Matt Breen

'Mystery Team'? Scott Boros has to be involved!

Biggest issue with Boston might be that they spend big to land someone like Sale. Getting Sale would cost them something like Moncada and Kopech or Benintendi and Devers as starting points (there'd be other stuff as well, but those would be the headliners). Fangraphs did a nice analysis on what it would take to get Sale here: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/finding-a-fair-price-for-chris-sale/ I liked how they strictly kept it to their dollar value assessments and projections. Boston could, of course, get both Lucroy and Sale. The biggest thing is do they want to pony up the big prospects.

I'm still betting Boston blinks. I've said this before - the Sox didn't bring Dombrowski in to watch other teams acquire players. He doesn't really care that much about 2019. He's there to win now. I think Boston steps up on the end.

Pipe dream, in my opinion.

I've really ignored Atlanta as an option, but perhaps they see him as an anchor for the young pitching over the next few years. Any thoughts on a Braves package? I don't know their system very well. Just curious what people thought.

For Giolito, yes, you can dream. But that's about it. I'd love to get him as well, but the Nats would be nuts to deal him.

I saw this and rolled my eyes. Like the Yankees wouldn't jump on that deal if offered.

It was relievers people were talking about with SF. They didn't need Lucroy.

We would like to invite everyone to participate in the 2016 Mid-Season BF.net Fan Community Top 25 Prospects voting. Please take time and submit on this thread your top 25 Brewer prospects. Feel free to list any resources or news that you feel might help people with their voting. Voting will conclude on August 8. You can change your votes at anytime through the 8th, so I recommend getting your picks in early. You can always go back and tweak your list. RULES 1. Submit your Top 25 prospects, in order, by end of day on Monday, August 8. Put the player's full name to avoid any confusion (such as which Diaz you are selecting). 2. You MUST submit 25 prospects. If there are only 10 or 15 or whatever, your list will not be included. 3. You are encouraged to go beyond pick #25 - adding a few more is totally fine. That way if someone in your top 25 is traded or released, or if you mistakenly miss a number, I can just bump up your next player(s) into the Top 25. 4. Rankings are determined by total points. The top prospect gets 25 points, second prospect gets 24 points, etc. 4. As noted above, if you submit your list and want to change something, just add the change to the thread. I'll accept changes up to the deadline. 5. Within a few days after the deadline, we'll publish the new BF.net Community Top 25. Eligibility questions: Rookie eligibility is determined by 50 IP or 130+ ABs at the major league level. - Ineligible players: OF Ramon Flores, P Tyler Cravy, Zach Davies, P Junior Guerra, C Andrew Susac, Joey Gallo, Francisco Mejia, PTBNL - Eligible players with ML experience: Ariel Pena, Wei-Chung Wang, David Goforth, Keon Broxton, Rymer Liriano, Garin Cecchini, Jorge Lopez, Michael Reed, Yadiel Rivera, Yhonathan Barrios, Adrian Houser, P Jhan Marinez, 1B Andy Wilkens, P Jacob Barnes - Players exited from the organization since the start of 2016 who have gotten votes in the past: IF Colin Walsh, 3B Taylor Brennan, Sthervin Matos, Jed Bradley, Hobbs Johnson Player notes: - Adrian Houser had Tommy John surgery recently and will likely be out at least a year, so he may miss all or most of 2017. - OF Rymer Liriano has missed all of 2016 following being hit by a pitch in pre-season. I have not heard any information on his return. - We have three Diazs in this organization. If voting for Isan, Brandon or Miguel Diaz, please be clear who you are voting for. - We also have multiple Williams - Devin and Taylor. - There are also two Ortegas - SS Angel Ortega and pitcher Jorge Ortega. - Please comment if you know other conflicts. New players to consider: - OF Lewis Brinson (acquired from Texas in Lucroy trade) - P Luis Ortiz (acquired from Texas in Lucroy trade) - P Phil Bickford (acquired from SF in the Will Smith trade) - OF Corey Ray (1st round pick) - 3B Lucas Erceg (2nd round pick) - C Mario Feliciano (2nd round competitive balance pick) - P Bradon Webb (3rd round pick) - P Corbin Burnes (4th round pick) - 3B Chad McClanahan (11th round pick bought of college commitment) - P Aaron Wilkerson (trade with Boston for Aaron Hill) - IF Wendell Rijo (trade with Boston for Aaron Hill) - P Jhan Marinez (purchased from Tampa) Updated Prospect Rankings: MLB Pipeline mid-season Top 30 Brewers: http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2016?list=mil MLB Pipeline mid-season Top 100 players: http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2016 Baseball America mid-season Top 100 (does not include recent draft picks): http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/midseason-top-100-prospects/ Baseball Prospectus mid-season Top 50 (does not include recent draft picks): http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=29756 Miller Park Prospects Top 40 Brewers (updated 5/31): https://millerparkprospects.wordpress.com/prospect-rankings/ Minor League Ball Brewer Top 20 mid-season review (only looks at original top 20 list and makes comments): http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/7/28/12243020/milwaukee-brewers-top-20-2016-pre-season-prospects-mid-season-review Previous Polls BF.net 2016 Pre-Season Top 25 - viewtopic.php?f=64&t=33867 BF.net 2015 Post-Season Top 25 - viewtopic.php?f=64&t=33436 BF.net 2015 Mid-Season Top 25 list - viewtopic.php?f=64&t=33032 BF.net 2015 Preseason Top 25 list - viewtopic.php?f=64&t=32447 BF.net August 2014 Top 25 list - viewtopic.php?f=64&t=31859 BF.net May 2014 Top 20 list: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=31355 Stats: Looking for stats? Check out this handy BF.net page: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=12293 Thanks for participating!

Mejia was #91 on BA's recent mid-season update. That list, however, did not include recent draft picks. http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/midseason-top-100-prospects/#ZY1f6MwSCMdiMJm8.97 Mejia did not show up on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list, which came out today. He was reportedly a guy Milwaukee was interested in. http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2016?list=prospects Nunez, an IF, has had a breakout season for Minnesota in 2016, hitting .300 with 12 HR and 26 SB. He's controlled through 2017.

Final: Nashville 2, Colorado Springs 1 Sky Sox Downed 2-1 In Pitcher's Duel By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox Colorado Springs Box Score The Sky Sox struggled to get hits tonight in a 2-1 loss vs the Nashville Sounds. The Sox only managed five hits - three from Orlando Arcia (who also stole a bas). Brent Suter continued a nice run, tossing 6.2 innings of quality ball (only 6 hits, no walks, 7 strikeouts), although he did surrender a solo HR. The left hander’s ERA has dropped to 3.56 for the season, a nice rebound after a terrible April. Colorado Springs Game Log Arcia and Suter were the only real highlights in this game. The Sky Sox only walked once to go with their five hits.

I'd take Reid-Foley or Harris straight up for Smith in a heartbeat. I like Pentecost a lot as well, but he's barely caught this year - mostly just DH'd while he comes back from last year's surgery. I'd have to feel pretty comfortable that he could catch down the road because while I really like his bat, I don't know if it sticks at 1B. I really liked Pentecost coming out of college, so perhaps there's a bias in my perception of him at this time.

Domingo Santana was ranked #71 by MLB.com prior to 2015. But no other publication had him in the top 100. He only had 61 ABs with Houston, so when we got him he was still a rookie. So going off the MLB.com list, we did get two Top 100 guys last year for Gomez.

Espinosa was untouchable two weeks ago. Now he's in SD. It's all posturing. I'm sure there really are untouchables in most systems, but it's all about leveraging your assets. If they are 'untouchable' and then you are willing to offer them, it's like the team is making some grand concession. All smoke to improve your position.

- Clark been hurt much of the year and only hitting .219. - Arcia not hitting better at AAA. - Phillips hitting .225 at AA. - Nottingham hitting .236 at AA. - Lopez torched at AAA. - Lara hitting below .200 - Harrison hitting .216 at A - and injured. - Medeiros with a 5+ ERA. - Taylor hitting .234 at AA. - Coulter hitting .227. - Houser with TJ surgery. I can see why people are disappointed this year. A lot of high expectations, some probably unrealistic, but there have been quite a few players that haven't performed like we would have liked. We can counter these disappointments with the positives, such as Isan Diaz, Hader, Freddy Peralta, Marcos Diplan, Woodruff, Ponce and others. But a lot of the positives are at the lower levels, so it's not quite as exciting as having a guy at AAA who does great and looks poised to help the club soon. While I wish all our guys would do better, I don't get too worked up about things. Prospects fail more than they succeed, and we have to keep that in mind. That's why we need to just keep adding quality guys to the system. Players will eventually emerge. And as noted above, take a look at other systems, and you'll see a lot of the same issues. It's the nature of things.

I'll guess one. I think Stearns will trade for value, and he'll find greater value at the lower levels - guys like Isan Diaz, for example. Top 100 guys are often more advanced (not always, but often), and thus clubs are often (again, not always, but often), reluctant to part with players they see helping them in the near future. Thus, I think Stearns and company will end up shopping more in the lower levels - because that's where they will get the most value. I'm hedging my bets by saying one because with the number of players we could potentially deal, there are still good odds one ends up in the Top 100. Again, all guesses.

With the new Trea Turner rule I believe they cannot until after the World Series.Yes, you are correct.

Detroit system isnt great. If you stuck with minor leaguers, it's Beau Burrows and Christian Stewart. Both are in A ball. Stewart has some big power - 21 HRs in the FSL - that's pretty amazing. The next closest guy is at 15. They have Derek Hill as well, but he's strictly a speed guy and I'd rather go after the big bat and a pitcher. I honestly don't know that much about their players, but something around Stewart and Burrows would be nothing special. I've said before that I like Norris, but he has had his issues thus far. For Norris, it's about control, and he could be a stud if he could improve it (but so could lots of guys). To me, I would be looking at Norris, Stewart and then some for Luc. I know many wouldn't like that deal, but I think Norris has the upside we are looking for in a pitcher. And Stewart offers a big power bat.

Nope. Can't trade Manning until after a year of being drafted. And you can't do the old 'PTBNL' trick either. That's been banned.

Final: Nashville 2, Colorado Springs 0 Sky Sox Shutout 2-0 In Nashville By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox Colorado Springs Box Score Colorado Springs managed just seven hits and one walk in getting shutout by the Nashville Sounds in a pitchers duel. Kyle Wren led the way with two hits and a walk. Recently acquired Aaron Wilkerson had a solid outing on the mound, giving up only two runs and on only three hits (no walks) over six innings. Wilkerson retired nine batters in a row at one point. The lose snapped a five game winning streak for the Sky Sox. Colorado Springs Game Log The Sky Sox simply could not get guys in when they had the chance, including Brandon Macias getting thrown out at the plate in the 3rd inning.

Porter had drug problems for much of his life. He, sadly, died of an overdose in 2002. Perhaps that was an issue that the Brewers were eager to rid themselves of. Just speculation. Maybe some of the other guys on the board know more about it.

Nilsson was not an elite defensive catcher. In fact, he was a pretty bad defensive catcher, if I recall. It didn't help that he had about three hundred operations on his knees and/or back (I don't recall which - maybe both).

This is pretty cool to see. Thank you. I've been lucky (or maybe old) enough to have seen all of these players. I don't think there's any question that Luc isn't the best we've ever had. We've had him in his prime and he hasn't been injured or traded (yet). Simmons was probably the 'best' for his career - but his prime years were in St. Louis. Kendall and Sungberg were really good catchers who we also brought in at the end of their careers. Good players, but they weren't the all star versions. Porter could have been the best guy, but he was traded pretty young. I remember watching him turn into an all star in KC and St. Louis. That was painful. We gave up on him way too quickly. Nilsson could have been pretty special as well, but injuries really derailed him. B.J. just never seemed to gel as a catcher - and his position shifts in his career. Charlie Moore was a solid guy, but nothing special. Got lots of his value from playing a long time with the club. No catcher in Milwaukee history has really been around during his prime like Lucroy and actually stayed at catcher and stayed healthy.

I had a conversation recently about Coulter with a baseball person who said that Coulter has two issues: 1. He's frustrated and it shows. He said to watch Coulter and you'll see a lot of bad body language, and he's letting his struggles overwhelm him. He needs to find a way to reboot himself. This person suggested he needs to be moved from BC, or perhaps an organization change would be best for him. 2. I'm going by memory about this next one - we talked about a lot of players and I hope I'm not mixing up his analysis with another guy - but if I recall correctly, he felt that Coulter was struggling against good right handed pitchers - particularly high heat up in the zone. Clint just can't keep up with them. He doesn't have the bat speed and/or pitch recognition skills to deal with them. I should note, this person wasn't particularly high on Coulter. He feels problem #2 is going to limit him no matter where he goes. He said there are people that are believe he can still be a major leaguer. He has power, but there are too many other flaws to let the power emerge.

No matter where Lucroy goes, any trade needs to factor in that the receiving club can recoup some of the trade investment with a compensation pick in 2018, or if they aren't in contention next year, by flipping Lucroy this off season or at the deadline next year. There's also the possibility of signing him to an extension, making him an even longer term fix for any club.