Brewers Buyers at the Deadline?

It depends 

The beauty of Milwaukee's situation is they don't need to panic but also have some assets to deal 

If they do consider themselves contenders they need at least one more reliable starter 

Regarding Brewers interest in Quintana/Gray, two rival execs think price to get either would be Lewis Brinson, Josh Hader, Brett Phillips.

— Robert Murray (@RobertMurrayFRS) July 9, 2017

Doesn't mean anyone will give them that

I know he is supposed to be "the face of the franchise" but I was hoping Braun could be moved for a decent starter. But now that he is injured again......................

Maybe an AL team would want him as a DH.  Boston, Yanks, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Twins, KC????

Gray is too small for me, he’s approaching the age Lincecum flamed out at.

Would be nice to have, but for a top prospect, probably not

Bronson- no. Hader- no. Phillips- maybe. 

Hader should be off limits unless it's part of a package for an elite level starter which isn't Quintana or Gray.  

Brinson or Ray probably would need to be part of a deal for a starter as would another guy like Phillips or Gatewood or both.  That may still not get it done.  

Stay the course. If they get in this year great, but don't hurt 2018/2019 to get eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this year against Kershaw and the Dodgers.

Stearns has earned our support with whatever he does.  We do have a surplus of tallant and a chance at the playoffs.  Our best pitcher last season needs to find his edge and our staff would be better without a deal by a ton.

I did some quick HR math 

Cubs have 74 games left and Brewers have   71 games left 

Realistically, I think 90 wins is the magic number to win the division 

Using that formula MIL needs to go 40-31 the second half.  About the same clip as now. 

Chicago would need to go 47-27 the rest of the way.  Basically they need to win 2 out of 3 to get there. 

The key factor is 10 head to head games left but Brewers have 2 of 3 series at home 

Tschmack posted:

I did some quick HR math 

Cubs have 74 games left and Brewers have   71 games left 

Realistically, I think 90 wins is the magic number to win the division 

Using that formula MIL needs to go 40-31 the second half.  About the same clip as now. 

Chicago would need to go 47-27 the rest of the way.  Basically they need to win 2 out of 3 to get there. 

The key factor is 10 head to head games left but Brewers have 2 of 3 series at home 

 

The Cardinals would also have to go 47-27 as well.

Nice ciphering there Tschmack.

Brewers are on pace for 89 wins.  That might also put them in line for a wild card berth if the division thing doesn't work out, but I agree that 90 wins should put them in.

This hot streak really takes all the wind out of the "trade Braun" sails.  They are one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, if anything, they could pick up an expensive (short term) contract for the stretch run.  

Other than his hot pee test and bus throwing, Braun gives 135 games a year while dinged up here and there, this year will probably be the same (though I expect that number to start to slide south even more through this contract).  He's also got an .887 OPS right now, which is kinda nice to have.  

Has Braun really given them 135 games a year?  Last couple of seasons? 

If so eff me.  I was thinking he was out of the lineup a lot more than that.  And yes agree with or without him they could take on more $$$

Braun has played at least 135 games every year except the year he was suspended, his rookie year (when they waited a month to call him up), and this year. 

2007 (113 games), 2008 (151), 2009 (158), 2010 (157), 2011 (150), 2012 (154), 2013 (61), 2014 (135), 2015 (140), 2016 (135)

He's been down to 135-140 since the suspension which suggests the PEDs probably helped him with recovery and allowed him to play an extra 15 or so games a year. 

If he goes to the AL and DHs, I think he could play a long time. He'd be very similar to Edgar Martinez. I think playing the outfield is what's going to be hard on his body. 

Tyler Webb

Garrett Cooper for Tyler Webb.

Cubs give up 2 of their top prospects (4 minor league players total) for Quintana.  Glad the Brewers didn't deal for him - too steep of a price for someone who's last 6 starts have been good but was horrible the first 2 months.

It sounds like Milwaukee was in the mix and I would guess the White Sox were asking for either Brinson or Ray and another highly rated guy like Lopez or Phillips as well.   While I think Quintana could have helped them I'm not so sure Milwaukee isn't considering putting a guy like Hader in the rotation now that they have added Tyler Webb. 

Cheezers posted:

Garrett Cooper for Tyler Webb.

.

Lotta ballgames left!

Don't worry about numbers until football season starts

Sent Jonah Keri a note asking his thoughts on Brewers situation for his "the 10" article. Initially, my thoughts were to sell the obvious parts (Braun/Garza/Guerra) and still look to 18/19/20. Still not positive I wouldn't still lean there. However he brings up an interesting point.

When a rebuilding team starts winning earlier than expected, you could argue that avoiding making rash moves for short-term upgrades is the best course of action. But with rumors swirling that the Crew's after pitchers like Quintana and A's starter Sonny Gray, the logic shines through: Acquire a starting pitcher who can help the Brewers both now (during their unexpected romp into first place ahead of schedule) and in the future (when some of their most talented young players will be entering their prime), and surrendering quality prospects makes a lot more sense.

Gray is controllable through arbitration through 2019. So, make a move now, maybe miracles happen and he helps you make playoffs this year.  But, even if/when they don't you have a solid guy in the rotation for the next 2 years when you were really planning to compete.

If they could make a move for Gray, or even better Teheran, I can see that being a solid plan. 

Oh nevermind. The Cubs are trading for every single starting pitcher on the market. 

I hope the Cubs go after Gray.  Quintana I like, Gray not so much.  

Unless the package for Gray centered around Broxton, I could stomach that.  

Oh, this is the Cubs. They'll trade for him, and he'll look like 2nd half Arrieta from 15. 

And, really, they need to move Schwarber to the AL anyway. He is a complete hack on D. 

You know if the Cubs trade Rizzo for Gray they could move Bryant to first and open up third for Candelario

— Michael Baumann (@MJ_Baumann) July 14, 2017

Post ASB flop change anything here? 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/...ak-chicago-white-sox

The Milwaukee Brewers bolstered their bullpen Wednesday by acquiring right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak from the Chicago White Sox, the team announced.

Sources: #Brewers have shown interest in #Mets’ Granderson. Talks have yet to advance.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 27, 2017

Good point, a) the system is woefully short of outfielders b) trades with the Mets have historically gone smoothly I can see this done before the deadline

first response

Travis Shaw.

— Mike (@mike5_5_5) July 27, 2017

Lucroy traded from Rangers to the Rockies.  He is having a terrible year for Rangers.   .242 average, 4 homers and 27 RBI.  

Amazing how the Lucroy and Gomez/Fiers and Thornburg trades have worked out for the Brewers.  

Yep, should bring pause to anyone who wants to fast forward the rebuild right now to get Sonny or Verlander....

Verlander had a great year last year, but it was the exception out of the last 5. Take out 2016 (16-9 with a 3.04 ERA) and he's 39-39 in 2013, 14, 15, and 17 with an ERA approaching 4.00. He's still a good middle of the rotation guy, but he's no Sabathia circa 2008 and he's due 56 million in 2018-19.

EC Pack posted:

Yep, should bring pause to anyone who wants to fast forward the rebuild right now to get Sonny or Verlander....

Agreed - as frustrating as it is to watch how they're playing now this year is all gravy.  Building towards next year - I was so glad to see the Brewers stopped talking with the A's when they wanted Brinson for Sonny Gray - not a chance. 

I also don't mind seeing the Cubs give away their farm system to get marginally better - the road to the WS goes through LA this year.

Could be.  But Kershaw needs to get healthy, too.

The Cubs have a window as well - probably the next 2-3 years.   As good as they were last year they still needed to make those deals to get back to the playoffs. 

Maybe that's part of Stearns plan.  Show interest to drive up trade values so the Cubs deplete the farm system! 

I think anyone assuming the Cubs have only a 2-3 year window are in for a very rude awakening. The best GM in the sport along with an unlimited budget? My money is on Epstein keeping them in that window for many years. 

Jeremy Jeffress heading back to Milwaukee. Crew sending reliever Tayler Scott in exchange.

Jeffress was horrible for Texas this year, hopefully he can turn it around.   

Thank you David Stearns.  Great job keeping all the chicks!

CAPackFan95 posted:

I think anyone assuming the Cubs have only a 2-3 year window are in for a very rude awakening. The best GM in the sport along with an unlimited budget? My money is on Epstein keeping them in that window for many years. 

Happ, Caratini, Addison Russell, Almora, Baez, Schwarber, Contreras, and Bryant are all between 22 and 25 years old.

Rizzo and Heyward are 27. Every position player that starts is 27 or younger. Some of these guys have struggled this year, but they are loaded for position players.

Pitching is where they have to replenish. Hendricks is 27, but Arrieta (31), Lester (33), and Lackey (38) are all likely on the back end of their careers. If they have a window it's only because Epstein won't be able to get another free agent Lester type to join the rotation. With the money they'll have to spend, I can't see that being a problem.