This summer could be the perfect time for the Brewers to trade Ryan Braun, writes ESPN’s Buster Olney. The 32-year-old will gain 10-and-5 rights early next season, allowing him to veto any trade. Braun can already block trades to 23 teams, with the D-backs, Angels, Dodgers, Marlins, Padres and Giants representing the only teams to which he can be traded without his consent. Olney spoke to a number of executives and evaluators regarding Braun, and the general consensus was that his heightened 2016 play has made the once-near-impossible thought of a trade much more plausible. Braun’s contact rate is the best of his career, and he’s enjoying the second-lowest swinging-strike and out-of-zone swing rates of his career. One evaluator noted to Olney that Braun has learned to lay off the high fastball that was once a pitch with which he could be put away in two-strike counts. An executive from another club opined that the Brewers will still have to eat a considerable amount of Braun’s salary to facilitate a deal, however; by my calculation he’s owed $90.85MM through 2020, including the remaining money on this year’s $19MM salary and the $4MM buyout of his 2021 option.
More on the Brewers and their division…
- Left-hander Will Smith will throw off a mound today for the first time since tearing the LCL in his right knee in a freak Spring Training accident (while taking off his shoe), reports Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Smith, whose workouts to this point have included running on an anti-gravity treadmill, is hoping to avoid surgery and will begin a throwing program if today’s mound session goes well. However, Haudricourt notes that if he experiences problems, surgery could be the ultimate outcome anyway. Smith, 26, came to Spring Training with a chance to become the Brewers’ closer, but right-hander Jeremy Jeffress has seized that role with eight saves and a 2.63 ERA in 13 2/3 innings thus far.
- Cardinals outfielder Randal Grichuk spoke with MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch about the 2013 trade that brought him from Anaheim to St. Louis and some of the struggles he endured with the Angels. “I got injured so much in that organization, that I felt like I got put on the back burner,” Grichuk said of the Angels. “They didn’t really expect much out of me at that point. I definitely think that this trade helped rejuvenate my career. I’m definitely thankful for it.” As Langosch notes, living in the shadow of Mike Trout was also a difficult task. The two were inevitably compared to one another as they were selected with back-to-back picks in the first round, both play center field and were even born just six days apart. Grichuk and Trout remain close, and Trout told Langosch that he’s happy to see his friend succeeding, even if it’s in another organization.
- Waiver claim Dan Straily has been an early success story for the Reds, writes Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The right-hander has benefited from pitching coach Mark Riggins, who taught him a grip for a two-seam fastball with which Straily is comfortable. Straily tells Buchanan that he’d never used a two-seamer much in the past because he hasn’t been successful with the pitch, but his new grip is helping him keep left-handed opponents off balance. Interestingly, president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty tells Buchanan that his team actually got some trade inquiries on Straily earlier this year but elected to hang onto him. “We felt we needed him more than what we could get in return for him,” said Jocketty. Straily has walked 10 of the 66 lefties he’s faced, so he could still stand to improve his control, but he’s locked down a rotation spot for the time being with a 3.47 ERA in 36 1/3 innings. And, as Buchanan points out, he has four more years of club control remaining beyond the 2016 campaign if he can continue his success.
I bet he really wants to go to the Angels
Hah! I know it’s been a while Kingfelix, but you guys have been in first place for 1 week over something like 9 years. Act like you’ve been there before.
I do not have any memories of the Mariners being in playoffs
All kidding aside, I think Braun should be traded. Brewers could recover over next couple years, but his value is highest now. Diamondbacks may not have a wealth of prospects, but their 40 man pre-ARB eligible crop is nice. Peralta going to Brewers cut cost. Braun, Tomas, and Pollack would be nice for a few years to come and Braun over Peralta helps the win now for Diamondbacks.
Dbacks don’t give up peralta for Braun. They try to trade Tomas if anyone. And they really don’t need Braun they Need the other outfield spot for drury
I am not saying 1 for 1. Just saying Braun’s current production fits D’Backs needs and Peralta’s cost and potential fit the Brewers need in trade. Brewers are in rebuild and D’Backs are in a win now (within 3 year) window. Tomas’ production and car are ahead of Peralta.
Why trade a player whose pacing better than his 2011 MVP season while having to eat a large portion of his salary? Don’t pay a team to take away your best player whose playing at an MVP level. Hold onto him and include him in the rebuild which should (hopefully) wrap up when he’s 34-35 years old.
True point on the eating salary, makes no sense.
You’re right on that. But you have to imagine, if there are a handful of teams that come calling when you’re not trying to win games, you don’t hang on to a player saying, “we won’t trade him because we might be good in 2 years”.
Teams generally have their payrolls set already, not many can afford to take on an additional 20 mil plus. It also gets the brewers a better package back. Additionally the acquiring team only gets his age 32-36 years, the brewers signed him to that deal because they got prime years as well. Braun also has a terrible reputation as a Me first player. His .404 babip and 25% hr/fb are more indicative of where his performance is heading.
Ryan Braun has always had a high BABIP over his career(multiple .350 years). Obviously a .403 won’t last, but even at career norms he would still have a very high average. Regarding his HR rate it isn’t all that high. He had a 20% last year and he has had it over 20% before outside of 2015
Stearns will want multiple 20-21 year old Top 100 prospects. Dodgers are a perfect fit in terms of prospects and a Braun- Joc-Puig OF seem a perfect blend of power, youth and production.
Why not package Holmes- Bellinger – Buehler with Ethier’s contract, add a 19 yo Low A lottery ticket and voila. Get a 4 WAR LF for 140 games/year the next few years. Plus, he’s great in pressure situations, ready for playoff baseball.
Am I crazy?
No thanks. That is a ton of money to be picking up. I want a deal centered around De Leon and I don’t really care if the secondary pieces are minor. All three of the prospects you mentioned are nice, but none really profile as much more than role players. I would want an impact player.
Ya that is a definite no thanks for me as well. You want the Brewers to pick up over 30 mill of Brauns salary by taking Ethier which would pretty much mean you get Braun for the next 5 years for 57 mill which is about 11 mill a year? And you’re not giving up any of your top prospects for it? Nah, there should be much better offers out there than that.
I’m his defense though Ethier may not be a total sunken cost if we got him back. He has been a pretty consistent 3 WAR player over his career and that has value. If Ethier comes back healthy and has a solid 2016 campaign he could be flipped for something decent. Then again that is assuming a lot for a guy who is 34 and just a had a leg injury…not to mention he is an OFer.
I would still prefer quality over quantity though.