long ball

relax. the Brewers didn't make a notable transaction until 12/13 last off season when they traded for Claudio. Didn't sign a notable free agent until 1/14 with Grandal. It will be ok.

I think we will see some higher intensity efforts over the next month. When largely these same guys steamrolled through the regular season last season I think it's natural not to get up to a high intensity every night. Re-match with the Jazz, Clippers, Lakers, Mavs, and 76ers are all on the schedule. I think we will see a different energy level in these games against high quality teams.

I think Jason Castro probably makes the most sense as a platoon mate with Pina at this point. Lefty bat who is about a league average hitter against righties. He's unplayable against lefties which is ok with Pina around too. Looks like he's a decent defender with ok pitch framing numbers. Could do worse than a Pina/Castro time share.

I'm definitely bummed Grandal won't be back. He was awesome in 2019 and he was the #1 guy I wanted back. He got 4 years which I wasn't expecting, but good for him. the AAV is about what I was expecting if not a little low. I'm glad it's the white sox though. I live in Chicago and I find myself watching a fair amount of white sox games too. Glad they landed a big free agent after a disappointing 2018 off season. I think the Brewers should pivot toward Didi Gregorious for a big upgrade at SS.

Zack Brown is the only other guy I'd expect to be added, but he had a tough year so who knows if he'd be selected or what the internal evaluation of him is now.

The minor tweaks to the BiG logo don't bother me nor stick out that much. So that's whatever to me. They absolutely killed it with the jerseys though. I especially love the cream and the navy jerseys.

Pacers are down a bunch of guys tonight, including Brodgdon. Bucks have gotten some breaks with guys resting/being out against them so far this season. I don't know if that's really influenced their record by much. I don't think the Bucks have really kicked it into high gear very often this season yet.

I think this award is probably the least important out of all the major awards because the criteria is completely arbitrary. All I know is that there isn't a single manager in the NL that I'd rather have managing the Brewers. I am 100% satisfied with Counsell as a manager and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Non-tenders: Saladino, Claudio Free agent signings: Grandal (3x$18.5), Pomeranz (3x$8), Lyles (1x$4.5), Gio (1x$4.5), Moustakas (1x$11), Jose Iglesias (1x$3), Wilmer Flores (1x$4.25) Rotation: Woodruff, Davies, Lyles, Gio, Houser Pen: Hader, Pomeranz, Knebel, Suter, Guerra, Nelson, 2 of Faria/Black/T. Williams (keep all 3 if knebel needs to start on the IL or another pitcher) Shuttle squad: Wahl, Burnes, Peralta, D. Williams C: Grandal OF: Braun, Yelich, Cain Inf: Shaw, Hiura, Iglesias, Moustakas Bench: Pina, Grisham, Gamel, Arcia, Flores Opening day payroll: ~$141mm (I used MLB-TR arb projections, $565k for pre-arb, included deferrals and buyouts in this total) General thoughts: Brewers probably won't stretch the payroll this much and the most logical spots to trim the spending would be on Pomeranz, he might be a bit of a luxury. I think the general pitching strategy will be the same. I don't envision them signing any of the expensive free agent starters. I just can't quite quit Shaw or Nelson who are both borderline tender decisions. I think the upside play for both is worth the risk for both and both arb figures are likely lower than they'd get as free agents. I generally tried to stick close to the free agent contracts predictions on MLB-TR/Fangraphs, but honestly I think recent off seasons for Moustakas, Lyles, Gio, and Iglesias are bigger indicators of the type of contract they'll get than some of the ones predicted so I deviated where I disagreed with those sites. The Brewers will probably make another trade or two this off season, but it's so difficult to speculate this early in the off season which players may be on the move so I just skipped doing that. Offseason priorities ranked: 1) Grandal 2) 2 veteran starters (they don't need to be Gio/Lyles, but guys in that class make sense) 3) Big relief arm like Pomeranz. I like McHugh and Cishek too, but Pomeranz is preferred 4) Moustakas 5) Right handed hitting corner infielder. Flores fits the budget better, but I like Todd Frazier too.

This actually isn't a bad call. I'm hoping the re-sign Moustakas for 3b. I'm also somewhat thinking they tender Shaw. Flores as a right handed hitting complement who can cover 1b, 3b, and 2b would be useful. He ended the year healthy. He's also probably significantly cheaper than Frazier or Kendrick who I was kicking around in my head to fill that role.

Pomeranz was incredible and I'm convinced he is an elite relief pitcher moving forward. Personally, I think a deal close to what Joe Kelly got last winter (3/$25) makes a ton of sense and I'd like the Brewers to re-sign him.

Agreed. Maybe I didn't express my point clearly. In 2017 I think the general consensus was that the Brewers were set in the OF. They had Braun, Santana, Phillips, Brinson, and Broxton. Fans thought they'd focus on improving other areas on the roster, but instead they traded for Yelich and signed Cain. This year I think people also feel pretty good about Braun, Cain, Yelich, Gamel, and Grisham all under team control for at least next season. If they were to trade for Betts it would be a surprise just like it was a surprise in 2017 when they got Yelich and Cain.

I've been ping ponging a Betts trade in my head too. I don't think it would take Hiura and if it did I just wouldn't want them to do it. Generally guys like that are for a group of players and it's rare for a young player with 6 years of control as good as Hiura to be traded in the last couple years. Almost feels like it would be the 2017 offseason over agin. OF feels like the one spot the Brewers are set at... then BAM. Acquire the best outfielder available. It probably won't happen even though it would be cool.

Yes, at least on social media. Agree with OP that it's similar to the way Millenial is used. I think it's annoying.

If the Brewers don't re-sign Grandal, Didi is probably my second choice of "realistic" position player targets. (assuming rendon and donaldson are not in the "budget")

NL has a really competitive group of center fielders. I wasn't sure if Cain would get it this year. Robles and Bader were both deserving candidates as well. Even if it was somewhat of a lifetime achievement award for Cain, I'm glad he finally got one. Not sure if he will win another given his age and unlikely to keep playing as many games going forward, but he will still be well above average for probably the life of this contract.

Interesting name. I'd be cool with it. Might need to add a RH bench bat as insurance, but I'd be interested.

Good hitter. Young. Looks like he's never played first base in the big leagues. They had to move him off third. I suppose you could sign him and see who looks better at first base between him and braun in spring and play the other in LF.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2020-top-50-free-agents/ I think Kiley is high in years for grandal, high in years/aav for moustakas, right on for Pomeranz, high in AAV for gio, high in aav/years for lyles. I also think Kiley is high in AAV for Jose Igelsias- oft mentioned as a Brewers target on this forum.

I think $7.5 for Thames was probably slightly higher than market value, but like Folly said, not enough to decline and re-sign. I would've predicted Thames option to be picked up, but I'm not really that surprised it went the other way. Not sure, where they'll go with 1b. Maybe Shaw and hope he can fill the LH side of the platoon there.

This is basically my feelings on it. I would've leaned toward declining his option so getting an org depth player in return is about what i'd expect. Can probably re-sign Gio and Lyles for less than $10mm combined in 2020.

Frankly I don't really care if the players like it or not. These guys are performers. If the demand from the consumers is an automated strike zone and the technology is there to implement it in an accurate way without it disrupting the traditional flow of the game then we are going to get it. Now it does seem like the relay of called strikes isn't immediate. A several second delay is not going to cut it. They will need to refine that before it gets to MLB regular season and playoff games.

Obviously the Brewers won't be able to do all of these things, but here are some names that have been bouncing around my head. Catcher: Grandal- #1 realistic target. He's an obvious target to try to re-sign the rest of the free agent catchers would probably be time share candidates with Pina. Whoever the Brewers like best out of that group is probably fine with me. Corner IF: Moustakas- I'm a fan of him in general even if he isn't the best 3b target on the market. Todd Frazier or Howie Kendrick- good right handed bats to platoon at 1b/3b. I'd lean toward Frazier since I have more confidence he holds up health wise and defensively at 3b. A RH complement in the corner infield would be important if Shaw/Thames are the LH side of the platoon at 1b/3b. SS: I think the Brewers absolutely need to do something to raise the floor of the SS position in 2020. Iglesias would be my preference if a low cost option is needed. Mercer or Hechavarria would be acceptable too. Didi would be a good pivot if the Brewers aren't willing to pony up for Grandal. Utility: Brock Holt would be a dream. Asdrubal Cabrera, Zobrist, and sogard all make some level of sense too. this is probably lower on the list of needs. SP: The number of arms needed here will depend on what they do with Anderson (should get an answer on that today) I am of the mind that I'd like both Lyles and Gio back. I think both could be options out of the pen if they don't stick in the rotation. Wheeler would be a dream. I don't think they spend that much on a SP though. Hamels, Hill, Miley, and Alex wood all make some sense for varying reasons, but a lefty would be nice if Gio isn't re-signed. I'm not all that enamored with Odorizzi, Gibson, Pineda, Kuechel, etc. SP especially is where the Brewers can probably afford to wait out the market if they're grading out several of these guys as similar talents. RP- Pomeranz is probably the top target I'd like to sign. He might get expensive though considering the lack of good free agent options on the RP market. I'd love Cishek. Colin McHugh is a pet favorite of mine. If he's healthy he fits the Brewers strategy well. He's a swing man type. Has had really good success out of both the pen and rotation. Would provide good flexibility for the staff.

I just did some quick and dirty math. I came up with $109,230,000 I used contract info from Cots. I used $565k as the minimum salary for all pre-arb players on the 40 man. (This isn't perfect because I believe players on the 40 man get minor league pay while they're in the the minors) I used MLB Trade Rumors arbitration salary projections. I assumed Thames and Anderson would have their options exercised and all players under 6 years of service time would be retained. I included the $5.25mm in buyouts owed to Gandal and Moose. I also removed $4mm for deferred comp for Braun and Cain. I included Wahl and Knebel who technically are not listed on the 40 man roster yet. This is player salary only. It does not include other forms of player compensation/benefits that are rolled into the luxury tax calculation. Edit: to add Perdomo.

I think option decisions are due today for Thames and Anderson. (of course if Anderson's option is declined he's still under team control through arbitration so he may not immediately become a free agent)