Email a copy of 'Looking For A Match In A Ryan Braun Trade' to a friend
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By Mark Polishuk | at
Email a copy of 'Looking For A Match In A Ryan Braun Trade' to a friend
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Brixton
Braun and Blaine Boyer for David Paulino, Joe Mosgrove and Colin Moran
correanbbq
Maybe they can throw Lucroy in there if we dump Stassi in…. Win/Win right?
To get Braun or lucroy I think they’d get one of bregmann/little Tucker plus musgrove and a choice of low/high A guys like bostic.
Astros2333
Too many OF’s if Astros trade for Braun. Marisnick? Gomez?
mrnatewalter
Gomez is a free agent to be (and could likely be sent elsewhere if the Astros make other trades), and Marisnick is not much more than a 4th Outfielder.
Not that I see Braun as a fit in Houston, but they could make it work if they wanted.
baumer16
Ya this is a terrible deal for the Brewers
mikeyst13
2 top 100 arms and an MLB ready 3B who came in just outside the top 100 isn’t really a terrible deal, especially if they take on Braun’s salary.
baumer16
Well maybe not terrible but there should be better offers out there for a guy like Braun. BA has them as top 100 but Keith Law doesnt so it’s even debatable if they are top 100 guys. Like Heyman said in his article yesterday quoting a gm everyone could use a guy like Braun so I would imagine there will be good market for him. I would want a for sure legitimate prospect for him and then maybe some minor pieces. Someone like Bregman, Martes, or Reed headlining it. Preferably Martes since I don’t think the Astros would give up Bregman for him.
mikeyst13
Bregman is more or less off limits I would think and possibly Reed too. I agree that they probably could get a better deal somewhere, but Musgrove and Paulino both have fairly high ceilings, and maybe more importantly seem to have high floors. Moran is what he is, slow, not great in the field, but will hit. Needs to add power. It would at least be enough to pique some interest I think.
Priggs89
Sure, everyone “could” use a guy like Braun, but not everybody wants to pay him a ton of money through his mid-to-late 30’s. The only way they are getting a prospect of that quality is if they eat a LOT of the salary, and even then, I wouldn’t bet on it.
baumer16
A lot of great players will be making a ton of money through their mid 30s. It’s actually the going rate in free agency. Do you honestly think if Braun went into free agency after this year and said he wanted 76 mill, which he’s owed, teams would be like whoa, you’re crazy man. No most teams would be like okay what’s the catch?
mikeyst13
Seattle seems like the perfect fit to me, but not sure they have the farm system to send that blue chip kind of guy that Sterns wants in return. If they could make it work he could immediately move into left field and be an improvement and if he does eventually have to move to 1B it’s not like Lee and Lind are firmly planted there for the future and nobody is pushing them from the minors.
I also thinks the author overstates Braun’s “defensive limitations”. Just above league average range factor for a LF, 0 errors on the year, 8 OF assists, and a UZR in the top 10. He can still play the OF pretty well. Now by the end of his contract maybe he has to move, but for now that shouldn’t be an issue.
TheCanoShow
Seattle has the prospects just don’t know if they would give them away for Braun
mikeyst13
Seattle has no top 100 prospects now that Austin Jackson has competed his fall from grace in most of the updated rankings. Diaz (who I guess has crept into the top 100 on some lists) and Gohara could draw some interest, though neither of them project to be more than mid to back end starters and Milwaukee is looking for guys with bigger upside. After that you have a bunch of guys projected to be fringe players. There are only 3 guys in the entire system that rank out as 50+ prospects by BP and 6 by BA. That’s not good.
justinept
My money is on the Mets. The only negative this article mentions is that the Mets have been hesitant to add salary. While that’s tough to argue, it’s also a big possibility that the Brewers would be willing to eat some of the salary. How much of that salary is anyone’s guess, but given that the Mets are willing to pay Cespedes $23 million in 2017 and 2018 – a deal he’s likely to opt out of – it’s hard to imagine they wouldn’t be willing to pay Braun $20 million per year over the same length. After that, the contract is essentially a 3year/$51 million deal that’s quite reasonable in the current landscape (even for an aging player). The real issue might come down to how much the Brewers are willing to take on this year while the Mets would be paying both Braun and Cespedes.
As for the trade… I think it’s safe that the Brewers would start with Zach Wheeler and add from there… They were pretty hot for him a year ago, and despite being at the start of his TJ rehab, it wasn’t his medicals that held up that deal.
mikeyst13
I actually think the Brewers would start higher than Wheeler, probably at Matz. Not saying they would get him, but that’s where they start. They could then use Wheeler’s injury and less years of control as negatives as a way to work down to him, making him the centerpiece of the trade while still seeming to have settled.
billyj
Wheeler does not match what the Brewers are looking for(young controllable talent), the fact he’s 26 and hasn’t pitched in over a year, only 3 years of control remaining, and hasn’t shown that he is a good pitcher after his surgery, the Brewers are not going to invest anything for him.
I wish the Wheeler for Brewers players would stop because its not happening.
baumer16
Mets GM today said to not expect any significant trades. I’m not a Mets fan but this would drive me nuts. With that insane rotation and you do nothing to improve the offense? What a waste. I would empty that minor league system to get some decent hitters.
mikeyst13
Wheeler is obviously not going to be a top target, but he is still young. There would still be some interest if they though they could get him to sign an extension right away.
darenh
The Brewers are not interested in 26 year old talent.
They want 21 year olds.
Indyjuster
I think the Astros are more interested in Lucroy than Braun unless he plays 1B. But Gattis has been great behind the plate and Castro is better with more days off. I really don’t see the hottest team in baseball shipping talent for a high priced guy like they did last year. Gomez is back (finally), and the catching combo with Gattis is much better than it was with Conger.
chound
Shame he’s a cheater, had the talent all along…
Priggs89
Or he has always cheated and is continuing to cheat… Would that really surprise anyone?
hanks1hammer
Dear God, move on already. Did you have a tough time letting go of VHS?
Priggs89
Can you prove that he isn’t/wasn’t on steroids? If not, then don’t make comments about him having the talent all along. Especially when all the evidence points towards him juicing.
Do I really care? Absolutely not. Would I still take him? Sure.
11Bravo
Pretty safe to say he’s been subjected to “random” tests since his suspension. Also PEDs aren’t necessarily what you probably think they are. They’re also to help an athlete recover quicker and prevent injuries. Note that since he’s been clean he’s had tons more nagging injuries. That’s why I’m comfortable to say that he’s clean now
Deke
I bet he’s been tested a crap load of times but as we know the testing doesn’t always catch up with the cheating.
I don’t know if Braun is no longer a PED user, I really hope he isn’t for the sake of baseball. But I really find it hard to forgive him for arrogantly blaming that sample collector who is an average guy who got death threats for conspiracy theorist fans. I mean that just stinks and apology or not it just shows me a major character flaw. I mean he sat there. Let this poor guy cop a load of crap and this is an average joe who collects PEE for a living. Come on!
You can tell a lot about someone when they are backed into a corner and that told me a lot about Braun’s natural character. These kind of character flaws are not something I believe people change.
Now having said that. I don’t think the Giants want a guy like that even if they could get him (and they can’t). Look how they distanced themselves from Melky and that other guy who’s name I forget short term right fielder? Giants have enough on their plate defending Bonds all the time.
redsoxu571
Why should anyone “move on” with Braun and his cheating? Not only did he cheat, but he also made the most offensive defense against his cheating we’ve ever seen, including dragging to ruin one ordinary fellow who was just doing his job. He’s probably the most despicable villain of the PED era, and that’s saying something considering Barry Bonds was also involved in that period.
hangwire
he was a PED user to stay healthy, not bulk up so there is a big difference between that and the cheaters of the HR era. from your name I suppose you are a red sox fan, and benefited from the PEDs in the players when they broke the world series drought.
SupremeZeus
No match. Braun will be a Brewer for the rest of this season (at least).
Francisco
Mets….lol. Not a chance keep dreaming. They are way too cheap.
staypuft
Do they even have the chips? They’ve said that they won’t trade Wheeler, and I don’t see them trading Matz, so other than those 2, what is there to offer?
Crewfan620
Even if the Brewers don’t get Matz or Wheeler in a Braun trade, the Mets still have a couple of top prospects in Dominic Smith and Amed Rosario who might be appealing. They also have some lower level pitching which might be attractive as well.
hanks1hammer
Smith and Rosario are top METS prospects but they don’t rank in prospect watch top 100. Not sure where they are in other prospect lists but I dont get the impression these two are the pieces the Brewers are looking for. I’m thinking they’ll expect prospects higher up on thr food chain.
ASapsFables
Most comprehensive article discussing Ryan Braun trade scenarios I have seen yet.
I still maintain he would be a better fit for an A.L. team and particularly the White Sox as a LF/RF/DH option who would bolster the middle of their batting order, either as cleanup hitter between Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier or as a #3 hitter which pushes Abreu to cleanup and Frazier to #5. Switch-hitting Melky Cabrera would also be in the mix between LF and DH, whichever Braun doesn’t play on any particular day. Adam Eaton could also play CF on the occasional day that Braun plays in RF. Cabrera could also bat #3 or #5, bridging Abreu and Frazier in the lineup. Justin Morneau also looks to be ready for duty after the All-Star break as a left-handed hitting platoon option at DH/1B.
Avisail Garcia would be the odd man out and likely a part of any deadline trade. Cabrera might also be a useful trade piece should Morneau prove to be fully recovered by August 1st.
mikeyst13
If Anderson and especially Fulmer are off the table it’s going to be hard for the White Sox to do much of anything. Spencer Adams would have to be the centerpiece and is that enough? Especially with not a lot of mid-range prospects to package together.
Priggs89
I’m sure they could figure something out if the Sox were willing to take on the entire contract.
baumer16
I don’t see a Sox match at all for Braun. And the contract really isn’t that bad, 76 million after this year. He would get easily that if he hit free agency after this year.
hanks1hammer
Don’t know if I buy that. The Brewers are rebuilding so right now, prospects>cash. A rebuilding team usually keeps a pretty low budget because it fills it’s roster with veterans past their prime, budding stars not there yet and league average players or worse who all have relatively small salaries. Money will always be important but I think the Brewers are more interested in cashing in their star players for talent.
villariousfind
Why is there no mention of the Indians? Cleveland seems to have a need for a productive outfielder. Sure they have won 12 in a row with the players they have, and expect Brantley back sometime, but they definitely have a need for an solid established player to help out the offense that has overachieved!! Pitching staff is the best in baseball this year, so why not go for it by adding a proven bat! Not sure Braun would waive his no trade clause in this instance, but Cleveland has a ton of talent to offer. Seems like a good match
baumer16
I think because he’s owed 76 mill after this season and the Indians aren’t the type of team to take on that salary. Not sure if they can but doesn’t seem likely.
billyj
I guarantee the Brewers are eager to cover some owed money to Braun if it brings back some good prospects, Braun earns 10/5 rights early next season, I bet David Stearns is eager to trade him before Braun has the full day in it
11Bravo
Zimmer or Frazier would make for a great centerpiece in a Braun trade.
bosox1
Braun and Lucroy to Boston for Vasquez, Holt and Young. I hate losing Holt but he has a lot of value and Vasquez will be a great catcher one day.
baumer16
Haha seriously?
redsoxu571
Clearly not.
villariousfind
Small market teams like Cleveland only get 3 to 5 yrs between retooling, and Cleveland competitive window would fit the braun contract, especially with Milwaukee throwing in some money, and braun is still one of the best overall hitters in baseball. Maybe Bradley, Aiken/Sheffield, Francisco Mejia and low level pitcher for braun. Seems like it could help both teams.
billyj
If I’m David Stearns, I take that deal immediately
jd396
If I’m Brady Aiken, I sigh that I get to work for an Astros front office guy.
wallybackman
Braun (Mets recoup 75% of Wrights contract through insurance) and Lucroy for Harvey, Nimmo and Darnaud
milwaukeebeers
Lol no thanks. I don’t think any package of those players could get Lucroy alone.
mikeyst13
A 27 year old struggling pitcher who only has 3 years of control til he’d walk, an always injured 27 year old catcher, and a prospect that is going to end up in a corner OF spot without the power to play there? No thanks. The Brewers are building for 3-4 years down the road, they need younger controllable guys.
Z-A 2
10 yrs. 83R 26HR 89RBI 305BA anyone that complains ab that needs to reevaluate their own worth. Most team friendly deal when bums like Howard are getting 125 M for one season of production.
Priggs89
Lol by that logic, nearly everyone in the league is on a ridiculously team friendly deal.
jaybee
The Braves would kill for a RH power hitting LF (Braun) and have always coveted Lucroy. What have they got to offer? Teheran, Vizcaino, Markakis, and a couple of minor league arms. Two problems though: they don’t want to pick up the payroll til next season, and Braun is missing a lot of time with his back injury.
baumer16
I agree that the Braves are a great match. Not for the guys you mentioned though but they have the young prospect pitchers Brewers are supposedly seeking.
mikeyst13
Baumer is right, none of those guys would hold the least bit of interest to Milwaukee. Start throwing around names like Newcomb, Blair, Allard, Riley, Jenkins, and Banuelos and then you’ll get the ball rolling. The payroll wouldn’t be an issue as I’m sure with the right package Milwaukee would gladly pay the rest of this season and possibly chip in for the future. As for the back injury, he’s been missing about 1 in every 6 or 7 games. Not a huge deal.