I don't think you're overly optimistic on the prospects...other than Warren. I just think he'll take at least another year, but the bigger issue, I just don't think you'll see Mitchell/Weimer on the bench. Leave them in the minors in
Rondon and Contreras...that's pretty bold!
I've seen Contreras wants 5/100...and that'd be a pretty reasonable contract to be honest. Problem is, you look at the best teams and so many of them need catching help BADLY. But I'd be all for that. I suspect Contreras will end up getting closer to 25M a year, so 5/125
Rondon, eh...it's bold! I'll give ya that. I think, baring a late season shoulder fatigue, he's on pace for a maybe 5/140 type deal. I'd really rather just give that to Woodruff(or Burnes, but I don't think he takes that). Rodon is absolutely filthy...and I like how his fastball velo actually ticks UP during the games. It'd be interesting. The problem I have is you're taking Lauer out of that rotation...and Houser. And those are pretty good pitchers.
My FA predictions are nothing special. I just said in another thread, maybe a Wily Peralta reunion now that he's seemed to figure it out a bit. A "big" signing would be a Jose Abreu. The CHW have Andrew Vaughn in house as a replacement, Jimenez is not a very good OFer, so you could just simply move Vaughn to 1st, Elroy to DH and move on. Meanwhile, we tried to sign Abreu when he came to the States.
Josh Bell I think will get a 4/65 type deal, maybe 5/90. Somewhere in that range.
Abreu on the other hand is 36 and maybe 2/30 gets it done? If he wants to stay close to Chicago, it'd make sense.
That's about as wild as I'd go in free agency though. I think Abreu still has a couple productive years left. We'll likely let Wong leave, Cain's off the books, as is McCutchen, but that'll mostly go to arbitration raises. I can see the payroll getting pushed as high as 150...maybe. But not on long term deals. Rowdy/Abreu/Hiura handling 1B/DH most days, Turang at 2B, Frelick in CF and then Yelich/Renfroe in the corner OF spots with Taylor as the 4th OFer and Mitchell/Weimere/Ruiz waiting to prove themselves would be a nice upgrade.
Jurickson Profar, Mitch Haniger, Drury, these are the types of guys I could also see them targeting, but on short deals. And outside of Haniger, I suspect the other two will price themselves out of Milwaukee. I think the most likely scenario would see the Brewers take a package of Ruiz/Small+ for a younger impact player. A corner IFer(3B preferably) or just a good bat.
I'm more curious to see if David Stearns is the POBO after this season. How I'd LOVE to see a press release that says the Brewers have signed DS to an extension through 2026! I'm still pretty confident in what Matt Arnold provides as he'd almost certainly be elevated to that role, but I don't love the idea of the people Stearns would take with him. There'd be a significant brain drain and THAT is troubling. But again, the infrastructure he's left in place will make me appreciate of his time in Milwaukee in either event.