As MLB’s offseason continues, here are three things worth keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. What’s next for the Brewers?
Yesterday saw the Brewers and Mets get together on a trade that sent right-hander Adrian Houser and outfielder Tyrone Taylor to Queens in exchange for pitching prospect Coleman Crow. The sell-side move from Milwaukee subtracts from a rotation the club had deepened earlier in the offseason by signing right-hander Joe Ross and reuniting with veteran southpaw Wade Miley. Taylor’s departure clears one piece from what had become a crowded outfield mix following the club’s decision to sign top prospect Jackson Chourio to a pre-debut extension earlier this month.
The departure of Houser makes any deal involving right-hander Corbin Burnes more complicated. With likely sixth starter Aaron Ashby’s timeline uncertain as he looks to work his way back from shoulder surgery, trading Burnes could leave Milwaukee short on viable starting options headed into 2024. Of course, it’s worth noting that the club may be more hesitant to deal Burnes to begin with than once believed. The outfield, by contrast, is an area from which the Brewers should have little issue sacrificing some depth. Aside from Chourio and Christian Yelich, Milwaukee’s outfield mix also features Garrett Mitchell, Joey Wiemer, Sal Frelick, and Blake Perkins. That’s plenty of talent the club could trade use to improve their infield situation, which offers little certainty outside of shortstop Willy Adames.
2. D-backs, Gurriel deal not yet official:
Over the weekend, the Diamondbacks reportedly brought back left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on a deal worth $43MM guaranteed over three years that features both an opt-out after 2025 and a club option for 2027. That deal has yet to be made official, meaning Gurriel does not yet count against the club’s 40-man roster. At the time of the signing, that wasn’t particularly meaningful as Arizona had an open spot on its 40-man. That changed earlier this week, however, when the club claimed right-hander Collin Snider off waivers from the Royals. With the addition of Snider filling the club’s roster, Arizona will now have to clear a spot for Gurriel when his deal eventually becomes official, something they could accomplish by working out a minor trade involving one of the players towards the back of their roster or by simply designating a player for assignment.
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Feel like the Brewers sold low. I know it was a salary dump, but it felt really lazy on the Brewers part to only take a AA arm that will miss next year recovering from TJS for a 5th Starter and a borderline starting OF who was hurt last year (hence all of the prospect call-ups and the now crowded OF)
Houser is best in long relief. Taylor is frustrating, I hope he doesn’t go Orlando Arcia on the crew and reach his potential all of a sudden. He just seems like a bench piece/spot start/PH guy. As of today, there wasn’t that much here, but still a low return. I’m hoping this is one of those “we’ll throw you a bone today, for a bone in return later” type trades. The relationship seems to be there for it, we’ll see.
There is a possibility of that case. He shares some similarities to Arcia. Former top prospect who didn’t quite put it all together with the Brewers. Great clubhouse guy. Both age 29. Taylor didn’t even receive regular playtime with the major league team until his age 27 season. If anything that shows his perseverance, I feel like a lot of guys with that type of talent at a young age that don’t succeed right away give up mentally within a few years. He’s continued to work hard for his ABs, when I thought he would have completely fallen off years ago.
It doesn’t feel like they properly shopped these players based on the return. On the other hand, Stearns advantage is he knows how the Brewers rate all prospects across the game. My guess is he knows the Brewers rate Crowe highly, so that gives him an advantage over other clubs. It’s not the public ratings that matter, it’s the club’s internal ratings and Stearns would know them.
It almost feels like the Brewers are setting their fans up for a deal sending Burnes out of town for multiple potential starting infielders and maybe a pitching prospect or two from below double-A.
The Brewers would need to get back at least one AA or AAA pitcher who is ready to make his major league debut in 2024 in any deal for Burnes. They will probably ask for two pitchers in this category.
Taylor isn’t a borderline starter. He’s 100% a #4. He also isn’t blocking any of Frelick, Mitchell, Wiemer given they’re all Top 30-95 prospects with significantly higher ceilings.
Houser is a dime a dozen making 5.5M on final year. Taylor is a really solid backup but he’s #5, at best, to start the year. Crow is also a significantly better prospect than people are giving him credit for. Sure there’s risk with TJS but most pitchers come back stronger with an uptick in velocity. Already has great multiple secondary pitches with command. The upside is easily there for a steal of a trade
The NL Central is not going to be great this year.
Considering the large markets will clean up due to the Bally’s situation and the NL Central has mostly small markets, that’s not a stretch.
Yeah, not going to be great at all. As a brewers fan I also see us as likely a 4th place team this year. Our offense was already bad and relying on to much youth, and it’s only gotten worse with yet even more reliance on youth.
Can arguably say that even with the “depth” we added with Joe Ross, depth is about it. Rotation has taken 2 hits now with Joe Ross being the addition. It’s looking like it’ll be an everything needs to go right year, and that doesn’t typically happen for the brewers.
The Brewers didn’t have woodruff for most of the season If they’re able to hang on to adames and Burnes and add to that group of players they have the potential to be better than last year
@ 16 for 20
Yeah I’ve got to agree. I appreciate they’ve got arms coming up but are any of them ready?
If they end up paying more in insurance in ST for a back end innings eater, they’ll look silly. So I’d guess a trade from the infield mass instead?
Why, TFP, why should he be a White Sox player now?
You should leave
@Trout: Corbin CARROLL. It not that hard to find the correct spelling if you’re not sure.
You could, but it would be pretty dumb and not especially funny.
The Corbin Burnes situation seems a little melodramatic. The Brewers can trade him for a package of players, including a serviceable, major league-ready SP.
For instance, if they traded with Baltimore, they could net a nice prospect or two (Coby Mayo?), and then also grab a Tyler Well or Cole Irvin to fill the rotation spot.
@Moonlight
I’m not sure I’m giving all that for a rental. Coby Mayo has lots of plusses and the Oakland version of Irvin was a decent 5#. Not sure why last year didn’t work in Baltimore though obviously the foul area in Oakland might have helped previously….
If Baltimore trades for Burnes it’s just a 1 year rental as he’s going to command 35-45M a year on the open market this time next year especially since his agent is boras. So the O’s won’t give up much to get burnes
True, but if teams like Balt or Cincy are unwilling to part with a prospect(s) that hurts, they won’t get Burnes/Cease/Bieber/whoever Marlins make available.
They will wind up either paying significant $ for lesser tier arms like Giolito due to inflated starter market since Snell/Montgomery will get bid up big by deeper pocket clubs…..or gamble on internal options emerging this year.
They seem fine with not getting one of those guys. They could definitely get beiber for not a lot.
Bieber would probably fetch Cleveland a decent position player prospect they sorely need to help offense as a headliner….even if not elite.
It will not get them an elite prospect of any kind. He will likely get a mid prospect or two.
Between his performance, velo being down and his injury concern. He just isn’t worth much.
Then the Orioles won’t get Burnes. Milwaukee has all the leverage. Pay their price or walk.
I keep reading this “he’s just a 1 year rental” nonsense. Burnes gives a contending team a legitimate ace to compete for the WS. So, teams have to ask themselves, what are we doing if not playing to win a WS? Is Baltimore going to win a WS without a guy like Burnes? Nope. So, at some point, they need to get real and trade from their prospect depth to get real aces. Sure, if you get controllable guys all the better, but do you see any out there, other than Cease- and he’s no Burnes.
Right now, it seems the only teams trying to win a WS are LA and the Yankees.
There’s one prospect that may be ready, but Ashby just missed a whole year, so he may wind up with innings limits or out of the bullpen as is. I agree with others. Baltimore relies heavily on their farm these days, I don’t see them being the ones to muster up a package for one year of Burnes.
You have a 10 year wait.
okay and?
How many readers do have jobs affiliated with baseball? Little league coach doesn’t count 🙂
“Affiliated with baseball”..I was a Little League icon, a virtual sand lot legend. That’s got to count for something.
But were you both a pitcher AND hitter like I was.
@mlb
I’ve seen you at the Sand Lot HOF. Jello & Peanut butter on your shirt, heck of a hack and fearless. Questions about rubbing jello on the ball when pitching. I don’t believe the rumours…
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If you’re going to charge somebody for something you should at least provide the minimum customer service of making sure it works. They’ll probably block or remove my original post. They usually do.
I have a paid subscription and the site works well for me.
Lucky You.
The Gurtiel deal is an overpay, and doesn’t feels like a Hazen measured move. they need the Gurtiel rh bat, but it’s not in order.the roy on team was not cc either.
Taylor’s tailor got him some new threads in Mets uniforms
Did inflation tru.n thay e/42 deal into 3/43? Or, was that a 1 MM buyout they didn’t initially report?
Snakes had a good run in 2023. But for 2024 the Friar Men will make Snake Skin Boots out of them with a trio of pitching stars in: Joey Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Mikey King, and upcoming top prospect Drew Thorpe. I’ll let ya’ll know when the Snake Skin boots we make out of them will be (finally) on sale…..