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Milwaukee Brewers: Assessing starting rotation options

By Kenny Jilek

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 05: Starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin #45 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws in the fourth inning of Game Two of the National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park on October 5, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 05: Starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin #45 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws in the fourth inning of Game Two of the National League Division Series against the Colorado Rockies at Miller Park on October 5, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at AT&T Park on September 28, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at AT&T Park on September 28, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

Trade Targets

Another place to find ace-caliber starting pitchers is other teams. Trading for an ace would transform the Brewers rotation the same way that signing Keuchel would, right? Well not quite the same way, considering we would probably have to give up a young arm to acquire one. There have many rumors of a few different trade targets for the Brewers but they seem to be fading fast.

Corey Kluber

Corey Kluber is a stud and a legitimate ace. He’s won 2 Cy Young awards and has two more third place finishes. His ERA has been under 4 in each of his six full seasons in the majors and under 3 in half of those. So he’s good, franchise-altering good, instant National League favorites good.

Unfortunately, talks with the Indians have been slow and dwindling recently according to multiple sources including this from John Morosi at mlb.com:

"While a Kluber trade remains possible, sources say the chances are diminishing by the day. It is now more likely than not that Kluber will remain with Cleveland as the new season begins."

Corey Kluber is almost definitely not going to be wearing a Brewers uniform on Opening Day, and probably never, but don’t count out a blockbuster deadline trade if they Brewers find themselves in a position to be buyers again at the deadline.

Madison Bumgarner

Madison Bumgarner has a history of winning. He is a World Series MVP and three-time champion. This is the guy to get if you want to slingshot into 100 win territory. Like Gonzalez and Keuchel, he also gives them a lefty starter.

The price is going to be very steep for the Brewers to pay. There have been many reports and speculations on exactly what that price would be including this one from John Morosi.

"Source: In initial Madison Bumgarner trade talks with #Brewers, #SFGiants indicated that a young starting pitcher — Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff or Freddy Peralta — would need to be part of offer for deal to occur."

This young trio is extremely valuable to the Brewers, and giving one of them up for a one year rental of Bumgarner could be foolish in the long run. Brewer’s former first-round pick Corey Ray has also been mentioned in talks as part of a package for Bumgarner.

The question to ask is how much does the future matter compared to winning right now. If one championship in 2019 is the only goal, then a package including Peralta and Ray is a great idea. If David Stearns is looking to grow a dynasty and a winning culture for years to come in small market Milwaukee, then this is a death trap.

Next. Brewers: 2 free agent options at second base. dark

Final Thoughts and Predictions

There is certainly a lot to be decided by management as they evaluate their surplus of talent this spring. Spots will be grabbed with impressive spring performances, and others will not make the cut. It is an unpredictable situation, but the best bet right now for the Milwaukee Brewers’ Opening Day rotation is Jhoulys Chacin, Jimmy Nelson, Corbin Burnes, Chase Anderson, and Brandon Woodruff.

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