The Brewers have reportedly made an offer to free-agent righty Yu Darvish, but specifics of the proposal have yet to come to light. However, both Peter Gammons of Gammons Daily and Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel have explored the topic to varying degrees since initial word of the Darvish offer broke in Japan. Gammons suggests that while the Brewers have been connected to both Darvish and Jake Arrieta, the team isn’t planning on making a big splash for the rotation unless owner Mark Attanasio “jumps in.” Haudricourt, meanwhile, notes that GM David Stearns remains mum on the topic while explaining that a big-splash, market-value offer from the Brewers appears unlikely.
Here’s more from Milwaukee and the rest of the NL Central:
- There was a suggestion over the weekend that the Brewers were nearing some kind of trade, but ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick has since walked things back via Twitter. The team has “been working hard on trade possibilities” while also looking into some significant free agents, but Crasnick now says the team is “juggling a lot of scenarios” rather than closing in on anything in particular. In any event, it feels as if there will be some notable movement on the Milwaukee roster between now and the start of camp, though just what and when remain unclear.
- There has been speculation all winter long that the Pirates would trade Josh Harrison, especially after the team dealt key veterans Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole and Harrison suggested he might like to be the next man out the door. But there are some contrary indications. Pirates general manager Neal Huntington has indicated the Pittsburgh organization is still angling to put a winner on the field in the near term, though he hardly ruled out a swap. And a rival GM tells Gammons (see the above link) that he thinks it’s actually increasingly likely that Harrison will remain aboard the Bucs’ ship. Since the bulk of the value brought back in the McCutchen and Cole trades is at or near the MLB level, the club may prefer to keep the useful Harrison in the fold, Gammons’s source suggests.
- While the Cubs have given every indication that they are still looking at starters, current righty Kyle Hendricks says the rotation doesn’t need to be improved, as Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The Cubs, after all, have four established starters along with the capable Mike Montgomery. Of course, the depth chart behind that group is questionable, and the team would no doubt prefer to upgrade over Montgomery — turning him into a useful reliever who’d be the first man up in the event of injury — rather than settling for a pure depth option.
Falsehope
Darvish’s camp trying everything to create a market for him.
tecjug
The thousand strikeouts in his last 800 IP with a 3.24 xFIP during that time already created that market just fine.
batteryoutlet
yeah there’s a demand because of what he did, but his camp is doing everything in it’s power to make him look the most attractive in this climate
Sibert18
Everyone’s ‘camp’ is trying to do that all the time
Hiro
Isn’t that their job?
Chris Sale Amateur Tailor
That cubs rotation could be league average or it could get really ugly really quick..
Kayrall
Wrong.
mga2q7
Explain how that rotation could be league average. They are projected to be a top ten rotation as is and that is conservative
BennyTheBoss
What if Quintana goes down and needs Tommy John Surgery? Lester is no longer an ace, Hendricks missed some time last year, Chatwood’s ERA domain is about as high as anyone’s, and Montgomery is eh average. There is absolutely no depth. Any injury and they’ll have to trade from the MLB roster to get someone at the deadline.
kbarr888
What if…
What if…
What if….
What if Quintana puts it all together and becomes an ace…. and Lester has the best season that he’s ever had….. and Chatwood realizes that he’s not pitching at Coors Field anymore and he becomes a nice #3 SP….. and Hendrix moves forward another increment and becomes one of the stingiest pitchers in the league.
What then?…..What if…..What if……………..
Kayrall
Wrong.
internet1tough1guy
Lester is not a ace? Why? Cuz of a mediocre year? Like he’s never had one before? Lmao.. Hendricks missed some time? Not like he’s a hard thrower and will mess his elbow up.. and look at chatwoods stats away from Coors.. he’d be a #3 for most teams. And let’s say one does get hurt.. you saying they will have to trade from their roster is wrong. They still have a mediocre farm. They have 2 top 100 prospects. They could easily trade those with a couple more guys and get a young controllable starter.
Varangian
Who’s wrong???
sportingdissent
They weren’t all that good last year, just top heavy. They replaced their best pitcher with a fifth starter and their fifth starter with a long guy. Add to that the continued decline of John Lester and Kyle Hendricks, as well as zero pitching depth anywhere in their system…that rotation has bottom five potential without a big splash.
riphaggard
Bottom five potential? Jake was not their best pitcher. Chatwood actually had a higher WAR than Jake last year. Jake is on the decline. A full year of Hendricks and Q will help immensely. Lackey was awful last year if you actually watched him pitch, I’d take Montgomery over Lackey any day. Great rotation? No not at all. It is solid though. I agree with you on the depth but that’s about it. Tseng, Mills, Butler, and Ramirez aren’t terrible depth options waiting in Iowa. There is work to be done but the off-season isn’t over.
CubsRebsSaints
Decline of Hendricks? Not a smart statement
internet1tough1guy
Seriously dumbest comment I’ve read this year lmao.. Hendricks declining lol.. he’s a ace on damn near 20+ teams
hojostache
2017 Mets could happen to the 2018 Cubs staff.
jdgoat
It could also be above league average. I don’t really know what to expect out of Lester or Chatwood, but having Hendricks and Quintana in your top three is the making of one of the top rotations in the league. I still expect them to sign one of Lynn, Arrieta, Cobb, or darvish too. They got the money, and the need
mrwisconsin
Right.
michaelw
Not true at all. People said the Cubs rotation neeed help in 2016 too.
It was the best in mlb with an historic year.
Even with injuries in 2017 they were still 7th in all of baseball.
But everyone an expert n Cub haters will voice their oathedic opinions. Lol
Dodgethis
Cubs fans have never been rational or based in reality. Artietta was a lucky find, and really has only had 2 decent seasons in his career. Lester has been showing decline for years now, Quintana has never been more than a 2-3 pitcher and never will be more. Hendricks is like artietta, undependable. Chatwood has been good, but on any other contender he’s the number 3-4. Welcome to reality.
Kayrall
Is your blood pressure high? Because you’re very salty.
pmhockey35
Huh? Decline for years? Lester had the best year of his career in 2016. Hendricks is anything but undependable, I’d trust him over anyone else on the staff in a must win game.
internet1tough1guy
Another top 5 dumbest comment of the year.. Hendricks unreliable lmao.. yeah ok. I’ll give him the ball in a game 7 any day of the week.
Varangian
Who is this “artietta” guy?
CubsRebsSaints
Everyone s rotation is subject to down years, career years, injuries, etc. if you’re saying league avg at best? You’re wrong. At best, Lester can maintain his ace status. Hendricks is one year removed from a national league era title. Quintana is a bit of a wild card and has ace like potential. You’re a WS contender though, and you want your rotation to be deep and your pen. One more guy goes a long way for that, while making your 1-4 starters able to stack up in any series in the postseasons. ThTs the bottom line here.
Varangian
Exactly
RedFeather
Would be wise for the Cardinals to take a look at Yu, Arrieta, or Lynn.
CJ81
Agreed. Cardinals still need a #2 starter unless Weaver is ready to take on a full 200 inning work-load. Then you got Wacha, Mikolas, Waino who is a very skeptical 3-5. Im sure they view Reyes as a top 3 starter come August contention, but they have to get there first.
kbarr888
Lynn won’t sign with the Cards……they treated him like crap last fall.
Not a chance….imho
RedFeather
How did d they treat him like crap? Are you his agent or something?
CJ81
He has never received enough recognition from the fans or the organization. I believe some numbers are pointing to a decline, so I probably wouldn’t pay him as much as he’s asking, but he was a top 3 starter for 5 years and was constantly ridiculed by fans and shown no interest in an extension by ownership.
CubsTroll
I wish they would. I keep hoping as cold as the stove has been one of those would accept a 2 or 3 year offer and sign with the Cards. With that said I also wake up every morning hoping to be 30 lbs lighter and have enough money to not have to get up and go to work. I figure the odds are about the same with both scenarios.
Caseys Partner
Nothing but pillow contracts on the way.
Senioreditor
Not a chance. They’ll all be 1 yr older, have QO attached and compete with a MUCH stronger FA class. They’re all signing but for less.
clrrogers 2
Per the new CBA, a player can only be offered a qualifying offer once in his career. Darvish is the only one of those three who could receive one next year if he signed a “pillow contract.”
bbatardo
Good thing Kyle Hendricks is not the Cubs GM lol
Solaris601
It’s good to have a positive attitude, but those rose colored glasses are definitely jading Hendricks’ vision.
Tavares
I’m not criticizing anyone, but why do people nowadays seems so interested to break a news, so they can say they were the first one to report it?
Jerry Crasnick says “… Brewers are getting close to a trade.”, getting close to a trade to me is “only a few details are missing to announce the trade” but 24h later we have “… Brewers are juggling a lot of scenarios.”, no trades in sight
I don’t like these kind of “news”, I prefer the old ones way better
acerulli1
It is social media journalism, and I agree with you. I would prefer a few more writers who prize being right, rather than being first.
brewcrew08
You could honestly tell Jerry had no clue when he tweeted that anyways. Brewers nearing trade for unknown player on unknown team? Come on now Jerry.
Varangian
I agree with Tavares, but then again, this is MLB Trade “Rumors”
dimitriinla
Could you imagine what a disaster it would be for a team to sign both Arrieta and Darvish?
Senioreditor
Not really, it all depends on the terms. 3 year commitment doesn’t sound bad to me.
bucsfan
Neither of them are signing for 3 yrs, unless it’s a longer term deal with opt outs after 3 yrs
michaelw
Stupid post. No ones going to sign both. That’s a good 60 million dollar cap hit
spudchukar
Agree on the Cubs. They need to bolster their rotation, cause they have little in the pipeline. Both the Cards and the Cubs have been linked to Archer. Cards have more pieces to offer, but less need. Should be interesting!
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Josh Harrison will be traded this season. That’s a near certainty.
Cole could have blown out his UCL at any moment and Cutch only had one year left on his deal and he’s a notoriously slow starter and would have destroyed his trade value by June. The risk of holding them outweighed the chance they’d fetch more with strong starts (coming with less control, though).
With all of the free agents available, Harrison’s trade value is limited. But, come trade deadline, an All Star level utility player who could start at 4 positions figures to be very valuable.
They’ll also have to at least listen on offers for Felipe Rivero. He’s younger with more years of control than either Miller or Chapman when they were dealt. The return could be franchise altering.
But franchise altering is the only package they should trade him for….a young elite closer who negotiates long term contracts without an agent’s advice is quite the asset to the Pirates.
Kang Ho Polanco
I have been away from the comments section awhile, but I’m glad to see you are still here spitting logic. I can’t think of a way to say that better.
Yinzers are running wild out there, brother. Be careful.
harley davison
After the last two trades, I would be surprised if he played even one more game as a Pirate. I’d like to see Bostick and Moroff be given more PAs, and keeping him goes against why they traded the other two, to cut costs and rebuild now.
I also think Harrison will be less motivated playing for Pittsburgh without Cutch there.
It just makes better sense to ship him out. Considering what little they got back on the other two, I’m not expecting much in return, and neither should they for a league average batter. His only additional value is positional flexibility.
Yankeepatriot
His value is top indeed but the question is will teams be willing to gut their farm for one relief pitcher ?
Teddyballgame13
Jake was awesome in 2016, but his peripherals say he is for sure on the decline. As a CUBS fan, ill take Darvish amd attribute his post season woes to pressure. Cobb will cost us a compensatory pick so no thanks.
Teddyballgame13
What will Archer cost? Jake was awesome in 2016, but his peripherals say he is for sure on the decline. As a CUBS fan, ill take Darvish amd attribute his post season woes to pressure. Cobb will cost us a compensatory pick so no thanks.
diehardcubfan 2
Cubs add Darvish we likely have the best rotation in baseball. Was laughing at Q’s TJ surgery projection.
Chatwood projection was amusing as well. Guess he hasn’t looked at his splits away from Coors . Monty as a number 6 Bullpen improvements Núcleus a year older and more experienced. Most who have not hit 27 usually the prime years (Rizzo is 28). Add Darvish Watch out for the Cubbies in 18.
Michael Chaney
Jerry Crasnick always makes guesses and reports them as facts. It’s hard for me to see him as credible.