SandyTolan

What about getting a high-end starter rental like Scherzer or even Jon Gray, and moving Houser into the pen where he has been fantastic in the past? This could work especially well in the playoffs. As for hitting, I think Urias and Hiura are going to be enough along with a resurgent (or jut surgent) Jace, though a strong utility guy to replace Robertson would be a great upgrade. Gallo I think would cost too much.

I don't agree that the García signing was a disaster. First of all it's fair to throw out the 2020 stats - too many good players played poorly, be it because of pandemic anxiety, no fans, no video in the dugout, (plus for the Brewers, a leader like Cain opting out), whatever. So García played poorly last year, but do did Yelich, Narvaez and many others. Avi hit .500 on the road trip (10 for 20) and is now OPSing .756, owing according to him to changing his stance. Narvaez version 2021 is exceeding anyone's highest offensive expecations. Shaw is struggling to OPS .700 and seems to be fading but has been at the center of several huge wins. And some of the others mentioned aren't exactly burning it up this year - Cooper, as Jopal pointed out; also Dubon whose OBP is .243 this year and is OPSing .502 - his career ops is below .700, so, not much different from Arcia. I also think the Padres trade is too early to evaluate. Urias seems to be a much better hitter than Arcia though Lando has 5 homers in 27 ABs in AAA Gwinett right now (sss OPS of 1.370), so maybe they fixed something. Where I agree with RollieTime is with the Brewers giving up too soon on guys. Khris Davis and Aguilar especially, with no productive return, but even guys like Brad Miller were jettisoned quickly - we could use his bat about now. (OK, no big deal about Brad Miller.) Cooper I'm not so worried about. I also agree on whiffing with the draft. Other than Mitchell, I don't see much down there, though it's too early to say on the last couple of drafts. Though I still have hope on a couple of the scrap heap pickups, including Derek Fisher and Zach Green. McKinney seems to have run his course.

If Keston has to go down, why not bring up Zach Green? He can play 1B so Travis can stay at 3B

[[Nope, not a doctor, but anyone who watches this team on a regular basis can see where Cain is headed. In 2019, he acted and moved like he was in constant pain]] - yes, so much so that he won the Gold Glove that year.

I wonder if Stearns would be willing to start with 12 pitchers and a very active shuttle for the bullpen. Didn't he do something similar with Jiman Choi and even Aguilar? This would allow for Fisher and Vogelbach, while they sort things out. Also: Travis Shaw deadline is in nine days. I'm surprised he only has 5 AB so far; figured they'd really want to see what he has left. Or maybe they've already decided just to roll with Travis for at least the first few weeks of the season.

Are you sure Garcia has played 3B? I just looked him up in B-Ref and don't see any record of him playing at third, in the major or minor leagues.

[speaking of Braun, am I the only one with a tinge of sadness that this closes the book on any chance that Braun returns? I still think there's a chance there'll be a DH, and that Braun will be signed to pair with Vogelbach at DH. Braun could also be backup 1B and emergency OF. But it all depends on the DH. A lot of NL teams were at the Cespedes show the other day, which could mean they know something...

Sorry, what did you say?

Fanblogs gonna fanblog. Important to remember, especially nowadays, that just because something is written on a professional-looking website, it doesn't mean its legit. I've seen posts from some of the crazier posters here (me included LOL) that sound more legit than this. As one Friarsonbase reader commented, to the suggestion that Yelich and Hader were San Diego-bound, "Put down the crack pipe."

I'm going with Woodruff Burnes Anderson Peralta Lindblom Swing/piggyback/RP: Lauer, Houser, Suter D. Williams Rasmussen Topa Yardley Now, add Jeffress. That's a damn good staff of 13.

In 2021, I think Freddie's the next one to step up, like Burnes in 2020. I could see him pushing Houser to the pen, where Houser has been lights-out. Looking to me like this could hands-down be one of the best pitching staffs in the NL. Plus, with hugely improved glovework on the infield - Wong at 2B, Shaw/Urias etc at 3B - a lot more groundballs will get gobbled up, making the pitching even stronger.

Seems clear the Brewers need someone who hits RHPs well. Now that Cabrera (switch hitter) is gone, RH 3B like Gyorko don't make as much sense. Franco at least has even splits against RHPs. Here maybe the best option, of the free agents, would be Jake Lamb, with a career OPS against RHPs north of .800. But maybe a trade is in the offing - that might be the best bet.

If they signed Walker or Odorizzi, they could move Hauser to the pen and trade Hader, say to the Mets for JD Davis. Or...? Cain Wong Yelich Davis Hiura Narvaez Garcia Urias/Arcia Woodruff Burnes Walker/Odorizzi Lindblom Lauer D. Williams Peralta Houser Rasmussen Topa Suter Yardley Perdomo/Wahl/Feyereisen/Black

>>>> Not if Urias fulfills his potential as a solid MLB hitter. He was a top 25 MLB prospect for a reason, and it wasn't his defense. <<<< Agreed, but that may be a big IF. For insurance, in the likelihood they don't sign Turner, a Shaw/Franco/Gyorko/Cabrera signing could provide insurance, and Urias could then float around the diamond, playing maybe half time, unless and until he breaks out. That would be a good problem to have.

They freed up a spot losing Kolarak, but then they filled it with Neuse so their net gain was zero. Still have a full 40-man roster. Oh, crap wasn't aware of that... Guess I forgot the Neuse has played in the majors. So maybe RRB is right, Dodgers are really moving on from Turner... But man, what it he waiting for to sign?? Just sign the damn deal we probably have out there for you. Wong Cain Yelich Turner Hiura Narvaez Garcia Arcia/Urias I fully except Yeli, Hiura, Narvaez and Garcia to bounce back... All are not the hitters they were in 2020. I REALLY LIKE THAT LINEUP!! Yeah, unfortunately the trade for Neuse doesn't seem to affect the Turner situation at all, also per MLBTR: "...it’s unlikely that Neuse’s acquisition in any way closes the door on a reunion with Turner. Neuse has a pair of minor league options remaining, making him the type of depth the Dodgers tend to stockpile: a formerly high draft pick who’s a bit old to be a prospect now but has some defensive versatility and a solid upper-minors track record at the plate..."

Mentioned this in another thread, but 3B/1B Zach Green, with his 1.039 OPS, .380 OBP, and 25 HRs in 297 PA in AAA, 2019 - this is pretty compelling. SSS yes but I'm pretty sure they'll give him a long look in ST. Turns 27 this year.

I'm still thinking Zach Green could really be a sleeper at 3B and/or 1B. His 2019 numbers at AAA were incredible - 1.039 OPS, 25 HRs in 297 PAs. He'll be 27 this year. I wouldn't be surprised if they get a big contribution from him this year.

Brantley was kind of a throw in player in the Sabathia trade it was up between Brantley, Lucroy and Green I believe as the last piece in the trade for Sabathia. I think Lucroy was not on the PTBNL list - rather it was C Angel Salome, who at the time as I recall was more highly regarded than Lucroy. Unfortunately Cleveland chose Brantley. I remember Tom Haudricourt projected Brantley's ceiling as "a fourth outfielder." Hey we can't get em all right.

Choo can also platoon with Garcia in RF

Prediction: Brewers sign Keuchel (or, less likely, Kimbrel) to a 2-year deal on June 6, the day after the draft ends. That's a lot of season in front of us - basically Keuchel would miss the first third, and another month maybe getting in real game shape. So, maybe they don't need him. But at this point I see both guys signing after the draft. Maybe 2/35 for Keuchel? (It would be more like 1.5/35.) I'm just spitballing, like everyone else.

I think this has all the makings of a great sleeper signing. To me the apparent humility and gratitude implicit in his Instagram post is a far, far cry from the behavior of an arrogant 21-year old who refused an assignment to the AFL, posted all those stupid pictures and dissed teammates. He seems to have learned something from his two-year trip to the wilderness, and seems genuinely grateful that the Brewers are giving him another chance. If he has stayed in baseball shape - look out. He's still only 29.

I disagree. I know where they're all playing, but the math is much simpler than that. There's not enough roster spots to platoon nearly every position, and there's way too many RHP's to justify prioritizing the RHB side of a platoon over a guy like Moustakas. Most LHB's struggle against LHP's. It's still easily worth the trade-off to hit so much better against RHP's though. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having Shaw or Moustakas in a lineup against LHP's. The benefits of having so many good LHB's would more than offset that. ETA: If they could just sign Gonzalez, that would take care of all of this, but I have my doubts about the value there. I'm pretty sure Stearns sees Dubon (and to a lesser extent Spangenberg) as his next Hernan, a super-utility guy who would be much cheaper than Marwin. Doubt they have any plans to make a play there. I'd like to be proven wrong, of course.

What if Manny is a significant but secondary piece in a bigger deal? Like, Knebel, Piña, Diplan + for Kluber? Maybe DS is thinking big.

I drove over from LA to Maryvale a few days ago, and the biggest and most pleasant surprise was how smooth and comfortable Braun looked at 1B - despite what he says. A back-handed stab here; a pick in the dirt there. My friend, a huge baseball (ugh, Yankees) fan, was also adamant about how good Braunie looked there. So honestly I don't think that needs to be an issue. I could see him starting 60 games or more at 1B.

Is that really what they're doing, though? IMHO Stearns is posturing with the "we like our group" stuff. Maybe they do, but I would definitely not assume that the Brewers aren't going to add a starter from the Group of 3 within the next couple of weeks. I'd still be surprised if they don't. Stearns is trying to build leverage, IMO.