Joseph Zarr

If we go back to that run in High-A Wisco (pre-injury) 2022, Cargo has quite simply made the case: he's a prospect to be reckoned with. Many intriguing qualities at the dish. Obviously would be nice to see the power rate improve (aren't we all so greedy!) but has very very good discipline (50K:40BB Double-A 2023). Nice to see him continue running with it. Defensively, I have question marks. But, I certainly don't doubt his abilities. 2024 should be fun!

I still can't believe this jump and get off in RF. Saw it live this past September. Game saving play. (Oh hey @wiguy94: that's Mr. Andrews getting another heater absolutely scorched 😪. Boooooo!)

Chourio Contract: Forest Trees:

Happy for him but sad to see him go. Contreras was a guy who showcased, imho, he was just tapping into his best stuff. I stated numerous times last year: he has MLB stuff he just needs to fine tune it. Fantastic ride on his heater. Wishing him well at Sugarland and hopefully he gets an opportunity with the Astros.

It surely is not nor has it ever been. The change-up has always been seen as his money pitch. I would personally opine, his slider has the potential to be just as lethal. However, it has so much spin and horizontal cut, he struggles to locate or weaponize it consistently - so it is still just a sprinkle or keep them honest pitch. IF he could harness and fine tune that pitch...well, a man like me can dream.

The Brewers have agreed to Minor League deals with RHP Easton McGee and OF Brewer Hicklen (destiny fulfilled!).

Makes sense. I figured that was in your thought process. Hopefully, ARob chimes in.

The last we heard, after his promotion to Carolina, is the organization wants to focus his efforts at 3B. He then played every inning at the hot corner for Carolina (if I recall correctly) - cutting deeply into Adams defensive innings there. Perhaps @ARobsBrewCrew can chime in here to confirm or add body to this recall.

- RHP Enoli Paredes and LHP Jared Koenig have signed Minor League FA deals with the Milwaukee Brewers with invites to Spring Training

As someone who watched Adams play quite a bit in 2023, everything he said made sense and is completely understandable. Where I diverged was his comments on Henderson. Henderson has very clearly put work in on his breaking balls since 2022 and tho he may not throw them a ton the progress is night-and-day. He doesn't just sprinkle in a slider anymore so I didn't quite understand that entire commentary. Also, Baez had already moved strictly to 3B since the ACL. So their scouting report there was a bit behind (understandably so). AND, Baseball 'Merica very clearly still sleeping in EBJ. He can very much handle SS duties. Coming off an AFL championship and All-AFL Honors, I'm going to continue to believe if he stays healthy he has a very bright future.

- INF Yonny Hernández has agreed to a Minor League FA contract with the Milwaukee Brewers with an invite to Spring Training:

I've never seen Patrick pitch. However, I do know he pitched in two of the highest run-producing Double-A environments. Given he closed his season with a 5-game Triple-A sample, we also have a modicum of data to peruse:

That's right. Mr. Clarke finally getting recognition. 'Bout time. Hard to not absolutely love a guy who just shows up every day ready to play; clearly works on his body and his game; and is pretty much always available.

- RHP Chad Patrick was assigned to the Nashville Sounds (via the INF Abraham Toro to the Athletics trade)

It's hard to craft a 'knocking on the door' list after Gasser, Rodriguez, and Misiorowski. But, if we're going that route I can certainly add a bit of meaningful depth to the list above. Firstly, I do want to say I really liked the growth I saw from both Wagoner and Cornielle in 2023. . They showed quite a bit of endurance and growth and the ability to stay the course and power through struggles. I like where they are at season's end. I can't say the same for Hermandez, Seminaris, Knarr, Cruz, or Junk. To a man, their seasons were either highly erratic throughout, filled with injury or both. Double-A is going to be a huge test for Woessner who has lots to prove in 2024. As to adding to the list: - RHP TJ Shook - Top 2 in Shuckers rotation by season's end. Full package. Just needs to keep stacking success amd growing into his arsenal. - RHP Tobias Myers - led entire system in K's. Showed immense growth and dominance late in the season as a reliever in Nashville - RHP Logan Henderson - don't be fooled by his Low-A placement. His stuff is elite. Sky is the limit. - RHP Edwin Jimenez - better work at High-A Wisconsin than both Cruz and Hernandez by a good margin. Stuff is more dialed. Knows who he is. We have several wild cards in the Low-A level and below but we'll have to see how that washes out to start 2024.

THAT is funny. Well said.

Mejias putting that highly erratic 2023 season in Biloxi on the backburner! You love to see it.

I love Fangraphs but I think they overstate their hand here. I agree entirely on the lack of versatility (which I think is clearly indicated) but I personally feel quite good about Dunn at 2B - knowing full well he isn't a Brice Turang level glove or fielding specialist (not many are) but he can more than adequately step in and keep the infield defensive unit ticking. He has fielded at nearly a 0.980 FP% and higher his entire career at 2B. The arm weakness is definitely a thing as they state and why I personally see his forecast as limited - the hot corner placements have been and are wild to me. In over 770 innings at 2B last season he had a mere 9 errors. He turns the double play as well as you'd hope for and expect. I'm not talking gold glove here by any means - and, perhaps, by my own admission when I say 'upper echelon' that is implied and I should have made that clearer. That is overstated on my hand most likely. On the other hand, I certainly see a very dependable to plus glove, better range than advertised, and enough combined positives to merit 2B positional considerations in the MLB. Put it this way: I feel much better about Dunn at 2B than I did Andruw Monasterio at any infield spot coming to the MLB level. AND, Monasterio more than exceeded all expectations and played quite well much and pleasantly to my surprise. Furthering my own lack of investment in Fangraph's opinion via this article is they don't actually discuss one iota of Mendez's glove at the corner OF positions. Quite frankly, it's just really really poor. Entirely too many lackadaisical and inexplicable drops on routine pop flies. With the increase in muscle mass, he's lost the range he once had. Maybe they only focus on Dunn due to his age and higher placement? Where Fangraphs and I do agree, however, is if Dunn isn't considered an everyday 2B for the Brewers at the MLB level he will struggle to find utility due to his overall lack of meaningful defensive diversity. However, I personally feel the Brewers likely made this trade as insurance for their middle infield - they now have more meaningful depth to cover 2B should they trade Adames. I love the Triple-A depth they now have with Dunn and Isaac Collins - who, you know, I absolutely loved watching in 2023. Another extremely underrated player. Toss Dorrian into that fold - who we know plays a very good 2B/3B but struggles with the responsibilities and wider exposure at SS.

- RHP Miguel Segura has been released by the ACL Brewers

No matter where you put him, this deal just makes a ton of sense. I personally feel the Brewers definitely got the best current player in this deal overall and it fits a serious need of more upside pop in the middle infield. I also personally see Dunn as a strict 2B/spot LF option - and, he is upper echelon in defense at the 2B position. At this stage of his career, I pretty much strictly see his 3B fill-in as a 'In Case of Emergency Break Glass and put Dunn at the Hot Corner'. Both the Yankees and Phillies gave him time there. It is by far his least sensible position.This is a player who was absolutely scorching hot in Arizona and was awarded a spot on the All AFL-Team announced this week (alongside EBJ, I might add - Wes Clarke Honorable Mention). He's not a base stealer, per se, but he can still swipe a bag from time to time amd he did manage a wild 12-for-12 SB in just 19G in the AFL. Perhaps, like his pop (21 HR in 2023 Double-A ball with essentially identical Home/Road splits), this is a late blooming skill? Oddly, Dunn is, in stature, essentially a slightly stronger, slightly taller, and meatier version of Bob Moore - who also bats left and throws right. For as much upside as there still might be for Mendez, I saw just as many concerns after his injuries the past two years. I just didn't see the same player who I was so excited about in early 2022. But, this is the Phillies lottery ticket in this deal and I certainly hope he takes the new scenery and change of clubs and runs with it. Bob Moore will be missed for his versatility and dependability. He had a down year in 2023 but he still absolutely had his moments and can hit gapper doubles with the best of them. I will always look back fondly at his work at shortstop in 2023 covering for the injured Eric Brown Jr. I sincerely hope he hits the ground running. I like a trade like this quite a bit. It's a 'Win-Win' for both clubs. Hopefully, it works out for both the Brewers and the Phillies. FWIW, MLB Pipeline slotted Dunn in at #23.

As per usual, the players I think they 'should' protect or will be are left mostly dangling in the breeze😅. I'll trust the Brewers process once again as they typically nail this under the current regime and oh so few players are plucked during Rule 5 as it is One thing seems almost certain every off-season: They will protect far fewer players than you'd think...apparently, even with an abundance of roster spots

I believe it's fair to say Murphy is likely better equipped to manage this team than the 2015 Padres as an interim. Hopefully, he brings back Dave Roberts as his bench coach.😎