Matt Breen

I think Hield would be perfect for this team. But that probably means - to get there financially - giving up Portis and one of Pat/Grayson. Or both Pat/Grayson would get you there as well financially as well. Bobby makes $11.8m, Pat makes $9.4m and Grayson makes $8.9m. Hield makes $19.3m. Of course, it all only works if Indiana would do anything like this.

Yeah, everyone at this point is a project or has some major flaw.

Anyone have any realistic targets they'd like the Bucks to inquire about? Just curious what people have on their minds. Thoughts on Gary Harris Jr. as a scorer? Buddy Hield is also a guy who would - I think - fit well. Expensive - something like $19m - but last year of his deal. How we acquire such players is another story...

Brunson would be great, but I don't see why NY would do this - unless they have a backlog at guard.

I think Tyus Jones would be a good fit. More of a true point guard. Matching up value and money isn’t easy. Jones is set to make $14m. The obvious asset to go is Allen - but that’s only $9m in salary. We’d have to come up more. I’d like to see the club hold on to Pat C, Portis and Beauchamp. Plus resign Middleton and Lopez. Might be a tall order - but we shall see. If Middleton isn’t brought back, a shooter would be nice to add.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure most people had Myers around 3rd round. I think the big surprise was taking him with Humphrey on the board. Oh well. Different people evaluate and value players differently. It just sucks when it's a poor evaluation. But who knows, maybe Myers steps up his game this year. Gotta hope.

I found a site that said he did broadcasting work for the Padres. This was not long after he retired. I couldn't find anything else about it - so I'm guessing it was a short lived. I was hesitant to even mention it because it was so vague.

Expectations can color the perceptions of a player's career success in the major leagues. When Rickie Weeks arrived in Milwaukee after one of the most celebrated college careers ever - the fans and organization thought he was destined for all-star nods and even batting titles. And while Weeks did net an all-star appearance - he never quite developed into the star everyone had hoped for - even if he had had a successful career. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Rickie Darnell Weeks Jr. was born September 13, 1982, in Altamonte Springs, Florida. His father played college baseball for Seton Hall and Stetson. His grandfather was an outfielder in the Negro leagues during the 1940s. Rickie Weeks was not heavily recruited out of high school due to a small frame; thus, he ended up at a smaller school, Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Physically, he filled out and emerged as one of the greatest hitters in NCAA history. As a sophomore, the right-handed hitting Weeks led the nation with a .495 batting average and 20 home runs. To show it wasn’t a fluke, he again led the nation in hitting the following year with a .479 BA - along with 16 HRs. He was named College Player of the Year. He ended his career with a .473 average – the highest in NCAA history. Rickie Weeks had speed and athleticism in his arsenal - but what stood out was his bat. He simply destroyed pitching. While he didn’t have a ton of power, he commanded the strike zone, and his bat speed was amazing. He could especially brutalize left-handed pitching. Defensively, he was a work in progress - but no one really cared. His bat was - hopefully - going to make him a star. The Brewers - like most teams - were enamored with Weeks and were thrilled to pick him with the second selection of the 2003 draft (after the Rays took Delmon Young). Weeks received a $3.6 million signing bonus, and his professional career got off to a roaring start when he hit .349 at low A ball in 20 games. He even got a 7-game call up to Milwaukee - netting him a pair of hits on a dozen at-bats. Weeks had a fine season at AA in 2004 but broke out at AAA the following year, hitting .320 with a dozen HRs in only 55 games. The Big League club was next on the agenda. Rickie Weeks spent the next ten years in Milwaukee - playing exclusively at 2B (unless the chance to DH against an American League club came up) and often batting leadoff. He was a warrior - willing to do whatever it took to win. He led the league twice in Hit by Pitches, took a lot of walks, and stole as many as 25 bases in a season. But Weeks struggled with inconsistency (especially against right-handed pitching) and injuries. In 2009, it looked like he was putting it all together before a wrist injury ended his season in May. Weeks returned in 2010 and built on his previous year’s success. He hit .269 to go with 29 HRs - and at age 27 - positioned himself as one of the league’s best second basemen - even if he struggled at the defensive side of the game. In 2011, Weeks was voted the starting 2B in the all-star game - his only appearance in the mid-season classic. However, in July that year, he suffered a severe ankle injury while legging out a single. Weeks tried to play through the pain, but his game suffered - both at the plate and in the field. Honestly, the ankle injury Weeks suffered in the summer of 2011 was the beginning of the end of his career. In the future, he was never quite the same player. It sapped a bit of his speed as a batter, and he became an increasing liability at the plate against right-handers. As a second baseman, it is evident that he struggled to move laterally. At his best, Weeks was an adequate fielder (and that’s being generous). But after the ankle injury, he was flat-out bad. In 2012, Weeks managed to return and his 21 home runs, but his average sunk to .230, and defensive metrics were brutal. The following season was even worse - and ended prematurely with a torn hamstring in August. Scooter Gennett took over the keystone. Weeks was under contract for one more year and hit well in limited playing time in 2014. But the writing was on the wall. Weeks could still hit left-handed pitchers, but his defensive limitations made him a liability - especially with the DH years away in the National League. The Brewers let him walk as a free agent after the season, declining a club option. Weeks spent three more years in the majors with three different teams - playing mostly OF, DH, and 1B. He offered some punch against left-handers - but the results were mixed. Tampa Bay released him in July 2017 after an extended time on the DL. His career was over. He was 34 years old. With his playing days over, Weeks went into broadcasting and, in early 2022, joined the Brewers as an assistant to the player development staff. In 2019, he was added to the Brewers Wall of Honor, and in 2021, he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Weeks’ brother, Jemile Weeks, played parts of six seasons in the majors, and his sister, Kaisha, was a college track star. Rickie and his wife are parents to a son and a daughter. Rickie Weeks is one of the more difficult players to assess when doing a retrospective. Most people will probably look at his career and say it was a failure. But that’s too harsh. But what’s probably more fair was to say that Weeks had a career that fell short of expectations. Rickie Weeks had come out of college expecting to hit .300+. Brewer fans expected an all-star. However, that was probably unfair to Weeks. Yes, he had some very loud tools - and the stats to back them up. But some of the hype about Weeks should have been tempered by the fact that he had played at a smaller college program against lesser talent. But let’s be honest - you hit .490 in any league - and that’s pretty amazing. In reality, Weeks’ batting stroke - which was so fast it was almost violent - left him with a hole in his swing. Combine this with a patient approach at the plate - and it led to a lot of strikeouts. This was more noticeable against right-handed pitchers. He had a .829 OPS against left-handers for his career - but a .739 OPS against right-handers. And the injuries can’t be discounted either. Weeks played hard - and it took a toll on him. Ultimately, Rickie Weeks had a career most players would die for. He played 13 seasons, made nearly $50 million, and was voted the starter in an all-star game. And he helped get the Brewers back into the playoffs for the first time in a quarter of a century. For the Brewers, he slugged 148 HRs, hit .249, and had an OBP of .347. He ranks sixth all-time in runs scored, is 10th in doubles, and holds the franchise record with 125 Hit by Pitches. The next closest person is 30 behind him - so it’s a record that may never be broken. The big problem for Rickie Weeks was that he had such enormous expectations. And while he had his share of success - he never rose to the heights many predicted. Please share your memories of former Brewer second baseman Rickie Weeks. View full article

I'm guessing they bring back Amos or someone similar to him (not sure who else is still on the market).

Nice compromise. Gives Jordan a couple of years to show what he can do.

I'll start by saying that - in all honesty - I don't think anyone knows how good Love is going to be. I don't. But I'm cautiously optimistic, but we shall see. However, regarding Love, if the club thinks he's going to be something special, and they intend to pick up his fifth-year option (which will cost around $20m), perhaps they do look at an extension now. Maybe something with $40m in guarantees and five years. Structure the contract so that the team can cut bait after two years or something like that. This is a complete rough idea - but something like: 2024: $20m guaranteed 2025: $20m guaranteed 2026: $25M non-guaranteed 2027: $25M non-guaranteed 2028: $25M non-guaranteed Perhaps this is unrealistic. Maybe it's too much or too little. I honestly don't know what sort of contract it would take to sign the guy at this point of his career. With this structure, Love gets the security of $40m, and the knowledge he has 2-3 years to grow into his role. In exchange the Packers get him at a discount if he plays well. If not, they take a good sized hit - but not too crippling. They can cut bait after 2025 if things don't pan out. Perhaps it would be really dumb to put up so much guaranteed money on a guy with such a small track record. And I don't know if there's any recent precedent to compare it to. Most guys who get a big deal - or even a medium sized deal - have some sort of track record before getting an extension. Waiting to see how the 2023 season goes before offering such an extension is probably wise - but it will certainly raise the price if Love looks good. An extension now gets him locked in at a favorable rate. Of course, this all hinges on the Packers picking up Love's 5th year. Which is no guarantee. They may prefer to make Love prove things this year - knowing they can franchise him next year if needed. But if that happens, the price of a good quarterback rises dramatically. Just an idea.

Well, the club certainly added some players that will have an opportunity to contribute in 2023. The two TEs was a neat idea. Will be fun.

Yeah, lots to like about him. Very athletic. Still learning - so he can get better. Can line up inside and outside. Should be able to handle the pass rush and help with run defense.

Packers can go so many ways. Having two picks in the upper half of round #2 is so sweet. I think it all comes down to who falls to them. I'd be thrilled with a bunch of different players. I think that with our 1st round pick we can expect someone to step in and contribute significantly from day one. JNS, a TE, an OL, Branch, an Edge rusher. I could also see the club trade back if the opportunity came up. Trade back 10 spots and get an additional #2 - that sort of thing. They could potentially get someone like Branch or Kincaid or Mayer in the early 20s, and get the extra premium pick. Or we could trade up - as people have noted. Deal one of our #2s and a 3rd for a low 1st - that sort of thing. Of course, all those deals are easier said than done as it takes two to tango - but I'd be looking to nab some value if the chance came up.

I think adding JSN would open up the game for the other receivers. And if we could get a TE that can step up and play right away - we're gold. I think the front office is going to want to help out Love as much as they can so they can figure out if he's the long term guy. And let's face it - they don't want to look like idiots. If Love comes in and bombs bad - they look like fools for picking him - and forcing out Rodgers (at least that will be the narrative). Doesn't mean the team has to get JSN. But it sure is tempting to load up on some offensive skill players.

Yes, it would. But I also see a position woefully thin at talent and depth. It’s a big need and JNS seems to be a guy worth the pick. I’ll say the same thing about safety and TE.

Well, the Rodgers trade is done and the draft is almost here. Assuming we would get one of the Jets second rounders, I had originally had the Packers going after Branch in the 1st, a TE (Musgrave or Washington) and Edge guy (McDonald IV) in the 2nd, and a WR in the 3rd (Reed or Rice). However, the trade does give me reason to change thing. The move from #15 to #13 is important, because the there was a lot of talk of the Patriots (who have the 14th selection) being very interested WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. So I was skeptical he'd get past New England. Well, no more. JSN is really a perfect for for GB. He can come in and fill the slot receiver role to perfection. So here's my predictions (again, these are who I think the club will select - not necessarily who I want them to pick). 1st (13) - WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba 2nd (42) - TE Luke Musgrave or Darnell Washington 2nd (45) - Edge Will McDonald IV 3rd (78) - S Quan Martin The 2nd round picks could be easily flip-flopped. Also, if the Packers see some like Branch or either TE Michael Mayer or Dalton Kincaid dropping into the lower first round or early second round - wouldn't be shocked to see them package one of their #2s and another pick to move up to grab them (assuming they like that player quite a bit more than Musgrave or Washington). Looking forward to the draft. Glad to have the Rodgers stuff behind us.

I'm good with this. Glad to have it done.

I think White is a fascinating prospect. Unlike a lot of EDGE rushers, he's a bigger player (285lbs). And he played DT at times. That should make him solid against the run. I also wonder if there's room to grow. The guy started as a TE. So he's probably still learning. Reports say he's got a great motor and work ethic. Still, perhaps as he's a bit older, he's peaked as an athlete. Might not be big upside. But whatever - if the team likes him - he's certainly an option. I'm guessing in round 2 he'll be there. I predicted the club will take Will McDonald Jr. - but there's not a lot separating the two. McDonald is more of a true pass rusher. Should be a fun draft.

In Brewer history, no player has put fear into opposing pitchers more than Prince Fielder. Not Ryan Braun, Russell Branyan, Gorman Thomas, Richie Sexson - no one. Fielder could crush the ball out of the park every time he stepped to the plate - and everyone knew it. It made his at-bats electrifying. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Prince Fielder was born in Ontario, California, on May 9, 1984. His father was slugging first baseman, Cecil Fielder. Despite being a natural right-hander, Cecil had Prince learn to hit left-handed as a kid. Fielder grew up around baseball and was a fixture in the Tigers clubhouse. He even took batting practice and hit an upper-deck home run at the age of 12. He attended high school in Florida - his prodigious power attracted the attention of college and professional scouts. The Brewers drafted Fielder in the first round - seventh overall selection - of the 2002 draft. No one doubted Fielder’s ability to hit the ball - but some questioned if his body type (5’11” and weighed 250+ pounds) would allow him to play at the highest levels. Many scouts wondered if he could even handle 1B - and thought he was destined to be a DH. The Brewers felt that Fielder was athletic enough to play regularly in the field. No matter what anyone thought about Fielder’s glove - he quickly proved he could hit. He smashed a grand slam in his first professional game - and never stopped hitting. At Ogden - Rookie Ball - he clubbed 10 HR and hit .390 in 41 games. The baseball world quickly took notice - the 18-year-old kid could hit. Fielder’s progress through the minor leagues was steady and consistent. He pounded between 23 and 28 HRs and never hit below .272. The Brewers felt they had a star slugger on their hands. In 2005, the 21-year-old Fielder got a 39-game trial in Milwaukee. The team was sold after he hit a respectable .288 on 59 ABs - plus a pair of HRs. The only problem was that the Brewers had a good first baseman on the roster - Lyle Overbay. That issue was addressed when the club dealt Overbay to the Toronto Blue Jays in the offseason. First base was now Fielder’s. And the young man did not disappoint - hitting 28 HRs with a .271 batting average. He was seventh in Rookie of the Year voting. But it was the following season - 2007 - where the big man broke out. That year he smashed a club record 50 HRs (a record that still stands) and produced an OPS north of 1.000. Fielder’s plate discipline also developed at this time - and over the next five years, he averaged more than 100 walks a season. By the way, Fielder’s powerful bat was essential to his success because he was not an asset in the field. At his best, Prince was still a below-average first baseman. But Fielder’s glove is not what allowed him to anchor the Brewer lineup for six seasons. It was his potent bat. In that time, he hit between 28 and 50 HRs each season, averaging more than 100 RBI a year. His batting average was always steady - between .260-.300. He was also an iron man - averaging 160 games played during his six full seasons. During his time in Milwaukee, Fielder was named to three all-star teams, won two Silver Slugger awards, and three times finished either third or fourth in the MVP voting. But most importantly, in 2008, Fielder helped lead the Brewers to their first playoff appearance in 25 years. And then, in 2011, the club captured the NL Central title and reached the NLCS (losing to the Cardinals). The offseason ended Fielder’s tenure in Milwaukee - something most fans expected as the big first baseman was a free agent. The Brewers - most people believed - wouldn’t be able to compete financially with the bigger market clubs. And they were right. Fielder signed a 9-year, $214M contract with the Tigers in January 2012. While Fielder continued to produce in Detroit (including hitting a career-high .313 in 2012), his power began to slip. In 2013, he hit .279 and 25 HRs. Not bad, but not up to his standards. In the off-season, Fielder was traded to Texas - and things went badly out of the gate. In the first 42 games of the year, he hit .247 and only three home runs. He then missed the rest of the year after undergoing neck surgery. Fielder rebounded in 2015, hitting .305 to go with 23 HRs. But the following season was a disaster as he was plagued by back and neck problems. In July, he was diagnosed with herniations in his neck. Within a month, he announced his playing career was over. Fielder was just 32 years old. The end of Fielder’s career was abrupt - especially considering he had been an iron man with the Brewers. Fielder concluded his career with 319 HR and more than 1,000 RBI. If he had stayed healthy, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could have hit another 100+ home run. Perhaps even have gotten to 500. That would have put him into Hall of Fame contention. Prince was one of the most feared power hitters in the majors at his best. He holds the Brewers' team record for home runs and RBIs in a season and ranks third in career HRs - despite only playing six seasons in Milwaukee. Fielder is the youngest player in National League history to hit 50 home runs in a season and captured two Home Run Derby titles. Perhaps Fielder’s greatest legacy is being a key cog in rejuvenating the Brewer franchise in the late 2000s and into the 2010s. Because of his massive power, every at-bat of Fielder’s at Miller Park was a legitimate threat to go sailing out of the stadium. Fielder was inducted into the Brewers Walk of Fame in 2022. Fielder, by the way, had a contentious relationship with his father, Cecil, much of it because of his parent’s bitter divorce. Also, Prince resented his father’s often overbearing attempts to control his career - and thus, he wanted little to do with Cecil. Upon his retirement, Fielder focused on his family - his wife and him raising their two sons in Florida. Both boys - who are taller than their father - are considered quality baseball players - so there may be another generation of Fielders in the major leagues. Please share your memories of former Brewer Prince Fielder. View full article

Trading down is always a great strategy - but it's easier said than done. Gotta have other teams willing to play along. I think the Packers have a lot of needs - so a lot of guys are enticing to us (which gives us flexibility). So if you can drop down 5-10 picks and still get a guy like Mayer or Branch or whomever - and pick up more picks. That's gold. But the situation has to be almost perfect for that to happen. And there's always a risk the guy you think will be there will get taken before you pick. It's why it's so good to be flexible - and be happy with getting anyone of several players.

Yeah, Rodgers seems to throw around statements like this - just to make things more dramatic.

I asked ChatGPT for a mock draft. It can't do it. It won't predict the future. And its knowledge base is limited up through 2021. So no luck.