Pudster13

My vote is for Brett Wallace. I think the Cardinals will regret trading him. He seems like the best pure hitter of the bunch.

This is the guy I predict we trade for. Reasons: -Oakland A's are obvious sellers and this guy is in the last year of contract (3.9M this year) -Would not cost one of our blue chippers (Gamel, Escobar, Gamel), in fact, may not even cost as much as a B-level prospect (Salome, Green, etc). -Has a history with Brewers GM Doug Melvin (Melvin and the Rangers trading Doug Mirabelli to the Red Sox for him on June 12, 2001) -Buster Olney reports that the Brewers are scouting his minor league start on Sunday. (along with the Yankees....doh!) - Gives us a #5 starter to fill in while Bush is out, then even if pulled from rotation, provides valuable starting rotation depth. (McClung, Burns, Dillard etc do not have the talent/experience) Also, has outstanding bullpen experience. - Is a two time All-Star (2005 as a reliever and 2008 as a starter) -If he preforms well and likes Milwaukee experience, could be a candidate to resign and help team in future (currently 31 years old, younger than Halladay) - Has a cool nickname ("The Duke of Hurl")

Pogokat has nailed it with Escobar. He is being valued as an untouchable by Brewer fans, and in my opinion, this would be a mistake. Escobar will be a league average hitter. Adding him as a centerpiece for an ACE pitcher (even for a season and a half), would be well worth the risk. We could draft a college SS replacement with the draft pick that not re-signing Halladay in 2011 would net. With all that said, I don't think the Brewers will be willing to give up two of their 3 blue chippers (Gamel, Escobar, Lawrie) and I think that is what it will take to get him.

Why not just trade Hardy and a B level prospect straight up (of Jack Z's choice) to Seattle for Brandon Morrow?

Personally, I think we're going for a 2nd straight NL Wild Card Championship!

Brett Lawrie will have a better major league career than Alcides Escobar.

The window to get someone like Clay Buchholz for JJ Hardy is likely closed. Besides, Boston has Jed Lowrie to be their SS of the future. It's very unlikely they'd be interested in Hardy as just a rental.

This is a great post. I agree with all of your points Prince has increased his trade value a lot in the first half of 2009, therefore, it may make even MORE sense that we trade him now (before next season) because we'd be able to get the best return for him. However, now that his value IS high, I get the feeling most fans would be absolutely irate if we traded him now.

Personally, I think most Brewer fans turned on Prince a little after his dugout incident with Manny Parra last year, which is understandable. I just didn't think it was fair for fans to criticize Prince as much as they did last offseason for the weight issue, the non meat-eating issue, his daddy (Cecil) issues, and his defensive issues. I'd just like to congratulate Prince for all the hard work, as he has proved his doubters/detracters wrong so far in 2009, much to the teams benefit and Brewer fans delight.

The main point of this post is to explain to fans who are confused by Fielder two year deal that he signed. Fans who thought that we only have Fielder under control through next season, were obviously more willing to trade him sooner rather than later. Also wanted to point point out how having a good half season and winning a HR Derby makes Brewer fans switch from wanting to trade Prince Fielder immediately to wanting to sign him long term. Just giving some credit to Melvin for not operating under the same "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" attitude most fans have when wanting to make trades.

This is the quote we all heard from the majority of Milwaukee Brewers fans all last offseason. The man had a slight off year in 2008 and everybody seemed to jump off his bandwagon. Now the man who fans called out for being fat, not eating meat, having daddy issues, and not being able to play defense has fans hanging off of his bandwagon once again. Also, I'd just like to clarify a point that many fans seem to be confused about. Even though Fielder signed a two-year deal with the Brewers for $18M this last offseason (for 2009-2010 seasons), he is still under team control (arbitration eligible) through the 2011 season before he will become a free agent.

I'm sorry, but Brendan Kaitlin and Tim Dillard are no longer desirable prospects (each aged 25+ with limited ceilings). They basically have zero trade value. Cliff Lee would not cost much less than Halladay. Unless we're willing to part with at least two of Escobar, Gamel, Lawrie (which I hope we are not), we won't be netting either Cliff Lee or Halladay this season. If Bedard could show he's healthly this month, he may make sense as a target because he is a free agent after this season. As a half season rental, we probably wouln't have to give up a blue chip prospect (Escobar, Gamel, Lawrie), in order to get him. A package of mid-tier prospects (Gillespie, Taylor Green, etc) could get a deal done. However, if Mariners stay a few games out of first place during the next 10 days, they won't likely be sellers this trading deadline.

I think the Brewers would need to add Brett Lawrie to the package I started this thread with to get Halladay. 2B Brett Lawrie SS Alcides Escobar 3B Taylor Green SP Evan Fredrickson RP Rob Wooten With that being said, I would conclude that the Brewers would be better off if they did NOT acquire Halladay. One and a half years of a fairly expensive Halladay, will not be worth giving what we would have to give up.

Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar Both these players are being vastedly overrated by Brewer fans, IMO. I wish it was the case, but the reality is, neither of these guys have Ryan Braun/Jose Reyes type talent. I feel they will both be solid, but more league average type major leaguers. Two better player comps for these two: Hank Blalock and Orlando Cabrera Brewer fans do realize that if Gamel can't hack it at 3B, he becomes a very average hitting corner OF? Not willing to give up either of these two guys for 1 and a half years+ of Roy Halladay may be quite foolish. I'll actually go on record right now, saying that I think Brett Lawrie will turn out to be a better major leaguer than Gamel or Escobar.

The Blue Jays are reportedly listening to offers on Roy Halladay,. He makes $14.25M this season and $15.25M next year. He has a no trade clause. The Blue Jays may be able to get a ransom in prospects for him this July, with a seller's market. What would you give up to get him? I think it would take something like this: SS Alcides Escobar (or JJ Hardy) 3B Taylor Green LHP Evan Fredrickson RHP Rob Wooten Would you be willing to give this up for 2 years of Halladay?

I think this is hitting the nail on the head. Good post. In most workplaces, what Braun did would be called "Insubordination".

If you read Haudricourt's article, you also realize that Tom took a few of Braun's quotes from the McCalvy article out of context, as to sensationalize his article. Haudricourt Article Link Braun's job is to hit the baseball, and be a respectful teammate. Melvin's job is to GM the Milwaukee Brewers, and not make comments about players to the media. Haurdricourt's job is to sell newspapers, and be comfortable with how much of an asinine tool that he appears to be. Looks like Tom is the only one doing his job.

Scott Podsednik Doug Davis Derrick Turnbow (the good one) Brian Shouse Casey McGehee Todd Coffey This is not even a complete list of key role players that Doug Melvin has plucked off the scrap heap. I think it's fair to say he's been doing a pretty good job.

Let's all calm down and be rational about this whole thing for a second. (long dramatic pause) THIS IS ALL TOM HAUDRICOURTS FAULT! LET'S GET HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/includes/news_items/19/124/haudricourt.jpg

While I agree, that Melvin could/should have handled this behind closed doors, I think Braun is clearly at fault here. Braun Quotes: "That being said, it would be nice to make a move and it would be nice to do something to help us out for the time being. The sooner we do it, the better." "To show everybody we're for real, we can go out there and make a move and improve our ball club. We want to head in the right direction, not the wrong direction. " We're kind of at the point right now where it would be important for us to go out there and acquire somebody." Bottom line: NO ONE likes to be told how to do their jobs. ESPECIALLY when it is someone who is working for them. What's to stop Melvin from trading Ryan Braun for a stud, young ACE pitcher tomorrow? Braun might respond, "Oh, sorry Doug, when I told you how to do your job, I didn't mean THAT." As a player, you don't get to run the team. That is the GMs job. I don't care if you and all the fans agree that you are "THE FRANCHISE". I'm confident that Melvin and his staff have a plan in place. They mortaged a bit of the franchise's future last year by going out and getting CC so this team could get the 26 year old playoff monkey off their back. Players can't expect the team to do that every year, when the ultimate goal is winning a World Series, not the "Wild Card Championship". They are well aware of the "window" of playoff opportunity the Brewers currently have, however, teams can't just "make moves to make moves". The GM knows that he has to wait for the right deal to come along. Truth is, there is not one true ace pitcher available on the trade market this July. The combination of the Suppan signing and the inability of the Brewers to develop any starting pitcher through their farm not named Yovani for the past 5+ years has put us in this situation. Players (and fans) are spoiled to think that there is a magical trade fix (like CC) available to acquire each season. Doug Melvin doesn't give Ryan Braun hitting tips through the media when he's in a hitting slump. Braun shouldn't do the same to Melvin. Melvin has every right to be "ticked off". However, with that being said, Melvin should have talked to Ryan personally, not through the media. If for no other reason, then to NOT feed into a "Tom Haudricourt Exclusive". The man gets off on that type of thing.

Kyle Davies doesn't turn 26 until September and was starting to have a breakout season early this year before hitting a wall. He dominanted his last AAA start (6 Ip, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K). Five(5) of this first nine(9) major league starts were quality starts this year. If I were GM of the Brew Crew, I'd be targeting either Davies or Ian Snell for a mid-level prospect package, with the hopes that they could help our starting pitching depth this year and beyond.

Do you guys think either of these three pitchers would be worth acquiring? I don't think we'd have to give up too much to get any of them, and it doesn't seem like we're going to go after a top-notch starter anyway.

Ian Snell stuck out 17 batters in his first AAA start, including 13 in a row. I'm not sure if the Pirates would dare deal him within the division, especially being only 5 games out of first at the moment.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-27-rogers-cubs-white-sox-chijun27,0,6907986.column If you're a Chicago Cub, you've probably grown accustom to sucking at the game of "Life". However, the offseason signing of Milton Bradley contines to "Boggle" the mind. Everyone in the baseball world was aware that by signing Milton Bradley this offseason, they were surely taking a big "Risk". Poor Lou has to fill out a lineup card each day, despite this "Barrell of Monkeys" he's been given to work with. Even on a team with Piniella and Zambrano, Bradley has found a way to put a "Monopoly" on temper tantrums. He is turning the Cubs fan base into a bunch of "Hungry, Hungry Hippos" who are calling for GM Jim Henry's head. If chicago fans are not careful, they may see old Uncle Milt pull a Derek Bell and launch "Operation" Shutdown, Part II. The signing of Bradley will surely prove to be what sinks the Cubs "Battleship". For all those Cubs fans who went into the season assuming the NL Central was theirs to lose, I think it's time to finally get a "Clue"! Take a good look at your "Sorry" excuse for a ballclub. Unless you're living in "Candyland", wake up and realize that IT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN! Congratulations Chicago Cubs! For the last 102 years, you've managed to make winning baseball on the North Side of Chicago, so very, very "Taboo".

Here is an interview I did with Brewers CF prospect Logan Schafer for the Award winning program, The Brew Crew Review. Picked in the 3rd round of 2008 draft, he's been compared to a Steve Finley type player. Seemed like a very down-to-earth kid. Someone to root for.