Matt Breen

I am happy for Henderson, and hope he does well, but I must temper my enthusiasm due to the fact the guy is 29 years old, and his career stats are all over the board. Career minor league guys getting a shot at the bigs are great stories, but they usually don't end up being very good. There's usually a reason no one has brought them up to the show. Again, that doesn't mean Henderson can't be the exception to the rule. I hope he does awesome. If anything, his addition should be the start of some needed changes. Let's see how Henderson does over the next couple of months, and understand if he might have a future with the Crew.

You play for 2014 and beyond. Understand 2012 and 2013 are development years. With that in mind, you deal anyone who won't be with the team beyond 2013. Keep Weeks and Axford. They are better players, and get re-establish their value by season's end, or even into next year. Trade Loe, Parra, K-Rod, Wolf, Veras, Gomez, Kottaras, Morgan - get whatever you can - even salary relief. Trade Greinke, Hart and A-Ram for the best prospects you can get. I don't think A-Ram gets that much, even if we send along $6 million (we are balance his large 2014 salary). Cut Izturis. Let Bianchi (SS), Taylor Green (3B), Schafer (CF) finish out the season. The team will be bad the rest of the year, but hopefully, you'll find out if a couple of guys have a future in the big leagues. 2013 will be bad too, but we can let the younger players develop (Peralta, Thornburg, Fiers, Jungmann, Nelson, Morris, Scooter, Rogers), plus any guys we get in trades. They join the team in 2013-14 (or even later). I just don't think a 'tweak' helps this team. You need to to blow it up.

Guy on third (who has average speed), no outs, infield in, and you lay down the squeeze? That's awesome. This obsession with bunting is very strange.

I think in the long run, this is probably the long and short of it. $100 million contracts to pitchers are extremely risky. For every Sabathia there's a couple of Mike Hamptons. I think a one-two punch of Yo and Greinke for the next few years would be awesome - a key to contending. But it's a razor's edge we'd be walking on. We'd have to cut so many corners to field the team.

I totally agree with you 3&2Fastball. Greinke wants to win. Losing saps the life out of him, and he doesn't want to go through a 'rebuilding' campaign. Even for a year or two. If that's the case, so be it. I appreciated Zack's time here, and really would like to have kept him. But it's time to move on.

Is that supposed to be a list of pitchers who are a better bet for the money? Take away hindsight and tell me which guy was a better risk than Wolf going into the season. Bedard's high water mark for innings pitched the prior three season's was 101.1 innings. Chen 155 with about the same ERA as Wolf. We know Cappy's history. Colon was 164.1. Harang 170.2. Kuroda 202 but coming off an injury last season. Maholm 185.1 and declined three years running. Sanders 202 but surrounded by years under 100 innings pitched. Jackson 121.2. All of them had problems staying healthy and only three of them would cost less than $8.5 million. You may notice that list doesn't include anyone who hasn't had an injury issue in the past several season's. There is value to durability and that according to that list is above $10 million. I've probably missed some guys. But the point is, there are FAR better options at $8.5 million available than Randy Wolf. Not in free agency there aren't. Your list sort of proves that. Pitching a lot of innings is valuable if you throw well. Having a bad pitcher throw 200 innings is worse than having a bad pitcher throw 100 innings. Wolf had a fine 2011. But the problem is that it's 2012, and he's having a terrible year. Of 100 pitchers qualified this year, Wolf's ERA is the 94th worst. (he does beat out Bruce Chen) His WHIP is 97th out of 100. We won't even go into WAR. He will be 36 next month. I honestly think Wolf will be better in 2013. He has a very high BABIP - often a sign of bad luck. And our defense hasn't helped him. Perhaps you think 2011 Wolf is the 'real' Wolf - but 2012 shows he's been very bad. Picking up his option would be a colossal waste of money. Even if he rebounds and pitches well, he won't get anywhere near that on the open market.

$8.5 million actually. We are on the hook for $1.5 million either way. I'm not sure how much better a starter you get for that price. If Marcum wants to come back at that price I'd be all for it. If not Wolf isn't as bad as he gets labeled IMHO. He isn't Suppan nor was his contract nearly as bad. Last off season, the following players signed contracts: Erik Bedard - 1 year/$4.5 million Bruce Chen - 2 years/$9 million Capuano - 2 years / $10 million Colon - 1 year/ $900,000 Aaron Harang - 2/$12 million Kuroda - 1 year / $10 million Malhom - 1 year / $4.75 million Joe Saunders - 1 year / $6 million Edwin Jackson - 1 year / $11 million And you could work a trade like the Pirates did for Burnett. They now have him for about $8-9 million of his salary for 2012-13. I've probably missed some guys. But the point is, there are FAR better options at $8.5 million available than Randy Wolf. The guy will be 36 next month. It's extraordinarily unwise to invest $8.5 million in a player that age who is coming off a poor season. Unless he improves his numbers, he might not even get much more than a minor league deal at this point. I realize that many of the above players, if given the chance, might not have wanted to sign with Milwaukee. But again, the point is that there are far better options than picking up Wolf's option. If you really want Randy Wolf back, you should be able to let him go, then offer him a contract at a much lower rate. Picking up the option should not be considered.

Nice try, Randy. yeah, i think we can do better at $8.5 million.

I'd be all for that. Not much risk involved for the Brewers, and would greatly help the rotation next season with no long-term commitment. This would be perfect for the Brewers. Especially if it can be incentive-laden.

I think the Brewers would have to put in $6 million or so for A-Ram's salary in 2014. They are only paying him $6 million this year, and 2013 could be a year to save money if we go on a selling binge.

Rendon or Olt for Greinke would be fine. Both teams have 3B covered for a while. It's a good match.

This is good for Seattle since they would have felt pressure to re-sign him in the off season. Now they can move forward with guys who are in the long term plan. They can say, 'He asked for the trade, and we complied.' It allows the team to save face and not look like they are dumping him. But it's pretty obvious he's not an elite player anymore, and he's not going to be around when Seattle has a chance to be decent. So there's not point in running him out there just because he's a local icon. And not to mention it's good for Ichiro. At his age, he wants a light at the end of the tunnel. Seattle just wasn't a fit.

Would Tigers be interested?

Cubs are reportedly talking with Dodgers on a Garza for Zach Lee deal: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/07/cubs-dodgers-discussing-garza-for-zach-lee-swap.html

It doesn't matter what you think of Delgado. His prospect ranking was #32 by Fangraphs, #41 by John Sickels and #46 by Baseball America. That sets a value for a good pitcher. If we trade Greinke, we can be expecting someone as good if not better in the rankings (that's assuming we get a prospect). Those rankings were pre-season, so perhaps his performance with the Braves has dimmed his value a lot. I have not seen the guy. His numbers are okay considering he just turned 22 last month. I think we can get a very good prospect for Greinke.

Good deal for us if we want to trade Greinke. It puts a value on a premium pitcher like Dempster - and thus Greinke. The Braves gave up a top 50 prospect. That makes a guy like Mike Olt a perfect trade target for Zack.

If you decide to bag the season, sell them for whatever you can get. I think both guys are arby eligible next season, so you can say to any team that the guy is more than a rental. But both of these guys are going to make more than $2 million next year - then be free agents. If you're rebuilding, they are exactly the kinds of players you don't want to sink money into. Get whatever you can for them, save the money, and start rebuilding the farm system by adding a few prospects.

I would get a shirsey for that guy just for the surname. it is a great name. would it even fit on the back of a uniform?

The team can save quite a bit by non-tendering several players or trading them. This includes: Morgan Kottaras Loe Parra Ishikawa Gomez Some of these guys will, undoubtedly, stay on the team. But many of them are questionable, and you could potentially replace with other, cheaper players (such as Schafer for Nyjer Morgan).

I love this trade. Your poop smells better than my poop. Let's swap. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/07/rockies-royals-swap-guthrie-sanchez.html

I thought his deal gave him FA when it was done. Other Japanese players have done this - Matsui for instance.

I like how Houston got Asher Wojciechowski in the deal - a supplemental 1st round pick in 2010. He's pitching pretty good at High A ball this year (after struggling last season). He was 10th on the Blue Jays Top 20 list, and 11th on John Sickels Top 20 list. Is he a great prospect? No. But he's a guy who can potentially help in 2 or 3 years - maybe even be in the rotation. That's the kind of move you have to make when you're rebuilding. They gave up a mediocre starting pitching who makes over $2 million (and will likely get more in 2013). Would Happ be part of your core in 2-3 years - almost no way. Lyons is a FA after 2012, so he's not going to help you. Good move for Houston.

I'm liking what Jeff Luhnow is doing in Houston. He had a bad situation and is going for the hard rebuild. Best thing for that franchise.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120720&content_id=35239442&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb Let the dealing begin! Will this start the frenzy? Jays get a couple of decent pitchers.

Okay. I'll take the challenge. Let's blow this team up. If you do that, don't do it half way. Do it big time. Aim for 2014 (or probably more like 2015) as a year where we might be able to be relevant again, understanding 2012-13 will be serious rebuilding. Key philosophies/notes/ideas: Build through draft to sustain success (pretty obvious, but should be restated) Rid the team of players that we don't have control beyond 2012. They tend to cost more, and likely will cost even more to keep them as they hit FA, and their value at higher rates is questionable. Focus on players we control for the next 4+ years. Use existing assets to get as high upside players as possible, since the team lacks impact bat as well as pitchers. Don't be afraid to take some lumps in 2012-13 as we throw some young players to the wolves and determine their value. Be realistic: Our impact minor talent is thin. Especially at upper levels with position players. It doesn't mean we don't have some good prospects, but Jimmy Nelson and Caleb Gindl types fail to be impact players 4 out of 5 times. Maybe worse. It doesn't mean they can't contribute at the major league level, but we have to be realistic. Most of these guys will fail to be decent major leaguers. Key steps: Trade Hart. He's a FA after 2013 and while he's good, he's not great. And at the $10+ million annually it will likely take to sign him to an extension, we aim to replace his production with much cheaper players. Trade A-Ram - by 2014 he's in his last year of his contract, and age is going to be an issue. Trade him while he has value. Trade Greinke - assuming he doesn't resign for 5 years or whatever. Trade Marcum if he gets healthy and get through waivers in August (which probably won't happen, but you never know). Let him walk in off season otherwise. Trade K-Rod (if you can get anything for him). Trade Parra, Loe and Veras if you can get anything for them. Parra still is under control for 2013, so he might actually have some real value. Gomez - trade him. He's a FA after 2013 and isn't in long term plans. Hang on to Weeks. He has little trade value at this time. He's not a .200 hitter. He'll improve. Let him show he's better in 2013, and then make the decision about his future at that time. Hang onto Axford. Like Weeks, let him re-establish value in 2013, then either keep or deal or get rid of as team sees fit. Kottaras - trade him when Lucroy comes back. Get whatever you can. Morgan - let him go in the off season. I doubt he has any trade value. He'll make too much in arby, and we can give Schafer the job at a fraction of the price. The Brewers have very little in terms of impact bats coming up the next couple of years. At AAA, Schafer and Gindl are potentially major league players - perhaps even starters - but not impact bats. At AA, Hunter Morris and Scooter Gennett could be starters - but upside isn't huge for either. Both are limited in some ways (neither is particularly good defensively, both need to take more walks), but both are improving - which is encouraging. But these guys aren't on target until 2014. But they could be starters. For trades, focus on highest impact players as possible. While our team is seriously lacking at SS and 3B, we also need top flight pitching. Any position - except maybe catcher - is a need for us. So the better the player, that's who we want. Greinke, and Hart should bring decent returns. Marcum would have, had he not gotten hurt. A-Ram might get something okay - probably nothing great. But if we include money in the deal (which we should), we could get a better player. The other guys are all fringe players, so we shouldn't expect much for them. Maybe they are used to sweeten a Greinke or Hart or Ramirez deal (although you might argue adding Veras to a deal makes it worse). Or maybe get back some low level projects. Hard to say. But unload them, save money, potentially get back a useful player in return. If we could land a few top line prospects, that's the goal. Preferably guys in the upper minors now (AA or AAA). They don't have to be ready for 2013. Ideally they'd be ready in 2014 - but it shouldn't be a deal breaker. If you have a guy at A Ball who is a stud, get him. A couple of bats as well as a couple of pitchers would be great - but that is probably asking too much. Rosters You can't factor in any players you trade for until that happens. So go with what we have. 2013 Team C - Lucroy/Maldonado 1B - Gamel (let him try have the position, see if he's any good. If he is, then great. if not, it's a rebuilding year anyhow, and we move on from him.) 2B - Weeks - let him rebuild his value. The team can then deal him if they think Scooter is ready in 2014, or they can simply keep him since we have him under control until 2015. SS - Bianchi - This position is bad, but Bianchi at least has some potential. Ransom is 36 years old. Keep him as a back up, but he shouldn't start. Let's find out if Bianchi can be an everyday player (or even a good utility man, if it comes to that). 3B - Taylor Green - just give him the job. Let him sink or swim. That's fine. If he fails, then we know better and look for a different solution in 2014. LF - Braun CF - Schafer RF - Aoki OF - Gindl OF - Ideally, you have a right-handed batter who can play CF/LF when needed. I'd say keep Gomez, but he's a FA after 2013, so why use him when he's probably leaving. Hunter Morris and Scooter Gennett go to AAA in 2013 to be ready for the bigs in 2014 (if needed). SP - Gallardo, Narveson (assuming he's healthy), Fiers SP/RP - Estrada, Peralta, Rogers, Thornburg (two of three go into the rotation, the others go into the bullpen) RP - Axford, McClendon, Henderson 2013 would be bad. You'd have a bunch of rookies or second year players (Green, Bianchi, Schafer, Gamel) in the starting lineup. The rotation would be similar, with a bunch of young guys. But hey, what the heck. You have to let these guys play sooner or later. You find out who is part of the team's future and make moves accordingly in the offseason. 2014 Team C - Lucroy, Maldonado 1B - Gamel or Hunter Morris 2B - Weeks or Scooter SS - TBD or Bianchi 3B - TBD or Green LF - Braun CF - Schafer RF - Aoki OF - Gindl Pitchers aren't much different than 2013, but you can add in some other young arms that have potential - Nelson, Bucci, Heckathorn, Burgos, Manzanillo - maybe Jungmann (not counting on Bradley at this point). But we'd be counting on the young arms of 2013 (Rogers, Thornburg, Peralta, etc.) to continue to mature and get better. And remember, if we can land 3-4 decent players for Hart/Greinke/A-Ram, the team is better off. Where those players fit in, is unknown. In reality, this team needs to have players develop in 2013 to be any good. If that's the case, so be it. We find out in 2013 if Gamel, Bianchi, Green, Schafer, Rogers, Peralta, Thornburg and others can play. Let them grow up and - hopefully - be ready to really turn up their abilities after a year or so of learning. We have to realize that some of these guys will fail. So starting in 2014, you can sprinkle in a free agent signing or two if needed. The team might want a veteran innings eater kind of guy. Or a corner OF with a little power. They could - at this time - invest in a free agent, assuming we didn't feel it would block our young players. Contract extension note: I'd extend Aoki a couple of years. He's turning into a pretty solid player, and if we can keep him, that would be great. He's 30 now, and we have him through next year. But his skill set should age well - extending him a couple of years won't be that big of a risk. All in all, you get rid of anyone who isn't committed to the team beyond 2012. Save money, give young guys a chance. If 1/2 your young players turn out successful in 2013 (Gamel, Bianchi, Green, Thornburg, Schafer, Peralta, Rogers, Fiers, etc.), you're adding a decent base of players. We have to be realistic and understand none of those players has a super high upside. But that's okay. If we can add a few players to the system through trades to supplement them, we might be okay. I can't stress the need for more high upside arms. The Brewers have three pitchers on their roster that they've developed - Parra, Gallardo and Fiers. Wolf, Greinke, Marcum, Veras, Loe, Axford, Narveson, Estrada, K-Rod - all trades or free agents or minor league signings. You go into 2014-17 with a young, maturing team, and a few quality veterans. You have financial flexibility to add players as needed. The whole process is dicey at best - but you got to work with what you have.