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« M's Still Need Long Term Deal For Hernandez | Main | Orioles Draft Pick Updates »
Brewers Discussing Possible Rotation Fixes
MLB.com's Adam McCalvy writes that the Brewers will meet this week to discuss a potential acquisition to boost a struggling rotation. Thursday's starter is currently "to be announced."
With Dave Bush's arm fatigue, and the demotion of Manny Parra and his 7.52 ERA to Triple-A Nashville, the Milwaukee rotation is looking hazy, to say the least. Writes McCalvy:
Melvin has been looking hard at potential trades, but it appears unlikely that he will be able to acquire a starter as early as this week."
Macha has also said that he's hesitant to move Seth McClung to the rotation, because he's so pleased with what McClung has done in relief this season.
McCalvy also names Tim Dillard, Lindsay Gulin, and Mike Burns, who made an effective spot start earlier in the season, as possibilities to be recalled from Nashville.
Personal speculation: the obvious name that comes to mind is Brad Penny, with all of the rumors surrounding the Boston right-hander. Who are some other names the Brewers could target?
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What about a Clay Buchholtz for Alcedis Escobar deal?
Posted by: joe | June 21, 2009 at 02:15 PM
I don't think it does Milwaukee any favours to jump and get another rental who they can't resign.
If they want a Peavy or Halladay then it probably means losing at the very least Gamel and one of their SS which doesn't really help their future.
And if they want to get a Cain type then it will cost one of their core which if they want to win the NL Central this year then that won't help either.
If they say Package Hart & Hardy together then they could get something very good with minimal negative impact on their team.
Add a No.1 to the Brewers and I think they win the NL Central this year.
Maybe Jeremy Guthrie for JJ Hardy considering the Orioles have no prospects at SS and Hardy is still young-ish?
Javier Vazquez for Corey Hart and a prospect we all know how the Braves want OF offense.
Posted by: OhPityMe | June 21, 2009 at 02:16 PM
Penny for Escobar would make me smile, i can actually see the Braves doing that with Hardy blocking Alcedis at short.
Buchholz is to much and Penny is probably not enough
Posted by: 04Forever | June 21, 2009 at 02:31 PM
Hahaha.
Penny for Escobar is ridiculous... Bucholz for Escobar is perfectly fair a top SS prospect for a top SP prospect.
Penny will get a marginal prospect at best such as the Phillie's SS prospect.
Penny for Escobar... lol.
Brewers as well not Braves.
Posted by: OhPityMe | June 21, 2009 at 02:38 PM
I would love a Javier Vazquez trade. Something like Hart and Salome? cant be too far off.
Posted by: glover28 | June 21, 2009 at 02:53 PM
"Penny for Escobar is ridiculous... Bucholz for Escobar is perfectly fair a top SS prospect for a top SP prospect."
Escobar's bat is far from elite and thus he is not worth Bucholz. Brandon Woods is closer in value, but still short.
Posted by: Indiana Bob | June 21, 2009 at 02:53 PM
The Braves already have Jeff Francoeur I, they don't need to trade for Jeff Francoeur II (Corey Hart) -- especially not trading the NL strikeout leader to get him. Whomever the "prospect" is better be fairly considerable.
Posted by: unbiasedhomer | June 21, 2009 at 02:54 PM
"Escobar's bat is far from elite and thus he is not worth Bucholz. Brandon Woods is closer in value, but still short."
Escobar is the best minor league defensive shortstop and he hit .330 last season with 30 steals. i think that is fair for bucholtz
Posted by: joe | June 21, 2009 at 02:58 PM
Escobar's bat isn't elite, but he hits .300 at every level he goes to, drives in 50+ runs and has a 6 runs saved per game ratio. That is elite, anyway you looks at it. With an average of about 10 HR's per season and speed, sounds pretty elite, making him worth an elite SP
Posted by: BrewCrewBlue | June 21, 2009 at 03:00 PM
Damn, joe beat me to the punch
It's still funny to me that power and average are the only way fans and pretend baseball forum analysts, the only judge on players.
Posted by: BrewCrewBlue | June 21, 2009 at 03:02 PM
His gloves saves SIX runs a game??? Sign that kid to a 30 year deal.
Posted by: bucs_lose_again | June 21, 2009 at 03:05 PM
"Penny for Escobar would make me smile, i can actually see the Braves doing that with Hardy blocking Alcedis at short.
Buchholz is to much and Penny is probably not enough"
You seriously think you can get a top prospect like Escobar for an aging, soon to be FA, not even dominant starter!? You seriously need to step back and reevaluate how much you think Penny is worth. Penny and Smoltz are depth guys. They are not blue chips on the trading market that will get you whatever you want.
Posted by: Billiken | June 21, 2009 at 03:18 PM
"power and average are the only judge on players"
How about OBP, the kid's never seen a pitch he dont like. He needs another another year in minors learning the strike zone.
Penny for Escobar = Insane. But Buchholtz too much. Groomed much longer and much closer to majors.
Maybe Michael Bowden, Sox #3 prospect for him. Or Penny and a 2nd Tier prospect (Reddish, Kalish)
Posted by: 322154 | June 21, 2009 at 03:23 PM
The Red Sox value Buchholz too much to trade him for Alcides Escobar. Buchholz is a guy that the Sox would only trade in a blockbuster deal that would net them an elite, proven player such as a Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez, etc.
Penny definitely won't be enough for Escobar and I very much doubt they trade him now that Dice-K is on the DL, not to mention they have no idea how Smoltz will do, he hasn't even made his first start of the season yet. I don't see any of Boston's starting pitchers being traded until they've figured their rotation out.
Posted by: daniel b. | June 21, 2009 at 03:32 PM
I highly doubt the Brewers are interested in getting a prospect in return. If they're trying to win this year, they want someone who is major league ready and can step in and contribute from day one.
I look to maybe a guy like a Doug Davis from Arizona. Probably wouldn't have to give much up as he's a free agent at the end of the year, the Brewers are familiar with him as he played there for years, and the Brewers could use another lefty in the rotation since Parra's status is uncertain.
Either that, or Jack Z in Seattle might be a likely trading partner.
Posted by: jpre223 | June 21, 2009 at 03:32 PM
If the Braves turn into sellers how about Javier Vasquez for Escobar? He has been lights out this yr and he's signed through next season.
Posted by: QuadBravesFan | June 21, 2009 at 03:33 PM
"What about a Clay Buchholtz for Alcedis Escobar deal?"
Not sure Escobar is worth Buchholz. It's a nice starting place for discussions, though. It would be nice having a second Ellsbury in the lineup and on the basepaths.
On the other hand, the way Nick Green has been destroying the competition the past couple of games, maybe the Sox don't need a shortstop.
Posted by: Little Bear | June 21, 2009 at 03:34 PM
What bout Jarrod Washuburn. He is a serviceable and consistent starter and could probably be had for a marginal prospect as the Mariners would see it as salary relief.
Posted by: metfan57 | June 21, 2009 at 03:45 PM
Posts like some being posted in this are the reasons why the Brewers are going to keep Escobar.
The Brewers value him more than the offers that are going to be made.
You don't trade a top prospect for Brad Penny, Javier Vazquez might be okay, but unlikely.
Posted by: brewersfan729 | June 21, 2009 at 03:45 PM
You got to be kidding me, it isn't even All Star break and Bush has arm fatigue? From what, cant even go 5 innings and ARM FATIGUE, guess he should be moved to short relief then, and too soon Melvin to bring Parra back, the fans are showing up in droves at home to spend some money before you fall further back in standings.
Posted by: rolafaive | June 21, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Well, Bush is throwing his curve ball a lot more this season which is well known as an arm destroying pitch for starters. Maybe that's it.... Or maybe the bullet he took off the arm a couple weeks back?
Posted by: BrewCrewBlue | June 21, 2009 at 03:53 PM
the sox wouldn't trade buchholz for a prospect. if/when he is traded, it will be for an established, 25-28 year old hitter. in fact, when have the sox ever traded for a decent-ish prospect.
and little bear is right about nick green. he is becoming a fan favorite, and is looking better at shortstop. with lowrie coming back within 1-2 weeks, and with david ortiz starting to hit, the sox have no glaring needs (for the current season), but plenty of trading chips. a good position to be in.
and how bad does the national league eastern division look? injuries, of course, aside.
Posted by: Boston Belongs To Me | June 21, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Does someone want to explain how these young Boston pitchers are any different than the Yanks 3 pitchers from a few years ago. Seriously, Bucholtz is getting the Hughes hype, and Bowden and Bard are getting the same hype as Kennedy and Chamberlain.
I'm going to laugh my ass off in a few years when two of them aren't on the Red Sox roster and have busted and one is only in the bullpen.
Posted by: Billiken | June 21, 2009 at 04:01 PM
Penny is not the answer, we need a young servicable starter that will give you more than 1 year and leave(C.C) and be back to square one, Davis would not fit that slot either, everyone writes off the Bedards and Peavies, because they are hurt, doesn't mean you still can't inquire about availabilty, at rate we are going soon may have to look to wild card again or next year, I think the team needs to put a strong established starting rotation in place and build around that.
Posted by: rolafaive | June 21, 2009 at 04:03 PM
By the way what ever happened to Eric Gagna? Have not heard anything since he got cut during spring training?
Posted by: rolafaive | June 21, 2009 at 04:17 PM
Chris Young isn't expected to be on the DL for long. The Brewers would be smart to attempt a trade for him. How about Manny Parra and Alcides Escobar? Too much. The Padres can throw in Matt Antonelli.
Posted by: WestCoastBias | June 21, 2009 at 04:21 PM
i know I'm new here(just joined today) but wouldn't it be a good idea to attempt to sign ben sheets for the remander of a season for a few million. sure its a risk but down the line even a decent ben sheets can pitch with better than Manny Parra and beautiful 7.52 ERA. a few extra wins could be the difference between the post season or a dark october
Posted by: SwishCheese | June 21, 2009 at 04:30 PM
"how the red sox prospects are any different than yankees prospects"
Lester, Papelbon, Masterson, Delcarmen. Red Sox know how to develop kids. Yanks buy what they need and don't have a clue on developing young pitching.
Combine Buchholtz's numbers this year with Red Sox brass faith in him, and you have to assume that this kid's gonna be lights out.
Grouping Sox and Yanks on player development a poor match.
Posted by: SamHorn | June 21, 2009 at 04:40 PM
"Chris Young isn't expected to be on the DL for long. The Brewers would be smart to attempt a trade for him. How about Manny Parra and Alcides Escobar? Too much. The Padres can throw in Matt Antonelli."
This is a joke, right? I wouldn't give Parra straight up for Young. His strikeout rate has dipped below 6 per 9 innings, his walk rate is up near 5 per 9 innings, he throws in the mid 80s, he's an extreme flyball pitcher in Petco and on top of that we throw in the much better prospect?
You wish.
Posted by: brewersfan729 | June 21, 2009 at 04:50 PM
I think SwishCheese may have the answer, with no top tier starters left, Sheets might be the only one left who could salvage the season that we haven't lost yet
Posted by: BrewCrewBlue | June 21, 2009 at 04:53 PM
The Brew crew and just about everybody should be looking at Jeremy Guthrie, who matched Cole Hamels today.
The Orioles are willing to listen to offers for Guthrie and he could really shore up a number of pitching staffs including the Brewers. Guthrie is also under team control until after the 2012 season.
Gamel or Escobar would probably be the names that would come up.
Posted by: jtrea81 | June 21, 2009 at 04:55 PM
"By the way what ever happened to Eric Gagna? Have not heard anything since he got cut during spring training?"
Just read this morning that he's a starting pitcher for the Quebec Poutines (or some such team). Oh, and he has a 30% tear in his rotator cuff.
Posted by: Little Bear | June 21, 2009 at 05:00 PM
I'm guessing Washburn & Doug Davis are the guys the crew are targeting right now. I can't see Doug Melvin trading Gamel or Escobar for what is out there.
Posted by: AndyVanSlyke | June 21, 2009 at 05:00 PM
"in fact, when have the sox ever traded for a decent-ish prospect."
Hanley Ramirez (Obvious). Angel Beltre (one of the current top Specs in the highly touted Rangers system). Anibal Sanchez (MLB No-Hitter). Craig Hansen (at time of trade was a top Closer Spec). Brandon Moss (current starting RF for Pitt). Shea Hillenbrand (Major League All Star). Freddy Sanchez (Batting Champion). Brandon Lyon (decent closer still).
So, the Sox have traded away a few All Stars, Potential future All Stars, the best player in the game today, a guy who threw a No-Hitter, a Batting Champion and other guys who have been solid contributors...
Nope we've never traded away any "decent-ish" specs...
Posted by: TheKid | June 21, 2009 at 05:04 PM
Last writer doesnt know the difference between "traded FOR" and "traded AWAY".
Posted by: SamHorn | June 21, 2009 at 05:12 PM
"You got to be kidding me, it isn't even All Star break and Bush has arm fatigue?"
Most pitchers go through periods of tired arm every single season. This one seems to coincide with the game he got hit in the arm by a line drove though so not sure I'd call it 'fatigue' more than just being hurt.
Posted by: Ender | June 21, 2009 at 05:53 PM
TheKid
not to demean your intelligence but...
read the very first line from your post (what i said), then read the very last line (your "post conclusion").
notice anything?
actually, due to you condescending post, i will demean your intelligence.
you're an idiot.
Posted by: Boston Belongs To Me | June 21, 2009 at 06:27 PM
The Brewers have a very underrated prospect who was just promoted to AAA - Chris Cody. In addition to his numbers in the minors, all you have to know is when he was a senior at Manhattan College, he hung a loss on Joba Chamberlain in the NCAA Tournament in Joba's final collegiate appearance.
Posted by: ChipArm | June 21, 2009 at 06:48 PM
NEWSFLASH!!!!
Alcides Escobar is unavailabe for trades. Melvin said Gamel and Escobar will not be traded. They are not worth the garbage all you guys think you can offer for them. Escobar is batting .290 with 25 SB already this year. He is as god as jose reyes both on offense and defense. He just hasn't been able to show it at the major league level yet. He has hit at every level of the minors.
Posted by: Nelson T Craig | June 21, 2009 at 07:58 PM
Brad Penny is a washed up has been that no one wants. Red Sox fans should reconcile themselves to that fact. It's fortunate that Doug Melvin isn't a complete idiot, otherwise I might be worried that he could trade for that schmuck.
If Melvin does trade for him, I would hope Ken Macha's first step would be to immediately take a sledgehammer to his arm, and then demand that Macha acquire someone who is, you know, good.
Posted by: Invader3K | June 21, 2009 at 08:37 PM
A cheap alternative for the Brewers might be Bartolo Colon. He's on the DL for his knee [I'm a little suspect that he suddenly got hurt when it was time for Jose Contreras to get off the DL]. But he had been throwing decently and should be able to give the Brewers 6 innings for a decent high A, AA level prospect.
Posted by: cfisk72 | June 21, 2009 at 08:48 PM
What about Scott Olsen from the Nats? I know he was just traded this past Winter, but it is time for the Nats to build for the Sratsburg/Harper future.
Posted by: Barroid_Bonds | June 21, 2009 at 09:21 PM
NEWSFLASH!!!!
Alcides Escobar is unavailabe for trades. Melvin said Gamel and Escobar will not be traded. They are not worth the garbage all you guys think you can offer for them. Escobar is batting .290 with 25 SB already this year. He is as god as jose reyes both on offense and defense. He just hasn't been able to show it at the major league level yet. He has hit at every level of the minors.
Posted by: Nelson T Craig | June 21, 2009 at 07:58 PM
-------------------------------------
couldnt have said it better myself. Other posts above even said that they dont think that escobar is worth a pitcher like buchholz. Thats crap, especially considering the potential escobar has, and the fact that to this point, buchholz has been an inconsistent pitcher who isnt even in the majors right now.
Posted by: glover28 | June 21, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Just to echo some statements above, the Brewers will not be trading any top level prospects (Gamel, Escobar) for a starter.
I think Penny would make sense. His velocity is back to what it was in 2007 when he was an all star and he would provide a different look than the soft tossing Suppan, Bush, and to a lesser extent, Looper. I don't understand the Sox thinking they will get a top level prospect for him, though. Doug Davis also make a lot of sense from a familiarity standpoint and the need for a lefty.
Regarding the above comment on Sheets: He and the Brewers had a major falling out and there is zero chance of him returning to Milwaukee.
Posted by: The Cobra | June 22, 2009 at 03:47 AM
The problem isnt who can they get, its how much will they cost. Now that Peavy and Bedard are both on the DL, and very well may be until past the deadline, alternate options such as Washburn, Penny, and Marquis that would have otherwise been plan Bs to a lot of teams will be more expensive than they otherwise would. The Brewers suposedlt consider Escobar and Gamel untouchable, so they'll probably have to give up Hardy or Hart if they expect to get anything decent.
Posted by: The Year? | June 22, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Penny and Saito for JJ hardy makes too much sense to happen and Buccholz and Delcarmen would probably command Escobar and Gamel as Buchholz is much more valuable than Escobar!
Posted by: RED SOX DYNASTY! | June 22, 2009 at 01:28 PM