It was definitely an interesting week as the Brewers general manager, but I feel like I had a successful go of it and would be thrilled to enter the season with this team. There were three main goals heading in:
- Address the gaping hole at 1B
- Deepen the bullpen
- Create versatility, given the injury history at 3B and the struggles of Jean Segura
So, how did I attack things? First, the trades:
Traded Yovani Gallardo & Kris Davis to the Kansas City Royals for Eric Hosmer & Wade Davis
It was harder to deal the cost certainty of Davis as opposed to the one year left of Gallardo. With a deep rotation (and adding options was addressed through free agency), he is expendable and I figured he’d be an attractive piece to someone if they didn’t want to pay free agent prices. Obviously Hosmer addressed the 1B hole and Davis steps right into the back of the bullpen creating a potentially elite 1-2 punch with Jonathan Broxton (and makes chasing Francisco Rodriguez unnecessary).
Traded Scooter Gennett & prospect Monte Harrison to the San Diego Padres for Jedd Gyorko & Alex Torres
Harrison has a ton of potential, and could hurt a few years down the line, but the addition of Gyorko helped to offset for the loss of Davis. Plus Torres could be a valuable southpaw out of the bullpen, helping fill one of the major goals.
Free Agency
With no plans to shop big, the targets were more low key additions and building a bench. It was a shock that I was able to get Michael Cuddyer at a discount price, but that just further made the decision to trade Davis a non-factor.
Josh Johnson and Kyuji Fujikawa were both added on low-cost guarantees, again fulfilling the goals of deepening the bullpen (Johnson would be the fifth starter, with Jimmy Nelson potentially moving to the bullpen or starting at Triple-A).
In regards to building the bench, the addition of Cuddyer turned Gerardo Parra into a key defensive replacement. Signed to low cost contracts were Carlos Corporan (a switch-hitting catcher with pop), Michael Saunders (an outfielder with tremendous upside) and then two infielders that can play all around the diamond in Sean Rodriguez & Steve Lombardozzi. Those two, as well as the versatility of Cuddyer & Gyorko definitely would put the team in position to handle an injuries that should occur.
The Finished Product
Lineup:
1. Carlos Gomez – CF
2. Eric Hosmer – 1B
3. Jonathan Lucroy – C
4. Ryan Braun – RF
5. Aramis Ramirez – 3B
6. Michael Cuddyer – LF
7. Jedd Gyorko – 2B
8. Jean Segura – SS
The Rotation – Matt Garza, Kyle Lohse, Wily Peralta, Michael Fiers, Josh Johnson
Bullpen – Wade Davis, Jonathan Broxton, Marco Estrada, Jim Henderson, Alex Torres, Will Smith, Kyuji Fujikawa (plus non-roster invitees Luke Gregorson, Casey Janssen & Kyle Kendrick)
I’d say that this team would be able to compete with anyone in the Majors. It’s a deep lineup that can mash, a versatile bench to help overcome any injuries, a rotation with a lot of potential and a bullpen that can shorten games to 6 innings. That’s the goal, isn’t it?
Individual Salaries
Milwaukee Brewers
Very nice job! Simple moves and nice trade.