The Brewers entered the 2022 season with high expectations on the heels of a 95-win campaign, but Milwaukee came up a bit short of a playoff berth. The Brew Crew finished 86-76 and were eliminated two days before the final game of the regular season.
President of baseball operations David Stearns met with reporters yesterday to discuss the team’s finish (link via Curt Hogg and Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel). He unsurprisingly expressed disappointment with missing the postseason, for which he took no small share of the blame. Asked about the team’s trade deadline approach — specifically the decision to deal All-Star reliever Josh Hader to the Padres for Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet (who was almost immediately waived) and prospects Esteury Ruiz and Robert Gasser — Stearns acknowledged he didn’t fully appreciate how much of an impact the trade would have in the clubhouse and on the field.
“The Hader trade clearly had an impact on the team,” Stearns said. “It had a more pronounced impact than I thought it would at the time, and the surrounding moves didn’t adequately fortify the team in Josh’s absence.” He stopped short of saying he regretted the move, pointing to the long-term window of club control the team has over Ruiz and Gasser. He nevertheless noted that not making the postseason despite having a lead in the division as late as August 5 leads to “(looking) back and (saying) what more could we have done, what different could we have done.”
Hader himself wasn’t lights-out for San Diego. Through 16 innings as a Padre, the hard-throwing southpaw allowed 14 runs with a 28.2% strikeout rate that is far below his career norm. Yet a key justification for the Milwaukee front office in pulling the trigger on the deal was the assumption Rogers would step in as a productive relief arm himself. Instead, he posted a 5.48 ERA in 23 innings down the stretch, struggling mightily with the home run ball. Home runs were also an issue for Matt Bush, whom the Brewers added in a separate trade with the Rangers and who pitched to a 4.30 mark in 23 frames. Milwaukee’s acquisition of Trevor Rosenthal from the Giants, meanwhile, fell flat when he suffered a lat injury while trying to rehab from a hamstring strain that had him on the injured list at the time of the swap. Overall, the Milwaukee bullpen blew an MLB-worst 16 leads from deadline day forward.
That certainly wasn’t all foreseeable for the front office, but there’s no question the Brewers tried to thread a needle between remaining competitive while adding longer-term talent to the organization. That’s partially because of the franchise’s payroll outlook. Milwaukee has a massive arbitration class this winter, with 18 players eligible for that process. They won’t all be tendered contracts, but stars like Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Willy Adames are all projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for salaries north of $9MM during their penultimate years of club control. Hader, who’s headed into his final year of control, is projected for a $13.6MM salary.
Finances are always a consideration for a Milwaukee franchise that annually runs payrolls slightly below the league average. The hefty arbitration class could be a factor in the team’s decision whether to exercise a club option on second baseman Kolten Wong. Milwaukee holds a $10MM option or a $2MM buyout, leaving them with a net $8MM call as to whether to keep him for a third season. That’s a perfectly reasonable price in a vacuum, as Wong is coming off a .251/.339/.430 showing with 15 home runs across 497 plate appearances. By measure of wRC+, that production was 16 points above that of this year’s league average hitter, the best hitting season of Wong’s career.
Nevertheless, the Brewers have to weigh those strong offensive marks against a bizarrely poor defensive season. Wong is a two-time Gold Glove winner and typically a plus defender, but Statcast pegged him as seven runs below average this year. Defensive Runs Saved estimated him as just one run below par, but all public metrics agreed it was the worst defensive season of his career. Wong himself shared that sentiment, telling Hogg (separate Journal-Sentinel post) “defensively, it just wasn’t even my year” and vowing to work over the offseason to better his glovework. While that’s certainly an encouraging attitude, it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll be able to recapture his peak defensive form at age 32.
Wong also addressed his contract status. While he told Hogg he’d be happy to see his option picked up, he acknowledged Milwaukee’s hefty arbitration class and the presence of former first-round pick Brice Turang in the upper minors. Turang, 23 in November, spent all of last season at Triple-A Nashville. He hit .286/.360/.412 with 13 homers and 34 stolen bases through 603 plate appearances. Regarded as a quality defensive middle infielder, the lefty-swinging Turang will be added to the 40-man roster this offseason and could be a cheaper second base option if the Brewers decided to part with Wong.
While Wong indicated he’s not yet heard from the team one way or the other, he suggested he’d be content to explore his free agent options if it comes to that. “I’ve been a free agent one time already and it’s not the most enjoyable thing,” he told Hogg. “If I got to go through it again, it is what it is. It will be interesting to see where I’d end up landing. Milwaukee was a choice that I kind of had in mind going into free agency as a high pick for me. This next one, I just kind of want to keep an open mind and see how it goes.”
If Wong were sent back into free agency, he’d be arguably the top player in the second base class. Jean Segura, who’s likely to be bought out by the Phillies, and utilityman Brandon Drury are otherwise the best players who’ll be available.
Exercise kolten’s option and then trade him if you need to cut cash.
He’s worth 10MM for a year and you get the opportunity to pick his destination even if the return is small
Thanks, it’s so obvious and the author didn’t mention it at all.
Maybe if a contender loses a 2B to injury or he’s having a bad season in 2023 and Wong is playing well so they take on what’s left of his contract.
For example – Cubs are talking about moving Nico Hoerner to 2B which would make Nick Madrigal available. Madrigal has 5 years of control and is due around $900k in arbitration.
Samuel every year FA’s make
millions of dollars.
Not every solution involves a league minimum player. Some teams would rather pay dollars than prospect capital to acquire talent. Wong is good. Worth 10 MM. say the RS let Bogey walk. Wong is a fine option for them.
. He’d be a fine option in San Francisco also. Phils too. White Sox? Sure. Could go on. There’s teams with a need. He’s a good enough player and it’s a 1 year deal.
Depends on who goes where in the FA carousel but a 1 year deal at a reasonable rate for a productive 2B. He’d have a destination. The return won’t be anything but you’re saving yourself 2 million bucks.
If they choose to eat the 2MM I’ll Admit defeat on this one. But the fact that it’s 1 year makes it just too easy. Segura is going to want at least 2 years. Madrigal, if truly available, costs prospects and he also hasn’t established himself. A contender may not see him as a sure fire plug and play.
Tigers need infielders & I never really understand their strategy. Seemed like they wanted to compete. Scott Harris is taking over so we’ll see. Mariners too will probably add a 2B or a SS.
Madrigal would work well in Milwaukee but being on the Cubs probably complicates that.
I thought trading Rowdy for Madrigal (at least as a starter) would be interesting, but not likely intra-division
Kirk to Milwaukee for woodruff and wong. Baseball value calculator is pretty close. Wong at 10 mil isn’t as valuable as people think, that’s why the Cardinals let him walk a couple years ago at a lower salary.
Not bad, but I think the Crew is leaning towards keeping Woodruff and trading Burnes. One of them is likely gone this winter…
What is as valuable as people think?
That’s roughly what he’s worth so there’s little trade value as far as acquiring any real asset for him. Hit was just about being able to dump him off and save the 2 million.
The Cards let him go because #1 he wasn’t performing at the end and they had a plethora of MIF’s that needed playing time.
There was also issues with his attitude and being coach able. I think if they weren’t able to trade him at the trade deadline that the only way he would be able to be traded off-season you would have to eat more then half his salary. Better off to take the 2 million buy out and be done with him.
In Milwaukee?
I didn’t know there were any clubhouse issues with him. That could change their calculus.
Wouldn’t expect anything else from a Counsell fan. Just like him, you want the entire team to look like Counsell.
I say bring Kolten Wong back and Cutch too.
Stearns got fleeced and he doesn’t want to own up to it. Rogers is a wash and they already DFAd Lamet. Ruiz is nothing special. So its all on Robert Gasser
Ruiz is nothing special? Please tell me how you could possibly know that?
I think Ruiz should be the trade bait in off season. Brewers could be looking at Black as super utility guy by mid season if he keeps going at this rate. Got Black playing outfield and infield this fall.
amk1920;
Last year in AA and AAA 23-year-old Esteury Ruiz slashed .332 / .447 / .526 / .974….with 85 stolen bases. He also plays a superior CF.
Now, that may not translate to MLB, we’ll see.
The Brewers still have the best rotation in the division, And if you have that, It’s more than a good start. They still have a decent bullpen without Hader, But it probably needs help. What you can’t count on was Braun , Then Yelich not living up to the contracts they got and crushing the payroll for them. They’re still a force to be dealt with.
What an idiot. Don’t need an Ivy league education to know trading away your best pitcher is going to have a negative effect. As I’ve always said, he’s one of the nerds ruining baseball.
His “best pitcher” that was blowing games left and right?
He had 2 blown saves in 2022 with the Brewers. If you don’t think that entire clubhouse thought that he was THE GUY then you’re as clueless as Sterns.
Were you watching the games?
Thanks for putting me in with Mr. Stearns. He’s easily of the the half-dozen best Baseball Ops heads in all of MLB.
My six are Friedman, Stearns, Neander, Zaidi, Click, and AA (not in that order). Wbu Sam?
tstats—
Substitute Antonetti for Friedman and you’d have it right.
Hader wasn’t very good with Milwaukee and was worse in SD this year.
He didnt acquire any impactful relievers despite his best attempt but I don’t think it would’ve mattered if he kept Hader instead. Seems like he’s just falling on the sword here.
Hader was actually really good until late June IIRC. Then he was really bad except a couple outings before the trade.
If the Hader deal had been the only one Stearns made I think they could have figured out the pen eventually. But with Rogers and Bush both struggling too often it killed them particularly in late September. He really needed to get a bat, and I still don’t know why he didn’t or couldn’t.
Aside from what they do with Wong, they need to do something at C, 3B, and CF. An actual LF’er too, since it’s obvious Yelich can’t (or shouldn’t) be out there throwing like a 9 year old.
I agree with C and 3B Manny, but is Mitchell not their best option in CF right now?
@Flagg- he is, I’m just not convinced they’ll give him the job and let him face left handed pitching. Taylor isn’t the answer as a platoon mate either.
Frelick and Ruiz will be in the outfield for 2023. Yelich will be a DH and get a possible spot start at first.
Corbin Burnes is Milwaukee’s best pitcher.
Manly Palmer Hall;
Woodruff is better than Harder. A few other pitchers as well. Heck, Devin Williams was more consistent out of the bullpen….which was one reason the trade was made. Not to mention the salary Hader was looking for.
Right now Hader’s career is on a Craig Kimbrel trajectory…..and all things considered – including his outrageous salary – Kimbrel might be the best value.
Hader’s 28 and was dominant as recently as last year. I wouldn’t go that far— I think he’s fixable. Needs a readjustment that will probably have to come in the off-season from an outside source. Doubt SD fixes it
Devin Williams was great as set up. But not good as closer. Most assumed he would handle closing.
Devin Williams was one of those guys with a bad attitude. Get rid of him.
Unfortunately soon they may only be able to afford Corbin Bernson
The LA Law one or the Major League one?
At this point probably the “Psych” one…
Smaller market teams have to doing “creative” trades like the Hader trade in order to at least attempt lengthen a competitive window. The price is usually losing a fan/team favorite. In my opinion the trade that holds up the team even more is the Adames trade as the two pitchers they gave up would have shores up the bullpen. The flip side to this trade however is that the offense is much better with Adames considering the ongoing struggles of Yelich. Yelich in prime with Adames wins you the division. Brewers are at least poised to compete again next year.
watup0100;
Are you serious?
The Brewers took off in 2021 when they acquired Adames. Not only was he a solid SS and clutch hitter, he became THE team leader.
I don’t know where you people come up with this stuff. MLB is not rotisserie league.
I accept your criticism. I’m just saying they were missing some pitching this year. Rasmussen and Feyrisen fixes the bullpen issue. Stearns made a good move for Adames at the cost of future pitching.
Mr. Stearns has nothing to make amends for.
The Brewers are one of the teams I follow. When the trade was made it hurt. But even that day I knew that it was the right thing to do – allowing for their salary structure and weak farm system – although they have a handful of promising prospects that will soon be up. Quality Baseball Ops heads are paid to make unpopular decisions that hurt in the short run, but work out longer term.
The problem I have with that team are the players – particularly the position players. OK, it was culture shock. But after a week or so professionals suck it up and play their hearts out. That team point blank quit. I was disgusted by it. There’s no reason at all that the Brewers should have missed the playoffs as a WC team in 2023.
It’s like the Bucky Dent HR against the Red Sox. It devastated the morale of that team. The Sox FO made the mistake of keeping most players on. Waited years while they sleepwalked through seasons. Finally they turned over the team and they started to play hard. Brewers FO needs to do the same. Starting this offseason.
I agree with most of what you say, but Stearns was right to apologize for not fully realizing the impact the Hader trade would have. And a big part of it is simply the timing of it being a first place team going into the home stretch that traded a star player and didn’t get enough back to help the team this season. If they had been in 2nd place or lower, or done the trade earlier in the season, I don’t think it would’ve had such a negative effect on the team. To me, it’s really all about how he did the trade at the worst possible time for the present team that was trying to win this year.
Samuel—
For a non-rabid Brewers fan you are pretty much spot-on with your analysis of my team. This is going to be an interesting off-season for Stearns/Arnold, including if Stearns & Attanasio can, or want to agree, to an extension.
The team, as you’ve pointed-out already, has 4 big-league ready OF’s they can work-in next year to potentially have an entire rookie OF by post S2 time, rivaling Arizona’s ridiculously fast OF.
I believe this is the direction they go in a re-make of their lineup. The new rules help this decision in my opinion, with athleticism, speed & defense being more valuable next season.
Trading Renfroe and letting Wong go will save enough money they can use to strengthen other areas of the team.
I also wouldn’t be shocked if they end-up trading Burnes for a huge prospect haul, possibly to the LAD. Burnes hometown team, and Friedman could end-up giving Stearns the prospects he’d want to make a deal work.
Bobby Miller & Miguel Vargas for Burnes, with the Dodgers working-out a long-term extension sounds about right.
I think it takes more than Bobby M and vargas for burns.
I think it’s more likely Miller and Diego Cartaya + more.. potentially Vargas. Which would give the Brewers a C for the future.
2 years of a prime CY young candidate is going to be expensive. Though I don’t think the Dodgers will pay the cost. Their pitching looks pretty good moving forward. I think they probably bring Heaney back & keep the prospects.
Jbigz44–
Miller is a top 3 pitching prospect in the game and Vargas a top 35 prospect. Don’t think the Dodgers will give-up their Will Smith replacement in Cartaya. Brewers have a stud C prospect of their own in Jeferson Quero.
Miller needs another half-year+ at AAA, and then another year or two of big-league development. Burnes is an instant Dodgers ace that they can probably ink at a discounted rate 2 years-out from FA.
Miller pitched to about a 4 ERA in minor league ball
Fangraphs has him listed as a 50 FV which is not a top 3 pitching prospect in the game.
They have Vargas as a 45. Which is fringe starter.
Idk what outlet has them ranked that high but the guys at FG’s do a great job with analysis. Thats not enough for a CY young winner w/ 2 years of control.
FG doesn’t seem to like Vargas very much. Seeing as he has 0 defensive value and the bat is good—but not great. You’re probably looking at a 1B who will have to hit a lot.
Miller + Cartaya is a heavy ask but I’d expect the price has to be sky high on a CY winner w/ 2 full years.
Scherzer cost 2 top 100 guys for 3 months.
I think Will Smith gets extended anyway. he’s been great with their staff. Has 3 more years of control anyhow.
Jbigz44–
BA has Miller at #21 & Vargas at #24. Pipeline has Miller #26 & Vargas #41. So top 5-6 starter for Miller.
Jbigz44–
Turner also came with Scherzer.
Scherzer AND Trea took two top 100 guys and two lottos
Whoops, I knew that. My fault………
Bad comp anyway. Castillo was just dealt at the deadline for a top 15 prospect in baseball and another top 100. +2 other decent relief prospects.
That’s your real comp.
I don’t think the Brewers would want Vargas as the 2nd piece for Burnes though. Doesn’t seem like enough value. MLB.com is high on Vargas but like I said FG isn’t. We’re talking about the reigning CY young winner.
That is the real comp IMO. 1.5 years of control and not even a “true” Cy Young contender. I f the Reds incompetent FO got 2 top 100s and then more, Stearns can get a lot for Burnes. My bet (if it is the dodgers) is Cartaya, Miller, Vargas, Jose Ramos, and 1 lotto
Stearns values quality defense and Vargas doesn’t have a D position.
Feels a lot like acquiring another Keaton Hiura, who you don’t have a position for and have to hope he really hits. I think Cartaya would have to be in the ask & if he’s not it’s going to take a fairly large quantity of top guys with Miller.
Trade Burnes AND Yelich w/ all his contract to the Dodgers for a MLB ready prospect and 2 AA prospects.
That cleans out Yelich money drain and gives Dodgers one more year of control for Burnes.
Stormin- Yelich would have to sign off, as I’m 98% certain he has a full no trade. Also, why would the Dodgers (or anyone really) want him? At $26 mil/yr I feel like they’d have to include Burnes or Woodruff just to get somebody to take him, most of his salary and actually get something back.
“Trade Burnes AND Yelich” They get one year of control with Burnes. Yelich a Cali guy would wave it. Or the green salad of salvation would change his mind. $$$$
Stearns has plenty to apologize for. During the off season, his idea of an offensive upgrade was Cutch. How did that work out. At the deadline they got nothing, and traded, at the time, the best closer in baseball. Not a soul alive that possesses any common sense, believed the Brewers would win a playoff series. What in the hell do you expect from the team to do. He failed miserably and I don’t have any confidence he’ll get it right. It’s possible the Brewers don’t have a starting
Stearns has plenty to apologize for. During the off season, his idea of an offensive upgrade was Cutch. How did that work out. At the deadline they got nothing, and traded, at the time, the best closer in baseball. Not a soul alive that possesses any common sense, believed the Brewers would win a playoff series. What in the hell do you expect from the team to do. He failed miserably and I don’t have any confidence he’ll get it right.
It’s possible the Brewers won’t have a starting pitching group this good for the next 30 years. They have two years left to get some offense. If Stearns can’t do it, he’s a complete failure.
This team was set up to fail long before the Hader trade. When your only offseason acquisitions to help the lineup was McCutchen and Renfroe you know you got issues and you didn’t try. Both hitters are terrific guys to round a lineup out. Hitting 7/8 in a batting order is ideal. They asked those guys to be 3/4 hitters. They’re just simply not. Adames and Tellez are nice players but not superstar players where teams “fear”. Finally, Yelich is essentially useless unless it’s drawing a walk so there’s that.
Terrible job by stearns recognizing the holes and thinking he could get by with a trash hitting team
Milwaukee-2208;
Their budget was maxed out, and as the article pointed out – a group of players were coming up for large arbitration raises in 2023. The last thing the Brewers FO could do was hand out large 3-5 year contracts to free agents going into 2022.
Why is it always the FO’s fault and the owner not spending enough in these comment sections? How come the players aren’t held responsible?
Did you post here how upset you were with the Yelich contract when it was signed?
The offense was the better than the 2018 and 2019 clubs and was on par with the peak Braun and Fielder teams. The issue this year was going from 3rd fewest runs allowed in 2021 to 17th in 2022. Injuries were a part of that, and the depth wasn’t able to cover like they thought it would going into the season. They could run back the same roster and win 90-95 games again next year.
ReddVencher;
Don’t statistic me……
Did you watch that team play baseball after that trade? There was no fire, no desire to do what they had to do to win.
ML players can play for their stats to get next years contract. Losing teams always have players that do that. It has nothing at all to do with them playing as a team to win. A part of “runs allowed” is defense; and those position players sucked after that trade.
I did watch the team post trade.
The Brewers were 7th in DRS and 10th in UZR which were down from 5th and 3rd in 2021 and certainly part of the run prevention issue in 2022.
You think Wong is a better option than Segura? Under what theory?
Wong has hit for more power than Segura in each of the last two years. They’re pretty similar in OBP; Segura’s a better contact hitter, Wong works a few more walks. Wong has shown the higher defensive ceiling of the two, but all the public metrics favored Segura this year. Wong’s six months younger, so I don’t think he’s clearly a worse defender than Segura now because of one bad season.
I think there’s a perfectly valid argument for Segura being the better player, but I don’t see it clearly one way or the other. They’re pretty similar in my view.
I understand that the players didn’t like the Hader trade but what they should really be upset with is their performance on the field, especially the offense. Maybe if they were doing their jobs, Stearns doesn’t make that deal. He knew that even if they made the postseason that they weren’t a contender.
Nailed it!!
The 2022 offense was better than the 2018, 2019, and the peak Braun and Fielder offenses. It was the run prevention going from 3rd fewest runs allowed in 2021 to 17th in 2022 that was the issue.
I’d take the the peak Braun and Fielder offense every day and twice on Sunday. Especially the 2011 group.
2011 was a 103 wRC+ offense while the 2022 one was a 103 wRC+ offense. The Braun and Fielder one was more top heavy than the 2022 lineup, but the 2022 lineup made up for it by having less crap at the back of the lineup.
I’d still take that bunch. Unless my memory is completely failing me, I’m recalling Lucroy, Weeks, Hart and Jerry Hairston Jr on that squad. Weeks never impressed me that much, but I still had more faith in him at least getting on base than I did most of this year for Taylor, Cain, Davis, Urias, Carat/Narvy and Hiura. And they didn’t have the DH back then either, but its not like we got great results WITH it this year.
Weeks had a 124 wRC+ 3.3 fWAR season in 2011, Hairston had a 103 wRC+ 0.7 fWAR in 138 PA, and Lucroy had a 92 wRC+ (not bad for a C) 5.8 fWAR season. The crap in the lineupe was McGehee (600 PA 68 wRC+), and Betancourt (584 PA 72 wRC+), and Counsell (187 PA 40 wRC+). 1371 PA of dumpster fire production compared to only 452 PA in 2022. (Narvaez and Cain)
You didn’t include Taylor, hiura, Davis, Caratini, and Urias.
I know, hiura had a high-ish OPS. He also K’d like 55% if the time.
I had forgotten both Casey and Uni-B..but I’d still take that bunch. I’m not arguing it was worlds better, it’s just my preference.
Taylor had a 102 wRC+, Hiura had a 115 wRC+, and Urias had a 110 wRC+. These guys weren’t trash. Davis had less than 100 PA. Should have been clear meant sub 80 wRC+ crap. If we want to go by sub 90 wRC+, Carlos Gomez’ 82 wRC+ makes the list in 2011 while Caratini’s 84 wRC+ on the 2022 list. There’s 1629 PA of sub 90 wRC+ 100+ PA in 2011 to 766 PA in 2022.
These are comparable offenses, and I would take the offense with 1300+ PA of 150+ wRC+ production v. 0 PA of that production. That 2011 roster could have been pushed over the edge if they just didn’t play Betancourt and McGehee as much as they did.
wong should go back to the cardinals
Please no!!!
I agree
Stearns isn’t even the GM.
He’s happy to play the scapegoat so it will ease his transition to the Mets and keep Arnold looking sparkly. Part of that is because he is a genuinely good guy and Arnold is his bestie. Another part is that his career is built on his reputation and anyone will hire a guy who exits well. If I were Cohen, I’d say “you’re hired, my special little dude.”
Not to mention Matt Bush is a complete scumbag and piece of human garbage. He should be in prison for the rest of his life.
Why
Check out his Wikipedia, the guy is an alcoholic who likes to drink and then beat people up. He almost killed a motorcyclist while drunk driving a pickup which caused him to miss a season while he served time in prison.
I didn’t know all that when the brewers traded for him. With a record like that I’m surprised he’s even till in the league.
Bush played here in Fort Wayne when he was drafted. He had a couple brushes with the law too.
Tyler Black will be your 2b soon in Milwaukee
I think when it was apparent that the Brewers were either unable or unwilling to pay the price for much needed offensive help, Sterns took a realistic look at his team’s playoff chances and acquired two good looking prospects, a fill in replacement and a lottery ticket (Limet). In a couple of years, this might look like a stroke of genius. Even with Hader, the Brewers’ playoff chances weren’t very good.
Offense wasn’t the issue this year. It was the best offense of the Stearns era and on par with the oeak Braun and Fielder offenses. Their issue was their run prevention going from 3rd fewest runs allowed in 2021 to 17th in 2022.
I’d argue the Brewers offense wasn’t all that great. Yeah, they could hit the long ball. But they hit .230ish as a team.
Rowdy Tellez somehow it 35 HRs but still ended up with a WAR below 1.0
Adames is clearly got upside coming out the yin-yang but even he had an OPS below .800, which is challenging to do when you hit 30+ HRs.
Yelich would appear to be in decline, possibly permanently. But more importantly, even if he’s a league average hitter — and he should be the next few years — the Brewers are paying him 26 million per year. My guess is that’s tough for them to handle AND have to go outside the organization to pick up players.
The reality is it’s still a good team, just not great. The Cards will be there, but the Pirates and Reds won’t be. The Cubs have the potential to shell out $$$ but they appear content to rebuild still.
Having 18 guys to go through for Arbitration is going to be painful though. Some guys aren’t going to cut the mustard. And Im sure Wong is as good as gone unless no one wants him and he comes back on a lesser deal. At 32, he’s not getting better.
Will be an interesting offseason for them. Roster chemistry wasn’t good after the Hader trade and that will have to be addressed. With so many arb players I expect a good number to be either traded or cut. One of Burnes or Woodruff might get traded for a position player to fill a need.
When I’m wrong and know it, I’ll admit it — and I was wrong about that trade.
At the time of the trade, I pointed out that Rogers had much better numbers than Hader across the board, and that was true at the time. But that all changed once the trade was made.
What I didn’t know (and, realistically, I couldn’t know at the time), was that all Hader needed was the right coaching. It’s since been reported that the folks in San Diego figured out a few tweaks to his delivery that got him back on track:
‘The Padres let him settle in after the Aug. 1 trade, and he pitched two scoreless innings at the outset. But as Hader began to struggle, pitching coach Ruben Niebla and bullpen coach Ben Fritz began working with him on keeping his body pointed and moving toward home plate and finishing stronger through the ball. Truth is, it’s the type of mechanical intricacies pretty much only pitching coaches can see, and Niebla had been adamant Hader was close to figuring out his woes and becoming consistent with his tweaked mechanics.
“You watch,” Niebla said Tuesday.’
sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/newsletter/…
After that, the Pads had the pitcher they traded for.
The Brewers were a under .500 team since June 1 till the end. The Hader deal is a easy “excuse” to use. Stearns can not build a team for offense. He trades for the same type hitter and he needs to go. His dumpster dives for bullpen help are getting old.
The offense was the best of the Stearns era and on par with peak Braun and Fielder offenses. They were pacing 104 wins theough their first 50 games being 10th in R/G and 6th in RA/G. They finished 10th and 17th in those categories. They had 12 fewer runs scored than the 106 win Astros who finished 2nd fewest runs allowed.
Best of the Stearns era? That is not saying much. He can’t put together an offense other than HR or K. I am glad he has stepped down. Hopefully he is not consulted on any deal going forward for the next year.
Stearns/Arnold really missed at deadline. Team needed some kind of spark and instead traded away Hader to a playoff contender that wound up finishing ahead of them and got 0 help in return. Made worse by Lamet being DFA just moments after. Wong will be bought out. Brewers need the 40man spot with their need to add players to the 40man or lose them in rule 5. Someone or 2 of their SPs needs to be traded for some legit bat that concerns a pitcher on the mound. Weakest lineup of all potential/current playoff teams(Yelich fault as is Stearns extending him)
I think Stearn’s admission that they’re taking a “many bites of the apple” approach really killed the clubhouse atmosphere. Lauer’s analysis off those comments was spot on. A professional ball player is motivated by money, and the drive to win CHAMPIONSHIPS.
The place where the organization’s goals and the player’s goals align is in the drive to win championships. By trading Hader when they did, along with declaring their “bites of the apple” philosophy, the organization proved they’re only interested in fielding a playoff-quality team. Their goals do not align with the goals of the players, and the players knew the organization would not support their goal of winning championships.
You have to be willing to go all-in to win to win a championship and Attanasio/Stearns will not do that out of fear that it might cause them to have some seasons where they have sub-.500 records.
Could the “many bites of an apple” be a hint Stearns heading to the Big Apple and the Mets? Prematurely made the Hader trade because it was his last chance to do so?
To use baseball terminology the Brewers should release Stearn.
Why?
Traded the best closer in their division. That created chaos in the clubhouse.
Anyone who thinks Rogers is or was equal to Hader needs their head examined. For those wondering about the clubhouse after the Hader trade. The Brewers had just lit up Rogers in a Padre uniform where he blew a save a few weeks earlier. Then Stearns & Co. traded Hader for him. Think about that! And then put yourself in that clubhouse at the time.
Stearns/Counsell are OVERRATED!