Matt Breen

I could see each and every one of those guys play for the Brewers this year. I think I read that the average team uses 14-15 relievers in the course of a season. So seeing each of these guys isn't out of the question.

I will update the club each player is assigned to as it's announced. I'll also make notes as well, such as major injuries or events (such as Jed Bradley getting shifted to relieving).

It's nice to read things like this. A little effort can mean a lot to a young person. I like how Gomez acknowledged those that did this for him a decade ago. It was like the story Tim Dillard told - how Latroy Hawkins took him to a clothing store in NYC and bought him a couple of suits. And how Hawk said Kirby Puckett had done that for him when he was a rookie. That was cool.

This was cool to read. Thanks for posting.

Are you sure that 'walk' wasn't A-Ram actually 'running'?

Duke pitcher Michael Matuella will have TJ surgery. Many people predicted he'd be a top 10 (even top 5) pick this year. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/dukes-matuella-done-season/

I'm still kind of surprised Clark didn't make it over Schafer or Herrera. The power bat on the bench would have been a nice option to have, and Lind's creaky back scares me. If Lind needs to sit 2-3 days in a row, I'd rather put in Clark at 1B and Luc at catcher rather than a Lucroy/Maldonado combo (at least against right handers). But again, it's not like the 25th man can't be swapped out as need arises (or a particular player falters). If Lind's back acts up, we can make a move.

Schafer or Herrera. The difference is pretty negligible. And I don't think either guy's name is etched in stone even if he starts the season in the majors. Schafer's been frustrating by not hitting at the major league level - despite some solid minor league numbers. He and Herrera are actually pretty similar if you look at their extensive AAA numbers. Herrera has a little better BA, but Schafer has a little more pop. At the major league level, Herrera has not hit very well (.651 OPS), but Schafer has been flat out bad (.603 OPS). Herrera offers versatility (switch hitter and plays most anywhere but catcher and 1B), but Schafer offers exceptional defense in the OF - especially at the critical CF position. Herrera can play CF, but he's no great shakes. For me, I go with Schafer due to the fact he does something really well - plays defense. Parra can handle RF and LF exceptionally well, but he's not a good CF. Neither is Herrera. Schafer is very good at the position. He's entering his age 28 season - still young enough to improve. He's shown he can hit in the minors - I say give him one more chance at the major league level. He offers value as a defensive specialist. Herrera's value lies in his versatility, which we just don't really need that much. He's third man off the bench at 3B, SS, 2B or OF. His primary attribute - his ability to play so many positions - just isn't that valuable due to our roster make up. No matter what the decision, this isn't going to change the world. We can always make a move. If one guy starts out poorly, you can swap him for someone else. And I won't be shocked if Rogers or Clark gets the call over either of these guys at some point (especially if Lind's back is acting up).

I agree that Gomez will not re-sign with Milwaukee, unless they have the biggest deal when the current contract is up, which is unlikely. However, I disagree that Taylor's development is irrelevant. If he tears up the minors, putting up numbers that really get him noticed, the Brewers could be more willing to deal Gomez next offseason if they get a huge package back in trade. I'm not saying that Taylor would be as good as Gomez, but if he puts together a season like Nelson did last year, completely dominating AAA, it should make the Brewers more willing to trade Gomez. As I said earlier, I think they'll hold onto him and only trade him if they're out of it at the 2016 deadline, but there are factors that could change this. Taylor's progression is one of those factors. I agree that Taylor's or Harrison's development isn't irrelevant to when it comes to Gomez's future. It makes it a lot easier to trade (or let walk) a player if you have someone waiting in the wings to take his place. It's not the only decision, but how Taylor plays going forward could affect Gomez's future. I think the team is going to have to face this question with Lucroy in a year or two. We control Luc through 2017. But what about 2018 and beyond? Who's taking his place if we trade or let him walk? Right now, there's no one who looks like an everyday catcher in the system. Obviously, this is several years away, but in the next two years, the organization is going to have to look at the position. Like the Cardinals did with Molina, the team may find that extending him is the best option, despite his age (going into his age 32 season). A lot depends on Luc's health and performance, but if he keeps producing, he's the one older player I could see the teams extend.

I hope Schafer makes it over Herrera. Schafer is a very good OF - Herrera isn't. I'm still a little surprised Clark didn't get the 25th spot. The club would have liked his power.

Wooten is sent down. That means Blazek and Thornburg made the club.

Those fans are trying to figure out how to get players like Gomez now. "The Brewers can't afford Carlos Gomez after two more years. So let's trade for him and give him a 6-year/$150M extension. We can trade them our really good minor league infielder who just can't beat out our other all stars (translates into back IF), an awesome minor league starting pitcher (which translates into a back of the rotation guy or reliever - at best), and our slugging OF who can't quite crack our OF (translates into a fundamentally flawed hitter - usually strikeout issues, or can't field, or never takes walks). We'll be doing the Brewers a huge favor by giving them a lot of guys for just the single OF (translates as quality for quantity)." I love these deals. Every team and every fan over values their own assets. I remember, years ago, one guy in an ESPN chat asking about the Braves trading Tommy Hanson for Prince Fielder AND Ryan Braun.

I love the video of Arcia - seeing how deep he plays. A guy who can play that deep (and that well) is going to save so many hits.

Small sample size alert: Scooter is 6 of 15 (.400) vs lefties in spring training. He's also struck out 11 times in 50 ABs and doesn't have a walk.

Your only option is to trade for Andre Beltre. He was the only 3B last year to have a .850+ OPS. If you want to expand it to over the last three years you can add in David Wright (2012), Matt Carpenter (2013), Chase Headley (2012) and Josh Donaldson (2013). Getting any of those guys is going to cost a lot. A-Ram did it in 2012 as well. Only Beltre and A-Ram have produced .900+ OPS at 3B over the last five years.

A lot just depends on how this team looks this July (and then again in the off season). If we go in the tank and look like we need to rebuild, then a trade is wise. But if we are in contention, and look like we can contend in 2016, we'll likely keep Gomez. Trade deadline 2016 will be the final test - if we are in contention, we'll keep Gomez. If not, we trade him. Either way, I think Carlos is gone after 2016. He will be 31. If he's still playing well, he is inline for a 5-6 year deal at the $20M/year that you suggest. We can't afford that (personally, I don't want to pay that money to a player that age). Plus, Taylor will (hopefully) be ready to take over in 2017. On the flip side, if Carlos is declining (he'll only be 31, but he plays hard and you never know about injuries), then the team will look to the future with Taylor in the position. In that case, he's still gone.

I believe Perez would have made $2.5 million if he was put on the major league roster. So keeping Wooten, Thornburg or Blazek over him saves us $2 million. I want to correct myself on this - I just read on ESPN that Perez would have made $1.5M - not $2.5M. Sorry for the error.

I believe Perez would have made $2.5 million if he was put on the major league roster. So keeping Wooten, Thornburg or Blazek over him saves us $2 million.

I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised that the Crew are going with guys like Blazek, Wooten and Thornburg. It's not just about veterans automatically getting the job. Experience is great, but it's not everything. You need to produce. And the young guys are our future. At some point, you have to stop jerking guys around and make the leap with younger players. It's a risk, but one worth taking, especially when the options are decidedly mediocre. To me, Perez looked nothing more than average this spring. So why pay $2.5M for average when you can get that same production for 1/5 the price? And let's face it, he's probably here for one year and then gone. Why not let Wooten or Blazek see if they can actually be a regular contributor - and get them for a bunch of years instead of just one. As for Kintzler, I was all for bringing him back in the hope he could pitch like 2013. But that gamble hasn't paid off so far. I'm just glad the club is willing to send him to AAA instead of just saying 'he's a veteran' and gets an automatic spot in the pen. Perhaps he can get his game straightened out. If so, he might help us later in the year. But for now, if he's playing poorly, I don't want him on the roster. The Brewers have been horrible at producing bullpen arms in the majors. Worse than producing starters. What's great is seeing young guys coming up the pipeline that may actually be really good relievers. I'm not against adding veterans, but the fewer Cotts type signings we need to the do, the better.

Very, very true. I think I looked at Top 100 prospect starting pitchers over a 10 year period and found that roughly 2/3 to 3/4 of them fail as starters in the big leagues. A lot them become successful relievers, but so many of them just don't amount to anything. Some of that is injuries, some of it the guy just doesn't put it all together. It's a tough thing to do.

If Jimenez plays decently this year as a part time player, the club probably goes with him at 3B next year. He reportedly is good defensively, which means he doesn't have to have to hit a ton to be of some value. A lot just depends on how he looks in 2015. If Jimenez looks bad, a lot depends on club expectations for 2016. If Milwaukee is looking to contend, they probably go after an aging veteran for a year (Freese, Uribe, McGehee). If we bomb in 2015 and are looking to rebuild, we probably target a 3B prospect in trades (using expendable vets as trade bait). Of the middle IFs, Arcia looks like the gem of the bunch, but he's still got to prove himself in the upper minors. Of Segura, Scooter and Sardinas, none of these guys are locks. They each have warts. All could get better, or all could get worse. The key is that you have quantity. If one falters, the other will slide in for them. The good thing is that there's a good chance at least a couple can succeed, thus covering the positions for a while (and at a good price). At 1B, if the club is looking to contend in 2016, Lind could be held over. If we go into a rebuild, it's anyone's guess. Maybe Rogers or Clark is given the chance. And let's not forget Braun. At some point he could be shifted to 1B. We have him through 2020. Shifting him to 1B might open a spot for someone like Coulter in a couple of years (or Clint could be shifted to 1B). So much depends on how the team does. If they ever go into a rebuild mode, we could cash out some veterans and get some younger prospects. However, I don't see this happening. I think we have enough talent to get to .500 this year, which means we'll go for it again next year.

To me, Herrera is just a guy. His best asset is his versatility - and if that's what we need, great. But he doesn't have any exceptional tools that make him really valuable (except the versatility). Right now I'm thinking Jimenez and Gomez are going to be the IF back ups. Maldonado is the C, while Parra is the backup OF. Herrera won't play at 3B or OF - Parra and Jimenez are both probably better fielders and hitters at the position than Herrera. I think Gomez offers more at the middle IF position - a little pop and a good glove. 1B will be backed up by Lucroy and Jimenez. That really doesn't leave much for Herrera other than pinch hitting. I'm thinking I go with a guy that adds something exceptional - such as Clark's power. Clark also provides some protection against Lind's balky back. Herrera is a nice player to have at AAA. When injuries arise, he can be valuable. But right now, with the way the team is constructed, I don't see him doing much at the major league level.

Andrew got his dreadlocks cut off for charity (you can buy some yourself). First hair cut in 8 years. I don't know if I'll recognize him. http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/55961/andrew-mccutchen-gets-first-haircut-in-eight-years

Pena, Hellweg, Knebel, Goforth, Bradley and Thornburg (if he's a reliever) - all those guys can throw hard. I wish they would have moved Hellweg and Pena to relieving a year ago. Neither guy seemed like they had the control to be major league starters. Now controlling their pitches is another matter, but I like that we have some guys that seem like legit arms coming up. I realize it's a crapshoot on these types of players, but I'd rather take risks on guys like this than throwing $3 million at guys like Cotts. Even if Cotts does well, he's gone in a year. These other guys have potential to give us 5-6 years of decent play at a good rate. I'm all for patching together the bullpen with veterans - but only as needed. I'd rather see us develop more of these players - something we haven't done much of over the years.

Yeah, what ever happened to Brian? Is that why the website is dead? I've always wondered if posters disappeared or if they just changed names. I think Brian did a lot of the technical stuff on the website, so yeah, I think that when he left it all sort of just died. Too bad he didn't hand it off to someone else. I don't know if there was an issue or anything that made him not do so. Never know.