Pirates GM Neal Huntington suggested today that he expects new acquisition Corey Dickerson to handle the bulk of the action in left field for he coming season, as MLB.com’s Adam Berry report on Twitter. No doubt the Bucs will end up giving Dickerson some time off against lefties; while he performed well against southpaws last year, he has long carried wide platoon splits. But it seems the plan is to give him an opportunity to function as something approaching an everyday player, with the Pittsburgh organization evidently willing to stomach the less-than-stellar glovework Dickerson is reputed to deliver. Perhaps the biggest question will be whether the powerful 28-year-old can overcome an interesting problem identified by Travis Sawchik of Fangraphs in a piece today: a tendency to swing and miss at four-seam fastballs.
More from the NL Central:
- Upon his arrival in camp, Reds star Joey Votto made clear he hopes the team can begin pushing toward consistent contention, as Gary Schatz writes in the Dayton Daily News. Votto’s stellar 2017 season was not enough to keep the club out of the NL Central cellar. Clearly, ending up anywhere near a winning record is going to require quite a lot of internal improvement given the organization’s limited additions over the winter. At some point, though, the Reds organization will surely look to outside acquisitions to help take the next step, a topic covered by Rian Watt of Fangraphs.
- One key piece of the Reds picture, both in the near term and especially in the future, is top infield prospect Nick Senzel. Notably, as MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon writes, Senzel will see action at shortstop in what ought to be an interesting storyline to keep an eye on. Craig Edwards of Fangraphs looks at Senzel’s possible move up the scale of defensive difficulty and puts it in a broader context. Needless to say, the possibility is quite intriguing for the Reds. In other Senzel-related news, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer has the fun story of the 22-year-old’s conquest of minor-league skipper Pat Kelly, the Reds’ house wrestling champion who had long fended off challengers from the farm system. No doubt the front office is just relieved that everyone has emerged unscathed.
- The Brewers’ plans regarding Ryan Braun are perhaps an underappreciated spring storyline. As Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writes, the veteran slugger is going to find time at first base and perhaps also second. That would potentially allow the club to balance the demands of finding enough time for Braun after adding Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich to an outfield that already featured Domingo Santana (with Brett Phillips and others also pushing up from the farm). As a long-time star corner outfielder who is now 34 years of age, Braun is an unusual candidate to turn into a utility player of sorts. But it’s also interesting to consider the potential upside as well as the merits of limiting the load on Braun, who has had his share of nicks and scrapes over the years. Just how things look on Opening Day, though, still aren’t clear. It still seems possible Santana could be dealt. And Jon Heyman of Fan Rag argues the organization still needs to add a significant rotation piece if it hopes to keep pace.
I don’t understand the Pirates front office
I wonder how short of a leash Peraza will have at SS. I’m glad they are keeping Saurez at 3B for now
Brain playing some second base? Did I read that correctly? First I’ve heard of that possibility
Brain Braun*^
Ryan braun will possibly see some time at second, yes
I think the brewers best 2B option is to resign Neal Walker to a 1year deal or try Dubon there
I agree
I also agree
Whatever I think they should do, it looks to me like the Brewers have settled on this roster for this season, and expect to use Burnes and Peralta later in the year in the rotation if they can’t make it with what they have. That is, unless the prices for Cobb, Lynn, and/or Arrieta come down significantly. And second base seems to be mix and match with Villar, Sogard, and Perez. I see Walker to the Yankees as his options dwindle. Of course, I’m often wrong in these things.
ALERT! Tim Dillard is on TV right now pitching against the Cubs! My FAV Player/Writer!
I’m not sure why this keeps coming up. Braun brought it up as a joke and Counsell told reporters Braun was pulling their chains after.
Braun at the keystone would be a disaster. He was awful at third.
Exactly. No chance he plays 2B. Could easily see a him playing 1B against lefties though.
Braun can’t stay healthy standing around in LF. It would be a train wreck expecting him to play any other position.
brewers need to sign Lance Lyne or Alex Cobb 4years 50 million should be good for both of them I would prefer Cobb with the options that we currently have Yo he was one of my favorite brewers but I don’t think he has anything left Wade Miley is probably the best option for the #5 I like Brent Suter but I don’t think he can pitch a full season as a starter he is better as a bullpen pithure/spot starter Ortiz,Burnes will probably start in AAA and Woodruff will probably be the #4 but he did give the brewers mixed results last year and Guerra is a big ?
I think Cobb and Lynn are still expecting $80MM+ still.
I think so too..has to be the only reason they haven’t signed yet. I would give Cobb 5yr/85M with an opt out after the 3rd year. Pay him 3/55M over the first 3 then 2/30M the final 2 if he opts in.
Please, we don’t need Suppan 2.0 signed to 5 years. Here’s a thought though— The Jesus, Broxton, Santana or Phillips and Ortiz or Woodruff for Duffy. Who hangs up first?
Stearns hangs up first.
But I like that framework for both sides
I love Phillips but I think it’d be smart to send him+necessary others to kc for Duffy and if we want to be ballsy Merrifield as well. That’d fix a lot of problems for the crew and would likely be a good haul for a team that needs to tank anyway
If the Brewers were willing to do that Cobb would have been signed months ago. 3yr/45mil is the best Cobb will get.
You keep smoking that reefer son and pretty soon you’re gonna be living in a van down by the river.
Only way Cobb should become a Brewer is if he signs a 1 year deal, or gets a multi year deal at $15mil per season.
Why would they give Cobb almost $20 per if they wouldn’t give Darvish or Arrieta $21mil per???
I would not be surprised if that was TRU but I would be shocked if they get that much I don’t think they are going to sign until there price comes down to around 12.5 to13.5 million a year
I don’t expect Braun to see much time at first once the season starts, barring a trade. Thames will start against right-handers and Aguilar will start against lefties. Aguilar is out of options, so he’ll either make the team or have to be put on waivers to be sent to the minors. Unless Aguilar shows last season was a fluke, he’s the much better option in the platoon with Thames.
That leaves Braun in left. They’ll have to manage his days off, but I see a Braun/Cain/Yelich outfield with Santana starting 60-80 or so games. Yelich will also swap from right to left late in many games, with Santana going in. A healthy Braun is the best hitter the Brewers have. Unfortunately, I don’t think Braun can stay healthy for more than 100-120 games a season.
The second base thing is a joke.
Milwaukee needs to worry about that train wreck of a pitching staff first. Don’t forget, that rotation wasn’t expected to do much last year and way overachieved in the first half. Expecting it to be even average is crazy.
Because trying to find ab’s for the 4 starting outfielders currently on the roster would mean they’re totally neglecting the rotation, right?
I wouldn’t say it’s a train wreck, but it certainty needs some help. Outside of Chase Anderson, and Zach Davies, they don’t have any really reliable starters, until Nelson returns. They should go after a trade for Danny Duffy, or try and sign at least one, Lynn, Arrieta, and Cobb, to solidify their rotation. Then let Guerra, Hader, Suter, and Woodruff play for the 5th spot during spring training.
Hader’s in the pen.
He was a starting pitching prospect, so I’d put him in contention to claim the 5th spot.
They already said he’s in the pen. He won’t be in the rotation until he can add a 3rd quality pitch.
You mean that train wreck of a pitching staff that was 5th in the NL in ERA last year, ahead of St Louis and only 5 points behind the Cubs? The pitching staff that actually had a better ERA in the second half than it did the first?
@pdx. My sentiments exactly.
As a Cubs fan, I see the Brewers as the biggest threat to take the Central this year IF they find pitching. If they do, they will be tough to beat. They also need to do all they can to improve enough so Braun doesn’t have to carry the team. The Brewers always play the Cubs tough but they have to rely on the scary-good hitting and Cubs thorn-in-the- side Braun. I always look forward to the Cubs-Brewers games.
Braun hasn’t carried the team for some time.
That time being 2016.
Hey, Braun at 2B would at least make the Brewers entertaining.
This team needed to sign both Darvish and Arrieta. If their pitching breaks bad for them they will be in better position to chase the first pick then to get a wild card berth.
Maybe that’s their salvation, the Brewers spin that collection of high ceiling/low probability prospects they sent to Miami into a top end of the Top 100 lists position guy and solid #4 starter prospect by dealing Yelich after a first half breakout season away from the Miami graveyard.
Arrieta isn’t worth the money he’s asking for. He came out of nowhere to win a Cy Young and steadily regressed after the fact.
If the Brewers did make a trade for Duffy maybe they could take Aguilar , Santana, and Wilkerson for him. You know mow that I think about it maybe Miley will be Arrieta 2.0 with escaping from Baltimore. I do think that the Brewers have three pitchers that will be the sleepers on their staff this year in Williams, Derby, and Kirby.
Williams threw 50 innings after missing two years. He’ll be on a major inning limit in AAA. Derby is possible as a September call-up, but is at least a year away.. Kirby hasn’t pitched for two years.
They are sleeper prospects, but I doubt any of them will play in the Majors this year.
Yeah maybe. Maybe not though.
I absolutely agree some of these guys will be on inning limits. plus you got House and a couple others so maybe do what some other teams are doing and hold off on starting their spring training , have them go to extended spring training to avoid possible rain outs cold weather. Then they are spread out a little on meeting their total. Plus that would give you a chance to get Guys like Corbin, Ortiz some time in AAA before they come up in July or August plus see what is out on trade
4th line into article says “he” instead of “the.” Good article too.
#firejeff HOW DARE HE?!?!
My guess is that the Brewers front office would have signed a FA of made a trade by now for starting pitching if they didn’t like their rotation as it is. They must be expecting Woodruff to step up and maybe Ortiz.
As for Braun, 2B? No. But I think he’ll get the most playing time at 1B if he’s doing well defensively. Jesus may not be on the team even as a bench guy; it’s not like he play multiple positions.
Well that’s a pretty poor guess, since they were in on Darvish. I think it has a lot more to do with them not seeing the same value in these pitchers that they (or their agents) do.
You made my argument for me. They didn’t value Darvish enough to offer him more and feel that their rotation will be okay without him. If they felt otherwise I have a hard time believing that they wouldn’t have offered more, especially knowing that the Cubs we’re involved. Not saying I agree with “my guess” but you don’t make moves like they did just to stop short on the pitching…unless they like or feel comfy with what they have. OR are they looking at next year’s FAs and not this year’s class.
WOW look at the Pirates go! Big trade! That will put asses in the seat, “Raise THE JOLLY ROGER”!!!!!!!’
Would like to see Brewers check on Salazar, Brett Anderson and Brett Lawrie
MIL missed their chance in June 2016. The LADs were dead last against LHPs. Puig had been sent to AAA with a “cancer” label and Braun’s 5/10 rights were less then 6 months away. The deal was nixed because they didn’t like the prospect offered. Now those $$$ could be used to sign a SP. For 2018-2020 Braun is owed 60MM.
Just for accuracy’s sake, Bruan is owed $57MM, including the buyout of the 2021 option, for 2018-2020 with $10MM deferred for about eight years.
Cot’s shows it at: 2018- 20MM , 2019-19MM, 2020-17MM, 2021 – 4MM buy out. To me that’s 3/60. But the point is Brewers fans on this forum in June 2016 argued that unless the Brewers got 2 top prospects they should keep Braun. Now when the Crew have a chance to compete that contract will keep them from signing the SPs they need and hurt their chances for 3 yrs.
No, Cot’s shows it as 2018: $19MM, 2019: $18MM, 2020: $16MM, 2021: option or buyout. Plus $10MM deferred.
And Braun’s contract isn’t keeping the Brewers from signing a starting pitcher. No starting pitcher being worth what they are asking for or willing to take what the Brewers think they are worth is why the Brewers haven’t signed a starting pitcher. It’s been made clear that adding payroll isn’t the problem.
If you look on the chart, “2018-2023 commitments” it shows it as 20/19/17/4, , as does NBC sports that lists the contract as 19/19/18/4. Regardless any Brewer fan who believes that an extra 19 or 20 MM a yr for each of the next 3 yrs would not make a big difference is just not in touch with reality.