jay87shot

I think both teams have solid lineups and starting pitching. The bullpen will likely determine alot as well as health. I wouldnt be surprised to see the Cubs add a bullpen arm or two before the year starts. I will give us the advantage but if the Cubs sign a couple of the better pen arms I will be a lot more worried. The same could probably be said for the Reds. There rotation is really solid with upside younger position players and an iffy bullpen. If they add a couple solid pen arms it becomes a wild race. The Cards could even be players if they can get better pitching after Gray and Fedde and guys like Jordan Walker make big improvements.

Hopefully the Badgers win, not just because it is us but to stop some (a little) of this this free agent craziness. How can you sign a 2 year contract and then a week later want to transfer and there isn't tampering. Honestly the ncaa is ridiculous, because the idea of a portal doesn't really exist. A player can unenroll at any point, enroll in another school, and pretty muchly be eligible the idea of a portal opening and closing isn't accurate at all. Now the idea that he signed a contract and then Miami improperly offered him more money is total conceivable and probably likely (Badgers said they have proof of improper contact). Not really Lucas' fault in my opinion, NCAA having ambiguous rules and corrupt teams doing whatever they want and there isn't a strong enough entity (ncaa) to do anything. You can't blame a 19/20 year old OF taking a couple 100 grand to move closer to home (like 30 miles I think I read).

I remember watching Rodriguez start a couple games a couple years ago for the Tigers. He had really good movement but got crushed. The Tigers stunk and pushed him up to early. Turns out he was tipping pitches. Love me some Jomboy clips.

Here is my plan. 1) re-sign McDuffie 2/8, McManus 2/5, and Slaton 2/7. 2)Trade Jaire post June 1 2026 3rd rounder and trade Romeo Doubs for a 2026 conditional 4th 3) Sign Chris Godwin 4/100, I think the Bengals use a 2nd tag on Higgins. Godwin doesn't drop balls, has good size, and would be a great possession reliever for us. 2nd option Davante Adams 2/40 (jets cut) 4) Sign Ryan Kelly 2/24 He might be past his prime but the veteran experience could be huge up the middle. 2nd option James Daniels 3/40? Could play C or shift Rhyan there 5) CB Paulson Adebo, 3/24 Broke his femur, but at 26 he the ability to be a solid #2 CB if doc's reports are good. 2nd option Bryon Murphy 3/42 more expensive but had 6 picks last year. Draft 1) CB Benjamin Morrison. Adebo and Morrison replace Jaire and Stokes. There are probably 4-5 solid CB I like who could go here depending on the next couple months. 2) WR Jaydin Higgins. Big, productive, probably a good blocker. Godwin, Reed, Watson, and Higgins make a super scary recieving Corp. 3) NT Nazir Stackhouse We love our Georgia guys here is a Slaton replacement with some long term ability to replace Kenny Clark. 4)CB Jordan Hancock Can't go wrong with OSU corners. 5)T Logan Brown. Former Badger with interesting upside. In the 5th, would provide solid depth and upside. 6) TE CJ Dippre. With Musgrave injuries some more TE depth would be nice. 7)WR Jamaal Pritchett. Small but could be a solid upside pick who could contribute as a return man early. I think we will probably have 2 more 7ths but I'll leave at at this.

I think as of now we have 50ish million in salary cap space and can free up 20+ million with a couple simple restructures. Top free agents include Josh Myers, Isiah McDuffie, TJ Slaton, Brandon McManus, and Eric Stokes (some other minor players) We can also save decent money with a post June 1 cut/trade of Jaire Alexander (like 6.8 million before June 1 and 17.1 post June 1). Obviously it is hard to figure out how much a free agent will get on the market but let's here it.

The Blue Jays just took Myles Straw from the Guardians for 2 million international bonus, that would seem like a get Roki style move. Maybe we can just swoop in and take some of the Blue Jays (or Dodgers) previously signed players and find a Quero who signs for a smaller amount.

Bob Uecker was my greatest idol growing up. When I 1st was 7 I got a radio and had my radio adjusted perfectly to listen to the Brewers and not alarm my parents. That was 1994 so the teams were bad but Bob Uecker single handedly made years of terrible baseball entertaining for me. Listening to blowouts were as good as close games. I know American Family Insurance is paying alot for the naming rights to the Stadium but I whole-hearted believer that they should rename the Stadium Uecker Field/Park/Stadium what ever.

Alfaro seems like a perfect signing as mentor for Quero in AAA and as protection if we need a catcher to call up earlier in the year. I think Haase fits our needs as a backup catcher perfectly, if he goes 0-4 with 3 k's one game and then 2-4 with a big hit then next game he plays that is fine. He isn't a great defensive catcher but he is good enough to give William a day off when necessary and enough of a veteran to do what is needed. He can also be a decent pinch hitter against lefties when needed.

The Red Sox have a lot of starting options, it is a nice idea but my guess is that the Sox would be looking for relief or middle infield help. Obviously they probably would have to add Arenado or Bregman to make Casas available I would mind the framework of that deal, I might try and swap Black out for a reliever or prospect.

I would love to get Lowe but Frelick is to much to give up maybe add in Pete Fairbanks and we can send a lesser reliever their way.

I am interested to see how his stuff progresses as he moves through the system. Being drafted throwing up to 95 with the high spin breaking balls there is clearly top of the rotation starter potential. If he can get a bit more consistent with control and develop the changeup (stay healthy) he will be a very nice pitcher in the bigs. If he can add a couple mph and sit like 95-96 there is likely some ace potential to be had. He seems like a guy who should be a level a year and have a chance to be in the bigs at 22 if things go to plan (some for Bishop Letson).

It will be more next year when we pay Woody $10 likely not to be on the team (unless we extend him during the season)

I think Megill can be a solid closer, but for how long is the question, I agree an injury could cause him mechanical issues for sure. I just think he is a guy who is great when throwing 98-100 but when he loses a couple mph he will be done quickly. At 31, he has maybe 2-3 good years and then I would expect him to decline if an injury doesn't get him sooner. Basically I am not worried about him this year or even next year but long term is iffy. He probably would be a great trade candidate after the year if he has a successful year (free agent after 2027) and Yoho and/or Uribe are looking like we hope.

I agree, I meant to put put an additional mid-tier prospect to the Sox (since fixed) but since writing that think it would need to be someone in our top 10ish, say Brock Wilken or Luke Adams.

It wasn't until late January into February last year until we signed Rhys and Burnes was traded setting up a couple FA signings. Here are some ideas for a big shake up. 1)Brewers get Triston Casas Red Sox get Nolan Arenado, Ryan Pressley, and (midtier Brewer prospect), Cards get Lucas Giolito and Elvis Peguero Astros get Joel Payamps, Blake Perkins We get a long term 1st baseman, the Red Sox upgrade defense and get a closer. The Cards get out from Arenado and get 2 useful arms. The Stros shed some money to maneuver and get an upside OF and depth pen arm for Pressley. Casas for Perkins, Payamps, Peguero, and prospect doesn't seem obscene for Cases 2) Brewers get Luis Arraez, Mets get Rhys Hoskins, Padres get Starling Marte (Mets eat like 5million) and Carlos Rodriguez This ends up a 3 way deal to send out contracts teams are trying to move for similar pieces of need. We send out CarRod to make up for Arraez having a little bit of value. 3)Sign reliever like Sewald/ LeClerc/Jansen/Kimbrel 1/5-6 ish I don't know if Jansen or Kimbrel sign that cheap buy maybe. I like the idea of picking up Sewald and our staff re-invigarating him.

I would be fine with Iglesias, he has a pretty high floor so as long as he isn't to expensive that would be fine. Kim would be better but with the injury and a likely higher price it is more of a risk. I think it is likely Kim will take a 1/10-15 million dollar deal which we could probably swing but I worry about there being a Rhys style player option(s) that would really only hurt us. Iglesias for 6-8 with a reasonable team option and buyout may be better than 1/10-15 with a player option for Kim. However as a fan, I would go big and try for Kim. Kim could have 25 HR potential at AFF instead of Petco.

Rodgers interesting with some past strong seasons, prospect pedigree, and gold glove 2022. However has as many warnings as positives hits way better in Coors, injuries, and defensive regression. I would be ok with him on a cheap (3-4 million) deal as a utility/LHP platoon but I would have a ton of faith in him.

Those rankings are a dynasty view, I think that is kind of for a specific fantasy baseball. If I understand right basically a dynasty view only really looks at the players ceiling.

1)Fast riser= Jason Woodward (A-AA), Cooper Pratt(A+-AAA), Blake Burke A+ to AAA Obviously placement at the beginning of the year will make some difference here. Woodward and Pratt are both borderline up to the next level so a couple good weeks could mean early promotions. Burke seems like a guy who could have a huge year if healthy. 2)Out of no where= Yerlin Rodriguez, Juan Ortuno Probably not out of no where for our site but nationally neither get love. Hopefully Yerlin fills out a bit and adds another mph or 2 and that helps his control becoming a legit relief prospect. Ortuno is a guy who got lost with Made and Ortiz getting attention. With the need for A ball OF depth he could get an opportunity to skip rookie ball and take advantage. 3)Eric Bitonti, Yophery Rodriguez Bitonti is going to hit a ton of HR as a 19 year in Aball/A+ball, Yophery takes a step on becomes a 15/15 player and at his age moves into the top 100. I hope am going to guess someone like Braylon Payne or Josh Knoth will be borderline top 100 prospects as well. 4)Dylan O' Rae He was pushed to AA to early last year, I think if he can spend all year at AA without being pushed we will see numbers like early in 2024. 5)pass 6)All teams above .500 again. Eric Bitonti hits like 34 HR, Mike Boeve hits above .300 again and gets some big league time after the all star break. All the super young higher end prospects play well but not at the highest level. A bunch of starters have great years and the over crowded upper levels staffs gets more congested,

I thought this might be a fun discussion with the big league ZIP's coming out. What would be you personal predictions in some categories. Feel free to add some categories if anyone has better ideas 1)Fast riser(s) (ie more than 2 levels)(IE Pratt, Yoho, Hunt 2024 (Pratt playoffs in AA), Chourio 2023 2)Out of no where (Hunt, Yoho) 3)Rise into consensus top 100 prospect 4)Comeback Player (re-establish lost prospect status or return from injury) 5)Struggles/Disappointment (feel free to skip if you worry about jinxing anyone) 6)Individual/team predictions

If Bregman where to end up taking a 1/2 year deal there will likely be a few big market teams to sign him for more than we would.

I am going to predict that the Mets don't make the playoffs. Even with getting Soto that team isn't better and getting old-ish fast. They don't have a lot of high end player after Lindor and Soto (maybe Senga if healthy).

I have never been a huge fan of zips, basically they have every player on our team regressing except Hoskins. It just seems like they don't predict anything other than average unless you are a superstar.

I would make no sense this year to trade William, if Quero has a solid year the question can be brought up next offseason but at no point does trading Contreras this year make much sense.

Turang had a 4.7 WAR last year with like 2 months of rough hitting, definitely not a stretch. Sal will likely need to hit .300 to have a 5 WAR type season but I don't think it is out of the realm of possibilities. Turang, Frelick, and Mitchell are all elite baserunners and defenders if they can just be slightly above average with the bat (and healthy) a 5 WAR season isn't crazy. Look at Dalton Varsho (5 WAR, 98 ops), Andres Gimenez (4 WAR, 82 OPS), Turang (4.7 war, 85 ops), baserunning and defense add up quick. Joey Ortiz could also be an eventual 5 WAR player if they bat improves and metrics like his SS, his first month or so at 3rd was great but he was on of the best defenders the 2nd half of the year. He probably won't steal a ton of bases but I could see him getting to 20 at some point in his career.