Ron Robinsons Beard

Probably a chance that Stearns gives the Mariners the competitive balance round B pick the team picked up yesterday, in addition to pitching prospects.

I'd be disappointed, but not surprised. Narvaez has 3 years of control, is looking at a $2.9 million salary this season, and provides legit offense at a position where it is rare to get it. Brewers are going to have to give up something pretty valuable for that I fear. This isn't a Yelich-level "get", but it is hugely significant nonetheless.

Part of me kinda wonders if this might end up being a bigger deal than just Narvaez. Kyle Seager could slot in at 3B, and Vogelbach would be a nice bat, if you believe he can play a passable 1B. Mariners have quite a few neat pieces.

Seattle is in huge need of pitching. I'm going to guess Corbin Burnes or Freddy Peralta. Perhaps Small, Ashby or Rasmussen. The return is gonna sting a little. I can't see Burnes or Peralta being on the table at all for Narvaez. Ray seems fair but only because his value has plummeted. I think we are overestimating the value of Narvaez a bit. He's entering arbitration so about to get a little more expensive and obviously does have some defensive concerns that make him more available than he otherwise would be. I think Nottingham + Supak is probably a fair deal. But I could be wrong. I think it's gonna sting worse than that. We're talking about legit offensive upside at a position where that is very difficult to find. Narvaez puts up offensive numbers close to Grandal, at a fraction of the cost. The return might not just sting. It might legitimately hurt.

Hader for Narvaez, Kelenic, Kyle Seager and Vogelbach!

Seattle is in huge need of pitching. I'm going to guess Corbin Burnes or Freddy Peralta. Perhaps Small, Ashby or Rasmussen. The return is gonna sting a little.

Martín Maldonado Vogt? David Frietas Bingo! Granted there was some lag. Brewers didn't trade for Freitas until April. Bet he's not too thrilled seeing that he's been kicked down the catching totem pole again by Narvaez. Of course, if it is Nottingham going back to the Mariners, maybe not.

Oh stop it. Go back to bed now. David Ortiz married a Wisconsin gal who he met while playing for Appleton (when they were a Seattle affiliate). Sadly he never ended up playing 1B for the Brewers.

Please, please, please, do NOT trade Ethan Small for this guy. PLEASE? https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-16900/ Trivia: Back in April Mississippi State starter Ethan Small dropped a decision to Arkansas starter Isaiah Campbell, whom the Seattle Mariners selected with the 76th pick of the June draft: https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/campbell-shines-as-razorbacks-take-opener/ But, again, Seattle and Milwaukee may not match up in a trade. I'm gonna be sad if it is Small or Rasmussen going back to Seattle. I may sound naive, but I kinda hope its for multiple 17-year-old lottery tickets. Small and Rasmussen fit our 3-year window.

Guess which catcher the Mariners jettisoned when they traded for Narvaez last year ... Hint: He's a PURE hitter!

I loved Grandal, but it sure seemed like he didn't pass the "eye test" defensively, even though the metrics love him. Between Urias and Narvaez, we see potential offensive equality or upgrades, with defensive downgrades. Overemphasis on poor defense is the new market inefficiency! Get ready for someone like JD Davis or Castellanos starting at 3B next year. (half blue)

Figured he’d be the target. Hopefully his defensive issues are overstated. Love the bat. If you were going to replace Grandal’s offense, this is the guy that can do it. Nice get!

What is going to get ugly? Who cares what the Reds do? They have proven absolutely nothing besides the fact that they operate like a rudderless ship. First, I care. They're in our division. Second, they seem to be getting the pieces they need and we're not. Third, they are in direct competition with us on starters. Assuming we're out on a pitcher like Strasburg (Yankees interest) and Cole, and now that Wheeler's gone the other impactful SP's will dry up. Yes, I'm a little worried right now. The Reds were much better "on paper" last year than they ended up being, too. Until they actually perform up to that hype, they don't worry me in the least. They were predicted to go out and spend, and they are. That's fine. It wouldn't be the first team to make a big offseason splash, then underperform.

I wanted Moose AND Grandal back, or equal production from two guys they bring in at those respective positions. Not sure why that is so much to ask. I mean, in all honesty, shouldn't that be what the brewers want as well?? Okay, so even if I gave you Kendrick..how can you pander for him yet, you are one of the people that was lamenting the White Sox signing of Grandal and the Reds signing of Moose saying they would regret them because of their ages and were glad the Brewers didn't do those deals because they would regret them. You can't have it both ways, when it fits your narrative. The biggest difference is that Moose is going to be making $16 million and Grandal $18 million+ at an age near where Kendrick is now. It's not just an age thing. It's an age + commitment/cost thing. Kendrick will likely sign a 1 year deal for $6-8 million. That contract doesn't hamstring a team near as much.

I fully expect the team to take a few calculated gambles and spend some big money this offseason. Where they will spend it I have no idea. It may be on free agents, or perhaps through taking on a large salary in a trade. But you are correct in saying that they have an opportunity to makes waves while one of the best players in the majors is under contract. They also rolled out a rebrand, and no one is going to be excited by watching Logan Forsythe playing 3B in those sweet cream home jerseys. It has been a frustrating offseason as a Brewer fan so far, but also an exciting one. Right now the team is as close as it's ever been to a blank slate with Stearns in charge. I'm very interested to see what he does with all the decisions he's got to make.

What is going to get ugly? Who cares what the Reds do? They have proven absolutely nothing besides the fact that they operate like a rudderless ship.

Yeah, I like that it is moving, because last year's hot stove was incredibly slow and boring. I'm a Brewer fan, but I'm also a baseball fan, and I like seeing these guys move around. The dynamic is really cool to watch. And yes, the Brewers are going to have to jump in the pool here and start filling holes soon. The difference is that I have faith that they will do just that. And no, they won't be "dumpster diving". They haven't done that in a decade, and there is nothing that indicates that they will start operating that way again. And no, I'm not a fan of a Kendrick signing. He has been very good, but is at an age where the bottom could very well fall out of his game at any time. He's a stopgap solution at best, and I think the Brewers front office is better than the old guard who regularly employed stopgaps. Okay, I'm willing to listen if someone can explain to me how exactly they will replace two all star bats and be the same or better. Seriously, I will listen...but I can promise you most will say well they could sign so and so and hope he catches lightning in a bottle or whatever. I mean, outside of Donaldson, who is left at third base that can at minimum match Moose's production, who is left at Catcher than can match at minimum Grandal's production?? I mean there are a lot of "I hope/think he can's" out there, they could sign, but nothing that would bring you the guaranteed production those two did. Without that, the lineup is almost sure to be not as good. Sure, maybe Cain improves from last year, a full season of Hiura etc, that helps some, but...they could have all of that AND have Grandal/Moose production as well. That's my point. Why wouldn't you want that or try to get it while you still have Yelich. This is what I mean, the Brewers and a lot of their fans are willing to take risks on guys "rebounding" or reaching their potential etc. If it works, you look brilliant, if it doesn't(which it will more often than not), you look like a fool. I'd rather not live like that. I'd rather see proven talent. That seems to me to be a better way to go. More of a sure thing(but not guaranteed of course). The Brewers were able to take advantage of market inefficiency to grab Grandal and Moose on short-term deals last year. The truth is, they are a team that is going to have to take chances and hope for rebounds and for things to go right. They are never going to be a team that can go out and fill holes with top-of-the-line free agents on huge long-term contracts. Yeah, they can do those deals once in a while (Cain) but it isn't going to be the norm. So no, I don't think they will be able to replace Moose and Grandal's production tit-for-tat. But they can improve other areas, and put guys at catcher and 3B that will hopefully be able to replicate at least a good portion of that production. They are always going to have to think outside the box and be one step ahead of other teams, because they just aren't going to have the money available to buy their way out of trouble.

Nice message and I will miss him in a Brewers uniform. He had two great years and last year was frustrating for him and us. Good luck to Travis and I hope he finds his way back to being a very productive player again but unfortunately it won't be in Milwaukee anymore. I thought it was a little salty mentioning whoever takes him next will get a “HIGHLY motivated and determined player”. I don't think he was ever not highly motivated and determined. There was probably 5-6 stories last year on how Shaw was trying everything to turn things around. Motivation and determination doesn't hit a baseball, though. I hope he figures it out.

Wondering the same thing. I'm not currently in "the sky is falling" mode or anything, but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't concern in the back of my mind that this franchise (with its history of futility and slashing payroll) was going to slash payroll and say "we tried". To question someone's fandom because they want the billionaire owner to spend, and keep telling them their opinion isn't a good look seems a bit over the top. It's the same rhetoric from the same poster year after year, every offseason, every trade deadline. It isn't about the front office here being above criticism or anything. But when the same guy has been panicking year after year about the lack of moves all the while DS has been averaging 90 wins a season the last 3 years it gets a bit eye rolling. If this was the first time he was doing this I think the responses would be more in line with that. You put it much more eloquently than I could. But yeah, that's it in a nutshell. But the other posters are right. I'll cool it on the "be patient" stuff. At least this team is relevant enough now that fans care about lack of activity from them during the Hot Stove season. It never used to matter.

Yeah, I like that it is moving, because last year's hot stove was incredibly slow and boring. I'm a Brewer fan, but I'm also a baseball fan, and I like seeing these guys move around. The dynamic is really cool to watch. And yes, the Brewers are going to have to jump in the pool here and start filling holes soon. The difference is that I have faith that they will do just that. And no, they won't be "dumpster diving". They haven't done that in a decade, and there is nothing that indicates that they will start operating that way again. And no, I'm not a fan of a Kendrick signing. He has been very good, but is at an age where the bottom could very well fall out of his game at any time. He's a stopgap solution at best, and I think the Brewers front office is better than the old guard who regularly employed stopgaps.

Wondering the same thing. I'm not currently in "the sky is falling" mode or anything, but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't concern in the back of my mind that this franchise (with its history of futility and slashing payroll) was going to slash payroll and say "we tried". To question someone's fandom because they want the billionaire owner to spend, and keep telling them their opinion isn't a good look seems a bit over the top. Over the top? Perhaps singling him out is unjustified, but given the history of this particular poster, who has a long history of calling out this team's front office in a very dramatic fashion, I think some kick back is justified.

This front office is not above criticism. But when every post turns into a bashing session of the team's front office, that's exactly what it is. But back to Wheeler. I don't see that contract working out for the Phillies. But they have the money to eat it, so it isn't going to matter too much to them in the long run.

Lowrie keeps on being mentioned because he was listed in the original article saying that the Mets are considering going that route. I agree that with only 1 year and $9 million left on his contract, it doesn't make a ton of sense. You could probably get him for practically nothing, but I doubt the Mets are going to add a valuable asset to get a team to take him of their hands. Familia and Cespedes could be a different story, though.

You mean 10 players from a 2019 team that you literally gave up on in August as they hovered around .500? Remember that? You completely gave up on the team and announced to everyone that you were done and that it was time for Packer season. You denounced the acquisitions of Lyles and Pomeranz big time, while in reality those two turned out to be the "needle movers" you were so upset with the team for not acquiring. You refuse to acknowledge anyone who tells you to be patient and have a little faith in the guys that are running this club. Like I said before ... not a good look. At all.

Sure will ... gotta be ready for that Christmas Eve opening day!