News Clips 15.11.15
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Milwaukee Brewers News Clips Tuesday, December 8, 2015 MLB.com • Brewers open to offers for Lucroy, but trade would hurt • Brewers have 2 claimed; M’s looking at Lind? • Rivera, Hader make Fall League Top Prospects Team • Brewers add Subero, Lane to coaching staff • Denson receives MiLB Presidential Citation Journal Sentinel • Brewers seem reluctant to trade Jonathan Lucroy • Report: Mariners interested in Adam Lind • Brewers complete coaching staff with Carlos Subero, Jason Lane • Brewers prospect David Denson honored at winter meetings • Brewers lose two players to waiver claims CBS Sports • Rumor buy or sell: Brewers ‘listening’ on Jonathan Lucroy MiLB.com • Brewers’ Denson receives MiLB citation OnMilwaukee.com • A Brewers fan guide to the MLB Winter Meetings Sun Herald • Shuckers manager promoted to Brewers staff http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/159056918/brewers-open-to-trading-jonathan-lucroy Brewers open to offers for Lucroy, but trade would hurt By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | December 7, 2015 NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- To trade catcher Jonathan Lucroy, or rebuild the franchise around him? That question seems to be dividing fans and executives alike as the Brewers brainstorm their options at these Winter Meetings. The same factors that make Lucroy the Brewers' most valuable remaining trade chip also form the basis for an argument he should stay. He ranked fourth in National League MVP balloting in 2014, before a dramatic dip in production during an injury-plagued 2015. He has one of the game's club-friendliest contracts, calling for a modest $4 million salary next season with a $5.25 million option for 2017. He is a solid game-caller and pitch-framer equally capable of handling the experienced arms of a contender or the unproven ones of a rebuilder. "We need more Jonathan Lucroy-type players," Brewers general manager David Stearns said Monday. "Not less." Yet the Brewers are listening to trade offers for Lucroy, who has long been a target of teams like the Atlanta Braves and lately has drawn more interest from the Texas Rangers and others. One rival executive told Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network and FOX Sports that he considers Lucroy one of the game's best bounceback candidates, blaming his offensive dip on the broken toe and concussion that shortened Lucroy's 2015 season, and the slip of some defensive metrics on the Brewers' all-rookie starting rotation by season's end. Stearns said that, at the moment, the Brewers are more likely to keep Lucroy than to trade him. "Probably, yeah," Stearns said. "We are still open to discussing any number of players on our roster, but as I've said from the opening press conference, Jonathan Lucroy is a really good player. He provides a tremendous amount of value to the organization, and he is a reason why we can be better next year." In the event that stance changes, the Brewers are expected to fortify the catcher position via Minor League free agency. Lucroy and backup Martin Maldonado are the only catchers on the 40-man roster. "As of this moment, our catching depth is 'Luc' and 'Maldy,'" Stearns said. "We've got a duo in the Major Leagues right now that is probably one of the best twosomes in terms of overall production that's out there. We feel pretty comfortable with those two behind the plate. http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/159034722/brewers-lose-two-players-amid-adam-lind-rumors Brewers have 2 claimed; M’s looking at Lind? By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | December 7, 2015 NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Brewers cleared two more 40-man roster spots on Monday amid reports of trade talks with the Mariners regarding Adam Lind, raising the possibility of a busy Winter Meetings week ahead for rookie general manager David Stearns. The Marlins claimed left-hander Mike Strong off waivers and the Dodgers claimed outfielder Daniel Fields, reducing to 35 the number of players on Milwaukee's 40-man roster. One of those 35 is Lind, a left-handed hitter coming off a 20-homer season and entering the final year of his contract, making him a prime candidate to be the next player dealt as part of Milwaukee's organizational rebuild. Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network and FOX Sports reported that the Brewers and Mariners had discussed a deal. Lind has been one of the Brewers' top trade chips since the team exercised his $8 million club option for 2016. He will be a free agent at season's end. The Pirates are another team actively shopping for a first baseman. While Stearns declined to discuss specific rumors or reports, he said, "Day 1 of the Winter Meetings is often a time where you're laying the groundwork and reconnecting on discussions you've had previously, and that's what we did today. We're actively involved on a couple of discussions. I think we made progress on a couple of them today. Frankly, we probably went backwards on a couple of them today, too. But that happens. "This has been a very active offseason from, really, the moment the offseason ended. People are very willing to talk about their players, very open to discussing various ideas, and that certainly continued today." Third base and center field are the most obvious needs for the Brewers at the moment, though a recent trade with the Astros for infielder Jonathan Villar provided one option for third base. If talks with the Mariners progress, one potential match is first baseman/third baseman D.J. Peterson, a 23-year-old, former first-round Draft pick who ranks third on MLBPipeline.com's list of Seattle's top prospects. He has lived up to pre-Draft expectations, but came out of college in 2013 with the sort of power that would play well at Miller Park. As for center field, Stearns said the Brewers are looking at trade and free-agent options to fill center field until prospect Brett Phillips, No. 2 on MLBPipeline's list of the top Brewers prospects, is ready to take over. "We have an aim to complement our current group of outfielders, and one of the areas that needs a complement is someone who's probably more comfortable in center field than what we have right now," Stearns said. Did the Brewers' 40-man roster subtractions suggest that additions were imminent? "We are certainly working on things that would consume roster spots," he said. "Whether they happen or not, I can't predict at this point. "There is some strategy in how you look at your roster and when is the appropriate time to make space and try to get guys through," Stearns said. "Generally, when teams potentially are holding a space or two for the Rule 5 Draft, is not a bad time to get guys through. In this case, obviously, we had two guys who were claimed." Strong once ranked among MLBPipeline.com's Top 20 Brewers prospects and was added to Milwaukee's 40-man roster in November 2014 after appearing in the prospect-rich Arizona Fall League. He endured a poor big league camp (seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings over three Cactus League games) and was 5-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 50 appearances (one start) between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2015. Fields was only Brewers property for less than three months. Milwaukee claimed him off waivers from Detroit on Sept. 10. http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/159016058/arizona-fall-league-unveils-top-prospects-team Rivera, Hader make Fall League Top Prospects Team By Andrew Simon / MLB.com | December 7, 2015 The Arizona Fall League revealed its 2015 Top Prospects Team on Monday, recognizing players who distinguished themselves during the league's six-week schedule. Fall League managers and coaches voted for the team, considering both performance and Major League projectability. The Fall League features top prospects from every organization in Major League Baseball. Nearly 2,500 AFL participants have reached the Majors, including 231 All-Stars, 15 Most Valuable Player Award winners and six Cy Young Award winners. 2015 Top Prospects Team Catchers Gary Sanchez, Surprise Saguaros (Yankees) Willson Contreras, Mesa Solar Sox (Cubs) First basemen Sam Travis, Scottsdale Scorpions (Red Sox) Dominic Smith, Salt River Rafters (Mets) Second basemen Carlos Asuaje, Scottsdale Scorpions (Padres) Chad Pinder, Mesa Solar Sox (A's) Third basemen Jeimer Candelario, Mesa Solar Sox (Cubs) Patrick Wisdom, Surprise Saguaros (Cardinals) Shortstops Yadiel Rivera, Surprise Saguaros (Brewers) Christian Arroyo, Scottsdale Scorpions (Giants) Outfielders Adam Engel, Glendale Desert Dogs (White Sox) Raimel Tapia, Salt Lake Rafters (Rockies) Mac Williamson, Scottsdale Scorpions (Giants) Clint Frazier, Scottsdale Scorpions (Indians) Jacob Scavuzzo, Glendale Desert Dogs (Dodgers) Daniel Palka, Salt River Rafters (Twins) Designated hitters Rowdy Tellez, Salt River Rafters (Blue Jays) Jurickson Profar, Surprise Saguaros (Rangers) Starting pitchers Sean Manaea, Mesa Solar Sox (A's) Josh Hader, Surprise Saguaros (Brewers) Relief pitchers Tanner Scott, Peoria Javelinas (Orioles) Nick Burdi, Scottsdale Scorpions (Twins) http://m.brewers.mlb.com/news/article/159003468/carlos-subero-jason-lane-brewers-coaches Brewers add Subero, Lane to coaching staff By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com | December 7, 2015 NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Brewers filled out their Major League coaching staff Monday with a promotion and an intriguing new hire when they named Carlos Subero first-base coach and former big league hitter-turned-pitcher Jason Lane to another opening. Subero, who formerly served as the manager at Double-A Biloxi, has never played or coached in the Major Leagues, aside from a brief callup in September. He will oversee Brewers infielders in addition to his in-game duties at first base.