The Brewers possess a wealth of young MLB-ready options in the outfield, but Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (subscription required and recommended) that Milwaukee has nonetheless expressed interest in Lorenzo Cain, who has been a “frequent topic of conversation” for Brewers officials this winter.
Milwaukee has Ryan Braun, Keon Broxton and Domingo Santana currently aligned in the outfield, with 23-year-old Brett Phillips also factoring prominently into the mix and top prospect Lewis Brinson looming in Triple-A. One possible outcome, according to Rosenthal, is that the Brewers could deal from their current outfield depth to add a controllable rotation option and make room for Cain. He’s not the only one to report on such a possibility as of late, either; Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweeted yesterday that Milwaukee is open to dealing Broxton or, for a much more significant haul, Santana.
Of the incumbent group of outfielders, any of Broxton, Brinson, Santana or Phillips would figure to draw plenty of interest, though the Brewers showed no inclination to make Brinson available at the non-waiver trade deadline. Each of that group is controllable for either four (Santana), five (Broxton) or six (Brinson, Phillips) full seasons.
Broxton has a penchant for strikeouts and is OBP-challenged as a result, but he’s coming off a 20-homer, 20-steal season with the potential to be an asset on defense. While Defensive Runs Saved (-7) and Ultimate Zone Rating (-2.2) were down on his glove in 2017, Statcast’s Outs Above Average metric pegged him at +9, thus placing him among the game’s best outfielders, and his excellent speed gives him plenty of range in center.
[Related: Milwaukee Brewers depth chart & Milwaukee Brewers payroll]
Santana is fresh off a strong .278/.371/.505 slash and 30 homers, though he’s best suited for corner outfield duty (despite some experience in center). For a team seeking an offensive boost in right or left field, he’d be an extremely appealing target, but his controllable nature and strong 2017 play are undoubtedly the reasons that Schulman suggested Santana would require parting with “a ton” in any trade.
As for Brinson and Phillips, both are capable of manning center field and both have at various points been considered among baseball’s very best prospects. Brinson currently holds that distinction in the eyes of many after hitting .331/.400/.562 in Triple-A last year, though he struggled mightily in 55 MLB plate appearances. Phillips’ star has faded due to an alarming strikeout problem (29.8 percent in both Double-A and Triple-A, 34.7 percent in the Majors). He still managed to post strong numbers in Triple-A and in the Majors last year, though both of those batting lines were fueled by BABIPs north of .400.
A trade of Braun doesn’t seem especially likely given that he’s owed $72MM over the next four seasons (including a $4MM buyout on a 2022 option and $18MM in deferred salary) and can veto any trade thanks to his 10-and-5 rights.
Signing Cain, who rejected the Royals’ qualifying offer, would cost the Brewers their third-highest selection in the 2018 draft as well as the slot money that comes with that pick. (That would be their selectionin Competitive Balance Round B, which is currently No. 74 overall.) That’d obviously represent somewhat of a deterrent, though the Brewers may look at signing Cain and addressing their rotation via trade as a means of more financially palatable course of action than signing Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn (each of whom would also require the forfeiture of that pick after rejecting their own QOs).
Milwaukee has been tied to virtually every top starter on the market to varying degrees, ranging from Arrieta and Lynn earlier in the offseason to Cobb shortly before the New Year. If GM David Stearns and his staff have deemed asking prices for free agency’s most meaningful rotation upgrades too sizable, there’s logic to spending on Cain and then utilizing organizational depth to fortify the starting corps. That, of course, assumes Cain can be had at a more reasonable price point. Ultimately, the possibility of adding Cain and addressing the rotation via trade is likely just one of many avenues that the Brewers are exploring at present as they seek to remain competitive in a strong NL Central division.
Sign Cain, sign a serviceable 2B, flip Brinson for a top of the rotation starter, sign 2 bullpen arms and you’re a legit NL contender
Gallardo and Chacin. Milwaukee will do nothing for another rotation piece.
No way Milwaukee is pegging Yo for a rotation spot. He’s depth and will likely end up in the bullpen as a swingman.
Gallardo currently listed as 4th w junior Guerra replaceable at 5th.
“Listed” where? The Brewers website has him at 7 behind Anderson, Suter, Davies, Woodruff, Chacin, and Nelson. The team hasn’t released any kind of depth chart or made any announcements on the rotation. If anything that’s just someones estimation somewhere. There is no way that Yo makes the rotation coming out of spring training and may not even make the roster. If anything he ends up as a long reliever. There is no way that they are done dealing with the rotation and will pick up another arm or two even if they don’t get a top guy.
Exactly. My guess is we add another rotation piece. They would then have Anderson, Davies, Chacin and the SP add as their 4 mainstays. Until Nelson gets back would most likely use Guerra/Woodruff and Suter as the 5
It’s listed on roster resource. Brewers website casual fan site.
Exactly. A third party site that is estimating a starting rotation. Suter and Woodruff aren’t even on their 25 man projections and both of them will be ahead of Yo.
He’s got performance bonuses tied to both so we’re both right.
They’re just listing him on a projected 25 man roster because his contracts is only guaranteed if he makes it to the 25 man cut. There is still nothing official about that.
Oh sh… I got cut already
Brinson’s valuable, but he alone isn’t going to bring back a top of the rotation arm. Maybe someone like Gerrit Cole though, who has the upside to be one.
None of the outfielders alone will bring back a top of the rotation arm. The question becomes who else has to be included. And with Santana or Brinson, the other pieces wouldn’t have to be as highly regarded as they would if Broxton or Phillips is included..
How long has Ryan Braun been on the trading block?
Since he was busted for PED’s pretty much lol
He was before that.
He was busted in 2013. A year after he went .319/41/112. He was not on the block before that.
This doesn’t make much sense to me. If you already have a potential glut of talented outfielders, you don’t add another outfielder while losing a compensatory pick out in the process. You go from being willing to trade an OF to just about having to trade an OF because you can’t play them all, and your bargaining power goes down as a result.
Unless Stearns has deals in place for moving a OF. Signing Cain would be far less expensive (and an upgrade in CF) compared to signing a top of the rotation starter. If you move Brinson or Santana for a #1 starter you’d still have plenty of OF depth and a very solid rotation.
Exactly this. As the article states, you’re losing that CB pick anyway if you’re signing one of the top FA starters. Why not trade from a strength for an Archer type and then sign a solid veteran to bridge the gap to Brinson/Phillips (no way they trade both IMO).
Not to mention LoCain — who I love — is a 32 y/o outfielder built on speed and defense with an extensive history of lower-half injuries.
Oh yeah so true. They shouldn’t give him more than 2 years if they sign him. I was really thinking just 1, but he’ll probably get 2 or 3 somewhere else.
Cain will get at least 3 if not 4. I can see a 3-4 year deal in the 12M -15M per year range.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Cain and wish the crew didn’t trade him in the first place, but trading one outfielder still gives us four. I don’t see Cain fitting in Milwaukee for more than a year, given his age and the talent the crew has.
Exactly, I drone on and on below but Stearns likely doesn’t know what he’s doing.
This doesn’t make any sense to me why have top prospects if you never let them play
Controllable Pitching is more valuable than OFers. Even if you move Brinson for example you still have Santana, Braxton, Corey Ray and Phillips as young OFers
Because top prospects are sometimes best used as currency to get what you really need. If you play prospects, they bust quite a bit. However, if you trade them their value is far more likely for the current season. Yes, it can occasionally bite you in future seasons, but you are usually a better team in the current season.
Looks like Milwaukee is trying to get the band back together!! Surprised we didn’t sign Sabathia and Lucroy!
Does that mean that Matt Guitar Murphy and Blue Lou Marini are coming back?
haha, most people are too young on here to know what that is a reference from!
Weeks for 2B anyone?
Can’t spell Weeks without two Es and K!!
They’re on a mission from God!
They already have 5 legit options for outfield, it doesn’t make sense to get another one that is older and more expensive and trade the younger and cheaper ones away.
It doesn’t seem like Milwaukee is a good fit.
Milwaukee has the same problem with pitchers as Colorado. No pitcher wants to sign with them. Sign the hitters and see them “improve” at Miller Park and then trade prospects for pitchers. Oakland has the same problem with hitters. The Cain signing only works if the Brewers trade an outfield prospect or two for pitching which I would be all behind.
No we don’t. Brewers problem is they are a small market team so they can’t afford to outbid teams for elite pitching. Pitchers don’t want to go to Colorado because of the altitude puts them at an extreme disadvantage.
Their payroll situation probably allows for them to spend on a Jake Arrieta or Yu Darvish this winter, but it just doesn’t make much sense to tie up that much money in one pitcher.
Miller Park continues to play smaller than it is. That and the small market payroll makes pitcher unlikely to end up in Milwaukee.
I’m confused why no one sees what Stearns could potentially be doing here. Yes Cain is more expensive than our current OFers. Is he more expensive than a #1 starter? No. So instead of throwing your money at a #1 you sign Cain, trade from depth (which their OF) for a legit #1.
Not to mention Cain is an upgrade over Broxton/Phillips currently.
Yes I don’t understand how everyone is not seeing this as well. This would allow us to trade possibly multiple OF prospects for pitching, 2B or anything really. This gives you a lot of options.
I heard that Carrasco and Kipnis could be available (not sure why though, other than the Indians moving Ramirez to 2nd).
Carrasco probably isn’t available unless you force their hand with an unbelievable offer.
Clevinger, Bauer, or Salazar might be though
Yes Brewers and Indians are actually a really good match. Brewers need SP and 2B while Indians need OF help. Actually kind of surprised a deal between them hasn’t been reached.
Indians fan here, and I can tell you Salazar is on the block. Fingers are crossed for swap built around Salazar/Santana… would love that RH power bat in our OF…!
I would be for this trade
Yeah pretty sure I meant Salazar not Carrasco.
My issue with it is the assumption of the trade. A trade requires someone to trade with, and requires that team to make offers which appeal to you and bring back enough return. Unless a deal is already lined up and that team is willing to wait until after Cain is signed, there is no guarantee that said trade ever gets made. I get the logic, I just find it to be overly risky.
Well yes obviously. I’m sure the Brewers front office has been talking to people about trades and they probably have a strong idea at this point what trades other teams would be willing to do. I highly doubt the Brewers would make this signing with their fingers crossed hoping something pops up. That would be completely idiotic.
Not particularly though. It’s been reported on several articles here that trades the Brewers have been discussing, everyone wants Brinson as part of the return. There are plenty of teams that could match up in trades with Milwaukee for either OF prospects or Broxton/Santana. We as fans just don’t have the luxury of seeing what’s really going on until it’s done
I think most people get the concept, they’re just skeptical about coughing up a pick to pay a 32-year-old player for 4 years, and probably not interested in losing Brinson. Broxton would be another story.
The Cubs need Cain like they need a hole in their head. Not. Happening.
Good comment thanks for being here
More like Voice of Needless Gibberish
Cubs need Cain like we need another comment from you
Why not package some of the outfield surplus and consolidate for Yelich? If you could move Braun (paying significant salary) and Santiago, plus prospects and grab Yelich, you would be set in outfield with Yelich, Brinson and Phillips for the next 5 years. With Corey Ray coming down the pipeline.
Not a Brewers fan so I may be off base.
Braun has 10=5 rights now. He is highly unlikely to be moving anywhere except in a Stanton situation where he takes away all leverage by limiting the field to a handful of teams. They’d be better off keeping him than trading him for peanuts like the Marlins did with Stanton.
BTW, it is Santana not Santiago.
I think I combined the Domingo and Santana into a Santiago. Braun might be willing to spend his twilight years in Miami, where he went to college. Only other place I could think he would be interested in is LA, I believe he resides there.
Cause we have holes at SP, 2B and maybe bullpen. Trading for Yelich, even though he is great still leaves us with those holes. We’re better off to use our surplus outfielders to attack our team needs.
Ok, assuming you would rather trade for a top of the rotation starter (Archer, Fulmer, Duffy), what’s you offer? How much you willing to give to grab that starter?
I think the asking price for Archer and Fulmer would be so high, as it should be, that I probably wouldn’t do that deal. Both start off with your two top prospects and then some. I would like Duffy and he wouldn’t cost as much as the other two, but wouldn’t you rather just try and sign Cobb then for a little more and you wouldn’t have to give up the prospects?
If it’s Archer or Fulmer I would be okay with the brewers giving up Brinson, Ortiz and a middle of the road player.
If it’s Archer or Fulmer I could see Brinson going with Broxton and Luis Ortiz. For Duffy you’re getting Phillips instead of Brinson and probably sending another piece to Milwaukee. Easily could be a couple smaller pieces on either side of any trade.
Why are people saying Trade Santana for a legit #1 Ace. What legit #1 Ace is available? I would love for the Braves to trade pitching prospects plus MLB ready arm like Newcomb for Santana. I just don’t think there are any true #1 available for an OF
Archer? Duffy? deGrom? Cole? Fulmer? That’s just off the top of my head. Besides, no one said it would be a one-for-one trade. Santana + a prospect or two could get one of those guys easily.
Not deGrom. Mets are still going for it and aren’t going to trade away their only consistent starter.
None of the teams holding those pitchers have a need for Santana. Maybe Mets, but deGrom? No. You’re looking at a 3 way trade in that scenario.
I would take Newcomb plus prospects for Santana all day. He struggled in his first action last season but still has a high ceiling. And I’m with you on Santana’s value, unless they package him with some awful high prospects they are not getting a #1 in return.
Brewers are like the cardinals, too many outfielders!
Brewers sign Cain. Then trade what prospect(s) for Castro and Dan Straily. What would it take? Or replace Straily with José Ureña if you want to be creative.
I think they can do better than Straily… but if that’s your target I think Broxton, Phillips, and Ponce gets it done. Probably could put in a guy lower than Phillips in there, but then why are we signing Cain?
Would Teheran and Kazmir be close to getting Phillips and Ray? I know Teheran in not an ACE…but him and Kazmir could round out the rotation and make a VERY STRONG 1-5
Why not keep Teheran and Kazmir so the Braves can have ‘a VERY STRONG 1-5’? or maybe sweeten the pot and send back Markakis too!!!
Braves fans are getting worse and worse on here with spare part trade proposals..
Teheran actually had really good numbers away from Suntrust last year so if that was the Brewers target, you would be betting on the fact that a change of scenery would bump him back to a 2-3 type pitcher. However I don’t know if the Crew would target both of those pitchers and if they would give up both Ray and Phillips in a deal that doesn’t net them a controllable number 1 like Archer etc
They should just sign arietta for 4 years
nope
Brett phillips or domingo santana wont be delt count on it. Broxton is trash, no one wants braun. Brinson is a big time bust so if they can trade him before his value declines further that would be solid.
Brinson is a big time bust through 55 plate appearances in The Show? Idiotic comment. Mike Trout was pretty terrible in his first stint as well. Not saying he’s going to be Trout, but to say he’s a bust at this point is just asinine.
I suppose you would have dealt Cal Ripken after 1981 with his .278 OPS?
A 23 y/o who mashed in his whole minor league career, can play a premium position like CF is a bust because he failed with his first cup of coffee while also spending time on the DL? Someone sounds jealous.
Go back to the kids table and let the grown ups talk
Keep Brinson
Clearly my evaluation of Stearns is very different than those on this site but this is a joke. He put together a rotation that didn’t make it through the season last year, did nothing about it at the deadline, and we ended up using Suter and the bullpen for games twice a week. This caused us to miss the playoffs by one game.
His solution? Sign Chacin, fine no issue, and Yo, that’s is a joke and solves nothing. Now he wants to sign a guy for a position where we have quality, depth, youth and a veteran, and give up a draft pick to do it.
My opinion is that the longer we ‘rebuild’, instead of try to win, the longer Stearns can go with no meaningful way to evaluate if he’s doing a good job. Is it possible that he just calls journos to make it seem like he wants to win or make moves but has no intention to do any of it?
I think he’s been playing the media and fans and truly has no idea what he’s doing.
there was no team in baseball that had their rotation survive the whole year. the brewers were projected to be the 4th or 5th worst team in all of baseball and ended up being the best non playoff team… Your post is bad and you should feel bad.
Yeah like he knew that Nelson was going to down in September with a non pitching related injury. And you’re not understanding why it would make sense to sign Cain. Trade Santana or Broxton for a pitcher or a 2B, sign Cain, who will cost less than to sign an Arrietta, and you have your CFer, a 2B, and still have decent depth in the OF. Now you just have to find the right match
And if we pay $20M plus over four or five years to Arrieta/Cobb, how mahy of Shaw, Arcia, Santana, Davies, Nelson, Knebel will have to be traded three years from now, since they will be making far more through arbitration than they make now as pre-arb (except Nelson and Knebel, who will are currently in arbitration) and payroll space will have to be cleared.
Hmm, the GM is possibly thinking about payroll problems three or four seasons from now is a joke? Maybe some people that think they know what’s going on are really just totally clueless.
Great point. Didn’t even think about payroll in the near future. Factor that in and making a potential run at Cain and trading Santana or even Phillips for an affordable, controllable pitcher makes even more sense.
I actually wouldn’t mind Milwaukee bringing back Walker for 2nd but, no big move is coming for Starting Pitching or OF. I could watch 162 of there games a year but, alas, been a Cubby fan for 30 years.
What I’m reading is that the Brewers and the Giants are talking. The Giants appear to be interested in Santana. The Brewers want an ace. What would it take for the Giants to listen on Madison? A package of Santana, Hader, Woodard, and Broxton maybe?
Madison is 28
By the way anybody here see the Greinke deal coming before it happened?
Madison is signed thru 18 and a team option for 19 at less then 10 mill a year.
Who here in Brewer nation wouldn’t want a rotation of Madison, Jimmy,and Chase in the playoffs if they were so lucky to be in it? As a fan of nearly fifty years it could be the best I’ve ever seen. I can see it, can you?
Since the Giants still think they are contenders, it’s doubtful the Giants will listen to any offer for Bumgarner.
Maybe your right. As a GM of any club though I would think it would be foolish to not at least listen to an offer that is reasonable for any player. What if they turned around and said give us Brinson instead of Broxton then maybe we will think about it? You never know until you try.
For me it might be to much but with the depth of the Brewers farm system it would be something to think about.