wntrtxn21

No-no-no. He's due $56M (if he vests in 2020-2021) in the next 3 years. $39M in the next two years if he doesn't make his vesting numbers. Way too much money to take a risk with him.

Pretty sure that he recently said he'd be willing to play corner infield. Of course, that could have simply been to increase his marketability. But I agree, that ship has likely sailed after signing Garcia, Smoak and Gyorko. Castellanos said he would be willing to move to firstbase later in his career after he couldn't play OF anymore.

Nobody does. He has been a 440 PA guy from 25-29 because he's always nicked up. The back was spasms. There's a long history of tissue issues with him that have cost him time here and there. That'll continue. He's not going to play a full season. Wonder why MKE added him to platoon 3b with Sogard? The NBA calls it load management. The new 26 man roster allows you to manufacture 2 positions. I think 440 PA from both covers all of 3b and then some. I'll happily trust the MKE medical staff and DS on this one over your hunch that he's toast which is fueled by bias because you wanted someone else. People are excited about his platoon capabilities at 3b, which he plays solid defensively, in the smaller half of the platoon. No one's expecting an All Star. He's here to abuse LHP and play 3b for 65-75 starts this year. That's 3 games a week. If Eric Sogard bats 440 times the Brewers are in serious trouble.

Let's see what Rasmussen and Andrews can do in AAA before annointing them big leaguers. Brown was lights out in AA and then got to AAA and was badly overmatched. The place to find out is in the minors, not where it can cost the big league team games. Unless they look so unbelievably excellent in late spring training, let them get AAA hitters out on a consistent basis before bringing them up to the show.

You're right about Dyson. On Aug 2&3 he went a total of 2/3 of an inning and allowed 5 runs. In the 7 games prior and the 9 games after that he allowed 3 runs total. Problem is he made in the $5M range. If that's what he's asking, it's too much. Swarzak has been beyond awful for the last two years. The only way I'd even look at him would be on a minor lg. deal. Right now imo McHugh would be the only reliever worth pursuing, and then only if he's completly healthy.

You're right about Dyson. On Aug 2&3 he went a total of 2/3 of an inning and allowed 5 runs. In the 7 games prior and the 9 games after that he allowed 3 runs total. Problem is he made in the $5M range. If that's what he's asking, it's too much. Swarzak has been beyond awful for the last two years. The only way I'd even look at him would be on a minor lg. deal. Right now imo McHugh would be the only reliever worth pursuing, and then only if he's completly healthy.

Since he signed a minor league contract and he's not on the 40-man roster, I don't think it counts as an option if they don't keep him up after spring training. It's probably in his contract where he can take a major league offer from another team if the Brewers want to make that move though.

Of the 38 thirdbasemen listed, 26 were better than Dozier in QAA. No matter what his glove is well below the average 3B. How much is debatable. I would be worried with him at 3B, Hiura at 2B, and Braun at 1B.

Brewers get: 3B/SS Eduardo Escobar LHP Robbie Ray Diamondbacks get: SS Brice Turang OF Tristan Lutz https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-20791/ You would have to add a much bigger name/s to the Diamondbacks haul for them to even think about a trade. The D'Backs wouldn't trade Escobar for Lutz&Turang, much less throw in Ray. The trade value sight is way, way off on a lot of potential trades.

Let's just put the Castellanos at 3B to rest. Nobody knows IF he would consent to play third (He refused to play 1B for the Tigers). He's stated he doesn't like playing there and wants to play the OF. Imo the only way he would even consider 3B is if he couldn't get any offers to play the OF. That's not going to happen. Remember he would be playing thirdbase for at least 7 innings. All the shifting in the world can't hide him because teams are going to pull the ball against most of the Crew's starters. The Brewers already tried this type of experiment and it was a disaster. If Stearns wanted a 3B as horrendous as Castellanos, he'd just put Braun there and save a whole lot of money.

I'd gladly take that bet. I think Darvish might just be the Cubs opening day starter instead of Lester this year, so Sogard might be in the lineup somewhere. I think posters are prematurely dismissing Healy, in large part because of his defense. He wasn't that bad as a rookie when he played almost exclusively at 3B but after playing more at 1B in 2017 and spending almost no time at third in 2018, when he did play there, he was bad. I think if he concentrates primarily at 3B, it might help him and remember the Brewers move their weakest infielder to the least likely spot a ball is hit. If he's healthy, he's got a solid power bat. I think you called it right about Darvish over Lester for the Cubs. You're right about Sogard if Darvish starts. Sogard hits .278/.458 against him. In that case you may see Sogard start at SS, depending on who Stearns gets to start at third. I really disagree about Healy though. Imo Healy stays in AAA unless needed and would only be an emergency fill-in at 3B. He has been pretty much a train wreck both offensively and with the glove at 3B. His last two years with the bat: .235/.277 and .237/.289.... With the glove -33 & -22 at third base.

I'm wondering too why Nelson hasn't signed somewhere, unless all he can get is a minor lg. contract with a spring training invite. I think there's still a chance Stearns brings him back with a low-ball offer with a chance to make the big league roster.

You might be fine writing off $50-55M, but I seriously doubt MA would want to do that. I'm still holding out hope for a big trade or a one year fix and then a huge signing next year.

With Thames gone, we add 75 extra balls in play versus K's. With Anderson and Guerra gone, the Brewers save about 40 baseballs that otherwise end up in the bleachers. So technically we got SOME return... They're counting on Guerra's innings being taken by Roy Black and Jake Faria. Between them, they allowed 7 HR in 22 innings. Guerra allowed 11 in 83 innings. By my calculations, that's nearly 3 times the rate Guerra allowed. I don't think Stearns is counting on Faria for much of anything. After the horrendous showing he had, I don't see him anywhere but AAA or with another organization. I imagine the mid innings will be taken up by a large combination of guys including Black.

Wow! I was hoping for Harris but 3/$24 for a guy who will be 39 in the last year is way out of range. You're right, I'm glad D.S. passed.

Aw crap! I had hopes Stearns would pony-up the money for him. Next option?

C was Pina and Vogt. I believe they are far better there offensively than in 2018. 2b isn't even a discussion. SS should be better. Yelich is Yelich Garcia and Braun 2018 I see similar 1b in 2018 was Thames and Aguilar raking. I believe Braun and Smoak can match that. 3b was Shaw and Moose doing work. However, if that's Hiura and 3b can be what the 2b was in 2018 we are still better than we were in 2018. When you realize they've pushed 3b production to 2b you realize 3b production isn't a big deal. In an ideal world you'd want both to rake, but that's easier said than done. Pending what Cain can do this offense can still be every bit as good as it was in 2018, even with a weak 3b platoon. If it can match what 2b did in 2018 which isn't hard to do at all, Cain can be considerably worse than 2018 and the offense can be as good. Cishek is a SU man and perfect for the role. Sanchez I see as a pen piece. He's been awful as a starter lately. He was lights out early in his career out of the pen, even better than he was as a starter. I believe he has a shot of pulling a Pom. He could be an example of what happens when you try to make a Josh Hader a starter. His velo has dropped from 97 as a reliever to 95 and the last few years its dropped to 94 and 93. The velo should play up out of the pen. He can be FB/CB with a change option. Keeping him as a starter would be insanity. As a pen piece you might find a gem. Thanks again for chiming in on how I'm wrong without looking at numbers deeper than the surface or adding up production before you start your spiel. Sanchez"s last year out of the pen was 2015 and he was far from lights out. 4.61 FIP - 1.28 WHIP - less than 6 Ks/9 - More than 4 BBs/9. You can speculate about him or any failed starter in the pen, but why would Stearns want to take the chance? There are too many other questions in the pen. In 2019 the Brewers were middle of NL in hitting and runs scored with Hiura and very good production from 3B-1B-C-OF. 1B with Braun and Smoak shoud be as good or slightly better. Depends on Braun's health. A full year of Hiura should be better. SS is unknow. C will probably not going to be as good, but maybe close. OF overall production depends on what Cain does. Maybe a little better, maybe a little worse. 3B with Sogard and Gyorko will be much worse. If the offense last year was only middle of the pack with great production from 3B and every thing else close, to get better they need good production from 3B.

Murphy is a good stick, but his arm isn't the greatest anymore. He's more of a 1B now days. He hasn't played 3B since 2015. I guess they would have to determine how well he could make the long throw. His bat sure would be welcomed though. He might be worth a look if they could get him that cheap.

Imo 3B is not a "minor" need. I think having a power guy at 2B like Hiura is a huge bonus to the offense, if they can get even an average 3B. I believe Flores, Holt, Frazier, Cabrera are all ok options. None of those guys would be ideal, but all would be eminently better than Gyorko. I'm not sure what you see in Aaron Sanchez? 5.89 ERA/5.25 FIP - 145 hits/131 IPs - 1.62 WHIP - almost 5 BBs/9. He's only 27, but the numbers are awful. I like your McHugh and Walker ideas, but like you said, if healthy. Cishek is certainly not a closer type, but a decent pen guy. He'd have to come a lot cheaper than the $6+M he was making for the last 3 years though. I think if Stearns makes a splash with a RP he'll be looking for a McHugh or Harris.

W/White Sox: Fry is a walk machine (46 BBs/3 HBP in only 55 IPs) 1.58 WHIP - 4.90 FIP. Scary stats for Miller Park. Stiever looked good, but still in A ball. Vaughn still in A ball. Zero immediate help to the Crew and you decimated the pen w/o Hader. D'Backs: Duplantier bombed so bad at AAA last year he might start this season in AA. Strictly a throw-in. Beer is a good prospect, but a 1B and still at least a year away. Varsho and Ginkel are the prizes of this trade. Varsho is a great looking hitter, but needs work on his defense at AAA. He is probably at least a year away. Ginkel has a big arm and big potential. He has shown he is ready for the big leagues this coming season. I'd really be on board with the D'Backs trade, but absolutely not with the Sox trade.

I think the biggest worry is that the game will become a heavy strikeout version of slow-pitch softball. Homerun or whiff.

If the Twins offered this deal I'd jump at it instantly.

Well last year and in waivers he's added Feyereisen and Yardley to add to Claudio Devin Wahl who have options. I think Black Guerra Faria and TWilliams leave 1 man standing when all is said and done and I expect it to be Black. I don't see this as a DS typical pen but the only reason for that is that TWilliams and Guerra aged out. Faria/Black was a 2 man coin flip. The AAA pen could be loaded with a lot of guys who have options. Feyereisen Yardley Wahl Devin Perdomo Claudio who are on the 40. Add Barker who isn't on the 40 man. A few more who are further down the farm. Knebel on the IL Hader Peralta Suter Black Clearly he still has some work to do or the pens going to have TWilliams (7th), Faria (garbage long 8), Devin (6th) and Claudio (5th). This is why I want Cishek, McHugh and TWalker. No one wants to limp into the regular season like that. Truly, the entire roster is set right now except 3b and RP. Imo Claudio was re-signed and is a lock for the 26-man roster. Faria was so bad last year he will be DFA'd and possibly re-signed to a minor lg. deal because nobody will want him. I think Wahl (if healthy), T. Williams, and Feyereisen are the most likely to stick. I don't think Devin Williams is on the big lg. roster until he develops another pitch (his change-up was very erratic) to keep hitters off his fastball. I believe Stearns will bring in at least two other pen people soon. McHugh and Harris may be too expensive. Not a big fan of Cishek and his asking price could be too out-of-line for Stearns. There is a lot of work to do with the pen right now.

I like Seager too, but he won't waive that third year. He has absolutely no incentive to give up a whopping $15M just to be with a contender. Plus, if the M's don't kick-in some $$, I don't see interest by Stearns. A Lindor trade to the Dodgers would free up Turner, but he would be a $20M, one year rental. Not going to happen. IF the Braves re-sign Donaldson, Camargo could be available. Because of his down year last year, he might be a reasonable trade candidate. LaStella is also interesting, but again a one year rental. Looking for a comeback year from Matt Duffy might be an outside option. Bock Holt doesn't have much power, but he is a great OBP guy especially against RHP. Possibly a good 2nd hitter getting on base before Yelich. Maybe do a combo of Cabrera/Holt or Holt/Frazier. Cost would be around $10-11M. Bench could be Smoak, Sogard, Frazier/Cabrera, Gamel, Pina.

Robinson is an OF who was overmatched at A ball (.217/.294) struckout at a 30% rate. Daulton Varsho is a very good offensive catcher. A real good prospect at AA last year. Not ready for MLB until he improves defensively and shows he can hit AAA pitching. Perdomo is a SS and another good prospect still at A ball Duplantier was bad at AAA last year. 5.29 ERA - 1.56 WHIP - almost 7 walks/9 IPs - He is not ready for anybody's pen until he can find some control. He would be interesting, but not MLB ready. Overall there is no immediate help to the Brewers. Robinson and Perdomo are 3-4 years away if ever. Varsho is at least one year away and who knows about Duplantier? Still a huge hole at 3B and now no closer in the pen. Stearns needs to address 3B/pitching with any Hader deal.