Stearns Adding Talent Pool, Depth & Flexibility to the Brewers
If there was any question as to what David Stearns' strategy was going to be in his first offseason as the Milwaukee Brewers' GM, he's made it clear that a complete roster rebuild is under way. No matter the position, team or experience, players are being added left and right.
Considering the task at hand - creating a sustainable wealth of talent over the long haul - Stearns is leaving no stone unturned in utilizing every type of transaction in his first few months at the helm.
Through a variety of trades, free agents signings, waiver claims and a pair of Rule 5 draft picks, Stearns has brought in around 30 new faces - 20 of whom could legitimately play in the big leagues this season (not all of them will, however).
Think of a large school versus a small school in high school sports. It's not a guarantee the large school will be better, but they have many more athletes to pull from, making it more likely they'll find a few studs and fill the team with quality players.
The same can apply in Major League Baseball, though teams like the Brewers have additional options to improve their situation.
With the huge influx of players onto the roster, and many others invited to Spring Training, two major scenarios are playing out.
1) Stearns is creating a large surplus of talent that will allow him to make additional trades at will. This is why fans shouldn't worry about which positions are filled or too crowded in December.
2) Spring Training will have an intense, competitive atmosphere as management and staff will have countless decisions to make at multiple positions.
First, let's address the idea that stockpiling all these guys creates flexibility and the greater likelihood of trades either to address areas of need (minor leagues or MLB) or collect prospects with high potential.
While guys like Jonathan Lucroy and Jean Segura are the two "favorites" to be dealt sometime between now and the All-Star break, there are other spots around the diamond that could offer value to other clubs.
If Stearns sees even a small upside, the depth he's accrued now allows him to gamble without worrying what will be left behind.
For example, a contending team might see Scooter Gennett as a viable platoon option at second base to complement a right-handed hitter.
With free agent Jake Elmore in the fold, along with Rule 5 pick Colin Walsh, Gennett could easily be flipped for someone Stearns covets.
Outfielders Ryan Braun and Khris Davis bring differing values and production to the table, but each could be moved in the right deal if a club is searching for some right-handed power.
With tons of talent in the minor leagues, as well as newcomers Ramon Flores (trade with SEA), Alex Presley (free agent), Keon Broxton (trade with PIT) and Kirk Nieuwenhuis (waiver claim from NYM) additional choices in spring, there'd be no hesitation to add more young talent if there's a fit.
There are also a handful of options among the pitchers that could easily see Stearns trade for anything he might want, because he has plenty of youthful and experienced arms to fill in the 2016 staff. Perhaps he gets a "can't refuse" offer for Jeremy Jeffress or Will Smith...done!
You can even see how Stearns is prepping to deal Segura and Lucroy as well when you witness the additions at those spots this offseason.
Jonathan Villar, acquired from the Houston Astros in a trade, has plenty of experience playing shortstop and would be a fine stop-gap to get to future star Orlando Arcia in a year or so.
Stearns also brought in 3 catchers to evaluate on the chance Lucroy finds a new home. Two of them - Josmil Pinto (waiver claim from SD) and Manny Pina (acquired in the Francisco Rodriguez trade) - have MLB experience. Pinto has caught almost 400 big league with some success with the bat.
Having a number of competent, ready-to-go players gives Stearns freedom to act quickly and decisively should any ideal offers come in.
Meanwhile, with the 40-man roster full and another 10 guys invited to Spring Training (most with MLB time), there will be some serious competitions going down in Maryvale.
Third base will be intriguing with a pair of former, popular Boston Red Sox prospects in Will Middlebrooks and Garin Cecchini looking to bounce back. Throw in Villar who has played the hot corner and returning bench bat Hernan Perez, and you have 4 viable options there.
To the other corner of the diamond, first baseman Andy Wilkins was claimed from the Texas Rangers, and he could be competing with Middlebrooks, Cecchini and others at first. You could even holdover Shane Peterson see some time.
The outfield is stocked too as noted above, with Presley, Broxton and Eric Young, Jr. possibly fighting it out for the starting job in center. That would still leave a 4th and 5th outfielder spot among the "losers" of that trio, along with Nieuwenhuis, Flores, Michael Reed and Domingo Santana.
Throw in the incredible amount of younger hurlers the Brewers will have in camp, including some newcomers with big league experience, and it could be a crazy scene out west.
The beauty of Stearns' strategy early in his tenure is that he's creating an atmosphere where he can trust the evaluation process, take risks on high-ceiling guys from other clubs, and still have enough talent to choose from to have a relatively competitive team develop and gain experience.
It's going to take a while folks, but get used to seeing flocks of players moved into and out of the organization in trying to collect the most talent possible for the short-term and long-term future.