Headlines

  • Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear
  • Astros Promote Brice Matthews
  • Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow
  • Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers
  • Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help
  • Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Offseason In Review: Milwaukee Brewers

By Tim Dierkes | April 19, 2011 at 2:34pm CDT

The Brewers are next in our Offseason In Review series.

Major League Signings

  • Takashi Saito, RP: one year, $1.75MM.
  • Craig Counsell, IF: one year, $1.4MM.
  • Mark Kotsay, OF/1B: one year, $800K.
  • Wil Nieves, C: one year, $775K.  Arbitration eligible for 2012.
  • Total spend: $4.725MM.

International Signings

  • Elvis Rubio, Estervin Matos

Notable Minor League Signings

  • Mike Rivera, Zack Segovia, Shawn Riggans, Sean Green, Brandon Jones, Eulogio de la Cruz, Jeremy Reed

Extensions

  • Rickie Weeks, 2B: four years, $38.5MM.  Includes $11.5MM vesting option for 2015.

Trades and Claims

  • Claimed RP Justin James off waivers from Athletics
  • Acquired cash considerations from Blue Jays for RP Carlos Villanueva
  • Acquired SP Shaun Marcum from Blue Jays for 3B Brett Lawrie
  • Acquired SP Zack Greinke, SS Yuniesky Betancourt, and $2MM from Royals for CF Lorenzo Cain, SS Alcides Escobar, RP Jeremy Jeffress, and SP Jake Odorizzi
  • Claimed RP Roque Mercedes off waivers from Diamondbacks
  • Acquired OF Brett Carroll from Royals for cash considerations
  • Acquired P Sergio Mitre from Yankees for OF Chris Dickerson
  • Acquired CF Nyjer Morgan from Nationals for IF/OF Cutter Dykstra and $50K

Notable Losses

  • Carlos Villanueva, Brett Lawrie, Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Jeremy Jeffress, Jake Odorizzi, Chris Dickerson, Cutter Dykstra, Joe Inglett, Gregg Zaun, Dave Bush, Chris Capuano, Todd Coffey, Trevor Hoffman, Doug Davis

Summary

In recent years, Doug Melvin's attempts to bolster the Brewers' rotation with free agents have fallen short, and the 2010-11 market didn't offer much front-end pitching anyway.  So Melvin pulled off a near-impossible feat: he traded for a pair of high quality starters, including two years of control for each.  He also hired Ron Roenicke as the team's new manager and extended Weeks one year shy of free agency.  

First Melvin dealt for Marcum, giving up only one player in Lawrie.  Lawrie's bat makes him a top 40 prospect in the eyes of most experts, so the price was significant.  Melvin again showed a willingness to move one of his recent first-round draft picks, as he did with Matt LaPorta in the '08 trade for C.C. Sabathia.  This time, the Brewers got more than a rental.

Greinke

Melvin wasn't done; he aimed to take his rotation from good to great by acquiring Greinke.  As I mentioned in the Royals offseason in review, it was surprising to see the Brewers acquire Greinke without sending a top 50 prospect or equivalent young Major Leaguer.  Sure, the two trades gutted the Brewers' farm system, but I'm a big supporter of trading prospects in the name of winning now.  If you're a team that can't afford to bid on Cliff Lee, this strategy is a strong alternative.  The Brewers have a strong rotation, and the entire group will be back for the 2012 season.

The Brewers' offense ranked fourth in the NL last year, and the only change was swapping out one offensively-challenged shortstop for another.  When Corey Hart returns the team should have enough offense, though in keeping with his "all-in" mindset it'd be great to see Melvin go after Jose Reyes this summer.  Center field was another potential weakness, but the Brewers commendably bought low on Morgan to provide Carlos Gomez with some competition.

Melvin opted not to spend money on the bullpen, instead importing Saito, Mitre, and Green.  The pen could be a weakness, especially if closer John Axford continues to falter.  On the plus side, LaTroy Hawkins is close to returning.  The one questionable trade Melvin made this winter was shipping Villanueva to the Blue Jays for cash.  Unless this trade was unofficially part of the Marcum deal, I don't understand why Melvin would move a decent reliever for cash.

One day before an arbitration hearing, the Brewers agreed to a four-year extension with Weeks.  The Brewers added three free agent years at $10-11MM salaries, plus a 2015 option that vests based on Weeks' health.  On one hand, this is a scary investment for a player coming off his first fully healthy season.  He's endured surgeries on both wrists as well as a thumb and knee.  On the other hand, the Brewers know Weeks' health better than anyone, and if he repeated his 2010 season they wouldn't have been able to sign him for three years and $31MM.

The Brewers are currently one of four NL Central teams sporting an 8-8 record.  My pick for the NL pennant, they'll get a big boost when Greinke and Hart come off the DL.  Hopefully Melvin continues to be aggressive this year, because even with a strong rotation in 2012 the club will likely be without Fielder.

Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Milwaukee Brewers Offseason In Review

Stark On Mauer, Indians, Myers
Main
Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS
View Comments (23)
Post a Comment

23 Comments

  1. Mike Kriefall

    14 years ago

    Jose Reyes? That’s news to me, but I say go for it!

    Reply
  2. Kevin Chambers

    14 years ago

    Dear Zach.

    Basketball is fun to play, but your a baseball player. If you wish to play a pick up game, go to your local Game Stop and pick up the newest NBA 2K11 and play an exhibition game.

    Reply
  3. AmericanMovieFan

    14 years ago

    Why is there no mention of Prince Fielder’s rather massive $15.5MM price tag? That surely affected things a bit and leaves a question mark come 2012, does it not?

    Reply
    • martinfv2

      14 years ago

      Not following…that salary was predictable probably years ago.

      Reply
      • NL_East_Rivalry

        14 years ago

        I think he is getting Off-Season Review and Contract Issues mistaken.

        Guess Brewers can spend more money next year if raises don’t take all of that “massive” 15.5.

        Reply
  4. jwredsox

    14 years ago

    “Lawrie’s bat makes him a top 40 prospect in the eyes of most experts”

    *Lawrie’s bat at 2B makes him a top 40 prospect. Not top 40 when they realize he’s likely an OFer.

    Reply
  5. jwredsox

    14 years ago

    And shouldn’t acquiring Yuniesky be categorized as a “notable loss”?

    Reply
  6. PhnxCrew

    14 years ago

    I agree there is no way reyes goes to milwaukee. There is a chance that some one like peralta/ heckathorn steps up, but a position player would be needed too and every one outside of gamel (who won’t be traded) is hurt. No way i would trade rogers as I still see this guy replacing wolf next year and with health becoming a dominant pitcher. As far as the bullpen, they’ll be fine with or without axford. Many options for closer in saito, loe, braddock, (or my personal favorite kintzler). Btw how is this team tied for first after 0-4, then a sweep from the nats?

    Reply
    • NL_East_Rivalry

      14 years ago

      You’d be surprised what can be had for cheap. Go look at the Roy Oswalt trade. Not saying those guys were that great, but it all depends on how the other teams are biting. Brewers can’t get in a bidding war obviously, but if they act earlier than anyone else they may have a chance.

      Reply
  7. alexchicago14

    14 years ago

    chuckled when i saw doug davis’s name

    Reply
  8. Matt Topi

    14 years ago

    Once again, BA had Escobar at 12 before the 2010 season. 12! The dude had one bad year at the plate in the Majors. He definitely would still qualify as a ‘top 50’ equivalent…

    Reply
  9. Colin Ziolkowski

    14 years ago

    I do think we have the resources to get Reyes if we wanted to but I don’t think Melvin would spend what it would take to get him. But if the Brewers really wanted to upgrade the D at SS, we happen to be close with the GM in Seattle and we might be able to pry away Brenden Ryan by mid season being the Mariners would probably be out of it by then. Jack might want to dump salary. If your a (True Blue) baseball fan and have been watching it as long as I have, you’d see that this Brewers is no joke and when we address the SS problem and when (Morgan finally takes over in CF), the Brewers will no doubt contend for a World Series Championship!!! GO BREWERS……..

    Reply
  10. kevin

    14 years ago

    The Brewer’s defense is terrible. Their entire infield is below average at best and the outfield collectively have noodles for arms. I am afraid this will come and bite them in the long run. Melvin needs to think about shoring up the defense if he ever hopes to win the NL Central.

    Reply
    • Andy Repinski

      14 years ago

      Once Hart comes back their outfield arms should be some of the better in the ML. Gomez is a gold glove caliber outfielder but he can’t hit. If he can put it together at the plate then outfield D shouldn’t even be questioned.

      As far as infield goes, McGehee and Fielder have made incredible strides on D and should no longer be considered reliabilities. Weeks is better than average as well.

      Reply
  11. Slingshot

    14 years ago

    What about trading Prince now? Is Gamels ready now? Maybe swing a deal for Reyes and some prospects for Prince. I know that would hurt the power aspect but it would be a pretty sweet lineup:

    Reyes
    Weeks
    Hart
    Braun
    McGehee
    Gamels
    Gomez/Morgan
    Nieves/Lucroy
    Pitcher

    Reply
    • Andy Repinski

      14 years ago

      Trading a rental for a rental, and downgrading no less? I think Melvin is a little smarter than that.

      Reply
  12. Andy Repinski

    14 years ago

    If Jemile Weeks wouldn’t have gone to college we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Astros Promote Brice Matthews

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Recent

    Royals Receiving Interest In Catching Prospects

    J.C. Escarra Drawing Trade Attention

    Cristian Javier Begins Rehab Assignment

    Multiple Teams Showing Interest In DJ LeMahieu

    Rafael Devers Suffering From Disk Injury In Lower Back

    Mets’ Dedniel Nunez To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Seattle Mariners

    Reds Activate Jake Fraley, Option Christian Encarnacion-Strand

    Red Sox Place Hunter Dobbins On 15-Day IL Due To ACL Tear

    Cubs Select Brooks Kriske

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version