The Brewers have gone a horrid 9-17 since the All-Star break, yet they’re still only two games behind the Cubs for the National League Central lead. As such, general manager David Stearns remains on the hunt for potential upgrades, writes Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. The Brewers “are constantly monitoring the waiver wire,” revealed Stearns, who’s optimistic that he’ll be able to add outside help in the coming weeks. “I wouldn’t put it as a definite, but I certainly think it is a possibility that between now and the end of August we are able to pull something off,” he said. Milwaukee is specifically looking to breathe life into its sputtering offense, according to McCalvy, which aligns with their reported interest in Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler. The veteran might not even make it to the Brewers via waivers, though, and McCalvy relays that the team has failed in its attempts to add players via claims this month. When the Brewers have claimed players, clubs ahead of them in the waiver pecking order have either beaten them to the punch or the players’ teams pulled them back.
More from the NL:
- In an effort to put a disastrous 2017 behind them and return to relevance next year, the Giants could make big offseason changes, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Manager Bruce Bochy admitted that the Giants must add to their offense, telling Nightengale, “We really need a big bopper in that lineup, just to take the pressure off everybody else.’’ In response, Nightengale lists free agents-to-be J.D. Martinez and Jay Bruce as potential targets for the outfielder-needy Giants. The club could also explore trades involving the likes of first baseman Brandon Belt and second baseman Joe Panik, relays Nightengale, though moving either or both would not signal a rebuild. “We’ve had a lot of heavy lifts over the years in the 25-year history of this investor group, but we don’t believe we have to have a tear-down,” said CEO Larry Baer. “We’re not fearful, but actually very optimistic we’ll turn this around. Our history shows us that if we have a down year, we bounce back.”
- The surging Cardinals are now within a game of the Cubs, and they’re largely content with their roster as a result, tweets Jon Morosi of MLB Network. The Redbirds do have interest in trading for a reliever, though, Morosi adds. St. Louis’ bullpen has already been a bright spot this year, as the group entered Thursday seventh in the majors in ERA and 10th in fWAR. Cardinals relievers have been even better in the season’s second half, having posted a 2.83 ERA with 9.99 K/9 against 1.9 BB/9. In any event, if they do look to further bolster their bullpen, MLBTR’s Steve Adams just named some relievers who could change homes this month.
- Newly promoted slugger Rhys Hoskins will initially play left field for the Phillies, but he’ll shift to his natural position – first base – when Aaron Altherr returns from the disabled list in a few weeks, reports Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. That will relegate first baseman Tommy Joseph to the bench. The Phillies were unable to find a taker for Joseph before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, and they’re likely to resume their efforts to move him in the offseason, notes Zolecki. As for other Phillies prospects, neither second baseman Scott Kingery nor shortstop J.P. Crawford are shoo-ins for season-opening spots in the club’s lineup in 2018. The Phillies instead seem content to continue with Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis if they win spring training position battles. GM Matt Klentak doesn’t believe Hernandez or Galvis have reached their peaks yet, so he’s fine with keeping the soon-to-be 28-year-olds around in prominent roles.
Wainofan
The Cardinals bullpen has been better more recently but horrendous for most of season. If they’d have won games in which bullpen has blown a lead, they’d have a 5-6 game lead on Cubs right now.
Ry.the.Stunner
You can add any numbers of additional wins to any team “if they had won all the games where their bullpen has blown the lead”. The St. Louis bullpen isn’t even in the bottom half of baseball (they’re #7 compared to the Cubs, who are #5) and only have two more blown saves as a team than the Cubs, so the difference would not be that substantial enough to make a difference of 7 games.
JFactor
At the all star break they were around 3rd worst in the league in WPA.
Now they are middle of the road and back to an average/neutral WPA.
There is a reason their overall record is so far below their pyth record. It’s blowing 1 and 2 run leads late in the ball game. I don’t recall the number, but at one point they were leading baseball in blown leads.
JFactor
If both teams were at their pyth record, cards would be 2.5 ahead of the Cubs.
Wainofan
Three games in which they blew a lead late was against Cubs, so take those back and that’s a 6 game swing in standings, so that alone puts cards 5 up, add one other blown lead and cards are six up. Yes I know this is hypothetical and any team could say what if. But my point is bullpen has been weakest link for cardinals most of season.
jdgoat
Isn’t their offense awful?
Wainofan
No it’s not great either. Streaky, inconsistent, average, underperforming are all words I’d use to describe their offense, but not awful.
riffraff
so basically – if things were different they wouldn’t be the same ?
Wainofan
Yeah you missed my point completely as stated above. Of course all teams could say what if or if only. The article above says cards bullpen was good and I said I disagree. I used the fact of blown leads to support my case that the main reason cards aren’t better is because of their bullpen. And without so many blown leads they’d be out in front. Then I stated in second post I restated this and said why I believe it to be so
wiggysf
Try being a Giants fan
gilgunderson
After 2010-2016, I don’t expect to see a lot of sympathy for us this year. I can live with that.
Fireball7764
Cardinals need Stanton
flyerzfan12
I’d love to move Galvis, especially since he’s going to be a year away from FA, but I still don’t see him having any trade value and he’s also taken over as the clubhouse leader. It will be a darn shame if he doesn’t win a Gold Glove this year, he has been ridiculous in the field.
I like Hernandez, but being under team control through 2020 should give him some value on the open market and I would definitely look to move him. Kingery’s upside intrigues me too much to keep him buried if he finishes the year strong in AAA and has a good spring. It’s the whole known vs unknown debate and on a rebuilding team like this, give me the unknown upside of Kingery.
Should be an interesting offseason for Klentak and Phillies fans.
ElDuderino99
I think Galvis and Hernandez should stay and they should see how well Kingery can play 3B, I think they can ship Crawford and Franco off along with another guy to get a solid starter which the Phils Lack this year, I think Nola and Velazquez and maybe Eflin and Eickoff can start next year, They need to get a very good/solid #2 starter, Nola is for sure the Ace, Williams is fantastic and Altherr is ok when healthy, Id like for them to at least attempt to move Herrera, if not it will be fine, he can stay he just needs to be more consistent, Behind the plate is questionable, I think next season will be Alfaros first full season and that means only one of knapp and rupp can stick around, I love them both, they’ll just have to duke it out in spring training, I think Rupp will get it, I believe Knapp is switch though which might help his case, I wont forget that bullpen though which they’ll need to seriously improve, Neris, Garcia and Pinto are my picks to be in there next year, they need some serious lights out relievers, this team has a lot of money, I know they can do a lot
Dark_Knight
I don’t mind keeping Hernandez or Galvis. Kingery has the ability to play the outfield so he could break in as a Zobrist type player while shifting to second full time in 2019/2020 after he’s established himself.
Galvis can play every infield position and Crawford is a great athlete who could probably handle 2nd or SS.
If they can’t get solid value for either player they should be able to solve this log jam a lot easier than the Hoskins one, especially since Williams and Altherr haven’t truly established themselves as every day players.
Dark_Knight
I meant 2nd or 3rd*.
If the cubs could balance Castro, Baez, Russell the Phillies can balance this.
Brixton
not really the same situation at all. All 3 of those guys could play SS or 2B in a pinch. Kingery/Cesar can’t play SS, and Galvis just isn’t good in general at anything (highly overrated defensively) and hes barely an average bat.
Galvis should be in a utility role, and Cesar Hernandez should go to the highest bidder..
Kingery/Crawford are the future, and even if Crawford flops, Galvis isn’t a good backup plan
Dark_Knight
Yeah Galvis’s .258/.304/.408 line is pretty bad for a SS, smh. He has 1.3 WAR this season on baseball reference as well. He’s an average player, yes, but that has value.
He’s a fine player, he’s miscast as a 2 hitter on a team without a better option, that’s not his fault.
There’s not a great market for middle infielders. I’m not in favor of giving away good players for nothing. Hernandez is a very valuable player as the lead off hitter.
Obviously the preferred option is to trade Hernandez and Galvis but if there isn’t a market for them I’m not opposed to keeping them. An NL club needs players with versatility.
I don’t see why Kingery and Crawford can’t come up, play off the bench or in a rotation.
Brixton
SS being a bad offensive position is a complete fallacy in this day and age. Look around the league. Half the teams have a franchise SS, and 5 of the other 15 have strong offensive players as well. Galvis is below average in every aspect of the game in a market where no one needs a meh shortstop.
Brixton
and you can’t see why they play in a rotation, maybe its because it never really worked before. The Cubs tried it and ended up trading Castro because it wasn’t working
BigPhan
To say Galvis is highly over rated defensively, than you have not watched many of his games. I’m not his biggest fan. In fact, I want him traded. His offense is sub par. But his defensive is absolutely gold glove caliber.
ElDuderino99
Seriously? Galvis is a Gold Glover, I dont think you watch him enough, Ill admit, his offense is whatever, but he’s definitely a starting SS, I will agree Id much rather him bounce around the infield and see what Crawford can do, but its been talked about a lot and more recently about the possibility of Crawford being a flop, his bat has picked up the last few weeks but hes still a liability, as for Kingery over Hernandez, that would be silly, Kingery can definitely be a Zorbrist type of guy, but id actually like to see how well he can do at 3B, Hernandez is a great lead off hitter and when hes hot hes hot
Caseys Partner
” GM Matt Klentak doesn’t believe Hernandez or Galvis have reached their peaks yet, so he’s fine with keeping the soon-to-be 28-year-olds around”
So why did Klentak get the job? In his interview he was asked when MLB players peak and he answered “33”.
(Klentak was Andy MacPhails intern in Baltimore)
Brixton
or maybe its because they continually progressed each year over the last 3-4 years? I don’t think they’re all that great, but to suggest their is no room for improvement is outragous
Phillies2017
Klentak has done an amazing job so far.
I firmly believe Cesar will be dealt this winter and Freddy will remain as he has quietly been a huge asset based on his veteran presence. There’s more value in keeping him until next years trade deadline than dealing him now. He could be great for Crawford.
baseball10
Yea thats what the Giants need, another past his prime outfielder. We’ll see if they have learned what Nightengale obviously hasn’t.
arc89
Giants have become the angels of the north. Just spend money and hope you can win. They over pay for old free agents so Bruce fits the bill.
Brixton
I mean, they won three world series in the last 7 years, so…… and no. The only FA they “overpaid” for was Shark. Everyone one else was either market value, or below it.
arc89
Belt is over payed. Span is over payed. Cain is over payed. Shark is over payed. Melancon is over payed. Pence is over payed. they have $160 million next year paid out to 10 players. so that leaves them with about $ 30 million is they want to stay around what they are putting out right now to sign 15 more players.
Brixton
No, none of them are overpaid… they were paid for the players they were on the first years of those contracts… back when Span was an elite leadoff hitter, Cain was an ace, Pence was a top 10 RFer, and Melancon wasn’t even the highest paid reliever of that offseason.
pustule bosey
Belt was a contract extention, so was cain and he is gone next year. Pence was actually underpaid until he got hurt and never really recovered… none of them were old when they were signed either (in fact a lot of them are still relatively young to middle baseball aged). Span would have been paid what he is worth but injuries haven’t worked out. if you look at who the giants have gotten on the free market vs. signings – they have signed shark, span, melancon, cueto…. that is it posey, bum, cain, panik, crawford, belt – those are all guys that they brought up through the system and retained – pence was a trade that was extended….
arc89
That is the problem you are paying players for previous years not what their value will be. You don’t pay big bucks for players over 33. They will decline. Melancon makes $12 million next year his contract was back ended. No problem with Posey and Crawford making the money they deserve but other players are over paid. Why are they playing Pablo when they should be giving the young players playing time to see what they can contribute to the team. All teams go through this trend after being successful over paying for previous years. They have $30 million to spend next year on 15 players so they need to be smart and not over pay for somebody like Bruce.
dodgerfan711
They can deny it all they want. They need a rebuild. The longer they wait the worse it will get.
Adios pelota!
Arc 89- Theyre playing panda the minimum and getting some early results (see early). Arroyo is hurt, Jones is over at 1B with belt out, everyone else needs more time no need to rush prospects. I agree with you as far as Bruce or J.D (though I think he’s great now). I like Slater, Pence is a huge bounce back candidate, and parker is at least passable no need to panick. See what you can get for belt in the off-season and add a starter better than Moore
pustule bosey
they are playing pablo because because there aren’t players that they want to play there, pablo is producing and getting the league minimum- one young guy is splitting time after coming off the DL with him and arroyo who they would rather give time to is on the DL – they aren’t paying for previous years – they are paid for future years – melancon actually makes less than that next year – his contract was front loaded with a 20mm bonus… no one has a crystal ball as to how players are going to perform in the future but remember that when pence signed his contract he was super durable with the longest continuous playing streak – how would anyone know that he would so sharply decline? they shouldn’t pay for bruce for sure – what they need. Name one person other than span who is an older player they signed for past years – there aren’t any – it has been a combination of bad luck and some bad decisions that have depleted the farm, but bad buying in FA isn’t really the problem.
pustule bosey
I think rather than shopping for a starter over moore – they ought to bring beede up and se what he’s got – think about declining moore’s option and see what else is in the farm that you want to move along at try not to solidify the rotation right now, not rush it even as late as spring. The only reason to keep moore would be if cueto opts out or if shark gets traded and you want to keep him as a 9mm back of the rotation option and possibly see what he has in the pen.
CCCTL
“Pence is a huge bounce back candidate”
… what?
He’s going to be 35 next season, has a long history of leg injuries, with a meager .120± ISO, average-at-best fielding, and a weak throwing arm.
35-year-old outfielders slumping into their 12th big-league year are NOT “huge bounce back candidates”.
Jean Matrac
I don’t think they even overpaid for Samardzija. Fans always underrate what it takes to sign FAs. Compare him (5/90) to the other two similar SPs on the FA market when he signed, Jordan Zimmermann cost more (5/110), while Mike Leake cost less.(5/80).
It could be argued that Leake was the best deal, but it’s close. Since the signing Leake has averaged a 100 ERA+ to Shark’s 96, but Shark pitches more innings strikes out more batters, allows fewer BBs.(per IP) and a lower FIP.
Even if Leake is the better deal, a $2m/year difference with similar numbers puts them in the same ballpark. the going rate for a mid-rotation arm.
Jean Matrac
arc89: Every team pays for previous years. Not one team out there has a crystal ball to tell them what their future value will be. Past performance combined with age, health, and park effects are about all that any team has to go on.
kiddhoff
So in the past few days, I havent heard from the many Cards GM bashers. All of these self-acclaimed experts are nowhere to be found. ‘Cards should rebuild’, ‘Idiotic not to trade Lynn for a minimal return’, ‘Greedy MO dont want to spend any money’, ‘Cards dont have the talent that they thought they had’. I suggest you dont quit your day job. Heres a list of names the Cardinals were looking at and missed out on in the past 2 years- Price, Heyward, Eaton, Gordon, Cargo
Triteon
The BFIB are currently distracted by a kitten; once that subsides they’ll be back to complain.
Wainofan
No we’re distracted by great baseball. It’s been a good week for cards. Now next week? Who knows….bottom line is if you would have said last march that cards would be in 2nd 1 game behind Cubs in mid August, any rational fan would have taken that.
Wainofan
Price and heyward were only two to receive offers, and they were both good offers. Price did better and we’re glad he did now. Heyward chose Cubs, also glad he did. None of those others did cards get past “kicking the tires on”. I have no problem with our GM. This year has been a roller coaster for sure, and who knows how it will end, but I’m not bashing front office. They’ve done well to keep team in it and will do well again this off season.
kiddhoff
If youve checked out the ‘comments’ section for the past 3 weeks, you know that others (know-it-all baseball gurus) have whined about Cardinals mgmt not making any moves. I just used those players as examples of why you dont just go out and get a player to appease fans (or whoever). Im no expert, as others feel they are. But its just funny to see those ‘gurus’ go running into hiding when theyre wrong.
Jean Matrac
If I was Card’s fan I would have no problem with the FO. They are one of the best run teams in baseball. A lot of fans think their team should be at the top every year, and if they aren’t, it’s management’s fault. Believe me I know. As a Giant’s fan I find it incredible, after what they’ve accomplished this decade, that some want Larry Baer replaced and Sabean, Evans, and even Bochy fired because they’re struggling this year. Fans get spoiled and always want more. There’s a disconnect with the reality of baseball.
Cheeseman Forever
Brewer fan here. Wishing that Stearns had been more aggressive pre-deadline. It was already clear during the second half of July that the Brewers needed a bat. Understand wanting to protect the depth he’s built in the minors, but this feels like a rookie mistake and now it may be too late. When your team unexpectedly leads the division by 5 1/2 games in mid-July, don’t waste the opportunity.
baseballdeez
lol except Brewers fans weren’t screaming for a bat. they were screaming for Quintana or Gray as well as pen arms. this is nothing but a vague comment. which bat should the Brewers have been targeting by mid-July, since it was so clearn and how much will it cost in salary and prospects for said bat(s)?
11Bravo
Not a rookie mistake. Nobody expected them to be in this situation, not even Stearns. And honestly, who would’ve thought Villar would’ve regressed this badly from last season. There’s no reason to panic and deal away top prospects for either pitching or a veteran bat. Despite slumping they are well within reach of the division. Damn if Stearns makes a move and damn if he doesn’t.
Clif
I have already stated this in another post, but I believe the Brewers could get Brandon Phillips from the Braves, and I don’t think it would cost much if anything. The Braves are looking to find playing time for their 2nd baseman they brought up from the minors, and Phillips is blocking him. Phillips is a free agent at the end of the year so the Braves would not be asking for much in return. They may be happy with the Brewers paying the rest of his salary which is around $3 million. Phillips is hitting .285, does not strike out much, and plays a decent 2nd base. He would also fill the lead off position the Brewers need.
Wolf Hoffmann
Belt and Panick are mediocre. I don’t see how they could bring back a slugger in a trade.
gilgunderson
Panik is young, cheap, and controllable. Gold Glove defense and a league average bat at the very least. The Giants don’t need to trade him to free up payroll or anything.
Belt could do with a change of scenery. His power will blossom in a more hitter-friendly home park.
Jean Matrac
Averaging a 126 OPS+ for 7 years combined with GG caliber defense is mediocre?
Gobbysteiner
Panik is a 26 year old gold glove award winner, all star, and WS champ. Belt has averaged almost 30 percent above league average offense to go along with gold glove caliber defense for 6 years and is also a former all star. Give me a break with this mediocre crap
cardfan2011
Bullpen help is always appreciated
CCCTL
“Our history shows us that if we have a down year, we bounce back”
Someone want to tell Baer it’s been more than one year since they won a WS?
Jean Matrac
So that’s the level expected? If they go more than a couple years with a WS title heads should roll?
Jean Matrac
*without (not with)
Gobbysteiner
For real. The standards for the Giants are so high one or more years without a WS= REBUILD REBUILD TRADE EVERYONE FIRE BOCHY
pustule bosey
There is only one that seems like it should roll and that is Evans, unless he completely stops being so reactionary with signings and starts evaluating needs better he needs to go, he has been plugging the big holes and ignoring small leaks that are sinking the ship
DannyQ3913
Galvis needs to stay. Trade Crawford