Milwaukee Brewers: Players that could be on the move
This summer has the potential to be a very interesting one for the Milwaukee Brewers and their fans, just not for the right reasons.
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The Brewers have opened their 2015 campaign in the same disappointing fashion they closed their 2014 season. Milwaukee is statistically one of the worst teams in baseball, but you don’t need stats to confirm that.
Watching this Milwaukee team collapse at the end of last year and continue their dismal play this year has been extremely frustrating. The frustration is not just from the fans either.
Milwaukee has shown it’s willing to make moves already after firing manager Ron Roenicke just a month into this season and sending starting second baseman Scooter Gennett to the minors after a disappointing start.
The narrative for the rest of this season should not be can Milwaukee turn it around, but what direction is the front office going to take for the future.
Barring a miracle, fans should expect the Milwaukee Brewers to be sellers at the trade deadline. This will be our first real look into the direction Doug Melvin and, more importantly, Mark Attanasio decide to take with the team.
A worry could be that if the Brewers become even a little more competitive by the trade deadline, it might be enough to sway the ultra-competitive Attanasio away from rebuilding for the future and keep pieces that would hurt Milwaukee down the road.
The longer Milwaukee is in this gray area of trying to establish what they want to do with their season, the more dangerous it could be for their future.
Milwaukee has pieces that could, and honestly should, be moved by the trade deadline.
Apr 17, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez (16) tosses a ball on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The first that comes to mind is Aramis Ramirez. Ramirez has been fairly productive in his last two years, after his stellar 27-homer, 105-RBI season in 2012. What makes Aramis expendable come the trade deadline is one, he’ll be 37 on June 25, and two, he’s in his final year of his deal.
Those are two pretty strong reasons why if a team comes calling for a power third baseman who can hold his own with the glove come trade time, Milwaukee better be listening.
Apr 28, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Kyle Lohse (26) pitches during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Another player that is a strong candidate to be shipped before the end of the season is starting pitcher Kyle Lohse. Very similar to Ramirez, Lohse will also be 37 later this year and is in the last year of his contract.
Baseball fans know how valuable picking up another starting pitcher for a contender can be, and while Lohse has not been pitching well, (understatement), his veteran arm will not go unnoticed by contending teams.
While Ramirez and Lohse are two likely players to get shipped, I think about 95 percent of Milwaukee’s roster should not be considered off-limits for this season. Unless a team is willing to give up more than they should, I think the only two players that should be considered safe are Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy. Now remember that’s only for this year.
It’s hard to speculate even further into the future when about 95 percent of a roster could be up for grabs. I expect Braun and Lucroy to be here by the end of the season. As for any other player? I can’t be so sure.
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Milwaukee needs help in every facet of the game right now. Their starting pitching has been about as bad as it can be; only being able to muster up a good start about once every 10 days. The bullpen has been just as bad with players like Will Smith and Jonathan Broxton making every case possible to not be back next year.
The hitting is about as inconsistent as Wisconsin weather right now and need more help in the lineup.
This current roster won’t cut it in terms of being a competitive, consistent baseball team. It may be hard to hear as fans, and it’s a difficult thing to admit. As competitive as Attanasio is, I hope he realizes that building for the future now is the way to go.
With so many available players to trade, prospects that could help Milwaukee, and contending teams willing to deal, Milwaukee could take thousands of different routes come the trade deadline. What every one of those routes should have in common however, is that Milwaukee is building for years to come.
It’s OK to not be competitive every single year. It’s OK to sacrifice some winning now if it means a more consistent team for years down the road. All I ask from Milwaukee is they don’t overreact to small runs here and there before the trade deadline and throw away the future.
Next: Gennett Optioned To Triple-A