Branyanisthegoat

Love the DeJong pickup, relatively cheap source of power for the lineup, can play anywhere on the infield, and he even caught in college. In a perfect world he's the backup, but he gives them a decent floor at 3B, and allows them to rest Ortiz & Turang.

He doesn't strike out vs lefties much, and has a career 98wrc+ against them, so I guess they could do worse for a bench bat. Feel like this is a guy you get after plan A,B,C,D & E fail though. Don't think you'd want to lock this guy onto the 26 before pursuing alot of different options

I'm assuming payroll is at best staying roughly equal to 2024, so am limiting myself to 115 million. For trade(s) I made sure the values lined up on BTV. I don't pay for a sub there, but searching for the big pieces in the trade forums generally brings up the player with their surplus value(just gotta check the date.) And only if the trade makes sense, all players rumored to be available and team rumored to be looking for that position. Trade MIL gets A. Barger & LHP Adam Macko TOR gets Devin Williams Free Agents Paul Dejong 3yr 14m(spotrac estimate) Wade Miley 1yr 2m With the payroll constraints a big name 3B wasn't viable, whether a FA or trade. Buying high on Alec Bohm wasn't that exciting to me anyway. DeJong seems like a relatively safe weakside platoon option there while being able sub in at other spots when needed, and he has some power to hopefully cover for a few of Adames missing homers. I still like Oliver Dunn, and think that between him and Barger you have 2 solid bounce back candidates w some pop, good defense, and cost controlled for a long while. Mauricio from the Mets is my dream 3B for next year, but didn't see a trade fit. Went with Black to fill Bauers spot. Really like Brett Baty for that spot, and he adds another 3B option, but feel like they have to give Black a real shot before moving on. Not much money to work with, so really couldn't attack SP. Wade Miley is maybe the sneakiest low 3's era guy ever, so hopefully between him, a late Gasser return, Macko, the prospects, some minor league free agent signings/trades and pitching lab magic they have enough coverage. If payroll really isn't going up at all, Rhys opting in kind of backs us into a corner. Wasn't really money to do anything, even Paul DeJong was stretching it. C: William Contreras ($7.60M) 1B: Rhys Hoskins ($18.00M) 2B: Brice Turang ($0.80M) 3B: Addison Barger ($0.80M) SS: Joey Ortiz ($0.80M) LF: Jackson Chourio ($4.25M) CF: Garrett Mitchell ($0.80M) RF: Sal Frelick ($0.80M) DH: Christian Yelich ($24.25M) 4th OF: Blake Perkins ($0.80M) Utility: Paul DeJong ($4.00M) Utility: Tyler Black ($0.80M) Backup C: Eric Hasse ($1.80M) SP1: Freddy Peralta ($8.25M) SP2: Aaron Civale ($8.00M) SP3: Tobias Myers ($0.77M) SP4: Brandon Woodruff ($5.00M) SP5: DL Hall ($.80M) RP: Trevor Megill ($2.00M) RP: Nick Mears ($0.90M) RP: Jared Koenig ($0.80M) RP: Hoby Milner ($2.70M) RP: Joel Payamps ($2.80M) RP: J.B. Bukauskas ($0.80M) RP: Aaron Ashby ($3.45M) Payroll is 15.79% under budget

Probably no way to add every realistic option, but maybe some names for trade block could be helpful, 3B guys like Bohm Baty Barger Josh Smith etc. Dunno, looks good to me anyway.

West Coast teams have such a huge advantage in landing NPB/KBO free agents because of travel and their timezone makes phone contact a bit more convenient. Assuming his small market comments are genuine, Seattle covers his checklist as well. According to Google Seattle has over 53k Japanese residents, with over 13k being people born in Japan/Japanese citizens. If he came to Milwaukee, him and his translator would be nearly the entire Japanese population here.

In addition to everyone mentioned in the article and comments, Josh Jung could be a long shot if the Rangers sign Bregman. I do like Josh Smith though. Brett Baty isn't so highly thought of anymore, but could be an interesting fallback option. Blue Jays probably arent wild about letting Atkins deal long term assets, but Addison Barger is another cheap, somewhat expendable 3B prospect w some pop.

Jacob MisiorowskiJeferson QueroJesus MadeCooper PrattRobert GasserTyler BlackBrock WilkenEric BitontiBrett WichrowskiYophery RodriguezJosh KnothBishop LetsonLogan HendersonBraylon PayneCraig YohoLuis PenaLuis LaraMike BoeveJose AndersonLuke Adams

Ortiz is most valuable at SS, and hes shown he can be an asset there with the glove. Adames leaving takes alot of the pop from this lineup, but power should be cheaper at 3B than what Adames will command. I'd like to see them trade for someome like Brett Baty. Baty is not far removed from big time prospect status, and has the potential to be the LH power bat while filling the 3B hole. Id also be happy to see them target a right handed utility option that can play 3rd everyday if neither Baty or Dunn prove capable of being a strong side platoon 3B Both Devin Williams and Sal seem like obvious trade candidates. We won't be extended Devin & have alot of high leverage reliever options. Sal's value is in CF, and he doesn't have a clear path to CF with us. So 3B that can hit for power, established RH utility guy if we can't find a surefire 3B with pop, and some SP depth. Really not alot of holes to fill.

Given how dominant Yoho has been, his age, and his injury history, I'd call him up yesterday. Yoho is only ever going to be a RP, and seems more likely than most to have injury problems, so get some great airbendy MLB innings when you can. Given Mis' youth, innings limit, and ceiling, I'd wait unless he breaks down the door. Calling him up now means burning an option next year, or losing a year of service time to keep him up. Given how few innings he'll be able to pitch, you better be damn sure those innings will be better than the alternative.

Oh dang, didn't realize he's out that long. In that case, I'm hopping on the Ibanez train

I've been on the IKF train for quite awhile, and continue to be. He fits in with our defense focused philosophy, doesn't strike out, has hit lefties at a better than league average rate since 2022, and is as versatile as they come. I doubt this adds much value, but he would also be our best emergency catcher. With Sanchez & WC in a lineup together, it's not impossible he is needed there. Despite having a good year, I can't imagine a rental IKF costing much, and could be a throw into a Kikuchi deal to obfusicate the cost/return for both parties.

I agree that Black's best bet is the outfield, but I'm not sold on that ever happening for the Brewers. There is no guarantee he will be good there, let alone good enough to surpass both Mitchell & Frelick. I suppose a team could value one of GM or Sal enough to take that gamble, but it seems much more sensible to trade the surplus(Black) if possible.

Barring an injury shake up, the only lineup spot that is an easy upgrade is a RH IF. I know he's not popular, but IKF seems perfect to me for Monasterio's spot. Super low K rates, and can play everywhere. With how much we run Gary & WC out there, IKF is a decent emergency catcher as well. Kikuchi & IKF shouldn't break the bank even with SP prices likely to be sky high

The Mariners also receive a game over the Rangers in the standings, if he gets us a win tomorrow.

Great article, glad I dont have to make decisions like this. 1 small nitpick. Unless I missed a move today, Mitch White is no longer on the 26, he was dfa'd last week. So should read Herget & Paredes rounding out the pen.

Jacob MisiorowskiJeferson QueroBrock WilkenRobert GasserTyler BlackLuis LaraMike BoeveYophery RodriguezBrett WichrowskiCooper PrattCarlos F RodriguezJosh KnothLogan HendersonEric BitontiEric Brown JrBradley BlalockTyler WoessnerJuan BaezGregory BarriosDylan O'Rae I really, really like Wichrowski, big velo strike, think the they struck/created gold again. Mis and Wich the rowski brothers would be a fun TOR pair. Generally not a big fan of ranking 1B or all bat guys high, as the floor is just so low, and you reeeaallly have to hit to be a high war guy, so lower on Black somewhat, and just about out on Luke Adams.

Jackson ChourioJacob MisiorowskiJeferson QueroRobert GasserCarlos F RodriguezTyler BlackLuke AdamsBrock WilkenEric BitontiCooper PrattYophery RodriguezMike BoeveJosh KnothLuis LaraBradley BlalockQuinton LowEric Brown JrDylan O'RaeLogan HendersonJuan Baez