Rival executives expect the Brewers to be aggressive in targeting starting pitching help this summer, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (video link). The Brewers’ rotation has been a middle-of-the-pack group to this point, as it entered Saturday 13th in the majors in ERA (3.92) and 19th in fWAR (3.8). Of course, the unit has been without its top starter from 2017, Jimmy Nelson, who’s working back from the right shoulder surgery he underwent last September and should return sometime this season. He and another starter acquired from elsewhere could help the Brewers hold on to a playoff spot, which they were unable to do a year ago during an 86-win campaign. Rosenthal also points to catcher and shortstop as positions the Brewers could upgrade, though he notes they’re “unlikely” to be in play for Manny Machado at the latter spot.
More from around baseball…
- Although he shifted from the diamond to a front office role with the Mariners last month, Ichiro Suzuki intends to earn a roster spot with the team in 2019, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports. Given that the future Hall of Famer has struggled in recent seasons (a productive 2016 with Miami notwithstanding) and will be 45 when next spring rolls around, accomplishing his goal seems like a long shot. But with the Mariners scheduled to open next season with a series against the A’s in Ichiro’s homeland of Japan, it’s worth a try.
- Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is slated to resume his rehab on Monday, Tim Healey of Newsday tweets. Cespedes, out since mid-May with a hip strain, had been nearing a return until suffering a setback last weekend. It remains unclear when he’ll be healthy enough to rejoin the nosediving Mets, and the same goes for ace Noah Syndergaard. The righty is getting “better and better,” though, manager Mickey Callaway told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com and other reporters Saturday (Twitter links). Syndergaard has been out for three weeks because of a finger injury. In better news for New York, closer Jeurys Familia will come off the DL on Sunday, DiComo relays. Familia will end up missing the minimum of 10 days after going on the shelf June 8 with right shoulder soreness.
- Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill is set to come off the DL on Tuesday to start against the Cubs, per Kaelen Jones of MLB.com. Blister issues have bogged down Hill, who last took the mound in the majors May 19, when he exited a start after two pitches. The 38-year-old has combined for just 24 2/3 innings across six starts this season, and has managed a disappointing 6.20 ERA/6.33 FIP along the way.
- The Rays activated shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria from the disabled list on Saturday and sent infielder Christian Arroyo to the DL with a left oblique strain, Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports. Hechavarria had been out since May 17 with a right hamstring strain, while Arroyo may be in for a long absence of his own, as is often the case with oblique injuries. The 23-year-old Arroyo, whom the Rays acquired from the Giants over the winter in the teams’ Evan Longoria trade, hit .264/.339/.396 in 59 PAs before going on the DL.
Expect
Mets fans wish they could put Fred and Jeff Wilpon on the 60 day DL and then DFA them.
“Rival executives expect the Brewers to be aggressive in targeting starting pitching help”
Keston Hiura, Corbin Burnes, Tristen Lutz and Caden Lemons for Jacob deGrom.
I think your proposal is pretty close. I do believe the Mets would prefer players closer to MLB unless they have a very high ceiling. IMO if you swap Ray for Lutz and Medeiros for Lemons they might bite on that package. Also, Felicano seems to be the type of catcher that Alderson likes to acquire. I could see him being added for DeGrom but not for Thor. Degrom (in my opinion) will require one more additional quality prospect than Thor. I don’t know if the Brewers hae that sure fire well known can’t miss prospect the Mets will want to headline a trade for either though. Hiura is making a name for himself but he doesn’t have Brinson’s name recognition. If the Mets were willing to trade with the Yankees I think they match up the best for a DeGrom trade. Sheffield, Frazier and Andujar are all well known prospects (or young MLB players) that are ready (or very close in Sheffield’s case) for a permanent move to an MLB roster. Toss in a player like Ford and I think you could have a DeGrom trade. Problem is I seriously doubt the Mets would trade any of their stud pitchers to the Yankees unless they are absolutely blown away and we all know that Cashman just doesn’t do that.
Ford really, why not just throw in a used blender instead?
On that subject, who is Ford?
Mike ford rule 5 draft pick 1B. Mariners took him and then returned him. He’s not on the yanks 40 man yet either though he could swap spots with Austin this offseason. His trade value is close to nothing.
He won’t ever be on the 40 man roster for the Yankees. Austin won’t swap spots with that scrub!
Excellently thought out proposal….works for both sides….nice work.
Not even close. Brewers don’t have the farm system to get 2 1/2 years of deGrom.
Your funny! Let me guess, your opinions of farm systems are based off of T100 rankings? Lack of T100 prospects does not equal a horrible farm system. The Brewers have plenty to get a player like deGrom if the Mets are willing to trade him.
Who wants to bet against Ichiro making the team with 10 months to prepare?
Julio Franco
They might put him on the roster to play in Japan as a sign of respect but Ichiro is toast.
It’s where I’ve predicted that Ichiro will retire after playing in front of his countrymen. Glad this story was finally posted!
Yeah, no reason they couldn’t let him play those two games, regardless of how he looks in the spring. Let him have a great sendoff in Japan.;
…and remember, in overseas games the teams can carry 28 players on their roster. (I believe this exception is because if someone gets injured, the teams playing cannot quickly call-up a player from their minor league team and get them to the following game in time, or even if they could, the player would be jet-lagged, tired, etc.). Thus, Ichiro is definitely playing in Japan next year, and will possibly play in America until Seattle needs a fifth starter come mid-late April). Ichiro may then go play for Orix for the remainder of the season…who knows?
Id love to see the brewers get degrom.
Who are the brewers top prospects and positions. Just curious who would be offered from the brewers. I think you would have to offer two top 3 prospects and two top 10 prospects for him? Maybe even a player on the mlb roster? Especially with what he is doing this year. He is a top pitcher in the league with I think two more years of control too.
Yeah, the Mets don’t need to trade deGrom; he’s playing on a relatively cheap contract through 2020. I think they’d have to be overwhelmed to think about moving him. He’s obviously been the second-best starter in the league this year, and that quality with that level of control will fetch a huge price tag.
The only catch to that being that the Mets will likely not contend in the next 3-4 seasons UNLESS they trade DeGrom and get good young stars in return.
This is why the Mets and Yankees match up so well. They can offer the up guys like Andujar, Frazier, Sheffield, and more. Three bonafide top talent ML-ready or ML-proven players who will be with the team for the better part of a decade would put them right back into the thick of things in the next 2 years.
Hey Adan…you need to get back in your shoes.
Andujar, Frazier and Sheffield are off the table.
deGrom is an awesome pitcher, though he comes with the injury caution flag.
The Yankees are not desperate, and mutt & Jeff are not smart enough to use him as currency for a complete rebuild.
There’s no sweat off their back that the team is lousy…unless fans start boycotting their economic benefit
Andujar might be off the table because he’s your starting 3B. but you really think Sheffield and Frazier are? Degrom is an elite starting pitcher and you’re worried about 2 unproven commodities. Get real.
This type of thinking is why the Yankees aren’t going to be able to trade for anyone who isn’t a rental this summer.
I bet deGrom will demand a trade if the impotent Mets don’t trade him soon. With “Thor” on a vacation its apparent who is caring too much.
Its also refreshing that the Mets offer such detailed insight into their injured players’ status with the report that Noah is “getting better and better”. This is part of Sandy’s master plan to utilize his deep front office to work in conjunction with the medical and training staff which has been overwhelmed with eager participation from the players.
The team’s traveling secretary has also been busy arranging for rooms in the Hamptons for the DL players and insuring that the Met’s prized possession, Cess has early t-off times every day so that he doesn’t get dehydrated when he golfs. They have been near perfect in this area, the exception being a couple of day period in Mid-May when coincidentally Cess injured his hip flexor.
I can see the Brewers making a play for Archer.
I don’t see this happening anymore. Archer has been incosistent this year. Era over 4 and now on the 10 day dl. I think that ship has sailed.
He’s actually been inconsistent for the past couple of years. But he still has value because of the contract. With the paucity of pitching available, though, I expect him to be moved, and for probably a bigger price than you may think.
There’s also the notion that he hasn’t ever reached his abilities, pitching in that horror show situation. I was there one night when the attendance was announced at 10,000….they must have been counting fingers, not fannies…….
Change of scenery into a playoff hopeful team for motivation, plus due to his inconsistent results price tag could be much more worth the risk. Can’t blame the brewers for trying on his high ceiling if the tag is low, even if he never reaches it again.
If the price is right im all for it. I just think the rays will want way too much.
Hope so
I remember when Boston offered any of their 9 prospects for Felix Hernandez. I’m still glad that we kept him. Just wish we wouldn’t have thrown away all of his golden years with nothing to show for it. Had he been a Red Sox or Yankees, the King easily would’ve had multiple rings and CY Young awards. Feeling like this is the year to do it if there ever was one for him. Go M’s!
Kuira+ for Manaea.
Manaea’s underlying numbers suggest he’s been pretty lucky to be pitching sub 4 ERA ball right now. Makes no sense for either team unless Oakland thinks Hiura is a real gem. Manaea fits well into Oak’s contention window and really isn’t a huge addition to Mil rotation in 2018.
Can’t believe bosox released Raman but still have
Jackie jr and swihart still on this team !
21 at bat slump for Raman
A season slump for the above mentioned!
Disappointed Sox fan!!
JBJ is the best defensive centerfielder in the game. That allows for his bad offense, especially when the lineup is as deep as it is. Sox don’t need JBJ to hit .280 with 20 hr. He’s fine where he’s at. And you can’t put Swihart in the slump category when he doesn’t play…I don’t know what the Sox are doing with him. It’s really not helping him get better at all
Best defensive CF in the game? He isn’t in the best in his own division and might not be top 2 (kiermaier and Pillar)
Hicks is on par, and with a way better arm.
Oh ya, Hicks looked tremendous dancing around under Bauers’ “triple” on Saturday…….he was completely lost…..JBJ never gets lost…..he’s not KK, but he’s second best…..and I have ZERO clue where you’re getting that Hicks has a better arm……Hicks is below Buxton, Hamilton, etc…….
Ichiro has had a great career in MLB and NPB, his achievements in each of those leagues stand on their own. I think he will open with the team only to retire in Japan. It seems fitting and a great end to a HOF career.
Nelson isn’t coming back in 2018. If ever. The harsh reality of labral surgery is brutal.
Absolutely, he will “make the team “ out of spring training and retire in Japan after the opening series. HOF in five.