In a few weeks, we’ll be running a two-team mock expansion draft here at MLBTR – just for the fun of it! Currently, we’re creating 15-player protected lists for each of the existing 30 teams. You can catch up on the rules for player eligibility here.
So far, we’ve covered the Reds, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Rangers, Mariners, Athletics, Angels, Astros, Twins, Royals, Tigers, Indians, White Sox, Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Orioles. The Brewers are up next.
First, we’ll remove free agents Ryan Braun, Brett Anderson, Justin Smoak, David Phelps, Eric Sogard, Jedd Gyorko, and Brock Holt from consideration. Many of those players have club options for 2021, but we won’t make the Brewers use a protected spot on them. Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain will make the list by virtue of their no-trade clauses. In total, we’ll protect 11 players out of the gate:
Christian Yelich
Lorenzo Cain
Keston Hiura
Brandon Woodruff
Josh Hader
Omar Narvaez
Eric Lauer
Adrian Houser
Luis Urias
Freddy Peralta
Josh Lindblom
That leaves four spots for the following 17 players. Click here to review contract statuses and team control.  Assume the expansion draft is taking place in November 2020.
Orlando Arcia
Ray Black
Corbin Burnes
Alex Claudio
David Freitas
Ben Gamel
Avisail Garcia
Ryon Healy
Corey Knebel
Jacob Nottingham
Manny Pina
Ronny Rodriguez
Brent Suter
Tyrone Taylor
Bobby Wahl
Devin Williams
Eric Yardley
With that, we turn it over to the MLBTR readership! In the poll below (direct link here), select exactly four players you think the Brewers should protect in our upcoming mock expansion draft. Click here to view the results.
Burnes
Garcia
Knebel
Pina
I’d agree, but maybe Suter instead of Pina. This “year” could determine that. Burnes is also up for debate depending on this year.
I did exactly that. Burnes, Garcia, Knebel, Suter.
Garcia is a tough call. He’s certainly good enough. But can the pitching-thin small market Crew afford to lose multiple years of Devin Williams or Bobby Wahl for only one year of Avi at 12M?
I’d dare the hypothetical expansion team to waste a pick on a 1-year contract, then hopefully protect Avi prior to the second wave of picks.
My feeling is that they could afford to lose 1 of Williams, Wahl, and Ray Black. All 3 are pretty similar…right-handed power relievers who haven’t really proven anything yet. If one of them is picked, the Brewers could pull the other 2 back.
I get your logic but if Garcia is productive then it is not a waste at “just” 10 mill. All teams need players to be be “stars” just like when the Brewers signed Eric Thames when they were tanking. Any expansion team can handle 1 player at 10.
Pina was a close call for me. He is the best the Brewers have at C, defensively anyways, but he’s probably better suited to being a backup on a contending team. In the end I decided to leave him off because I’m guessing it might be easier to replace his skill-set than some of the others
As a Brewer fan, it’s nice to see that the team has more players that you’d actually miss than available slots. Regardless of which 4 you want to pick, there is still some legitimate talent left over.
How do we see the results of these survey?
surveymonkey.com/results/SM-9RH76W8F7/
Is this the future of all surveys in MLBtraderumors? I much prefer the method where we don’t link to another site to see the results. Understand if it is a business decision.
No, it’s just how we have to do it when we need you guys to select an exact number of answers from a list. That’s something we rarely do but of course need to for this.
It’s the last link
Thanks. Opps
Early returns. Burns and Knebel easy. Garcia And Suter beating out Arcia.
I think Burnes still has potential so Burnes Knebel Suter Garcia
Burnes and Suter are the only two to really care about.
Take a look at Knebel’s stats…he’s healthy again and most definitely worth caring about. Garcia also…
In order:
Burnes
Knebel
Piña
Garcia
Burnes looked great in spring, and his cost, team control and considerable cieling means he’d almost definitely be taken in a draft, easy protect, he could’ve been in the first protected group and I wouldn’t have batted an eye.
Knebel is coming off TJ, but there’s no getting around the fact that he was a legitimate relief ace the two seasons prior, another easy protect.
Piña gets protected only out of necessity, he’s good enough to be taken in a draft and there are too many questions surrounding Narvaez’ defense to expect him to play 100+ games behind the dish.
Garcia has an extremely reasonable contract and enough upside to justify taking the 15th and final spot.
From the remaining group, I’m guessing that Wahl and Williams are definitely drafted while Suter, Nottingham and Black all have a chance of being taken.
Don’t forget the Brewers can pull additional players back once someone has been selected
The Four Lucky Players will get a Free Beer Slide Ride with Bernie Brewer !
As much as I like Cain I think I’d leave him unprotected. Between his salary age and declining offense his value to us isn’t that high…and probably wouldn’t be to an expansion team either. Worst case he’d get passed over and remain a brewer, and we can protect another younger guy in the process.
That said I chose Burnes Knebel Suter and Williams. The first 3 seem like no brainers. I chose Williams basically on the hope he can put it together this year.
Cain has a no-trade clause…
In what world is Knebel not protected?
He had tjs last year, I think might be why.
I went Burnes Knebel Suter Williams … Brewers need controllable pitching
Agreed, however I chose Wahl over Williams. Either way, they need pitchers over replacement level position players.
What is the reason for including players with no trade clauses? Is it to honor the agreement? As in, “you don’t have a ‘no expansion draft clause’ in your contract, but we won’t let you move for any reason without your permission”?
Burnes is a quick lock. Other spots a little more up for discussion, I went Arcia, Burnes, Garcia, Knebel. Haven’t been super impressed with Suter.
He gave up 1 ER in 18.1 innings last year after he came back. What else should he do in your opinion?
No runs? And maybe no hits.
i think Knebel’s health certainly warrents caution. i don’t see him being as much of a lock as many seem to think.
Yep. I don’t get it. He’s not in my list. He’d make it through unprotected. I’d save a future guy before I’d save a bullpen guy comin off TJ on the back end of his career.
Back end of his career? He’s only 28, still in his prime years and has little wear on his arm (223 IP). He’s also making a reasonable salary for an established closer ($5.125MM) and controlled through 2021. Not sure how you can say he’s due to regress with such a high success rate for players returning from TJ surgery especially when he pitched well during Spring Training.
also id leave Urias exposed, but i imagine im in the extreme minority there.
Yeah you most likely are. You don’t often see teams making big trades to acquire someone, just to leave them unprotected in the draft. In fact, Urias would probably be the #1 overall pick
Thay have a year to grow to regret that trade. with no AAA numbers this year, he’ll be exposed for the AAAA player he is. and this is coming from someone who used to think he was a very good prospect.
Urias has tremendous hitting talent. I just don’t think he will be able to fully realize it while being forced to try and play SS.
Unfortunately I share your concerns about Urias, however I don’t think the Brewers make that trade if they felt like we do. That being said, a whole lot of great players have struggled in their first taste of MLB. I’m certainly not comparing Urias to Trout and A-rod, but those are two perfect examples
Not very smart are you @DarkSide830?
Urias is going to be an All Star and Preller is going to end up with egg on his face again.
Urias can play second and third with Hiura getting some DH, after Braun is gone. I don’t think he’ll hit like Keston, but he will be better defensively.
Urias doesn’t have the arm for 3rd base
Darkside830
They absolutely must lock Urias in. I couldn’t care less on a feeling he’s a AAAA player. Brewers have basically lived with AAAA from Arcia for a long while now. Urias has more control and at least belief he can be a hitter coming in to the league. Arcia was a Defense first, bat growth potential, who clearly didn’t have the desire to improve himself and mature and grow his body in to a stronger hitter. Brewers have nothing lined up at 3b or SS that can at least provide AAAA stuff with cheap control and upside.
Ben Gamel has a club option for next season too I believe
Nottingham
Suter
Claudio
Burnes
What is it that you like about Nottingham and Claudio?
pains me to expose Arcia, but my group is Garcia, Suter, Taylor, Williams. Nottingham was on the bubble for me – he would have been my #5
I always liked Nottingham and thought he deserved a chance, but for whatever reason it seems like the Brewers have given up on him. In the past couple of seasons, they’ve repeatedly promoted and played lifetime minor league catchers like Eric Kratz and David Frietas instead of giving Nottingham an opportunity to show what he can do. Now he’s 25 and coming off a miserable AAA season, so I’m not sure what to think at this point. I know catchers tend to develop later than other players, so perhaps there is still hope.
Arcia & Garcia?
What are some of you people smoking?
I think Arcia is receiving so many votes based on name recognition due to his former top-prospect status. Definitely isn’t based on production LOL. Garcia, on the other hand, is coming off a .282 /20 HR season and is in the middle of his prime years…so that one makes perfect sense to me
Garcia would only have 1 year left on his deal in this expansion draft scenario though
Well looking at this list, It’s fairly simple.
Corbin Burnes #1
Corey Kneble #2
Brent Suter #3
There’s nobody else that feels a must to protect. Why is an expansion team selecting someone like Garcia. A mid high salary with little control?
Arcia is one of the worst batters in all of baseball going through arbitration when selected.
So what’s that leave?
For my money and results I’ll have to protect Eric Yardley. Cheap control RH relief pitcher that seems on paper to endure success for the role he’d take in the Brewers bullpen.
Stearns can fill up the lineup should Garcia be taken or Healy.
Just as an expansion team drafting, what appeal do the guys left after Burnes, Kneble, and Suter present over the appeal of what they could draft from the other 29 teams? Is the expansion team really going to put together a 1-2year playoff run team? Or would they try putting together a cheap team controlled roster filled with guys that are plucked from the top minors players who couldn’t be protected? And use money in FA signings to fill their needs?
Someone like Garcia offers plenty of appeal to an expansion team. He has a recognizable name, with an affordable who can provide above average offensive production. He also offers future value in the the form of being trade bait who could fetch them some younger prospects at the deadline. Any new franchise will be looking for players to help market their new product (think and aging Tom Seaver).