The Brewers will go without their best starter, Brandon Woodruff, for approximately six weeks after he suffered an oblique strain Sunday. Woodruff’s absence could make it all the more imperative for the Brewers to add a starter before the July 31 trade deadline, but general manager David Stearns conveyed a lack of urgency on the matter Tuesday.
Asked if the Brewers now feel more pressure to address their rotation, Stearns said (via Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel): “I don’t know that we can let his temporary absence impact how we manage the deadline. I have found that potential acquisition costs generally dictate what is reasonable and what is not.”
With only about nine weeks left in the regular season, it’s probably not reassuring to Brewers fans to hear their GM brush off Woodruff’s absence as “temporary.” Even before the emergent right-hander went down, there was a strong case Milwaukee needed to pick up another starter prior to the end of the month. For what it’s worth, the team did reportedly show interest in the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard–Zack Wheeler duo (links here) and the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (link) back when Woodruff was healthy.
As for the Brewers’ current options, Zach Davies has prevented runs to an impressive degree, but his peripherals don’t inspire nearly as much confidence. Chase Anderson has turned in fine results, though he has only completed six innings in one start. Jhoulys Chacin’s season has been calamitous. Gio Gonzalez just returned from an almost two-month absence because of a dead arm, and has only averaged five frames per outing when he has taken the ball. Adrian Houser had been in the rotation out of desperation before Gonzalez came back last weekend, but the production he has posted as a starter and reliever indicates he’s much better off in a bullpen role.
The flaws in the Brewers’ rotation have helped lead to several weeks of underwhelming play from the club, though it’s still smack dab in the playoff hunt. With a 53-46 record, the reigning NL Central champions are two games behind the division-leading Cubs and 1 1/2 out of a wild-card spot. Of course, it would have been a challenge for the Brewers to clinch their second straight playoff berth for the first time since 1982 even if Woodruff had avoided the IL. Now, if the team doesn’t adequately replace Woodruff in the next week, its chances of fading from the race seem likely to increase.
Time to stop nickel and diming on the scraps for pitchers . Remember trading for grienke , cc? Time to make a deal
The Brewers gave up an incredible package for Greinke.
Ginormous cost.
They sure did, it was worth it though. I don’t think the Crew has the prospects left in their system to make a big splash. Dubon is a nice player, but lack the power most teams are looking for and Turang is down at A ball. This might sound crazy, but is it time to start thinking about Trading Grandal and Moose and maybe signing a good free agent pitcher in the offseason?
I think this series against the Cubs will be telling what happens. Get swept and say goodbye to Grandal and Moose. Win the series and they’re buyers.
It would be a shame not too see Yelich and Hader in the playoffs. They are definitely going to have to add a top of the rotation starter or they probably won’t make it.
well, Brew dont have a single starter that would crack the Tribes rotation, and when Kluber comes back next month, along with Carassco, (Klubes-Best AL pitcher of the last 5 years hands down, and Carassco with a couple top 3 CY finishes) . We still have 2 number ones in Clevinger and obvi Bauer…and Bieber is the 5th starter but would be a 1 on a lot of teams…..sooooo, as much as i love bauer, we can survive without, and need a bat. Braun would be amazing fit…and Bauer would put u over the top in NL central…
I don’t know where you are coming from ejfink13. Cleveland can not count on Carrasco this season because of his illness. Kluber is not likely back until mid or late August. Yes, when all healthy, the Indians have one of the top rotations in the game. What I don’t agree with you is that the Indians would trade for Ryan Braun. #1` – They won’t take on his salary. #2 – They will want mlb ready controllable pieces in a Bauer trade. Braun does not fit that need.
Clearly you’re from Cleveland. Carrasco (you spelled your own favorite player’s name wrong) is basically irrelevant this season, so you sound insane. Also, Kluber has NOT been the best in the AL the last 5 years straight. That’s just irresponsible to say. Go tuck yourself into bed with your Travis Hafner blanket and try again later.
Spot on.
I’m thinking the Brewers miss the playoffs unless they strike gold with a trade.
2017 Astros. Verlander. Seriously, Stearns? Just do it!
The 2017 Astros were 65-33 on this date. How are you going to compare a mediocre Brewers team this year to a team that was clearly a buyer in a past season?
I mean Stearns has struck gold twice now. Verlander at the deadline in 2017 and Yelich in the offseason in 2018. I’m more inclined to believe he actually can pull off the impossible at this point.
Just observation but that was a BS comment from Stearns. He’s trying to look strong but on the inside he’s very worried. I think they’re going after Stroman now.
“On the inside he’s very worried” — you may be right, but how would you know?
I don’t think they have the pieces to get Stroman. Or at least another contender will line up better with the Jays.
Gotta think Toronto is looking for pitching and the Brewers system isn’t real strong and mostly position players at the top.
Cardinals are gonna be back on top in no time.
Mike Leake’s available and Jerry’s itchin’ to make a deal.
And Leake is not good for a playoff run. So itch away.
Injury or not they need a SP.
Sadly, starting pitching was always going to be this team’s Achilles’ heel. Going back to the off-season, the team decided to go for more offense (Moose, Grandal — both good signings) and put their chips on three young, unproven pitchers. (Only Woodruff panned out, and now he’s lost for six weeks.) Also gambled that lightning would strike twice with Chacin. All of this piled too many innings on the bullpen, and it’s showing in games like last night’s.
Hope I’m wrong, but this doesn’t look like a playoff team right now — much less a world-beater.
well said…im stunned the Brew Crew are able to win above .500 at all…Im a tribe fan and while u guys are so fun to watch hit and have a all world guy in yelich among the other studs (cain, moose etc) the brewers dont have a single pitcher in the rotation that would crack our top 7 guys… that is not even hyperbole. The best AL pitcher the last half decade (Kluber has been out all season, Carassco with 3 top five finishes in the Cy Young, same deal, Clevinger is FINALLY back, and they somehow just continue to produce arms…Bieber was maybe gonna be the 5th starter comin in, and he would be 12-15 teams #1 starter…Than Bauer, who has had top 5 stuff for years and finally has that command, and the list goes on..Tribe and Brewers should talk about doing a deal…. We have FOUR number 1’s. And any 5 man rotation they go with will have a 2 as the worst pitcher lol..its not fair…and its not fair u get yellie and cain, and Moose ( who i never thought would be anything leaving KC.. Bauer would give Brewers an immediate ace and he leads mlb in IP and is on pace to K around 300 guys this year… If Kluber can come back healthy (BIG if) but if he can, Tribe needs to get the haul Bauer demands…Yankees would make me sick, Cubs too, so if he goes, the brewers would be a fit…remember when u rented CC years ago when he was the best in the game? Same deal…the casual fan doesnt realize how dominant this kid is…. So we need some offense, u need SP, lets make it happen! U got Hader and the pen solidified which is the hard part, but damn that rotation is atrocious
Id love Ryan Braun in our lineup…. obviously a shell of his PED/MVP days but would be a perfect veteran to plug into left field who can still rake. Braun and a couple C prospects for Bauer….lets do it… (btw, its crappy to see that Aguilar is what we thought he was lol) not often CLE misses on their prospects but we were in awe with his first half last year, bc he was always a AAA player in our org, but my god, he is horrific and the only real hole in that nasty Brew lineup
Braun isn’t really raking. Just above league average with the bat and has a no trade clause with the Indians on it.
I’d want quite a bit more than him for Bauer… but the idea makes sense.
Trevor Bauer for a 35 year old stiff plus whatever is in one of the bottom farm systems in baseball?
I sure hope this is sarcasm
The Tribe are 3 back of the suddenly vulnerable twins and right there in the wild card race
And you’d want Ryan Braun and some bottom rung prospects for arguably you’re best pitcher?
You can’t count on Kluber and Carrasco right now.
Sorry, but that would be the dumbest trade in a long time
Yeah, that is a bizarre trade proposal. Salary-wise it doesn’t work, because Braun is owed $21M in 2020. If they can’t afford that for Bauer, why would they pay Braun that?
The Brewers and Tribe just don’t match up very well. Sure the Brewers would love to get Bauer, but MIL doesn’t have the young, controllable corner OF to offer in return, and Cleveland is not taking a guy like Ben Gamel.
A Bauer trade matches really well with San Diego, Dodgers, or Braves. Possibly the Astros if Cleveland would trade within the AL. Otherwise, I don’t see him going anywhere until the offseason.
I agree with you, Ghost, for the most part. I don’t see a match with the Braves as they do not have the MLB ready outfielder that the Indians need. Pache and Waters are not MLB ready. Inciarte is an overpriced 4th outfielder and Carmargo does not move the needle. I doubt they trade Riley. Their pitching prospects that have hit MLB have also currently disappointed them.
the pariry of the NL lives on. almost seems like the Marlins could be in on a wild card spot at this point.
They would no doubt be right in the thick of it esp if they had Stanton, Yellie, Realmeato, etc…. Its insane how awful Jeter has done thus far…when my tribe played them this year, they didnt have a single prospect that stood out as a building block…like how houston Built up…. Marlins are such a bad organization..but ur pt is well taken…lol
The way we are playing rn, might become sellers shortly. cant even beat the Reds.
I’m guessing Bauer straight up for Hiura would be out of the question. 🙂 Would love to plug his bat into the Tribe lineup.
Nah man Huira is going to be an all-star for years to come. Brewer fans are very excited for his future.
I would be too.
Calling right now, Hiura is going to have a better career than Braun.
Sell off moose & grandal. Going after one in the off-season. This year is a bust
No way
Hopefully they found an elite pitcher, Im a Yankee fan but I Really Like and respect the Brewers and they deserve to be champions
The Brewers have been a big disappointment to fans this year after last year’s super season. Players that underachieved really killed the Brewers this year combined with the weak pitching most the season. If the Brewers can gain a top starter they would also have for next year I am all for it. But if it’s just for this season I don’t see it being worth it. This team as constructed would not go deep in the playoffs. Too many inconsistent players.
I still glad we have Stern as GM and Counsel as manager but they are just being too timid in not pulling off deals along with hanging on to guys that should be replaced. If I was Stern I would trade Grandal. Go with Pina and bring up Nottingham because I do believe the pitchers have a lot better rapport with Pina. Then see if you can make a deal with Texas for Minor around Aguilar. Trade Thames to Tampa. Take Shaw in a deal with Arizona for Grienke deal. Then see if you can make a deal with Miami for Caleb Smith and Cooper or move Braun to first with bringing up Grisham to left. Dfa Chacin, Saladino , Smith and Albers. Send down Anderson. Bring up Dubon, and the Williams twins. This could give you a roster of catchers of Pina, Nottingham. First base Braun, second base Huira. Third base Moose. Outfield of Grisham, Cain , and Yellich. Platoon Arcia/ Dubon at short. . So that could give you a bench of Gamel, Nottingham, Cooper and Dubon. Now in a perfect world that would give us a rotation of Greinke, Minor, Woodruff,Smith, and Davies. This then would give you a bullpen of Hader, Jeffress, Houser, Peralta, Guerra, Williams, Devin Williams and Claudio as bullpen. Just what I would like to see is all and yes I know there is going to be people that rip this apart
Your ideas involve trading Milwaukee’s garbage and adding a bunch of minor league fluff to your active roster. Put down the PS4 and watch baseball for a change. Your suggestions are absurd.
There’s not a chance in the world that Texas wants Aguilar they have way to many first base DH type guys at it is and their not giving up minor for him
Do you contribute anything on this site, or life in general, besides garbage?
Lets just send Saladino to Houston for Gerritt Cole. I mean if you figured out a way to get Smith, Greinke, and Minor without giving up any real talent than that should be doable right?
I never said we wouldnt have to give up young players in those trades yes we would obviously have to like maybe put Erceg in the trade for Minor which I would have no problem with cause I think the Brewers need to give Moose a 3 or 4 year extension. Grienke for Shaw is very doable. Now yes the Smith trade would be very hard to pull off because your obviously going to put probably Turang with some very young players too in it
Nah we weren’t gunna make moves anyways