Joseph Zarr

I like your boldness. Of your list here: Rund, Bryant, Cornielle are my only likely locks. Hence my 2-3. I'd say all the other pitchers have quite a bit to prove. I hope I'm wrong! I think very fair arguments can be made for Rudy (who really improved in the second half and was absolutely fantastic in the Championships); Cruz, and Fitzy. Aquino needs more seasoning after last year's shuffling - is he bullpen now? Was it a hiccup (his struggles) or does he need another level beyond the slider? Amd, tho I love Figueroa and felt quite validated by his success after his promotion (finally!) I personally find it hard to think the Brewers promote him again in such short order with so few outings at High-A. Could be my own limited thinking.

For me, as a very very early card carrying and banner waving board member of the Luke Adams hype club (as you know, we're talking dreaming on his initial ACL numbers), it's as simple as: Clarke and EMJ are starting in Nashville Burke is the older player/higher draft pick to start at 1B in Biloxi. Does Wilken's 2024 merit a pre-emptive promotion to Nashville? I don't think so. Then again, I thought Wilken should have been withheld from the AFL 😁 Zavi being the consummate utility soldier he is plays the back up with hopefully a healthy and improved Ethan Murray. AND, all this being said I would be entirely unsurprised if they promoted him to start the campaign. More off-season beard scratching Rodin's hand ruminating than any bold declaration.

Yeah I think it's safe to say Pratt starts in Biloxi. He went up in the post-season because of injury within the Shuckers infield personnel but he also earned it and certainly showed well. Furthermore, given the immense traffic jam being caused via stateside promotions (good problem to have!) I'm personally anticipating Pratt and Areinamo starting in Biloxi. I think we'll see Guilarte and Baez start at High-A Wisconsin. And so on and so forth. I personally would be unsurprised if Luke Adams stays at Wisconsin in the early part of the season with the mandate of: swing more and show some more aggression.

That helps. Thanks. Even given that addendum, I still purport that's speculatively bullish. I mean, are you all seriously contemplating 9 early-season or off-season promotions from Wisconsin?!? OR are you considering, say, a realistic 2-3 with more FA adds? I don't think you can realistically look at the T-Rats current staff and commit to any more than that. Anyhow, I'm going to remind myself from this point on: this is the transactions thread. Let's move any more conversation about this over HERE. Thanks!

I've heard this sentiment more than once now so I think it's important to add some accuracy to the claims: Even if you add Deivi Garcia, Thomas Pannone and Jon Duplantier - obvious Sounds arms - there are only 27 pitchers between the Shuckers and Sounds (they haven't officially been added to their roster page). 15 of those arms currently are on the Shuckers staff. The Brewers clearly have a plan they are trying to execute with in-season pick-up RHP Sam McWilliams who they've kept on the Sounds staff.

Ohhhhh man. Don't get me even daydreaming about Duplantier. That's not really fair. 😅 Like this is exactly the type of fringe add the Brewers are so adept at executing. Duplantier was lights out in Independent ball. Struggled with the Mets @ Syracuse. Was released. Picked up by the Dodgers for the final month plus and really had some success when called up to the PCL. Perhaps, they've found something here as he's removed further from injury and is entering his 30's. I'm unreasonably interested in this move! Oliva had a really nice year for the Mariners' Double-A affiliate (Arkansas Travelers) last season. Brewers continue to replace with recent losses. Oliva can also very much fill in on the CF grass (spent Double-A in the Texas League last season but very much has Triple-A experience). Did this in game 1 of the Texas League Championship series: The travelers went on to win that series and Oliva bat clean-up throughout with a 0.330ish BA and 0.990 OPS. He did everything you'd want from a guy that age (approaching 30) at Double-A. I imagine (?) the Crew will place him @ Nashville as an everyday starter off the bat.

Just a 'fwiw' heads up: We won't be recording the Mudcats episode until the week after Thanksgiving - for obvious reasons. Tho, I am near certain the Mudcats will be the talk of each and every one of your Thanksgiving dinners. I apologize we won't be able to augment your collective POV's.

Welcome back into the Brewers fold Mr. Pannone!

Yeah. I personally don't like much of anything in his entire FT process. I wish he would quicken up the process and not get so mechanical. I mean, of Giannis hits FT at a 70% clip in his current form? I don't even know.

Cargo is every bit below 6' at 5'10". He has range on the outfield grass and he occasionally makes a surprising play out there but, if we're being honest, he is pretty much ''just a guy' defensively. The arm is also pretty sub-par as a whole - ie it won't be saving runs at home plate. From RF, however, it is capable of grabbing men tagging for 2B. IF he had that coveted defensive upside, I think the Brewers find a way to keep him in the fold. He is nowhere, and I mean nowhere, near the defender Lara is who you cite above. Lara has elite elite range and coverage and he is more than capable of throwing men out at all bases from CF. He got rave reviews in the AFL. Cargo's bread and butter at the dish is his swing decisions and his ability to get on base. He has adjusted at every level and excelled with prolonged exposure. He has never had the power stroke - it just isn't his game. BUT, he certainly knows how to get on base and he has a meaningful bat despite what 100 some debut AB's at Triple-A might say. He was the runner up 'Rookie of the Year' last off-season in the same Winter League he is playing in now. He's a very talented baseball player. BUT, I think the Brewers know they are quite adept at finding and signing Minor League free agents - whether through straight FA or ML Rule 5. Perkins and Isaac Collins are recent examples of this and I find both players offer more depth in their games. Was it an easy decision to let Cargo walk? No. Is it an understandable decision? Yes. I hope he crushes it with Atlanta. It's a great great fit and you love to see former Brewers go to successful orgs. There may have been a lot of competition for his services, and rightfully so, but a NG'd Major League 40-Man spot is not exactly a "...I've made it!" moment. Plenty more work to do. Let's see if he's up for the challenge.

Yeah, he has shot the 3rd most mid-range jumpers in the League. He's hitting those at a 48% clip. You add that suddenly very real threat and his hesi-Euro step attack to the basket no longer strictly relies on getting the ball in transition. It's just an unbelievable single off-season development. Early? Yes. BUT, it's a very real thing. It's so odd, on the other hand, to see how the tight high release on that form has not translated at all to the charity stripe.

Man, that must have been a literal trip for you! I still have no idea who you managed seven days a week. Unreal output.

It looks like in addition to the Rays we see at least one player from the Reds, Braves, Athletics, Pirates, Phillies (who sent 8 players), Twins, Royals, Astros, White Sox, Cubs, Tigers, and Angels were sent across the pond. So, 13 MLB clubs are represented over yonder.

I mean, despite the 57% FT woes, Giannis is once again raising the bar. He essentially does this every season. AND, well, it's absolutely bananas. Historic Shaq/Wilt-like season in 2023/2024? Meh. Let's raise the bar. For a player who does this year-in and year-out, I will just never take it for granted. He may have entirely fallen to the back drop of the national discourse, but it never ceases to amaze me how unbelievably dominant he is. Let us never ever take his game and his presence on the Bucks for granted.

Tokyo has not been all that kind to LHP Darrell Thompson. For his second outing in a row in Team USA's 2nd game of group play, Thompson was incapable of keeping the ledger clean: That's a tough blow in a key spot. Full article HERE. USA did manage to win the game in the 9th off a Taylor Ward dead center HR. They are 1-1 in group play. Thompson will look to get back on track in the games ahead.

Thanks for all the updates, Daniel. VERY very much appreciated.

For your future reference, it's over in the 'Alumni' thread HERE I know how you feel, tho. It's very weird in the early early days to call these men 'Alumni'. It feels like just yesterday I watched Cargo move from Biloxi to that Nashville grass. They grow up so fast!🥹

Posted by @markedman5 HERE:

Incredible news for Cargo. So pumped for him! That's a great landing spot. He gets his proverbial foot in the door baby. Let's GO!

Clearly Manfred sees it as 'costs'. We saw the Fanatics uniforms last season. Maddening to have such a myopic POV steering these pro sports ships. Can't any of these billionaires think holistically? Good grief. 😅

Anyone else notice INF Jesus Made literally front and center with Cooper Pratt at the Wilson store. That is a dynamic duo right der!

Recognizing this type of move and re-brand always ruffles feathers somewhere, frankly, at this point in time - as someone obviously not invested in that specific geographical region - I am just grateful they didn't become 'The Whirligigs'. That felt like a very challenging ask to pull off for a sports team. 'Warbirds' is very Wilson-appropriate and it certainly feels like the community's input was taken quite seriously. I do hope they have some form of an homage to the Mudcats Logo and the Mudcats brand and its diehards find some form of solace throughout this upcoming season. Hopefully, none of this impacts the players or the baseball 'product' on the field. And, hopefully, the proper respects and commemorating and remembering of the Mudcats storyline as a whole is done proper. That's about all I can say about any of this. I'm sure this was an emotional day for many.

I'm certainly not going to do this for each and every player (as they'll be discussed HERE when the officially become Brewers Alumni) in our ongoing Transaction Thread. But I simply wanted to share my overwhelmingly positive opinions of the raw tools RHP Harold Chirino possesses - and, the reality he simply needs to continue fine-tuning and honing his arsenal as control and zone accuracy is an ongoing body of work - were validated quite quickly. Mr. Chirino signed a new Minor League contract with the San Diego Padres org less than two week's from his official MiLB transaction wire FA announcement. The young man is just incredibly talented. I'll be rooting for him to earn a call-up as he matures and evolves. Go get it, Harold!

Every time I see a list like this I am reminded of the incredibly difficult decisions GM's and the greater circle of personnel decision-makers have to make. Those are all quality MLB players there who have all had their moments of brilliance. The small market game of roster juggling and composition from one season to the next is such a deep tangled mess!😅