Okay hear me out, been doing some looks into what’s available on the market, what it would cost to acquire them compared to promoting someone from within, especially given Owen Miller’s recent performances at the plate (currently striking out 26% of the time, which is a no no for his power levels)
Caratini has been above average against right handers this season, and looked to have more range than Rowdy, while better at picking balls than Miller, as well as showing he can hit when not being completely overworked as a catcher (as he was second half of last season). He could hold a platoon with Miller facing lefties, and then hope Rowdy hits like he did the first 6 weeks of the season, where he CRUSHED.
Abraham Toro has gotten a lot of 1B reps at Nashville and has been on fire, and absolutely brilliant defensively. He’s versatile, a switch hitter, and in July has an OPS north of 1.100
Hiura is maybe least likely currently, he’s got an on base streak going but that’s with a lot of HBP, and really hasn’t been putting up the power numbers he should when he’s firing. However his strikeout rate is still at 23% this last month even in the midst of his “slump” and he’s finding ways to contribute
Then there’s Tyler Black with his monstrous season, he’s never played first and the Brewers seem keen to keep his development going at third base (where he’s improved massively as the season progressed) but his bat has been the best in the system, with an MLB ready control of the strike zone, and 46 steals on the year so far. Could he make a difference and is it worth it?
What do you guys think?
I’ve attached the article below for anyone interested, but curious about the thoughts, especially with the big drop off after Goldschmidt in terms of the reliability of players that are brought in like Santana etc
[https://brewerfanatic.com/forums/topic/40760-article-no-trades-brewers-should-play-the-options-they-have-in-nashville/](https://brewerfanatic.com/forums/topic/40760-article-no-trades-brewers-should-play-the-options-they-have-in-nashville/)
3 comments
Brewers need a proven power bat. I’d sign up for a player like Chris Carter at this point.
I’d like to see caratini get DH reps, lose winker
My thoughts, since you asked:
Caratini: Contreras can’t play every day. So Caratini still needs to catch, probably 3/10 days. Which usually equates to Burnes and against lefties. Since he’s already in there against lefties, seems like you’re just saying he should be in there everyday. I don’t agree with that, he’s not strong enough against righties to make that a good move.
Hiura: I want to bring him up. I am fine, if anxious and waiting impatiently, with them waiting until his power comes back, but two home runs in a row and he’s up for me. I want to give him one last shot, because why bring him back if we weren’t going to? And he’s at the bottom of his value right now, so I don’t see a lot of downside.
Toro: I mean he’s been on an absolute tear over the last month. But even as good as he’s hitting, he’s got 7 home runs for the year. He’s got very little power, and a track record of being pretty bad in the majors. I mean maybe they saw something in him that they think he’s turned the corner since he came here, in which case, sure anything is better then Winker. But I’m not exactly excited.
Tyler Black: he’s never played above AA, if you don’t want to bring Keston up when he’s not ready, then Black should be off the table. It would be a huge gamble and could severely negatively affect his development if it doesn’t work out.
We’re essentially down to, some bat on the trade market, even out of bargain barrel, or Keston for me. I don’t see any of the others as realistic options in our system.
But I do agree that the market is weak, especially with the expanded playoffs and I don’t want to give up the farm for a rent-a-bat. But it’s definitely not as thin as the article is among it seems like. I mean Rooker, Candelario, Eloy Jimenez, Bellinger, are all on the market, even if they will take a lot more to get.
We do have a stacked farm system, and Chourio is seriously catching fire again, which makes you feel a lot more confident about him realizing his potential to at least show it in the majors in the next 12 months. Which means we really are going to have a logjam in the OF, with Mitchell, Frelick, Weimer, Yelich and Chourio (not to mention Perkins). So as much as it pains me, if they traded from a position of strength, for a bat with at least a good chance of signing to a longer term contract if it works out, then I might be ok with it. I’m not sure.
But the long and short of it, is that I’d love to give Keston a shot in bigs again, but we need a new bat for DH and 1B, so we need to trade for at least one person anyway.