ClosetBrewerFan

I hope the Brewers can resign Ernesto Martinez to another minor league contract. He's only 24 and is finally showing the promise we had all hoped for. I would even consider a 40 man spot for him.

They did. Say what you want about Winker, B.Anderson, Voit, etc but the Brewers tried and these players did not pan out. Its a lot harder to identify good players in December/January than in July. Not everyone will succeed and based on a lack of league wide success, free agency signings are a crapshoot. Deadline deals are a much better risk since they have a near term track record.

I was thinking this as well. Its been a long time since AAA was not full of minor league free agents. C, infield, outfield should be stocked with prospects. The pitching will be less so, but still plenty of prospects moving up.

Jose Sibrian seems to be getting the Crash Davis treatment this year. A 24 year old repeating low A for three years in a row. He's finally performing well this year, but never got that promotion he deserved. Maybe behind closed doors they are talking future coaching position. Otherwise, the Brewers are treating him like an organizational soldier. If I were him, I'd test free agency.

I feel that CC has been using Devin due to the unusual circumstance this year. The Brewers have had a silly amount of close games, so CC has had to save Devin for only those games. Not sure if CC is doing anything anyone else would do.

You are assuming Counsell has not talked to Frelick about this. That seems unlikely. Counsell is called a players manager. I'm sure they have had a conversation about what the expectations are for him.

Jackson ChourioSal FrelickJacob MisiorowskiJeferson QueroTyler BlackBrock WilkenMike BoeveAbner UribeEric Brown JrRobert GasserCarlos F RodriguezLuis LaraEric BitontiFreddy ZamoraDaniel GuilartePatricio AquinoJuan BaezCooper PrattBradley BlalockLogan Henderson

Yeah, I think the hitter will be boring. It will be a rotation of the same guys we have been seeing or from the IL (Jones, Miller, Perkins, Tellez, maybe Ruf or even (shudder) Winker). If Black would immediately tear up AAA, he could give them no other option. But that is not happening so far in his first 5 games. Still a chance, but unlikely.

I'm sure they are waiting for Quero to come off the 7 day IL. He is then targeted for AAA. Garcia is just a stopgap in case we need a third C in AAA.

Here is an article on Blalock indicating he has touched 99 in a June start. Maybe the Brewers see an opportunity to get some more velocity out of him

I'm happy with the trades the Brewers made at the deadline. After the sweep by Atlanta, I didn't want the Brewers to go all in. To win the division, we just needed to improve the absolute black holes in the lineup. We did that, plus added another arm to the bullpen. But there is no way we were going to add enough talent to match some of the top teams. Once we get into the playoffs you at least have a shot to win it all, albeit a small one. Not too concerned about what we gave up and that was partially offset by the Urias / Jackson trade. Arnold said they would be responsible this trade deadline and he is a man of his words. Good job overall.

Not too many of these stand out and I don't think any of them will be given a 40 man spot. I could see a few returning on minor league contracts. We can always use catching depth. I'm intrigued by Luis Contreras and Chirino. It would be nice to see what Ernesto Martinez could do at AA.

Here are my choices on who to protect: Lock: J. Quero. Absolute no brainer Maybe (AAA) - Devanney, N. Campbell - 2nd year I have been pushing Cam. He's deserving, as well as Campbell, The Brewers have not shown to protect utility type guys like this so its probably unlikely, but I'll keep listing Cam every year. Maybe (AA) - Zamora - Has had a great bounceback from last year. I think he is next likely to be protected, especially if promoted to AAA this year (and performs well). Maybe (A+) - Bradley Blalock, Edwin Jimenez, Alexander Cornielle - All three are long shots but if they got promoted to AA this year, the likelihood goes up. Cornielle is really a long shot, but I'm a big fan. He had a bad May, but has pitched much better the last two months. Both Jimenez and Cornielle are young for the league and are holding their own. Would hate to lose either. Blalock is a year older but is likely to see AA soon. His numbers are better and is more likely to be protected of the three. I'm considering McKendry just because he is new, but I think he is unlikely. Not listed as a ranked prospect in any TB lists I could find, he is probably safe from being drafted. Isaac Collins certainly has the numbers to justify being protected. I'll reserve judgment until I see how he does in AAA. He's a bit old for AA, so want to see him perform at the next level first. In summary, its quite likely Quero is the only one they protect. However, they have plenty of 40 man roster space so you may see a couple of these guys may get protected. We have a couple of months yet to evaluate so things are still likely to change.

Not quite sure I would pencil in Monasterio as a starter for the rest of the season. He's been great so far, but its just been 115 PA and he has a 400 BAbip. There is a good chance he will regress.

I'd add Urias to this list. He has a 860 OPS in July, starting to show some pop as well. I'd consider giving Jahmai Jones a trial as a DH. The Brewers have not given him much of a shot when he has been up with the club. I think he is unlikely to break out but worth a try. Toro has been really crushing the ball in the last month. He's deserves a callup to play 1B. We need Own Miller's bat out of the lineup. He is dangerously close to finishing July with an OPS under .500 for the month. There is plenty of room for these players. Perkins has done nothing with the bat this month and should be optioned. Owen Miller has an Option as well. Winker can be released. Not sure what to do with Ty Taylor. Out of options; It would be a shame to see his Brewers career end via a DFA. I cannot imagine he would be tendered this offseason though as he is now arby eligible. We just dont need a glove first bOF right now with Weimer, Frelick, and Yelli

I'd have no problem if the values were based on pre-season rankings (though Medina has not been a prospect in 2 years). However, when you go to the trade simulator page it brings up a banner saying All values have been updated to represent the 60% mark on the season. That just doesn't seem to be the case. Owen Miller was acquired via cash so hard to believe he was worth 14,3 value and should not be considered that now (maybe in May you could say that). I used to use this site as a double-check to see if a trade seems fair but it does not seem reliable anymore.

I think it will cost more to acquire both Grichuk and Cron. Keston probably has negative value right now. He's just a throw in change of scenery guy. Mejia has little value and is likely seen as AAAA relief. Strzlecki has talent but he is struggling in AAA. His value is at its lowest at this point. Barrios is hitting 600 OPS at low A. He has promise but generally lotto tickets need to be doing well to be traded. I could see Colorado having an interest in Huira so we can keep him, but I think you would need to swap in Guilarte/Moore/O'Rae. And probably looking at Jarvis as the pitcher (or Woessner/Jimenez type). This still might be light.

I thought I'd check Baseball Trade Values to see what we would have to give up for Thomas. I was encouraged when I saw the website states they just updated their trade values. But, if they did, they did not do it well... They have Thomas with a value of 16.8. A fair trade according to the website is Tyler Black (7.8), Luis Lara (7.8), and Logan Henderson (1.2). Umm, no thank you. They have Owen Miller with a 14.3 value and Luis Medina with a 8.1 value. I think they need some new staff. Who would you give up for Thomas or Conor Joe. I could see Lara, though not sure I would want to do that. Really don't want to give up Black.

These are good options, but not ideal. Turner would be my choice just not sure the Brewers can afford that salary. We may have to send more prospects if Bos eats salary. The other two would surely be an upgrade in our lineup this year. However, they are also long term assets and its unlikely we need outfielders long term with Mitchell, Frelick, and Chourio available next year. It would be better if these two were rentals. Longer term, I see Joe and Thomas as bench bats as well. They would start this year, just not real confident they are starters in a few years. Not sure what they would cost us but its going to be more than their value to us this year.

None of these options are all that exciting and we would have to give up talent to get them. Just call up Hiura and lets see what he can do. If not, try Toro and then Black. I feel that is the best option we have.

Jackson ChourioJacob MisiorowskiJeferson QueroSal FrelickTyler BlackRobert GasserAbner UribeEric Brown JrCooper PrattCarlos F RodriguezFreddy ZamoraLuis LaraJosh KnothDaniel GuilarteBrock WilkenPatricio AquinoRobert MooreEric BitontiEdwin JimenezJustin Jarvis

Trade with Oakland

There is another reason for the Brewers to go quality over quantity. MLB has a cap of 180 players can be stateside in the minors (does not include DSL). The recent collective bargaining agreement in March with minor leaguers allowed the league to reduce that cap to 165 for 2024. That's 15 fewer players that can be rostered in the states. As the recent transactions today imply, the Brewers needed to clear space on rosters to allow them to sign draft picks AND stay under that 180 player limit. It will be even more difficult next year. So, it seems the Brewers are likely accounting for that with this draft.

And the injuries keep coming. Brian Anderson has not been great this year, but hard to believe Monasterio will be better. I'm glad Jahmai is coming back up, but I have to believe Toro would have been a better option. Toro is a switch hitter and would be a good platoon mate with Monasterio (who is great against LH, but Worse than Winker against RH).

I'd go with Gasser, Andrews, Cousins, or Bukauskas before Strzlecki. Peter needs to get his control back before he gets a callup. But as stated above, Justin Wilson probably gets the last spot in the bullpen before any of these guys.