MadThinker88

Ryan Hannigan cut loose by CLE today if your interested for real cheap..

Stephen Drew was another that waited (same year as K Morales). Both guys had poor seasons once they signed and started playing that year...

At this point, signing someone like Cobb to augment the top part of the rotation makes more sense. But if that does not happen, bringing in Holland is not a bad way to go. First - We can agree to disagree on this but Holland is capable of supplanting Knebel as closer. If Knebel was the main setup it would help to keep some of his increasing costs in line the next few seasons thru arbitration. Second - Even if Knebel retains the closer role (and that might be a deal breaker for getting Holland), there is the possibility of regression from last season leading to some ineffectiveness or the chance of injury. Having Holland available provides for a clear safety net for closing games with multiple seasons of good closer performance. Other than Jeremy Jeffress the rest of the bullpen lacks that closer experience. I am not advocating signing Holland to a mega deal ($40MM+ across 3 plus years). Just that he could be a worthwhile pick up under right terms. FYI - there was a thread earlier this off season about if one could grant any 1 free agent to the Crew, who would you select? I wrote back then that I wanted either Wade Davis or Greg Holland as I was concerned about the growing costs with relievers and the high possibility of Knebel regressing. After the moves during this off season I can be swayed to getting a better starter 1st, but I still have my concerns about the pen and Knebel in particular.

Since Holland declined a QO, it will also cost a draft pick (IIRC the Brewer 4th round pick) and the related signing pool money. I do not think a 1 yr deal makes much sense considering the other things that have to be given up (besides salary). If it could be a 2 yr deal at $15M total, I would be more inclined to sign him..

I only counted 6 Brewers on the list. As for Phillips, Sickels openly questioned if Phillips would make enough contact. 3 former Brewers (from the Yelich deal) also made the list: - #35 L. Brinson - #110 M. Harrison - #124 I. Diaz

Oakland, Cleveland, Kansas City and San Diego all make logical sense to me. San Fransisco could use an athletic CF to patrol that huge OF. SF would make sense if Keon hit left-handed. Their starting group of: Andrew Mc (RF), Austin Jackson (CF), Hunter Pence (LF) all hit right-handed. Have to believe they want the depth guy to bat opposite. I think the chance at KC was sunk when the Royals signed John Jay. After adding Jay, Duda & Moose, I see the other remaining depth/ support roles going to kids for development as the rebuild gets underway. We have talked the overall Clev situation enough. I doubt we see a move there (this week or by end of spring training) unless a couple more outfielders get hurt & will miss start of the season.. Edit: ICYMI- When Mejia got sent to the minors yesterday, Tito announced that instead of 3B, Mejia would also be getting time in the OF to help his position flexibility. Tribe Mgmt is already comfortable while the bat of the Mejia. If he can play another position (1 of need), I doubt they try to acquire Keon. Oakland is interesting but I believe they will bide their time as well.

I would tend to agree with you. My earlier comment (on the other thread) about being on someone's list was more in reference to an organization top 30 list.

One year does not a career make. Souza had a nice season last year, but before that the profile nearly mirrored Broxton. Souza is a decent power bat that is going to strike out a ton with a low average. Broxton is a decent power bat that is going to strike out a ton with a low average. They profile very similarly, one year of production aside. Difference is Broxton can play CF and offers more speed, albeit with a lower average. I still say Keon goes this week, and I'm not really expecting a real big return. But it's isn't going to be a trash return, either. You do recall what they say about trash - One man's trash might be another man's treasure. Keon might well be traded this week. Time will tell. But Souza landed 4 pieces for TB. 2 ranked prospects & 2 PTBNL. Rumor/ reports are the last 2 will be prospects with some value, not the typical filler. I doubt Broxton (by himself) brings back more than 1 piece. It might be a prospect ranked somewhere on some list (one can hope) but it would be 1 piece.

I think you are underestimating his value. Look at the package Souza got back. Profile is somewhat similar. I would maybe not expect that much, but his value isn't far off of that. Joey - Keon vs Souza is not even close in production. While only a year apart age wise, Souza posted a 4.2 WAR last season (6.0 for career). Keon posted 0.4 WAR last season (2.4 on career). Keon might be of most value to the Crew but if DS can get something else of value for Keon, he should make the deal...

Amen. D-Von said it best...

Where does the narrative that he doesn't want to pitch in Milwaukee come from? I don't get that feeling at all. Yea people keep posting that, when has Alex ever said that? speculation on my part (& I have no idea if Cobb wants to/ does not want to pitch in MKE) but it might be a related to the knowledge that MKE has had conversations with (& likely made an offer to) Cobb & his agent. Given how slow the market has been and how others are accepting lesser deals at this point, people might be interpreting Cobb still being a free agent as a choice & decision not to take what MKE has put out on table (if they did put anything out there).

The race for the NL Wildcard just got a little tougher... While I don't see Philly as a main WC contender in 2018, the signing of Jake does improve that team & helps to fill a big need (upper rotation arm to go with Nola). Additionally I see Philly being a big FA player during the next off-season & would not be surprised if they end up with 1 of the big names: Machado/ Harper/ Donaldson. Philly will be in the thick of the race for a playoff spot in 2019 & 2020.

That is not set in stone. It all depends on how long he is down and how many days in the majors he accrues during the season.

Perhaps the question needing to be asked is a variable in the overall equation. Does the Brewer Management Group feel good enough about the farm system overall (& starting pitching depth in particular) to forfeit not only a 3rd round pick in the 2018 draft, but also a 4th round pick as well? Signing Cobb (or Arietta) means the loss of another draft selection & the associated bonus pool money which impacts the ability to sign other players. On the surface one might think it is easier to absorb a draft pick loss for a 1 year deal with Cobb. But knowing Cobb could depart after the season and there is no way to recoup a draft pick (since he already was offered & declined a QO) might make the down side too great for the front office to go that route..

And this is a big part of the reason I believe Braun should not continue to hit 3rd and Yelich should be there instead. Even if CC wanted to maintain a L-R-L pattern, he could go Yelich-Santana-Shaw as 3-4-5

Cards get nothing correct? Cards get a pick after round 1 before the Competitive A group begins. Lynn had turned down a QO at start of off-season so Twins are unable to tag him again after this season..

With this move the Twins lose their 3rd round pick, #95 overall. https://www.mlb.com/news/lance-lynn-twins-agree-to-one-year-deal/c-268389780

I think we can agree that when Adam Lind was dealt to Seattle in Dec 2015, he brought back 3 lotto tickets. The Seattle system was ranked 24th going into that year by BA. Lets examine those 3 players to get a better idea of what they were at that time.. Of those 3 guys acquired, only 1 - Freddy Peralta (age 19) was ranked in the Seattle system top 30 (#24 in the 2015 book). Up to that point he had not appeared in full season minor league ball. The 2nd guy - Daniel Missaki (also age 19) had appeared in the the Midwest league but only for 6 appearances and 34 IP. It seems he has not played since then. Daniel was not in the BA top 30 but he had been listed on the depth chart in the book. The 3rd guy - Carlos Herrera had just turned 18 after the 2015 season ended & had not gotten stateside yet. He was not in the BA book at all. Now I can recognize fans wanting to get something of value back for Keon. It makes sense. No one would give up something of value for "nothing". That said the exact value of Keon is not known by fans and just because the Brewers value Keon at 1 level/ cost does not mean other clubs see Keon the same way. Most might seem him a lower cost (compared to Domingo Santana) and are doing their due diligence & research. Maybe some other club views Keon at an even higher level compared to the Brewers. That will be the club DStearns makes a deal with (& we will applauded DS for the deal). It is also possible that (like Domingo IMHO) Keon has the most value to the Brewers and a trade will not materialize, despite fans wanting the Brewers to improve themselves. As fans we need to trust DS doing his job and we will see how it all turns out..

I think we need to get onto the same page when saying 'lottery ticket'. That is a player that has a higher potential for NOT developing & panning out. Additionally, (to me) a lottery ticket is someone that doesn't appear on any organization top 30 prospect listings as well as not having played full season baseball stateside yet. BA ranks Hentges #18 and Morgan #29 in the Tribe system in its 2018 prospect handbook. To me that means both are more than lotto tickets. By the definition I gave Jean Carlos Mejia is a lottery ticket (all be it with some helium potential). Luis Garcia (age 17, playing in DSL) is another lotto ticket with helium potential. They are both guys that I am watching to see if they can repeat their success as they move up. Perhaps 1 of them and position player lotto ticket would be match but I doubt the Tribe is pursuing Keon. Having the benefit of time, they can be targeting/ watching other players that might be without a team come the end of spring training and can be acquired even cheaper..

Comment of the day...couldn't agree more. Jay not completely gone yet.. Granted its not 19 divisional games, but the Crew does play 4 games with the Royals this season (2 in KC in April, hosting KC for 2 in June).

A team does not get extraordinary depth in an area by giving pieces of it up at every turn. Additionally like a squirrel getting ready for winter storing acorns, teams will build that depth to be ready for injuries and free agency among it current crop. So lets review how the Tribe sits tonight (3/7/18): Salazar is already behind the rest and looks to start the season on the DL. Merritt is out of options & will perhaps be a long man in the pen this season. Tomlin is a free agent after the season. It was announced tonight that Merryweather has a UCL issue. My guess is he gets TJ surgery and a trip to the 60 day DL in the next week or so. As for the Tribe OF situation, I think you misunderstood my point. Due to their situation & other options, the Tribe has the luxury of time and being able to wait. They do not need to rush into a deal during spring training or by opening day. Perhaps their own pieces are satisfactory via platooning. It proved to be the case in 2016. Remember - unlike the Brewer offense which is driven primarily by the outfielders (augmented by the infielders), the Tribe offense is the reverse - driven by the infield group (& DH) & supplemented by the OF group.

McKenzie & Bieber are to Cleveland like Burnes & Woodruff for MKE. Asking for either guy goes nowhere. Targeting Hillman or Aiken makes sense, both are far down the pecking order. The bigger misconception is thinking there is a huge OF need in CLE. Brantley is on course to start season on DL but looks to be back mid April. He might surprise & make opening day but being cautious/ conservative says mid-April. Yes Guyer is still having his wrist issue (& is likely headed to the DL too), but that was why Chernoff brought in Upton, Raji Davis & others to spring training Greg Allen is another possible option to fill the short-term need. He is slated for AAA (a level he has skipped) so he gets regualr playing time. If there is regular playing time in CLE I could see him on the opening day roster but he is most likely headed to AAA. Yandy Diaz is another option. He has been focusing on 3B this spring but he has played corner OF for spells each of the last 2 years. I do not see the Tribe making a rash/ short-sighted move. If a trade makes sense for them, they could do it. Otherwise they can sit and wait Unlike MKE which has to deal with the Cubs & Cardinals in its division, the Tribe is the best roster 1 to 40 in AL Central. They can absorb a slow start and take a long view when determining how to deal with injuries or gaps. Where a horrid start (March/ April, say 7-23) might bury MKE in the NL Central, the same start would not bury the Tribe in the AL Central.

First - thanks for the post Second - I hope Cobb does sign with the Brewers but I guess if he signs with any team during the last week of March, the piece of insight still holds true. Third - I need someone to help me understand why any FA would be waiting to sign until the end of spring training/ as the season opens. Now is the time when a player (especially a starting pitcher) needs to get into camp and get himself ready to be able to break camp with his team. Waiting just puts the player behind the rest and (like those that get hurt at this time) they seem to be playing catch up the entire year...

I wouldn't call him a consensus selection. That means he is on each top 100 listing and that is not the case. He is getting recognition and is a very good prospect. Corrected: From what I could find he is listed on the top 100 for MLB Pipeline, Baseball Prospectus, Keith Law & at Prospect 361. He did not make the list for Baseball America or Fangraphs..

Neither did I. Tribe is not showing any ST Tribe games this weekend. Kipnis has a monster chip on his shoulder. Size of a bowling ball. Launched his 5th homer 2 batters later..