Ron Robinsons Beard

Perhaps if the team was coming off a poor season and wasn't predicted to compete, and perhaps if Knebel was close to free agency. But they're not, and he's not. Yes, his price is going to continue to climb through arbitration, but it's not going to get to the point where its a detriment to team finances. Hader certainly has the ability to someday be a shut-down closer, but until the team determines what his ultimate long-term role is, that is off the table.

I don't really know what more Woodruff has to prove in AAA, though. It's time for him to sink or swim in the major league rotation. He shouldn't be sent down in favor of these retreads. I say that knowing full well that is probably what's going to happen, though. Because Counsell likes his veteran "gamers". Ugh!

Yeesh! Another instance of a Cub fan feeling that it is the player's honor to play for their team. Knock me over with a feather! For a team with one title in a century, there sure is a sense of entitlement. If Cobb really wanted to be there, he would have accepted the 3-year deal they offered him back in December. FTR.. I am Definitely not a Cubs fan I know ... I was alluding to the talk you said you hear from fans in Cubs country. I'm sorry you have to put up with that.

It's the type of showing that would give previous Brewer managers a false sense of security. If he makes the rotation over guys like Suter and Woodruff, it will be disappointing.

We're a week into Spring Training. Eventually the league is gonna catch up to that flat 88 MPH heater. He knows he's pitching for a job, so he's gonna be as "on" as he can be.

The guy is a F-R-A-U-D. Best just to move on. Twitter is a scary bunch of squirrels.

Braun scooped a ball with his OF glove and Brewers now comfortable he will be gold Glover with 1B mitt. Thames no longer needed. As it turns out, Thames has a stiff back. Precautionary. #HugWatchOff

And Miley looked great in the 1st inning with a couple K's. #CounsellpicksWadefor#5 #ForgoneConclusion

Thames was a late scratch from the lineup today. No reason was given. #HugWatch

He also projects to be much less of a financial albatross should he flame out. I know it's not my money, but signing Arrieta to a 4 year/$110 million deal is a pretty big risk. And I'm sure some team will end up paying that, because Boras.

Well, I just watched the press conference, and Miller denied all allegations, is staying at Arizona, and Rydquist has already deleted the tweet. He's obviously just some buffoon who throws speculation out as fact, then deletes it before he can be called on it. I do not have a Twitter account, but if I did, I'd flood his remaining posts questioning his wrong assertions. You are right Boomer5, if you take away January 25, this offseason sucks.

Definitely gone. Maybe refresh your browser, or click on the tweet itself?

It appears he has deleted his Cobb tweet, though. I call shenanigans. Obviously just some buffoon throwing spaghetti against a wall.

That is one hell of a first post. Bravo!

No worries man ... they are just trying to add some brevity to the slow, frustrating wait. Thanks for posting it. I don't know if this guy is legit at all, but at least its something to talk about.

Well, Yelich is getting his first Spring Training start in RF today against the DBacks. Hopefully he's tested out there. If he can play an above-average RF, that would really help the team's versatility.

Stokes is muscular and stocky, and doesn't have near the speed that Berry brings. His body type is pretty rare in MLB. I guess Caleb Gindl would be a solid comparison, although Stokes probably profiles better. Young Kirby Puckett without near the hit tool?

We are getting Cobb at 4 years and $73M *slow clap

Plus, the poster that posted the info here has one post. For all we know, that poster is Mr. Rydquist attempting to draw people to his twitter page. That sort of screams shenanigans as well.

Cautionary TBD ... If nothing else comes out in the next couple hours, though, I'd say it's crap.

Could they file a grievance though, on a non-guaranteed contract? The terms of the contract would still apply and he'd be owed the 30 to 45 days termination pay, regardless of if he's healthy or injured. Either way I think the Brewers wait it out until he's healthy in a few weeks or until opening day approaches and the injury is lingering and they work out a severance deal (if that's even necessary). It doesn't really cost them anything to wait it out. Well, that 40-man roster spot could prove valuable this time of year, especially if it being taken up by a guy they don't have any intention of keeping.

I would say that the way the Giants were able to squeeze in Watson and stay below the luxury tax would be a bigger fish to fry than proving the legitimacy of a $49 million contract. But who knows. A lot of MLB enforcement seems entirely complaint-based. I wouldn't put it past the Cubs to call foul on the Brewers if it got to that point.

Exactly. Nottingham is already on the 40-man, so his role automatically is "deep injury insurance".

I agree with you completely! To be a legit solid playoff contender, at least one staff upgrade is needed. I guess it just kind of bothers me that people feel that if it doesn't happen, the team will automatically be a bottom dweller and deadline seller. I mean, this isn't a "bottom of the barrel" staff as constructed. The sky is far from falling.

What news? This is Haudricourt's speculative quote: "The Brewers haven't announced when they expect Nelson to return to the rotation but somewhere around the all-star break in mid-July would appear to be a good possibility." I get that you are trying to make a pessimistic point, but you're still making a bit of a jump. I do agree that they need another pitcher, though. Why is that pessimistic? Do you have information to the contrary? Is saying he will be back around the ASB unrealistic in any way? If he is back around the ASB are you expecting him to be 2017 Nelson the minute he steps on the hill? If not, how long would it take, a month? Two? By that time the team is either going to be out of it or they will have made a move to get more pitching. It's not a pessimistic point, it's a realistic point. I don't think Haudricourt's report is as nearly speculative as you make it sound. It's not that hard to map out a trajectory that has him back on the mound in games at the ASB. Maybe I'm misreading the level of condescension in your post but I fail to see the pessimism or the jump. Because when you say "news", that typically equals fact. Perhaps the perceived pessimism stems from you saying "after" instead of "around", as well. The truth is, there hasn't been any sort of timeline attached to Nelson for good reason - because his injury is pretty rare for pitchers, so no one really knows how long it's going to take. Haudricourt is speculating. That is not news, it is opinion. A somewhat informed opionion, but still an opinion. But he's already in a throwing program, and Counsell said he's be back on the mound by the start of the regular season. It would stand to reason that, unless he has some sort of significant setback, he should be pitching in games before July. Yes, I'm looking at it overly optimistic. Being a long time Brewers fan, that could be a fool's errand. But it's March. It's the time for optimism.