Much has been made of the reports that the Brewers made a contract offer to Yu Darvish about two weeks ago. A quote from ownership stating that GM David Stearns is “working on” adding another pitcher has only added fuel to that fire. But when asked Saturday if there’s been any progress in that search, Stearns metaphorically threw a giant bucket of cold water on those hot stove rumors. “We continue to have discussions on a variety of fronts,” he said (via Tom Haudricort of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). “But at this point I anticipate going (to spring training) with our current group.”
If the Brewers did make a proposal to Darvish, Haudricort notes, it wasn’t enough to lead to a deal. Additionally, the team has not confirmed any reports that they might sign Darvish, who is believed to be seeking a deal in the range of $150-$175MM. Further dampening any Darvish hopes from Milwaukee fans are reports that the right-hander would like to return to one of his previous teams: the Rangers or the Dodgers.
Stearns’ comments also seem to indicate that the club’s recent efforts to trade for Rays right-hander Chris Archer didn’t bear any fruit. It’s a trade scenario that already seemed unlikely in the first place, given that only ten days ago Archer told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that he expects to remain in Tampa Bay to open the season.
It’s not as though Stearns completely closed the door on adding a starter. According to Haudricort, he did express that the club is open to acting “if the right opportunity presents itself.” But he followed that up by saying that the club has a “high level of confidence” in its in-house options.
On the surface, Milwaukee would appear to be one of the MLB teams with the most pressing need for a starter. Beyond Chase Anderson, Zach Davies and the injured Jimmy Nelson (who projects to miss a good portion of the 2018 season), the Brew Crew have a group of low-ceiling starters vying for the remaining spots in the rotation. That group includes Yovani Gallardo, Brent Suter and Jhoulys Chacin. While a rotation comprised of the pitchers above wouldn’t represent a bottom-dwelling cast, it’s curious that the team would make such a strong effort to acquire Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain while failing to improve on the starting pitching front. Of course, it’s worth noting that the Brewers will control both of those outfielders for five full seasons, and they aren’t set to lose any of their most important core players any time soon.
Prior to this news, Milwaukee was thought to be at least an assertive shopper in the free agent pitching market. If they’re indeed prepared to turn up their noses and roll with internal options to open the season, it’d prove bad news for a 2018 free agent pitching class that has yet to see any of its top four candidates come off the board. Teams have yet to show any serious interest in Jake Arrieta, Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn at their current asking prices, and MLB clubs seemingly haven’t gained any traction with even Darvish to this point in the offseason. With just a few weeks until the start of spring training, this development can only further freeze a historically cold MLB hot stove.
Julio Teheran for Domingo Santana
Stearns hangs up first.
Why would he hang up? Both players have flaws and upside and both teams would trade from depth
I agree that the Brewers can’t hang up here. Though I think the article should be called “Latest on Brewers’ Search for Five Starters”
Not straight up. Teheran has some upside but I don’t think the Brewers would cash in for a player who has yet to show why he was so highly regarded a few years ago
Or cash him in before he shows why he has not lived up to the hype
The amount of people who think Domingo Santana on here is going to fetch a good starter is baffling. Yeah he young and he hits a lot of hrs, also k’s a lot. There’s a lot of supply of those type of players in mlb right now. Not a lot of starters who can give you 180-200 innings. I have a feeling brewers fans are going to be really upset when Santana along doesn’t bring back the quality of starter they think he’s worth. They would be better off offering lance Lynn or Alex Cobb take it or leave it deals right now before Darvish and Arrieta sign.
Except that Teheran isn’t a good starter. AA would crap his pants if Stearns called and offered Santana for Teheran straight up. Teheran sandwiches good years and bad years. On most contending teams he would slot in as a 3/4
Slotting as a 3 on a contending team is pretty good! No way Santana alone brings back more than that
True. But unlike those guys, Santana is on the league minimum for one more season before hitting arbitration. Four years of a cost-controlled, above average player has surplus value. That’s more attractive than Jay Bruce at $39M or other players of this ilk. Someone will deal for him…
There were 14 outfielders that hit 30HRs last year out of 90 starting OFs. That’s about 15%. He also had a bigger OPS than most of these.
Doesn’t seem like a lot to me.
The issue isn’t that Santana isn’t valuable, it’s that so many teams are tanking that good players aren’t in huge demand.
Very odd phenomenon.
He’s an awful defender too, though. And corner OF are in zero demand. I think Santana pulls at most a couple B prospects or a backend starter. Might actually be a better idea to get their next 2B that way and sign a SP in free agency.
Before the end of his 4yrs of cheap control are up don’t be surprised if he hits 295/385/930 with 35HR or more. He has the potential to play an average RF and does have a good arm. But he’s definitely an offensive player more so than a well-rounded player. Did have 15 SB this past year too. Santana easily pulls a Top 100 back if he’s traded for prospects. He has one of the best young bats in the game.
I don’t think he’ll ever be an average outfielder. Yes, he has an arm, but he mostly shows that off after coming in on a ball over his head and running after it to the wall
As a Brewers fan it is very difficult to think you will get a pitcher (much less a 1 or 2) for any fielder/hitter. I very much agree with you’re second thought of Cobb/Lynn. I’d like Lynn more as I think he has a better chance of giving us 190-200 innings of 3-3.5ERA of pitching. Makes the team deeper and stronger to keep Santana and Phillips in the outfield. On a side note I feel we’d be stronger signing Lucroy and cutting Vogt and Bandy. If we have to overpay for Lynn or Cobb a little so be it as we keep our farmhand depth.
As a fellow Brewer fan, all’s I can say, with regard to yet another former Cardinals pitcher, is, quoting George W Bush, “There’s an old saying in Tennessee, I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee, that says…fool me once….shame on…shame on you…fool me…you can’t get fooled again.” Our GMs stupidly believed, TWICE before, that these clowns that St. Louis lets go, are worth signing, AFTER their special Redbird Roids wear off. Just ask Braden Looper and Jeff Suppan.
Oh wow I forgot about Looper
Kyle Lohse too
Well it sounds like we’ll see how Santana does to start off the season and see what he brings back in a mid-seaaon trade
Why does every Braves fan want to trade this guy?
He pitched abysmally at the new ballpark and just fine on the road. He may make adjustments and even things out this year, but he’s a 35-start, 200-inning guy who may be terrific in a park that’s friendlier to pitchers than Cobb County Stadium.
AA don’t want Santana defense is bad. Don’t see a matchup for the Braves would rather hold onto Julio and see if he builds value. I think Chase Headley would be a great fit and wouldn’t cost much in terms of a prospect.
Good trade for both
Stearns hangs up because Santana is a 25 year old 3.0 WAR player coming off a strong season with emerging power and 4 years of control, whereas Teheran is a 27 tear old 1.8 WAR player coming off a poor season with climbing walk and home run rates, declining K rate and only 3 years of control.
You Braves fans are delusional.
I’m hoping Stearns is just saying that to and sweeten a deal either via trade or free agency. If teams and agents get the feeling the Brewers are willing to move forward with what they have currently they might come down on their asking prices.
You said just a few days ago it’s a given the Brewers will be signing a starter. Now you’re not so sure?
Where in that paragraph did I ever say I didn’t think a deal would get done? Hoping Stearns is saying that to lower the prices does not mean I’m not confident a deal will be completed. That’s called smart business. If the prices don’t lower Stearns will pay them. Maybe you should read before you troll.
Haha so if agents “fear” the Brewers may move on they will be scared and drop their demands. Ok sure. Lol
I mean, if it’s either lower your price or don’t play, they’ll wanna play.
I think Stearns has to say that because they are talking to players and teams but nothing is close to this point but Stearns said himself that they are having conversations with the agents and the owner said himself that he would be surprised if they didn’t add to the rotation and that there is money in the budget for one of the top 4 free agent SP
With the slow market for Darvish I still think the Angels stand an outside chance at signing him for a lower AAV contract if they are willing to offer him 6 years.
I wouldn’t like the idea for any other team but the Angels have Shohei Ohtani for at least 6 years and purportedly plan to utilize a 6 man rotation to give him more days to at-bat DH. Darvish would bring in another pitcher used to playing in a 6 man rotation, and reduce the wear across the board on the Angels starters which has been injury ridden the last few years. Might actually work out.
Would the Brewers have any interest in A Samardzija for Santana or Phillips trade, and if so how much money would the Giants have to throw in?
i don’t think that’s what the brewers are looking for. They seem to be after a #1 or #2.
On the Brewers, Samardzija would be a #1 or #2.
No he wouldn’t.
Yes he would. Davies and Anderson are mid rotation guys at best. Nelson, if he comes back at all, will be a shell of what he was. Labral tears are brutal…don’t believe anything about his expected timetable. It’s fiction. Right now Milwaukees rotation is a healing like of garbage.
He would not, he be fighting for a starting spot with gallardo/guerra/Woodruff.
Anderson/Davies/Chacin are locked in at starters with Nelson rejoining when back. I would lile to see Woodruff male it in the rotation. Then leaves that last spot open to a 3 man competiton already, if we dont sign/trade for a top arm. No room for samardzija
They are looking for a real 1 or 2. It does not matter if he would be in the 1 slot for the brewers. He still is a 4 type back end starter
So we’d take a pitcher who I believe won’t pitch this year on a rediculous contract and give up two valuable chips already at the MLB level? You’re smoking crack.
Don’t worry, SF has no interest in trading him lol. Also, why wouldn’t he be pitching this year, are you aware of something no one else is? It’s spelled ridiculous. You’re the one on crack.
More like the Giants couldn’t find a trade partner even if they were shopping him. He’s 33, due $18M per the next 3 years and has an average of a 4.10 ERA the last 2 years. Giants would have to eat half of that $54M remaining for teams to even answer the call. They could go out and sign Lynn who’s better for less than 18M per still.
Last year Jeff Samardzija ranked 15th among all pitchers in fWAR, one slot ahead of Yu Darvish, who is projected to land a nine-figure contract in free agency..
Steamer projects 2018 WAR of 3.5 in 202 innings for Samardzija and 3.6 in 179 innings for Darvish, who is only 19 months younger than Samardzija.
Samaradzija, who has three years and $57 million remaining on his contract, has posted 6.5 fWAR, valued at $51.6 million, in the first two seasons of his five-year, $90 million contract with the Giants:
fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3254&posit…
Little confused what your argument is? Teams are pretty much saying Darvish isn’t worth 20+M per on the open market. In 20 less innings you just said Darvish is projected at a better WAR. If Darvish is struggling to get to the 20M year range Shark isn’t worth 18M per.
That’s all fine and dandy but I’ve been to a few Shark slaughters at Miller Park. If you took the Brewers current players lifetime against him you’d have two over .500, three over .400 and the eighth slot would be .333. Lynn, on the other hand has slaughtered Milwaukee time and time again. Hes got an awesome mullet though.
Not to mention 3 of his last 5 seasons he pitched to a 4.30 ERA or worse. It’s great his WAR was good but he’s had one winning season since 2012 and that was 12-11. 9-15 record with a with a 4.42 ERA is not worth 18M. No matter how you slice the cute stats.
The win/loss stat for pitchers is honestly pretty irrelevant, but your point still stands.
Those outdated valuation methods might suffice for a fantasy baseball team but advanced metrics show Jeff Samardzija’s real-life worth as a starter who consistently posts 200 innings a season with few walks in front of a defense that inflates his ERA.
I recommend reading on WAR:
fangraphs.com/library/war/calculating-war-pitchers…
Giants are trying to compete this year, and don’t have enough pitching as is. They won’t be trading Shark.
well, admit it, Brewers screwed up. Used up too much resource on the outfielders, when the market for outfielders is as bad as ever.
The owner said there is money in the budget for one of the top 4 SP in free agency and no one has said the brewers are out on Yu Darvish
Not true. This is a negotiating tactic as old as the hot stove league.
Nanyuanb you’re right.. a guy who had over a 5.0 WAR last year and Yelich translate to a year where OFers ‘as bad as ever’.
The OF they got are fine players. But they thought they could then either flip Santana or Phillips or Broxton for a mid rotation starter or better, and it turns out they can’t. What saves them is their key players are mostly on long term control.So they can peak in 2019. But this year is gonna be sketchy pitching wise.
Who’s to say they can’t move Phillips, Broxton or Santana? Maybe Stearns just hasn’t found a deal yet that makes sense. Not to mention almost all of the FA starters are still out there to be had
I meant the market for outfielders. Outfielders are not getting big offers, and your own outfielders also draw very little trading interest. That’s why spending big on outfielders is a bad move. And it’s costing the Brewers’ chances at top starters this year and next year.
I get you’re point but the Brewers were so low on the payroll last year that they have plenty of room to spare. They’re in the low 90’s right now. Mark will spend some of the $50M bonus that ownership got last year.
Exactly.
I think they need one more starter, but the bottom half of their rotation is fine. The ceiling might not be high, but the floor is. You don’t need your #4/5 starter to win you ball games. You just need them to not lose ball games. The Brewers are going to score runs, they just have to have guys that will give up one less than they score.
They need three….not one.
Where do they need 3???
They have Anderson/Davies/Chacin and Nelson when he returns. Theres only 2 spots open for the first part of the season (until Nelson returns)
Im hoping woodruff gets the option to be the #4/5 so we have a young arm grow to become better.
And even after woodruff theres still Gallardo/Guerra/Suter alone figthing for the last spot
So now please tell me how we need 3 SPs??? All we need is 1, doesnt hurt to get more top arms to take over the bottom but all we need is 1
I don’t actually think the brewers are as bad for starting pitchers as people say. Chase Anderson pitched like an ace. If not for a mid season injury his numbers would look even more impressive. Zach Davies struggled in the first half but after July he was as good as any pitcher in baseball. Jholsys Chachin is certainly serviceable. His numbers last year may look better because he pitched at Petco. But he put up a few good seasons at Coors Field. And Brandon Woodruff is a top 100 prospect who looked good in his couple of starts last year.
Anderson has never pitched over 152 innings in his career, he has a mediocre track record going into his age 30 season, and his peripherals across the board scream regression.
He’ll probably have an ERA somewhere around 3.50 this year, which is good but not “ace” status.
Dodgers send Ryu, Forsythe & prospect for Braun. Hmmmmm !!!!
More people in the outfield?
Brewers need a LH starter & 2b person. It was mentioned earlier Braun wanted to play 2b. Dodgers need a good RH bat to protect Bellinger.
Braun was joking about second. He’s gonna play some first base. Second base is probably set with the roster as is.
He did play SS @ Miami in college
He may have been the worst third baseman in mlb history.
That was close to 13 years ago. I also doubt he’d be willing to waive/lose his 10/5 rights now. He stuck out the terrible years and they are on the verge of competing. That trade makes no sense for the Dodgers. Not only would they be adding three years of salary, and they’d be doing so up until age 37. A season in which he wasn’t necessarily happy. That’s not happening. You also have them adding significant salary.
*Healthy not happy.
I would do that
Guy in the Brewers’ pic, kind of looks like Ryan Braun from far away.
Brewers’ GM David Stearns!
You’re right, kinda does
I think chacin is your #4 starter, Brent suter is your 5th starter unless Yo can pitch his way back to the 5th starter spot or bring Garza back on a minors deal and have a pitchers duel between yo, suter, and garza. Last but not least sign someone like Cobb or Lynn.
Garza underwent surgery, so the chances that they sign Garza right now are low.
As of now id say it should be
1) Anderson
2) Davies
3) Chacin
4) Woodruff
5) Gallardo or Suter
Obviously Nelson goes in there when he returns.
I hope we dont sign darvish/arrieta/lynn.
I would be ok with signing Cobb to the right price or trade for Archer if he doesnt cost too much. No need to sign a #1/2 SP this year.
Besides i dont not believe darvish or lynn or a #1, they should be a #2 at complete best.
Anderson has never pitched over 152 innings in a season, he has a mediocre track record going into his age 30 season, and his .265 BABIP and 80.5% LOB rate from last year scream regression.
He got extremely lucky last season and even if all goes well he’ll probably have an ERA somewhere around 3.50 this year, which is good but not an ace on any club (except the Rockies, but they’re an exception).
I still think they should go after Danny Duffy. They definitely got the prospects to do so.
Too funny how the article fails to mention Brandon Woodruff. Top 100 pitcher heading into 2017 and, again, heading into 2018 with the ceiling of a solid mid-rotation. He flashed some good potential the final 2 months. Anderson, Davies, Chacin, Woodruff is a solid 4. Stearns will definitely add at least 1 SP before the season as Nelson is missing the first 2-3 months
Pick up Cobb or lynn and trade for a 2nd baseman and your all set or trade for Duffy and 2nd baseman Mayfield ( think that’s what his name is )
Everyone in their infield except ss could use an upgrade. Thames is an average 1B.
Have you heard of Travis Shaw? He only had 4 WAR last season.
Merrifield. Whit Merrifield.
Brewers don’t have the prospects for Duffy and Merrifield.
Come on, a mid-rotation guy being paid 15mil a year? Santana alone is overpaying for Duffy.
or trade for Teheran and Go brewers
The brewers are not getting Darvish, Cobb or arrieta. Those guys are smart enough to know the brewers aren’t that good. They are so bad they could trade for Samardzija and he would be their ace. Evem though he’s at best a backup emergency spot starter.
“Smart enough to know the Brewers aren’t that good….” that’s some quality trolling on a Brewers thread! Thanks for your comment, douche….I mean, “esteemed baseball fan!
Cubs fans are really bored with their off-season moves obviously
I say go for lance Lynn
Chacin @$7M, the same money for a SP as Swarzek got. Brewers see a 4 year window and they’ll move on a controllable SP that’s another solid #2. Between Nelson, Andersen, Davies and whoever they get they’ll be competitive at a $110M payroll. See what Woodruff or Burnes can do, Chacin’s slider to the pen…
No mention to Brandon Woodruff? Easily Milw’s #4 atm and 5 when Nelson returns.
Braves could part with a couple starters for a package of prospects. As previously reported Julio Teheran, in the top 15 pitchers for past five years, Brandon McCarthy and Scott Kazmir for 10 of the top eleven of the Brew Crew’s prospects. Milwaukee to keep the one who they choose from the group.