Now that Segura's up, and assuming he sticks, the lineup for tonight's game is pretty much what it's going to be next year (insert Lucroy instead of Maldonado). Got me thinking about what we need for next season, and how much we have to spend.

Just using players on the roster or in the system.

C Lucroy - $750K
1B Hart - $10M
2B Weeks - $10M
3B Ramirez - $10M
SS Segura - $500K (rookie)
LF Braun - $8.5M
CF Gomez - $4M? (arbitration)
RF Aoki - $1.25M

B Maldonado - $500 (pre-arb)
B Ransom - $750K? (not sure about his contract)
B Green - $500 (pre-arb)
B Schafer - $500K (rookie)
B Gamel - $750 (pre-arb)

Ransom makes for a decent, cheap utility infielder. I could see them resigning him. Green and Schafer aren't guaranteed spots. Gamel is just a hunch, but personally I like to see him traded for a starting pitcher. Bench needs upgrading.

SP Gallardo - $7.75M
SP Estrada - $2M (arbitration)
SP Narveson - $1.5M (arbitration)
SP Fiers - $500K (pre-arb)
SP Thornburg/Rogers/Peralta - $500K

That's a lot of youth and mediocrity. I would imagine the team will look for at least one starter. Maybe two.

RP Axford - $750K (pre-arb)
RP
RP
RP
RP
RP
RP

Livan's a free agent, probably signs somewhere for about $1M. Of course KRod is a free agent. Neither will be back. Veras and Loe will get over $2M in arbitration, Parra around $1.5M. I could see all three being non-tendered, maybe not Parra. So who knows who will be in the bullpen. Let's put a budget of $14M to fill those spots.

That would put this payroll around $75M.

I think we have to add at least one good starter. There's not much as far as free agents go. Anibal Sanchez would probably make the most sense for us. A four-year deal worth about $13 per season would probably be what it would take, over-paying by a year.

I think it's more likely a trade is made. Just like two years ago with Greinke. Someone good with about two years of control left. James Shields, who has two years at $9M & $12M, fits the bill. A package of Peralta, Gamel, and Khris Davis?

Nice break down. I think Melvin will be given $20 million to "play" with to fill holes he wants to fill with FA's. I see a lot of current AAA and AA guys being fillers next year. That's not to say that this team will be unwatchable, no no, I think they'll be better than this year. I'd say .500 or slightly due to Ax and Weeks being back to normal, the pen can't be much worse overall, and I think the SS position will be fine for years to come.

Pretty excited about next year.

That's a great breakdown, you've pretty much got what we'll be going into next year with the understanding that there'll be some moves made to sure up. Maybe 15-20 mil to sure up the rest of the bullpen and add a starter or two.

That $10 million on a starter could very well go to Marcum. That would then push Thornburg/Peralta/Rogers to the swingman position, leaving about $5 million to fill 5 bullpen slots.

If you make a trade for James Shields, for instance, that takes care of your entire available cash, and you still need to fill about 4 bullpen slots at VERY cheap cost.

The payroll may not be the main issue though for the team because if the top of the rotation is Gallardo/Marcum/Shields and an offense that will have a rookie, 2 vets on the wrong side of 32 years old, and 2 other players on the downside of their primes, a decrease in payroll and rebuild is probably in order.

That's what you think? Sweet, no rebuild apparently!

They even rip on you at brewerfan now, too. That's impressive

The $75M payroll before adding another starter INCLUDES $14M to fill the other bullpen spots. So the Brewers should have about $25-30M to spend. And pitching is the only thing that

"2 vets on the wrong side of 32, and 2 other players on the downside of their primes "

Not sure who you are talking about here. Ramirez will be the only player in the lineup that is over 32 next year. Aoki and Hart will be 31, Weeks 30 and Braun 29. A rebound year from Weeks is crucial, but there hasn't been major production drop-off from Hart or Braun and Aoki is better than we were expecting.

Can you at least get facts straight before you post your asinine comments?

Oh no, I called out fakey. He will go running to the moderator screaming "They were mean to me!" and get me banned. Time to get a new account!

Lets call it the wrong side of 30 and call it even.

Hart has lost value due to his position change and I agree about Weeks.

The facts still remain the same though: the 2013 Brewers will struggle to reach .500 without a big time pitcher in the rotation and big production from those guys 30 and over. Pretty soon they will look like this years Phillies minus the good pitching.

No, let's not call it even. You were wrong, you don't know what you're talking about, and you need to admit it.

Yes, I admit that I was wrong. I thought this Brewer team was going to win 87 games this year. I am always way too optimistic about the Brewers and its incredibly disappointing to know that they will be lucky to win 70 this year.

Next year's team should win more than 70, but I wont be fooled again by my unfounded optimism.

They even rip on your "expertise" at brewerfan and they don't take shots at anyone.

Yikes.

Could be worse, the Brewers could have taken Maybin

<<That $10 million on a starter could very well go to Marcum.>>

Ah boy, here we go.

<<If you make a trade for James Shields>>

Sigh. Who will we give up to get him?

SCOUT.

I made the Shields trade suggestion. He fits with just what the Brewers need: Established #2 starter with two years of reasonably cheap ($9M & $12M) team control.

As far as what we would have to give up, with Fiers emergence and the two prospects we picked up from the Angels, the Brewers seem to have enough good pitchers in the minors that they could afford to give up someone like a Peralta. My suggestion was Peralta, Gamel and Khris Davis. Davis is looking like he could be a major league hitter, but he looks to be limited to left field.

Also, I don't think there's any team that is going to give Marcum $10M. And because of injury concerns, he's not likely to get a multi-year deal from anyone.

$7-8M? Someone will likely go there. I don't think it will be the Brewers, though.

Oh my, if any team gives Marcum $10 million they should be contracted. $7 million tops for him although I wouldn't surprised if the Brewers offered him that kind of deal.

Also, I wouldn't give up much to get Shields. I like Willy (hahaahahaha) so he's a no go, same with Fiers.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Brewers offered Marcum a 1 year deal worth around 7 million, or even a 2 year deal (less likely) from 10-15 million.

He will not get 10 mil on the open market for 1 year, unless a team is really desperate, due to his injury history. A's tried to do it with Sheets and it backfired, I don't think teams will take the risk

I am pretty sure Axford will be a super two next season.

I was thinking he might be. Even if he is, I can't see him getting more than $1.1-1.3M with the year he's had.

That sounds about right, and I don't think he'll fight for more. He's got a pretty good attitude.

That's one reason I was never hot on Hall. He always blamed something else for his struggles and never himself, plus the rumors of him "not caring" once he got paid.

Just curious now that the Brewers have turned things around how would everyone feel if instead of going after free agents the Brewers focus on resigning their current free agents to cheaper deals. If they could sign Marcum , Krod and Gonzalez to severely discounted deals and maybe sign one or two free agent relievers would you feel fine going into nice season?