Brewers 2025 Discussion - Frelick Activated, Black Sent Down

[MVP2110]

I'm curious as to the why this trade happened

Did they get bad news on Cortes or another pitcher and were desperate for a Starting pitching option, in which case this is probably not a good trade

Or did they specifically target Priester for a reason because of something they saw and were willing to pay a big price to get him, in which case I trust the Brewers when it comes to this kind of stuff

So without knowing the why behind this trade, I'm just TBD on it

[Kerb Hohl]

I'm curious as to the why this trade happened

Did they get bad news on Cortes or another pitcher and were desperate for a Starting pitching option, in which case this is probably not a good trade

Or did they specifically target Priester for a reason because of something they saw and were willing to pay a big price to get him, in which case I trust the Brewers when it comes to this kind of stuff

So without knowing the why behind this trade, I'm just TBD on it

My guess knowing the Brewers is both. Maybe not a risk they'd want to take generally and they'd rather just keep the pick/Yophery as a future lotto ticket, but depth/injury forced their hand...but they are too smart to just say, "uhhh, we just need a guy that can throw a ball and we'll give you whatever you want!"

[Kerb Hohl]

Looking at the Pipeline list, they have Yophery at #7. In August I had him at #13, below Gassser, Payne, Areinamo, Adams, Hunt, and Wilken. Today I'd add Pena, Bitonti, Henderson, Yoho, and Letson. So he's more of a late-teens kind of prospect IMO with no specific skills to hang his hat on.

It's the Comp A pick that hurts.

Same. Hate giving up the pick, but if he ends up being a solid 3-4 starter think its probably worth it. Plus team controlled for a while if is solid.

Realistically Cortes, Quintana and Civale are probably gone after this year. Woodruff could go either way. Who does that leave…Peralta, Myers, Priester, Patrick? At this point can’t trust DL Hall or Ashby staying in the field.

I guess I'd include Gasser in there but who knows if he ever gets it back or if it's almost 2027 before he's at full strength.

[ReasonablySober]

Calling Yophery a lottery ticket is doing him a disservice. He was one of the very youngest players state-side last year and more than held his own. I feel comfortable saying he'll at least be a jack of all trades, master of none when he's called up in two or three years. He doesn't have a sky high ceiling, but he's also got a very high floor. He'll likely be a solid regular.

The Comp A pick is a first rounder. Whoever the Red Sox take there will likely immediately join their top 15 prospects.

I don't consider either lotto picks. Especially in the way Jace Avina (28th) or Brian Sanchez (UR) were.

[Kerb Hohl]

Calling Yophery a lottery ticket is doing him a disservice. He was one of the very youngest players state-side last year and more than held his own. I feel comfortable saying he'll at least be a jack of all trades, master of none when he's called up in two or three years. He doesn't have a sky high ceiling, but he's also got a very high floor. He'll likely be a solid regular.

The Comp A pick is a first rounder. Whoever the Red Sox take there will likely immediately join their top 15 prospects.

I don't consider either lotto picks. Especially in the way Jace Avina (28th) or Brian Sanchez (UR) were.

A jack of all trades, master of none...it's nice to have those guys as depth in your system, but you can also just sign a veteran for cheap if you're desperate, or probably just develop another in your own system.

You didn't really like the Bauers deal if memory serves. I agree these guys (the pick included) have a higher ceiling, which probably correlates with the fact that Priester does have the upside as a rotation guy whereas Bauers was hoped to be barely above replacement as a platoon/bench bat.

[ReasonablySober]

You didn't really like the Bauers deal if memory serves.

And I was right. Bauers is the very definition of a replacement player. Instead of trading prospects they could have signed virtually anyone off the FA scrap heap and gotten better production.

[Kerb Hohl]

You didn't really like the Bauers deal if memory serves.

And I was right. Bauers is the very definition of a replacement player. Instead of trading prospects they could have signed virtually anyone off the FA scrap heap and gotten better production.

It all depends on need/what those guys become, but it's pretty insignificant.

Avina is likely never going to do anything. We'll see on Sanchez. We've proven that you can (probably) get a low-impact guy like this for nothing. They probably wanted Bauers for whatever they saw, control, etc. vs. a scrap heap guy so they spent a low prospect cost to get him.

We'll probably have the same discussion about somebody trading for Yophery to fill depth 5 years from now vs signing some washed MLB guy that wasn't signed in a given offseason.

[Thunder Muscle]

Is this the pick we got for losing Adames? Or for being a small market?

Update: Looks like the small market pick which was #33. Adames compensation pick is #32 overall.

[Brewster]

Is this the pick we got for losing Adames? Or for being a small market?

Update: Looks like the small market pick which was #33. Adames compensation pick is #32 overall.

I'm thinking Brewers didn't care about the Comp A pick since they know they'll be getting a Comp B pick for not being able to sign Chris Levonas.

[MVP2110]

I sort of wonder if the trade for Priester is to future proof the rotation. We see NFL teams do this all the time during the draft, drafting for future needs. With Woody, Cortes, Civale, & Quintana all hitting FA & Freddy entering his final year, it makes some sense to add a guy who you think can be a mainstay in your rotation in 2026

[ReasonablySober]

I sort of wonder if the trade for Priester is to future proof the rotation. We see NFL teams do this all the time during the draft, drafting for future needs. With Woody, Cortes, Civale, & Quintana all hitting FA & Freddy entering his final year, it makes some sense to add a guy who you think can be a mainstay in your rotation in 2026

The upper levels lack potential no-doubt top of the rotation talent, but they do have a bunch of guys who project to at least be mid to back-end starters. I'm thinking Logan Henderson, K.C. Hunt, and Carlos F. Rodriguez. Maybe Tate Kuehner and Evan McKendry. Put some combination of them with Ashby, Hall, Patrick, Gasser, Myers, and now Priester and I think there's a good amount of options in 2026 and beyond.

[Thunder Muscle]

I do find it funny how majority of the fans are losing their minds when majority have probably never seen Rodriguez nor Priester play before. It does on paper seem like an overpay but its not like its an absolute no brainer awful deal either. Priester could help now and next 5 years.

Are there any updates on Ashby or DL Hall? I kind of had high hopes for Hall after his return from injury last season. Seems like Hall may be out awhile yet.

I didn’t realize Tyler Black is out 6-8 weeks.

Nick Mears is eligible to come off IL tomorrow.

Perkins may be cleared for live hitting soon but likely a month out yet.

[ReasonablySober]

I do find it funny how majority of the fans are losing their minds when majority have probably never seen Rodriguez nor Priester play before. It does on paper seem like an overpay but its not like its an absolute no brainer awful deal either. Priester could help now and next 5 years.

Are there any updates on Ashby or DL Hall? I kind of had high hopes for Hall after his return from injury last season. Seems like Hall may be out awhile yet.

I didn’t realize Tyler Black is out 6-8 weeks.

Nick Mears is eligible to come off IL tomorrow.

Perkins may be cleared for live hitting soon but likely a month out yet.

I'd bet that a lot of people have seen Priester but don't remember him. He's made more appearances against Milwaukee (three) than against any other opponent. He had 16 strikeouts in 16 innings but also walked seven.

[MVP2110]

Specifically looking at this from what they gave up, this is the Brewers most aggresibe trade in 5 or 6 years right? The Trent Grisham/Zach Davies for Luis Urias/Eric Lauer deal was probably the last trade where we gave up a significant young piece in a deal that I can remember.

[Matches Malone]

Read on Twitter

[ReasonablySober]

Warm body depth in the minors. Glad Mark could get that cash, though!

[Turk Nowitzki]

Cameron is probably more to add someone for AAA than the big league club. He hasn't ever really put it all together as a pro.

[Turk Nowitzki]

It's funny (but not really) how every move we make keeps making the Shane Smith thing look worse.

[ReasonablySober]

Law:

On what Quinn Priester needs to improve with the Brewers
Priester’s issue is that his four-seamer is a batting-practice fastball at this point. Hitters just destroy it. He went more sinker-heavy last year, and it helped a little, but he’s still way too north-south, with no pitch that moves much horizontally and an approach that lets hitters creep up and focus on the central part of the zone. The curveball could be an out-pitch for him and he has feel for a changeup. The Brewers have done well with pitching development lately, and I would expect them to add or alter a pitch for Priester so he can start for them.

Law on the Red Sox’s return
Rodriguez has significant upside as a hitter, with bat speed and potentially plus power down the road, but right now, he’s a hacker at the plate, and I think better pitching, even this year in High A, might eat him alive. The extra draft pick is probably just as valuable, given how deep this year’s college class seems to be.

Won't be surprised if Priester makes his one start out of necessity and then goes straight to AAA.

[MVP2110]

Law:

On what Quinn Priester needs to improve with the Brewers
Priester’s issue is that his four-seamer is a batting-practice fastball at this point. Hitters just destroy it. He went more sinker-heavy last year, and it helped a little, but he’s still way too north-south, with no pitch that moves much horizontally and an approach that lets hitters creep up and focus on the central part of the zone. The curveball could be an out-pitch for him and he has feel for a changeup. The Brewers have done well with pitching development lately, and I would expect them to add or alter a pitch for Priester so he can start for them.

Law on the Red Sox’s return
Rodriguez has significant upside as a hitter, with bat speed and potentially plus power down the road, but right now, he’s a hacker at the plate, and I think better pitching, even this year in High A, might eat him alive. The extra draft pick is probably just as valuable, given how deep this year’s college class seems to be.

Won't be surprised if Priester makes his one start out of necessity and then goes straight to AAA.

That seems likely. The more I look at this trade the more I think it's a long term move. If everyone gets healthy he's probably our #7 or #8 option as a Starter. He'll make starts this year I'm sure but I think this is more for 2026 & beyond