Elite Starting Pitchers Up for Grabs; Brewers Liquidating Roster?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Okay, the GM meetings are full speed ahead and the offseason has begun.

Several teams are considering trades of their frontline starters including names like Tyler Glasnow, Dylan Cease, and Corbin Burnes.

This will be a controversial take but I'd prefer to see the Twins steer clear of Burnes. He's a very good pitcher who, when he can suppress home runs, is elite. He hasn't consistently done that since 2021, his Cy Young season. Someone is likely going to pay that "2021 Burnes" entry price and I hope it's not the Minnesota Twins.

The Brewers themselves could move a significant portion of their roster. They have several very good players lined up to enter free agency in the next two winters: Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames after 2024 with Devin Williams the following year. Never before have I heard Freddy Peralta mentioned specifically as a trade candidate. He's a very good pitcher with an absurdly team-friendly contract and option years that can carry him through the 2026 season. He has always played second fiddle to the Burnes & Woodruff duo but is only a half-step behind them in performance.

 

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[Dman]

Given that if the Brewers just hang onto him Burnes would get them a sup 1st round pick the price to get him is going to be high.  Likely going to take a top 100 prospect.  I didn't see the Brewers as seller's, but they must feel they need more difference making talent than what they have. 

[weneedneshek]

Peralta is extremely intriguing given our current budgetary limitations. I think it would take a lot to pry him away with that insane contract though (3 million 2024, 8 million team option 25 and 26). I think one of Lee or Jenkins would need to be involved for the Brewers to consider it.

[NeverSeenATwinsPlayoffWin]

6 minutes ago, Dman said:

Given that if the Brewers just hang onto him Burnes would get them a sup 1st round pick the price to get him is going to be high.  Likely going to take a top 100 prospect.  I didn't see the Brewers as seller's, but they must feel they need more difference making talent than what they have. 

Considering how much the Mariners gave up for Luis Castillo, I suspect that Walter Jenkins or Brooks Lee would need to be involved in a trade. In order to gain any value, we'd then have to give Burnes a 30M APY contract. I'm not really interested in anything the Brewers have to offer.

[Cory Engelhardt]

This is clearly music to the Twins' ears. Trade for pitching and supplement offense via free agency. Win Win

[Brock Beauchamp]

19 minutes ago, NeverSeenATwinsPlayoffWin said:

Considering how much the Mariners gave up for Luis Castillo, I suspect that Walter Jenkins or Brooks Lee would need to be involved in a trade. In order to gain any value, we'd then have to give Burnes a 30M APY contract. I'm not really interested in anything the Brewers have to offer.

You're not interested in Peralta?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Aside from the names mentioned here, I've been an advocate of a Jose Miranda for Joey Wiemer swap from both teams' perspectives.

[Mike Sixel]

16 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

You're not interested in Peralta?

It pains me to say it, but I'd include Lee in a deal for him. I'd even be willing to take Yellich back to give them salary relief in the process.....so, um, Lee, Wallner, SWR and who for those two? Do I even need to add more if I take back Yellich? I'd have to likely deal Polanco to free up money, but I'm ok with that. 

[NeverSeenATwinsPlayoffWin]

Just now, Brock Beauchamp said:

You're not interested in Peralta?

Freddy Peralta has three years of uber-cheap contract left. Again, if the Mariners gave up an MLB top-20, MLB top-100, and two more team top-30 prospects for 1.5 years of Luis Castillo, Peralta is going to be very, very, very expensive. Probably Lee, E-Rod, AND another Twins top-10 prospect. I am not giving up a super package for a guy who's never pitched more than 180 innings.

I'd be happy if we were able to acquire any of their stars for a bag of expired fruit snacks, but Burnes, Williams, Peralta, and Contreras are going to be incredibly pricey. Basically, the rest of their roster is high-end middle relievers (which would be dumb to give up significant assets for a middle reliever) or average players whose production can be found in several cheap free agents (like Donovan Solano).

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, NeverSeenATwinsPlayoffWin said:

Freddy Peralta has three years of uber-cheap contract left. Again, if the Mariners gave up an MLB top-20, MLB top-100, and two more team top-30 prospects for 1.5 years of Luis Castillo, Peralta is going to be very, very, very expensive. Probably Lee, E-Rod, AND another Twins top-10 prospect. I am not giving up a super package for a guy who's never pitched more than 180 innings.

That's fair. It's more of a price thing than a performance thing.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Mike Sixel said:

It pains me to say it, but I'd include Lee in a deal for him. I'd even be willing to take Yellich back to give them salary relief in the process.....so, um, Lee, Wallner, SWR and who for those two? Do I even need to add more if I take back Yellich? I'd have to likely deal Polanco to free up money, but I'm ok with that. 

I'd include any SP prospect in the deal instead of SWR, frankly. Basically, the reverse of the Berrios deal, but for more years of control (hence dealing Wallner for Yellich to give MILW savings). I'd work my butt off to deal Yellich...

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

That's fair. It's more of a price thing than a performance thing.

25 pitchers pitched 180 innings last year.......that's it. 

[JD-TWINS]

Perralta would be great but I think unattainable. Woodruff’s health is too big of a gamble.

Adames isn’t any better than Miranda. No reason to trade for .217BA & 23 HR’s OF - that’s a lesser defending Michael A. Taylor.

Miranda, Larnach, & Moran for Corbin Burnes. 3 guys with some years of control for Brewers. Instead of signing Maeda at $11.5M for a year we get Burnes for a million or three more. With our 4 core guys…..add Burnes. Clears Varland for Pen. Awfully good staff!

We need 40 man roster space - we clear 3 spots with guys that have potential being moved for an inexpensive 1 year rental of Burnes.

If things go South - can move Burnes at the deadline but I like our chances at making a run at the Series with him on the Staff.

………………

BEST move is Jordan Montgomery for 4 years & 5th year player option. $20M first 2 years - $26M years 3 & 4……….his option for year 5 at $26M.

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Perralta would be great but I think unattainable. Woodruff’s health is too big of a gamble.

Adames isn’t any better than Miranda. No reason to trade for .217BA & 23 HR’s OF - that’s a lesser defending Michael A. Taylor.

Miranda, Larnach, & Moran for Corbin Burnes. 3 guys with some years of control for Brewers. Instead of signing Maeda at $11.5M for a year we get Burnes for a million or three more. With our 4 core guys…..add Burnes. Clears Varland for Pen. Awfully good staff!

We need 40 man roster space - we clear 3 spots with guys that have potential being moved for an inexpensive 1 year rental of Burnes.

If things go South - can move Burnes at the deadline but I like our chances at making a run at the Series with him on the Staff.

………………

BEST move is Jordan Montgomery for 4 years & 5th year player option. $20M first 2 years - $26M years 3 & 4……….his option for year 5 at $26M.

I don't think that's enough for Burnes. 

[Mike Sixel]

15 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

It pains me to say it, but I'd include Lee in a deal for him. I'd even be willing to take Yellich back to give them salary relief in the process.....so, um, Lee, Wallner, SWR and who for those two? Do I even need to add more if I take back Yellich? I'd have to likely deal Polanco to free up money, but I'm ok with that. 

I'd be more likely to include EROD, I think......because I think Lee can play SS, and I'm not sure if Lewis can or CC will stay healthy.....

[nicksaviking]

I liked the idea of trading with Milwaukee more when I thought they were going to try to do the semi-rebuild. Where they'd trade a stud pitcher in exchange for young players who could help them now and in the future along with a veteran that plays a position of need that could help them still compete this year, like Kepler or Polanco.

But if they're not going that route, I'd hit up the Marlins first because they'd also be a fit. I'm still interested in the Brewers pitchers though, even at the gut wrenching asking prices.

[Brandon]

After seeing the contract for Peralta,  I gotta agree with Brock.  This is the guy to target.  I don't know Milwaukee's farm system but I would trade Julien or Lee and CES..... I mean ERod  sorry got pitching trade PTSD going on from the Mahle trade.  and maybe a pitcher like Balazovich or Winder.  That is more than enough to get a trade like this done.  I am sure there are plenty of other workable variations too.  

 

[Blyleven2011]

Since Stearns and counsell  left the Brewers  are the Brewers in a fire sale , if so wouldn't it be cheaper trading for a pitcher with Milwaukee  if they want to dump salary  ???? 

[Doctor Gast]

34 minutes ago, Brandon said:

 This is the guy to target.  I don't know Milwaukee's farm system but I would trade  Lee 

I'd trade Walker Jenkins before Lee or Lewis. I'm just saying

[Blyleven2011]

2 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

I'd trade Walker Jenkins before Lee or Lewis. I'm just saying

We had a very good draft this year , there are others to dangle , and I would only dangle position  player , no pitchers like Soto  , not yet anyway,  haven't seen him in pro ball yet ...

[Doctor Gast]

1 minute ago, Blyleven2011 said:

We had a very good draft this year , there are others to dangle , and I would only dangle position  player , no pitchers like Soto  , not yet anyway,  haven't seen him in pro ball yet ...

No one else has either so many don't value Soto as we do so he wouldn't be a valuable trade piece anyway.

[Jocko87]

 

I’m in. Add Wiemer with a couple throw ins and the off-season is done. 

[tony&rodney]

8 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

 

I’m in. Add Wiemer with a couple throw ins and the off-season is done. 

Why Julien? Why not Lee? Why not Ryan? Why not Lewis? Why not somebody else? How does that trade help in 2025? Just curious about the thought process.

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

I'd trade Walker Jenkins before Lee or Lewis. I'm just saying

How did you come to that decision? Walker has been evaluated as the more superior prospect tool-wise to either Lewis or Lee. I have nothing to compare Walker to myself, but am merely parroting the words of various writers like Keith Law and others who go to events and games where prospects play.

Personally, when a guy so young gets so much hype it can be hard to know what to believe. At least we can have watched Lewis and Lee play a couple hundred times via tv and milb.com as well as in a person a few times. Still, Walker has had a bevy of words, like "superstar" flung at him that were never put on either Lewis or Lee. I couldn't make a judgment yet, but I'm leaning towards the evaluations of scouts and well-respected writers at this time. 

[Jocko87]

25 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Why Julien? Why not Lee? Why not Ryan? Why not Lewis? Why not somebody else? How does that trade help in 2025? Just curious about the thought process.

Julien is my personal odd man out of the rotation.  With a poor glove the bat has to be extra special and he reeks of a two year overachiever who settles into mediocrity. The league is littered with them.  Personally, I’m hanging my hat on the pedigreed first round draft picks that can play defense and not have to be platooned, if I have the choice. 

He’s highly valuable but it might be near its peak. He’s not remotely as valuable as any of the names mentioned. I’m also one who was all for trading Arreaz for many of the same reasons. 

I’d want a better than zero chance at signing Burnes but with the QO attached the prospect will always be higher ranked than Julien ever was.  Doesn’t mean it will play out but it’s a no brainer slam dunk success outcome for an 18th round pick.

[Brock Beauchamp]

3 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Since Stearns and counsell  left the Brewers  are the Brewers in a fire sale , if so wouldn't it be cheaper trading for a pitcher with Milwaukee  if they want to dump salary  ???? 

They don't need to dump salary, they're moving players in exchange for prospects. They could run everyone back in 2024 and still have a very good chance at the postseason.

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Jocko87 said:

Julien is my personal odd man out of the rotation.  With a poor glove the bat has to be extra special and he reeks of a two year overachiever who settles into mediocrity. The league is littered with them.  Personally, I’m hanging my hat on the pedigreed first round draft picks that can play defense and not have to be platooned, if I have the choice. 

He’s highly valuable but it might be near its peak. He’s not remotely as valuable as any of the names mentioned. I’m also one who was all for trading Arreaz for many of the same reasons. 

I’d want a better than zero chance at signing Burnes but with the QO attached the prospect will always be higher ranked than Julien ever was.  Doesn’t mean it will play out but it’s a no brainer slam dunk success outcome for an 18th round pick.

Ok. Your pick of Brooks Lee over Julien is the overwhelming choice on Twins Daily if we can make a quick nonjudgmental survey from a host of comments and posts. I see nothing wrong with that choice and we both know that the answer will be unclear for quite some time (a year to ten from now).

My pick is a bet on the unknown qualities of internal drive, processing speed, and other difficult to judge factors. Again, there is no way to know at this time and any choice is a calculated gamble.  It is a gamble I am willing for the Twins to make but I also do not believe that the Twins are ready to make a judgment at this time. Last year, we saw that the Twins were unwilling to make a call on Trevor Larnach or Jose Miranda. Now Miranda was injured and it isn't fair to judge him. Larnach may still turn into a fine starter in the majors but he has seen his value plummet. A year ago he was worth a bit more than Julien is at this current time. 

I  believe Julien will be a strong player in MLB. I do not expect him to be a superstar, but someone who can consistently put up strong numbers and drive opposing pitchers crazy with long counts. I would pick Julien over Lee.

We both know that I could be well off the mark on my belief. Last offseason, I advocated for using Arraez in a trade. My position was based on my preference for Jorge Polanco and I also felt that the unknown futures of Julien and Lee could back up a loss of Arraez. More than anything though I thought that Arraez stood to bring back the strongest return in a trade. This year I think that Lee in conjunction with another player or two bring back the strongest return. The Twins could lose Polanco and Lee or Julien and still be relatively fine at second base. However, like at all times, I am not in the loop so I don't know. I simple feel that Julien will be a better MLB player than Lee for reasons that would take several pages to explain, none of which are 100% sure things. 

[tony&rodney]

49 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

They don't need to dump salary, they're moving players in exchange for prospects. They could run everyone back in 2024 and still have a very good chance at the postseason.

I believe TopGun#22 proposed a trade for Corbin Burns that included another Brewer, I think Gareth Mitchell. The Twins would send Joe Ryan and a couple of other players whose names I cannot remember (maybe Jovani Moran and Josh Winder) to Milwaukee. Perhaps Farmer was also in that deal.

Is that worth a look? I'm not too keen on trading Ryan myself but it seems like a thought.

[Mike Sixel]

9 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

I believe TopGun#22 proposed a trade for Corbin Burns that included another Brewer, I think Gareth Mitchell. The Twins would send Joe Ryan and a couple of other players whose names I cannot remember (maybe Jovani Moran and Josh Winder) to Milwaukee. Perhaps Farmer was also in that deal.

Is that worth a look? I'm not too keen on trading Ryan myself but it seems like a thought.

Why trade a starting pitcher to get one?

[Fatbat]

Im all in on trading for a solid SP since ownership is not gonna open the $$$$ safe. I think the FO may be gun shy from the Mahle trade so we might be trapped in paralysis of no deal’s getting done until its time to panic. If the brewers want prospects, they probably wont get much from us. I would think our top 6-8 are off limits. Why would they want to trade a pitcher on a team friendly deal? Isn’t that what all teams strive to get? Someone trading for that player is going to over pay. Why would we overpay?  Its more logical that the FO would trade Farmer and Polanco to reduce payroll for cheaper younger pitching with high upside. Slot in Lee at 2nd so we get an extra draft pick in 2025.  We will get an extra in 2024 from Grays QO. If ERod and Jenkins get to MLB just as fast, thats even more extra draft picks. We all want a WS championship. Its not going to happen by trading away the farm but instead building it even bigger and better. There are deals to get done but let other teams over pay.