It Really Happened. Yelich Gets Breaded Up

Never thought it was going to happen. No way, Yeli isn't going to sign an extension to stay in Milwaukee because he is too good. The Brewers will have to trade him the year before he hits free agency or half way through that season. Then he will hit free agency to cash in a huge payday ala Harper, Machado, Cole and what Betts figures to get next offseason. But then the Ken Rosenthal tweet came at 3:14pm on Tuesday March 3rd. It will become a "where were you when the news broke of the Yelich extension?"

BREAKING: Yelich, #Brewers close on $200M-plus deal, sources tell The Athletic. Story: https://t.co/wCK3eSMkt8

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 3, 2020

I had just gotten back to the office after a meeting with a customer, got myself my customary afternoon cup of coffee sat down at my desk, and boom there it was. I had to do a double take and make sure it had the blue check mark and that I wasn't getting duped by a fake Rosenthal account. It was pure excitement and joy. Christian Yelich is really going to sign a long term extension with the Brewers to stay in Milwaukee for essentially the rest of his career. A nine year contract through 2028 worth $215 mill with a mutual option for 2029 became official on Friday March 6th at a presser with Yelich, Stearns and Attanasio. Get ready to book a vacation in Cooperstown sometime in July roughly between the years 2034-2038 for the induction ceremony.

You know the resume by now, but let's just go through it because it's so awesome. 2018 NL MVP (should have been 2019 as well, was robbed), two NL Batting Titles, two NL All-Star games, three NL OF Silver Sluggers, NL Gold Glove, All-MLB First Team (19'). Career slash line of .301/.383/.492 w/ 139 HR, 124 SB, 137 OPS+, 33.6 WAR. When the Brewers traded for Yeli in January 2018 we all knew we were getting a really good player, with a ton of potential to be even better. And he has tapped into every bit of that potential his first two years in Milwaukee becoming the best player in the NL and pretty much the second best player in all of baseball only behind Mike Trout.

He loves Milwaukee, he has said that in countless interviews and wrote that tremendous piece in the Players Tribune before the 2018 playoff run. He wanted to be here and we now get to enjoy the ride as we watch a future Hall of Famer day in and day for many summers to come. He's a special player and a special person. I have all the faith in David Stearns, the entire front office and Craig Counsell that they will all do whatever they can to put a good team around him every season so that at some point during this contract they bring a World Series Championship to the state of Wisconsin. It is going to be a great nine plus years, so excited to go on this journey.

Freddy Gets Breaded Up

The five year contract extension and two team options that could keep Freddy Peralta a Brewer through the 2026 season seems like a win for both parties. Freddy has now set his family up for life with a guaranteed $15.5 mill and the opportunity to add another $14.5 mill if the two options years are picked up by the Brewers. The Brewers lock up a very talented, young (23 yo) pitcher who's role is not defined yet but has shown great flashes as both a starting pitcher and reliever. And for Freddy, if he strives over the next seven years in either role or a combination he will be a free agent again at age 30 and have a chance to cash in one more time for a payday.

For the Brewers this seemed like an absolute no brainer. To lock up a young player with the potential of Freddy Peralta at this kind of cost there is hardly any risk. If he is only mildly effective or worse he flames out you are only out $15.5 mill, that is not going to sink your ship by any means. If he strives as either a starter or a high leverage reliever they will have a steal of a deal. For Freddy there is no doubt he could end up leaving quite a bit of money on the table if he fully realizes the potential of the flashes he has shown in both roles. But now knowing he is going to make the club in some fashion could be just what he needs to relax and just go out there and shove and be the pitcher we all hope he can be. That security can he huge for some players.

For me, I still think I like Freddy best as a high leverage, relief ace type pitcher. A right handed Josh Hader perhaps if they can use Peralta in the same way they use Hader. His stuff overall has ticked up from 2018 to 2019, but it really seemed he was able to let it go when coming out of the pen in smaller bursts than trying to go deep into games as a starter. But I will gladly say I was wrong if this new slider Freddy is throwing is legit and he can be a reliable starter for the Brewers, we know he can flash that with his big league debut for the Rockies on Mother's Day in 2018 and his gem he tossed against the Reds in April of 2019. But to truly breakout and have consistent success in either role he will have to improve on his current career 4.2/BB9. He gets a lot of swings and misses in the zone, he just has to keep throwing it in the zone and master his command.

Episode 59 "John Axford Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Gomez Extension 0:00-16
Break
The Bench 16:00-28:00
Break
Most Impressive Camp Players 28:00-40:00
Break
Around The NL Central 40:00-47:00

Episode 53 "Victor Santos Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Randy Wolf Released! 0:00-16:00
Break
Corey Hart Wants To Stay, Is It Possible? 16:00-33:00
Break
Axford Back In Closer Role 33:00-47:00
Break
Preview/Around NL Central/Chalet Award Winner 47:00-1:03:00

Better Than Estrada, Brewers Lock Up Lucroy

The last time the Brewers had a home grown catching prospect as the opening day starter? 1998. Mike Matheny was a home grown Brewers prospect but he might be more known for his time as a Cardinal and was gone after 5 years. Before that, B.J. Surhoff in 1993.

They changed that Monday by locking up home grown prospect Jonathon Lucroy for 5 years/$11 MM (depending on Super Two status), buying out all of his arbitration years and a club option for a 6th year (first free agency year). And giving the Brewers someone better than Johnny Estrada for at least half a decade.

It’s true Lucroy has not been the Brewers starter on Opening Day for either of his two years of starting, but he was been the Brewers regular catcher. Gregg Zaun only started for a few weeks, Wil Nieves will holding a spot while Lucroy came back from injury.

Since coming into the Major League’s Lucroy has given the Brewers’ something they haven’t had in over a decade. They’ve had their ace, their home run hitter, their MVP candidates but not a young every day starter behind home plate.

Luc definitely has to guarantee some important attributes for the Brew Crew as an organization. While Lucroy’s bat still may be developing, he is an amazingly good defensively. His ability to frame pitches has been very well publicized. Rough statistics on the run saving abilities of framing pitches showed Lucroy was THE BEST catcher the last two years at getting extra outs. Luc’s ability to get the extra outs on the edge of the strike zone is just as important as having a Short Stop with range and defensive ability. After all where does the battle to get on base start? Home plate, and Lucroy’s goal is to leave them there.

Aside from his ability to frame pitches, he has also been one of the best in the normal defensive metric scales. He allowed the least passed balls last year, allowed the 5^th least stolen bases and was in the top 10 at successfully catching those base runners. Lucroy does exactly what you want, calls a clean game and doesn’t let runners get the extra bases other catchers may let them steal through extra balls and stolen bases. The difference between an out and a runner in scoring position can mean the game at the end of the day. All those attributes combined leave Luc with the 4^th best cERA in 2011.

While it’s true that Luc has not been the bat we expected while he was in the minors, he is still only two seasons in. Despite small drops in average and on base percentage, he has shown long streaks where he was producing at that top notch that turned him into the Brewer’s top prospect behind the plate and first long term option behind the plate in over a decade. It’s still a young career and more patience when batting should turn Luc into the bat we saw in the minors.

Knowing you have a catcher that will probably always have a positive WAR, the same person learning how the same pitchers operate off the mound, and defending the bases almost as well as anyone else, Lucroy will give the Brewers at least 4 more years of reliability behind the plate. Something they haven’t had for over a decade. I guarantee one thing and one thing only… he will be better than Johnny Estrada was for the Brewers.

-Brad

VFBC Podcast Episode 39 "Chris Capuano Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Infield Preview 0:00-20:00

Break
Outfield Preview 21:00-37:00
Break
Possible Greinke & Axford Extensions? 38:00-52:00
Break
News & Notes 53:00-59:00

VFBC Podcast Episode 37 "Jeff Suppan Edition"

Breakdown of The Show:

Brewers Top Prospects Lists 0:00-21:40

Break
Guest Interview: Adam Rygg of Brewer Nation 22:50-57:00
Break
Zack Greinke Extension? Maybe 57:45-1:10

Listener/Reader Poll Results

"Who should be the Brewers #1 contract extension candidate?"

Zack Greinke: 71%

Shaun Marcum: 14%

John Axford: 14%

Listener Poll Results

"Do you like the Ryan Braun contract extension through 2020?"

Yes: 100%

No: 0%

VFBC Podcast Episode 10

Breakdown of The Show:

Intro/Ryan Braun Extension :00-15:52
Break
Week Recap (Philles/Astros Series)16:55-31:48
Break
Roster Moves That Happened and Are Coming 32:55-42:42
Break
News and Notes/Preview (Reds/Astros Series) 43:56-51:27

Ryan Braun Now Officially A New Generations Robin Yount

When I heard the news today while sitting in my cubicle at work the first thing I thought of was that Ryan Braun will most likely finish his career with the Milwaukee Brewers. Which will make my hope of Braun becoming a new generations Robin Yount come true. It is so rare in this day and age of sports for an athlete to spend their entire career with one club. This 5 year extension for Braun through 2020 (mutual option for 2021) makes that very realistic. The deal seems pretty good for the club as well as Braun. Although there is a risk anytime you give any player a deal for this length of time and dollar amount, as GM Doug Melvin said in the press conference today, you only do this type of deal for special players. Like Robin Yount before him, Ryan Braun is indeed a special player. No doubt in my mind he is worthy of this type of investment. I just hope that one day like Yount, Braun's #8 is retired into the rafters at Miller Park and that we Brewers fans get to witness a 3,000 hit or a 500th HR.

We will break the deal down much more in depth on episode 10 of the podcast this coming Monday night. Available on the site here as well as iTunes on Tuesday.

What A Way To Kick Off Camp: Brewers, Weeks Agree On 4 Year Extension

On the day that the Cardinals were unable to come to terms on a contract extension with Albert Pujols at his "deadline" and the Brewers pitchers and catchers reported to camp, the Brewers were able to sign 2B Rickie Weeks to a contract extension. A nice club friendly 4 year extension worth $38.5 mill with a club option for a 5th year and escalators that could make it worth $50 mill for Rickie.

I personally love this deal. The Brewers buy out Weeks last arbitration season and at least his first 3 free agents seasons and maybe a 4th. I have been a big fan of Rickie's for some time now so I had hoped they would be able to get this extension done. He's a very fun player to watch, always plays at 110% and plays with more intensity than maybe anybody in baseball. To me he is a poor man's Rickey Henderson from the leadoff spot (minus all the stolen bases, but he should run more with Roenicke at the helm). I no doubt understand the concern from some people about Rickie's issues with staying healthy. He has only played more than 140 games twice in his career.

But to me, he is worth the risk on this deal and will be much more of a reward for the Brewers. When he was healthy last season he showed how good and productive he can be. He has also drastically improved his defense at 2B from where he was a few years ago. He is a player who continues to work hard to improve and is just hitting his prime. I think he is already a top five 2B in all of MLB, only trailing Cano, Utley, Pedroia and maybe Uggla. With Prince Fielder all but gone after the 2011 season it is nice to know that the Brewers have three fantastic hitters locked up for the long term; Braun, Hart and now Weeks.

Alex, Brad and Myself will have more thoughts on this when we record episode 1 of the VFBC podcast this coming Monday night the 21st.

Reader Poll Results

"Should the Brewers extend Rickie Weeks?"

Yes: 93% (15 Votes)

No: 6% (1 Vote)

I Did Not See That Coming

I was pretty shocked when sitting at work today in my cubicle I got an email from Brewers.com that simply read:

"Corey Hart and Brewers agree to contract extension"

Really? Corey Hart? The guy myself and many other Brewers fans speculated for a few months now would be traded this season because his value was high and the Brewers had no shot to extend him before he hit free agency? Yes, that Corey Hart. I was fine and on board with trading Hart if the Brewers could bring back a good, young, big league ready pitcher for their rotation. But that never happened, and I am glad Doug Melvin did not settle for anything. Hart wanted to stay here and he got his wish and was rewarded for a stellar 2010 so far (.288/.346/.565 23 HR 72 RBI) and a 2nd All-Star appearance with a 3 year $26.5 mill deal.

I like the deal. It's only 3 years and it's not to high of a price for a productive corner OF. With Fielder all but gone after this season, it would have been tough to replace both he and Hart's offensive output. Now they will only have to replace Fielder. And they are already getting prepared for that by giving Mat Gamel some starts at 1B down in AAA. Good move for Hart and a good move for the Brewers.

VFBC Podcast: Brewers Ink Gallardo To 5 Year Extension

VFBC Podcast: Prince Fielder Contract Extension Real Possible

Reader Poll Results

"Should the Brewers offer Dave Bush a contract extension after this season?"

Yes, a 3 year deal: 69% (9 Votes)

Yes, a 4 year deal: 7% (1 Vote)

No: 7% (1 Vote)

Not till after his final arby year: 15% (2 Votes)

Reader Poll Results

"Do you want Mike Cameron back in CF for the Brewers in 2010?"

Yes, another 1 year deal: 42% (3 Votes)

Yes, on a 2+ year deal: 28% (2 Votes)

No: 28% (2 Votes)

Ryan Braun Locked Up! Signs 7-year $45 Million Contract Extension

I don't even want to get into last nights awful loss when we blew the lead. And I certainly don't want to talk about today's loss when Ben Sheets pitched his first poor game of the season after getting lit up in the 7th inning. Today it's all about the franchise of the Milwaukee Brewers, my favorite current Brewers player LF Ryan Braun. Today Owner Mark Attanasio and General Managers Doug Melvin/Gord Ash made a huge and very important move for the future of this great franchise when they locked up Braun for 7 more years after this season. Braun will be a Brewer until at least 2015. This deal will take Braun through his prime and will probably end up looking like a steal in the end since the Brewers were able to buy out his arbitration and a few years of free agency. This made me very happy and trumps the shittiness of today's game. Now I do hope the Brewers are still able to re-sign Prince Fielder at some point, but if I could only sign one of the two there is not a single doubt in my mind Braun would be the choice. While I like Fielder and think he will be a very good player and multiple time All-Star in this league, I think Braun has that special talent that only comes around once in awhile and could be a Hall of Fame type player. Look what he did in his rookie year, one of the best in the history of the game and so far this season off to a another strong start. And I think he will be the last Brewer to wear #8 as it will be retired up in the rafters someday with the greats of Young, Molitor, Fingers and Aaron. Braun is that good, he has 5-tool ability. He will hit for average, hit the long ball, drive in runs, steal some bases and I think he will be close to a gold glove caliber LF when all is said and done. He has already made some nice catches and throws this season and will only get better at his defense as time goes on. Everything about him screams "superstar" to me and so many others in Brewers Nation. Another reason he was more important to lock up then Prince is because Matt LaPorta another young special talent down in AA is ripping the cover off the ball and is a natural 1B even though he is playing OF in the minors. So what did Braun do on his big day? Well he was only 1-4 but the one hit was his 10th HR this season deep to centerfield. I'm actually excited at the fact that my kids (will probably have one within the next year or two with my soon to be wife) will get to see Braun in a Brewers uniform. A great and historic day in Brewers history now it's off to Boston for the Crew, gonna be a tough 3 game series and just the beginning of a tough 10 game road trip.