| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hader | 28 | Majors | LHRP | Very low | 1.5 | 51.1 | 22 | 29.1 | 23.3 | 29.1 | 35 |
Total Value:
29.1
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Binelas | Minors | 1B | 3 | 2.4 | 3 | 3.6 | ||||||
| J.D. Martinez | 34 | Majors | DH | OF | High | 0.5 | 11.2 | 9.7 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| Alex Verdugo | 26 | Majors | OF | Low | 2.5 | 40.7 | 16 | 24.7 | 19.7 | 24.7 | 29.6 |
Total Value:
29.2
If you combine this with the Fulmer trade that I posted earlier, the Brewers could place either Fulmer or Williams in the closer spot. Having Alexander from Detroit as another starting pitcher provides depth and affords the ability to trade Houser ahead of the deadline for whatever else the Brewers would need.
With the Brewers already at a record payroll, I just don't know if MA would allow Stearns to add an additional $9M and sit almost $20M in payroll. Stearns already has $17M of dead payroll with Cain. The new pickups would cost an additional $9M (approx. costs of pro rated contracts/ Martinez $9.5 + $1.6 Verdugo + $2.4 + Fulmer + $300K Alexander from previous trade... minus $4.8 Hader). Plus Verdugo and Martinez would send McCutchon/Renfroe to the bench. That's $19.2M wasted on the bench. I think the Brewers could do better if they refused the trade to the Tigers for Fulmer/Alexander and instead dealt only with the Red Sox. Hader/Hiura for Schreiber/Binelas/Martinez/Rafaela. Schreiber gives the Brewers a good RP who is not a rental for Hader. Rafaela/Binelas give Milwaukee the 3B/1B positions in the minors where they are weak. Plus it keeps the cost down.
aautry: I like Stearnsfan's deal a lot with a few tweaks. I see your point about the money, but it would improve the Brewers' biggest need, hitting. Obviously Milwaukee would want Martinez's bat. Verdugo is a better bat at the corner OF spot than either Yelich or Renfroe (and cheaper), and Binelas fills a need in the minors. The tweaks: Red Sox add RP Schreiber (I voted down the trade to the Tigers because Fulmer is a rental and Alexander is nothing more than a swing man in the pen) and the Brewers add Hiura (or Wong if the Sox preferred)/Suter/Mitchell/Renfroe. This would get the money to a palatable amount for the Brewers and give them someone who isn't a rental as a replacement for Hader. Final deal: Hader/Renfroe/Mitchell/Suter/Hiura(Wong) for Martinez/Schreiber/Verdugo/Binelas.
I appreciate your opinion but it lacks imagination. I think Stearns has the imagination but obviously he doesn't have the financial support. In my opinion you either go for it or you don't because that pitching bill is coming due fast and they need to win now. You never know what the future holds, especially in baseball. Hopefully, MA goes for it because the Milwaukee faithful have certainly been good to his investment in the Brewers (increase in franchise value, 13th highest attendance figure, five county tax for the stadium) yet he still wants more. MA, I implore you, let the urge to buy a premier soccer team die. I realize it is fashionable to keep up with the Jones', or Khan's, or whomever in the hedge fund universe, but win one here first. All of this talk about small market team economics and payroll is somewhat bullshit. MA, talk with the Lasry's down the street. Hell, talk with Giannis. He's an owner now. He's got some change rolling around in his pocket. Anyway, yes, MA has Cain's prorated $17 million left, not $17 million. I think you probably meant to prorate that like you did with the other amounts. Now, why would the addition of Verdugo and Martinez banish Cutch and Renfroe to the bench? Here's how I see the alignment: LF Cutch/Yelich/Martinez CF Verdugo/Taylor/Cutch https://www.overthemonster.com/2021/1/15/22230899/mlb-top-center-fielders-alex-verdugo RF Renfroe/Taylor/Martinez DH Martinez/Yelich/Cutch The best guys play. Period. And don't tell me Verdugo can't play CF. The Brewers need offensive production from that outfield and this team has the skipper and analytics to put the team in the best position to win. This trade gives them a chance. The trade for Fulmer gives them a chance too. Again, the best guys play. Fulmer is either the closer or Williams graduates to closer. Alexander gives them a 27 year old arm with promise if they don't want to retain Fulmer.