to no value.

2 average middle infielders and 3 back-end starters? Oh boy.

Sure if there is a better cost controlled young talented SP available, that makes perfect sense. Not sure that there is though. Rays are in it. Not trading Archer this deadline. Pirates said they are NOT trading Cole this deadline. Blue Jays pretty much said that Stroman is not available.

Since the Brewers have only developed a few controllable starters in the past 20 years, what makes you so certain that Hader, Woodruff, Ortiz and Burnes are auotomatically going to become that? I hold out alot of hope for Burnes but Hader could be a bullpen arm and the other two would probably be deemed a success with a Trevor Cahill-like career. Way too much risk involved with these prospects.

I agree that the Doolittle/Madson trade signifies that Beane is NOT deadset on getting MLB-ready players in return for Gray. This makes me believe that a deal could get done without Brinson involved. If Stearns can somehow acquire him WITHOUT Brinson or Hader, I'm fine with him trading 4-5 other prospects to get it done.

100% agree that Billy Beane rarely makes good trades and is vastly overrated as a GM, Moneyball be damned. The package he just got for Doolittle/Madson was maybe an equal return for JUST Doolittle. If Bean was smart he would have got more in two separate trades. I think Gray is almost sure to be traded this month. The Brewers need to be aggressive and not wait two weeks or they will lose out on him, IMO. I think we match up best with the A's. It may take Brinson as the headliner, but maybe not. Still wonder if Stearns can offer Corey Ray AND Monte Harrison instead of Brinson. The A's can afford to wait and take on less risk by acquiring two players as future CF options.

Awesome additions fellas!

Fangraphs did: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-brewers-might-have-an-actual-ace/ I stand corrected.

This team kinda reminds me of the team from the movie Major League. It's like Counsell went into the locker room before the season and said this to the players... Counsell "Alright guys, we are expected to finish last this year so that we have the #1 pick in next June's draft. Mark A says he wants a franchise player for the rebuild. None of you guys qualify." Braun "What about me coach?" Counsell "Sorry, Ryan. David Stearns is actually a little frustrated that he can't even get a bucket of baseballs for you unless Mark A eats some of your contract. You are a has-been at this point." Thames "You are really upsetting my Korean Jobu, man. 'Tis very bad." Counsell "I'm sorry Eric, but the front office is really counting on you guys to at least put up some good numbers maybe at the beginning of the season so that you can increase your trade value." Shaw "What if we all do that but are in first place in the middle of July? Are they still going to trade us?" Counsell "Let's be serious Travis. You bums will NOT be in first place come July, okay? No chance." Nelson "But what if we ARE coach?" Counsell "Unless you plan on pitching like a CY Young candidate Jimmy, I just don't see this happening. Keep your head up though, maybe you can make the AAA all-star team this season." Broxton "This is bull poop!" Counsell "I know you think you are Keon Mays Hayes, but in reality you guys are just placeholders until the real prospects get called up." Vogt "Well...then I guess there's only one thing left to do...." Counsell "How did you get in here? Are you even on the team? Like I said...David Stearns has a plan and he's sticking to it fellas." http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt43/muellercraig/willie%20mays%20broxton_zpsuw0wvseu.jpg http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt43/muellercraig/thames%20cerrano_zpsjqa85jjy.jpg http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt43/muellercraig/braun%20dorn_zps7kslw1c6.jpg http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt43/muellercraig/corey%20and%20stephen%20as_zps8zxvs8nx.jpg

There is lots of talent coming up but the fact of the matter is that there is a lot of talent already in Miller Park. And most of it is controlled. Shaw Santana Broxton Thames Nelson Anderson All of these guys are having a breakout season in one form of another and proving to be quality major leaguers. Going into the season, Thames, Broxton, Shaw and Nelson were all complete wild cards. Anderson was thought of as a back-end starter. Fans just hoped that Santana would have a good season so he could be trade bait for more "rebuilidng" pieces. ALL THAT HAS CHANGED. And I didn't even mention our one core, controlled player in Orlando Arcia. Even keeping Braun as a veteran presence and still solid middle of the order bat when healthly makes a ton of sense now. Heck, no one even wants to trade Matt Garza anymore! Who'd a thunk it? Stearns would be smart to fill the "few" holes we currently have at the MLB level with our awesome minor league depth that he has built.

Because the Mets and the media is trying to cash in on Non-Baseball fans caring about non-news about Tebow. This is one of the stupidest articles I may have ever read. I apologize in advance for sharing. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/tim-tebow-featured-on-the-sal-all-star-game-ballot-and-heres-how-you-can-vote/ It's newsworthy that someone is listed on a Single A All-Star ballot? Give me a break.

I agree with the poster above. A bird in the hand... Brinson has .854 OPS in over 2000 minor league abs Santana has an OPS of .892 this season at the major league level. As much as I love Brinson, It would be quite the gamble banking on Brinson being as good as Santana at this point. That's a risk a contending team can't usually afford to make.