The problem with Marcum was he was two years away from free agency, had a pretty significant injury history and was already 29 years old. Even if he pitched well, with his injury and his stuff would you really want to re-sign him if he had pitched two healthy years with the Brewers? I wouldn't have. As far as what could have been done. Baseball America ranked Lawrie as the #40 prospect in baseball that year. Two pitching prospects from teams that wanted offense were traded either that trade deadline or the next winter. Michael Pineda of the Mariners (#16 by BA) and Zack Wheeler (#55 by BA). I would have gone after either of them first. Obviously Pineda has been hurt with the Yankees but even if he got traded to the Brewers and got hurt I would have at least understood the reasoning behind the trade, a top prospect pitcher with great stuff and 5 years of team control left. Wheeler is obviously a top prospect and is now in the bigs for the Mets.