Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - Cardinals Struggle as the Brewers THRIVE—Can St. Louis RECOVER or Will Milwaukee REIGN?

Starting point is 00:00:00 After the Cardinals got demolished by 19 games in the division by the Brewers, can St. Louis stormback next season and give Milwaukee a run for their money? Chuck Freeman and I talk about it on today's Locked on Cardinals, Locked on Brewers crossover episode. You are Locked on Cardinals. Your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. How it ended up winning the division by five games by 19 over the Cardinals,

Starting point is 00:00:35 but you know it's going to be a busy offseason for the St. Louis Cardinals. Indeed, for both teams. We'll talk about the needs for both teams as well, and how does the division look going forward? The Brewers have won this division the last several years, but can they do it in 20, 26, and who's coming on strong? You know the Cardinals are going to be there. My name is Chuck Freeman, long-time sportscaster here in the state of Wisconsin,

Starting point is 00:00:55 proud host of Lockdown Brewers, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Now the number one sports podcast network out there, and the reason why we are is, because of J.D. Haffron from Locked-on Cardinals. He is there everything. That's right. It was me. I did it. You're welcome, everybody. Lock-on-Haffron has become the number one podcast out there. And there we go. There we go. I just want to start this off on the right foot with all my Wisconsin people. Understand. Go-Pack. Go. I'm an owner. I'm with you on that. So don't pick on me too much after today's episode. Thank you.

Starting point is 00:01:33 No, no. Our baseball teams might be enemies. We should, we're friends, and we do share the same, like for the same football team, although the, you know, fans aren't too happy with the head coach these days of the Green Bay Packers. Now, that'll be for Lockdown Packers. J.D, the offseason, how's it going for you so far? Pretty quiet. And you and I haven't talked them a little bit. Yeah, it's, I mean, it's quiet across the league, really, outside of the one trade. that just happened between the angels and the Orioles. But things are going to pick up. We know how it gets when the winter meetings start to come together. And we just had the 40-man rosters and the Rule 5 protection stuff go down.

Starting point is 00:02:16 And, you know, all of these things lead you into what's going to happen during the winter meetings, which take place right around like December 10, something like that. So, but no shortage of chatter about our teams and things. I mean, you guys, when it came to that Rule 5, that was the, The big news was, you know, Woodruff accepting his salary and was like, yes, I will go ahead and take that. Some people were surprised by that. Cardinals are one of those teams that everybody is kind of waiting on to make a number of

Starting point is 00:02:48 different moves. We got plenty of pieces that we want to move on from veteran pieces that some can help teams better than others. But there's definitely room for Heinblum to make some noise this offseason. And there's a lot of chatter regarding a guy. who grew up in your farm system, and I think a terrific player, Donovan, a lot of teams would love to have that guy on their team. I'm going to ask you, talk about that coming up here in a little bit.

Starting point is 00:03:12 First of all, the way it ended, 78 and 84, I know you lost those three games to the Cubs to finish off the season. In fact, he lost four in a row to finish it off. 78 and 44, I know we talked about this being a rebuild for the Cardinals. Is that what you about expected, though? I mean, when you see rebuild, you don't think six games below. You think like 16 or 26 below. Yeah, it's, you know, they hate using the word rebuild because it's the Cardinals are not the team that's going to tank to, you know, hit rock bottom and then build it all the way back up. The idea was to, they were using terms like runway and a reset, if you will, because what they want to do is do what the brewers do really, really well is produce their own talent and develop their own stars.

Starting point is 00:03:57 and instead of having to go out and overpay for guys on the free agent market. They wanted to be better at drafting, developing, and specifically in the pitching. I mean, obviously, you won offensive too, but the pitching is really where they've fallen off a cliff with the development side of thing. So last year, it was really about offensively, they wanted guys like Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker, they'd give him a full season. Unfortunately, Walker was hurt multiple times this season and had dismal numbers. there's no one Gorman, didn't really have a place to go because of the other Nolan, Aronado, did not get traded away, which really kind of helped things back because they wanted to open up some lanes on that infield forum. And when Aronado vetoed that trade to the to the Astros,

Starting point is 00:04:44 and then they didn't find any buyers after that, they were kind of stuck with them. And they just kind of clogged things up for where Nolan Gorman could play because of Brennan Donovan being on the team as well and being the team's best second base. basement. So Gorman didn't have anywhere to go. So it wasn't exactly the way they envisioned things when they were going to give him this runway. But he did get a lot of the bats and he didn't do a whole lot with him. So people were pretty disappointed in both what Gorman and Walker brought to the table last year and what was supposed to be their year of growth. And they weren't, they weren't thrilled about it. Well, the Brewers finished 19 games over the St. Louis Cardinals. And I'll tell you what, I don't think, I don't think that's ever going to happen ever again, to be honest with you. I don't see. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I don't. I really don't see it. That's an anomaly there right there. I don't see the Cardinals ever finishing that far off because you guys will be back. I'm always looking over the fans and seeing what you guys are doing. I don't care how many games out. I'm always worried about the Cardinals. Yeah, they've had the history of being that team that's always there. And just the last couple of years,

Starting point is 00:05:48 things have not gone their way. And you know, you would think that we've been sitting in the toilet for, you know, a decade now the way that the fans react to it. They're not showing up to ball games, which, you know, is their right to not be there. But the Brewers are something that the Cardinals are striving to be like. They want to be more like Milwaukee, play that kind of brand of baseball to develop your own talent and make smart moves, you know, when they, the brewers make a move and they trade a guy away, a big name guy, you know, they do it with a purpose. There's a reason behind it.

Starting point is 00:06:19 And so far, it's worked out more times than not for Milwaukee. And I think the cardals want to do that because they've made a lot of mistakes with their trades. But now they've got a new guy in charge in Hyne Bloom. And hopefully he's learned from those mistakes that his predecessor made and won't make them again. Quite a different that you guys are looking over to seeing what the Milwaukee Brewers, because we've always looked over to the St. Louis Cardinals and seen, how can we not be more like them? They're division champs.

Starting point is 00:06:48 They're going to the playoffs every year. lately it's the Brewers that, you know, they own this division and are going to the playoffs. But you guys have had a great history. And that's kind of, it's kind of refreshing to hear that a little bit. I'll be honest with you, J.D. Yeah, you guys have done, you guys have worked really, really hard and done some smart business. And it is shocked me that more Brewers personnel has not been filtered out to the rest of the league where people haven't picked at your guys as rosters in your front office and try to pull things away. And I mean, we know the Cubs did it. It really wasn't the manager we're learning that it was such the smart thing.

Starting point is 00:07:23 It's the whole organization that Milwaukee has that you guys are, you know, you guys are together on this. You guys are in unison about it. And when council left, you guys were like, okay, we'll move on. It's fine. We've got other great guys and great minds ready to rock and look at you go. It's been impressive. And again, when it comes to mid to small market teams, because I would say, you know, it's not

Starting point is 00:07:47 I don't like Milwaukee's small, but, you know, as far as going against L.A. and New York, we know the big dogs. There's a better way and a different way that you have to do things. And the Cardinals have learned that. That for a while, they tried to compete with the payrolls of those guys. They were always in the top 10, but they weren't seeing the results. And, you know, they were, and then without having the player development, the way that they had been used to. Like, they used to be one of the best farm systems in baseball. And then that really fell off. So they had to kind of reignite that and refocus everything to get back to what made the Cardinals really good before, which was what has made the Brewers so good. They've made some smart deals and they keep replenishing their farm system.

Starting point is 00:08:33 When they do send a big guy away, they get some nice pieces back. And you guys are developing your own stars. You're great in the international market, you know, getting guys like Chorio. Like, they're all smart things. And I think a lot of teams that are the size of the Cardinals and the Reds and other guys in the division outside of Chicago, I think that we look at what Milwaukee has put together over the last few years. And you're like, that's how you can do it. This is how you can compete with those big guys. Well, what happens is the regular season, we win with all these bargain base.

Starting point is 00:09:06 But guys, 97 wins this last year. And it's like, we're buying into it. Maybe we don't have to spend a lot of money. Maybe we don't have to go out, making those flashy moves at the trading deadline. Maybe we don't need guys like that. Maybe we don't need a 30 home run, home run hitter. And then the playoffs come and it's like, oh, maybe we do one of those things. But it's funny because you guys dominate the Dodgers in the regular season.

Starting point is 00:09:32 And then the Dodgers, let's be honest, they got hot, they got healthy. They figured some things out. And we all knew that that was the team to beat in the national league. and it's, you know, it's going to take everything going the right way for, for other teams to, to topple those guys because they just got so many really good players, you know, and it's that tough rotation and stuff. Like, unfortunately, we knew it was, it wasn't going to be easy for Milwaukee to compete with, or anybody in the hell, to be honest, it's not just Milwaukee, but anybody to topple those guys

Starting point is 00:10:06 and beat them in a playoff series. it's just it's going to be difficult. So, you know, the Milwaukee, you know, pushed them and at least gave him a bigger fight than, you know, Philly or anything like that. So, you know, I would be proud if I was the Brewers, but at the same time, I think you guys are probably sick of it. Like you're like, no, we need more postseason victories. We need more success in the postseason. It's probably got you guys pretty frustrated. Yeah, you hit it right on the head right there.

Starting point is 00:10:37 I mean, every year. And then same with the regular season. People are like, well, let's see what's going to happen in the postseason. I wanted to buy in. I bought in this past year. And I was like, got kicked into teeth once again. But we move on. NL Central title first for both of our teams,

Starting point is 00:10:54 both the Cardinals and the Brewers. And what are the needs for both teams? We'll talk about that coming up next here on Locked on Brewers. Locked on Brewers, part in the Lockedon Podcast Network, Locked on Cardinals, J.D. Haffron. We're doing a little crossover here today here on lockdown. And today's episode is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account.

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Starting point is 00:12:36 We are your team every day. Locked on Cardinals, J.D. Haffron. now. We're doing a talking about both teams here in the NL Central and the needs for both teams. The Cardinals finished at 78 and 84, 19 behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. What are you looking at here, J.D.? Again, we talked about how it's quiet to start this off season, but moving forward here. Yeah, the Cardinals are going to move some pieces. And it's tough because the couple of the guys they want to move got no trade clauses. so they have the last saying this whole thing. But the ideas that Nolan Aronado has played his last game with the Cardinals,

Starting point is 00:13:15 even had the little sendoff at the end of the season at Bush Stadium where they pulled him off the field and he said goodbye. So it would be really awkward if he was back again this year. Sunny Gray is a name that I think a lot of teams are going to be interested in. He's very expensive, but they're going to be shopping him. And if there's something that fits between some of these other teams that Sunny would be willing to go to, The word is he continues to want to be around the Nashville area where his family's at, which is one of the reasons why I picked St. Louis.

Starting point is 00:13:45 But it seems like the Braves could be a natural fit for that. But also, Wilson Contrera says he's willing to listen, although most of us think that he's going to return, that he's not really blocking anybody at first base. So it's not a need to move on from him. And then Brennan Donovan is the other big name that, as we mentioned at the top of the show, that he is getting a lot of attention for being the ultimate utility guy. You know, he's a guy that just does everything right.

Starting point is 00:14:15 He can play a number of different positions, all four positions on the infield, corner outfield positions that he can do all of this. He's won a gold glove. He was a Silver Slugger finalist this year with Alec Berluson who won the award. So these are some names that the Cardinals are looking to move. and in return try to acquire young controllable pitching. Those are the words that they were really chasing after. We're looking for young controllable pitching to restock

Starting point is 00:14:47 because, as you know, you can never have enough pitching. And if you get too much, then you use those pieces to go get other needs that you might have. So that's kind of what the Cardinals focus is this offseason. First things first would be the Aronado trade. Got to get that out of the way, figure out how much money you have to eat, what you have left over to go spend on any sort of free agency that you want to spend it on. Will Sonny Gray get moved? Because that's a huge chunk of money.

Starting point is 00:15:11 He's set to make $35 million this year. It's crazy. It was part of the contract that they signed him to. They did that. They signed him that. That's right. They did. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:15:22 Well, what happened is that his first year, he was only at $15 million. And then it went up to, you know, it went escalated as the three-year contract moves on. So now he's like a top 10. paid starting pitcher. The Cardinals are going to have to eat money on that one, too,

Starting point is 00:15:37 when they decide to move him. But he's worth more as far as getting some prospects in return. I don't know what they're going to be able to get for Nolan Aronado. I assume it's going to be some sort of lottery ticket type of double A player or somebody who's dealt with injuries. I keep talking about the Grace and Rodriguez deal with the Orioles. You know, the Cardinals would love to get a chance of somebody like that. The injuries have been a problem. But you can get Nolan Aranaanaana. We'll eat some of that money and we'll use, we'll take on him as a flyer and see if we can maybe, you know, turn his career around. I feel like that would be something Cardinals fans would be interested in. But that's kind of their goals right now. What are the

Starting point is 00:16:18 brewers looking to add to improve an amazing team during the regular season, obviously, it was able to complete the goal at the end. But there's not a lot of holes for you guys to really fill. You got some good, good depth already at a lot of your positions. And, getting some guys back. Well, I'd love to have Nolan Aeronado. That's just never going to happen unless we do a... You give us the Miz. We'll give you Aronado.

Starting point is 00:16:42 Let's go. Well, that ain't happening for sure. That's not happening for sure. What does Aeronado do in his contract this upcoming year? He's still got two years left on his deal, which is I think when you count what the Rockies are still paying, I think it's around like 30, a little over 30 million over the next two seasons. And so it's nothing outrageous in this day and age.

Starting point is 00:17:06 But when you look at his offensive, like the, where the trajectories are going and how bad it's been the last couple of seasons, the glove is still there. I still love him. Like I know that when he was gone this year and he had a couple of injuries this year and when he was out, you really realized how freaking good. Nolan Aranao is at third base. When you have a normal player over there, it's like weird because he's so good

Starting point is 00:17:31 and he covers so much ground and makes life so much easier for the pitchers. Like having Aronado and Mason went on that left side of the end field and a Brennan Donovan at second. Like, and even Contreras was really good this year over at first. Shockingly, we didn't think he was going to be that good. That was one heck of an infield that, you know, does a lot of good for pitchers who don't have a lot of swing and misses, which is which the Carls rotation had this past year. But yeah, we can talk. I don't think the Carls would mind if Nolan Aronado stayed in the division.

Starting point is 00:18:01 as long as he wasn't getting paid by the Cardinals anymore. Well, JD, the brewers do need a power bat at third base. I really do because I think they're going to do some shuffling around in that infield. I want to see, I love to see a power hitting third base, but I want to pay $35 million. But I know that's the price of doing. Yeah, it's kind of the going, right? If you were to go get like an Alex Bragman, but like you got to pay crazy money for that. I mean, that's the financial game in baseball these days where the Milwaukee Bucks can

Starting point is 00:18:31 afford Yanisana Sano da Coupo with the Milwaukee Brewers can't afford a guy a superstar like that. Yeah, they need a power bat over a third base. They did. And I think Durbin's going to get moved from third to second and terrain is going to go to shortstop. I think that's going to be, that's at least what I would do. But they might need another outfielder, certainly a backup catcher. The starting rotation looks good. I mean, Brandon Woodruff picking up his qualifying offer of $22 million.

Starting point is 00:19:01 that might have hurt things financially for the Milwaukee Brewers. Brewers have said, oh, yeah, we're good with it. But you got to believe it. They're like, oh, boy, now we've got to pay this guy $22 million. Hopefully he stays healthy, but power. I think they need another power bat into this lineup. And I think if they have another power bat, I do see them right now going into the offseason as a favorite. Both the Cubs and the Cardals and Reds got work to do, I think, in the off season.

Starting point is 00:19:29 Yeah, the Cubs are an interesting team because. everybody keeps waiting for them to just go bonkers and go spend a ton of money and maybe they put all their chips you know immanaga like woodruff took his deal like he accepted his offer so he's coming back very expensive uh will they keep kyle tucker do you think they keep kyle tucker or do you think somebody else comes in and uh swipes him away from him am i the only guy who's not enamored with that guy if he's the number one i'm not the same boat like i'm like yeah like a couple years ago and I know he was really good, but I'm not head over. I'm not paying that guy what people think he's going to get.

Starting point is 00:20:07 Like, no way. He's the number one free agent out there. That's it? That's the guy. Yeah. We're all the Kyle Tucker sweet. They benched him for a little bit in August. Counsel benched him in Chicago.

Starting point is 00:20:22 We're going to get the division. I'm going to ask you. We're going to see. Yep, go ahead. Yeah, he was getting, he was getting booed. it Wrigley. Like they don't want anything to do with them anymore. I honestly, I'd rather have Bellinger, to be honest with you. I'd rather have what his contract is probably going to be over a shorter period of time. I think the ceiling's almost as high. I just, I'm not

Starting point is 00:20:45 interested in paying a Kyle Tucker. That wouldn't be somebody on eyeing up, especially with our markets. But I just, no, I'm going to let somebody else make that mistake. All right, we come back. we'll talk about the rest of the division and who's catched the Brewers. Cardinals are going to be right there, I believe. The Cubs, Cincinnati, and I forget about the pirates, but we'll get to that next here on Lockdown Brewers. Lockdown Brewers, part of Lockdown Podcast Network. We are your team every day.

Starting point is 00:21:17 We're the number one sports podcast network out there. In this episode is brought to you by Game Time. Hey, game time. Brewers tickets, you know about bucks tickets, Packers tickets, Cardinals tickets. Maybe you want to go to a blues game. maybe you want to go to a concert in the St. Louis area or the Milwaukee area. Download the GameTime app, create an account, a couple of taps who'll get amazing deals.

Starting point is 00:21:39 I got tickets. I got tickets to see Brian Adams down in Chicago, pretty good for 13th roll a couple of weeks ago. I know JD probably's never even heard of Brian Adams, but I have. That was like my prime of my life right there when I was a kid, at least. But Game Time, you get those kind of tickets on Game Time, create an account, use the promo code, locked on MLB, $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, the promo code locked on L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N-M-L-B, $20 off. $70 for tickets, $20 off, and there you go. But concerts, you name it. And the tickets are always 100% authentic,

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Starting point is 00:22:55 I was a music DJ guy for, for many, many years before I transitioned. into the sports field. So I'm very much familiar with Brian Adams and all his ballads and the Robin Hood song. Like, I respect me some Brian Adams. Wow. Okay. Did not? I was a little surprised because that was like, yeah, dude.

Starting point is 00:23:14 I got one of the kid. Yeah, there we go. The raspy Canadian Brian Adams, man. Yeah, I know who. He was great. He was great like I saw him in Milwaukee back when I was a kid when he was first, you know, came up. J.D., who do you see? who do you see chasing the brewers here in the division?

Starting point is 00:23:32 We agree. I think right now it's their division. Other teams have got to get better. Who do you see? Well, again, the Cubs like are interesting because if they take a big swing and add some pieces, I feel like they got some, some nice. I mean, they were right there at the end of things with the brewers. Like they were threatening.

Starting point is 00:23:53 Here's my thing. Where is Kyle Schwerber going? Because you hear the pirates talking about, you know, we're going to spend some money. He's not going to go to Pittsburgh. I'm sorry. They're not going to overpay and he's not, they're not going to win the bidding war. There's talk that the Reds might go after him. He's from Middletown, Ohio, which is just outside of Cincinnati. So adding that bat to their lineup would be nice considering all the young pitching that they got. And, you know, they were a playoff team last year. So, and, you know, Al-Da-Da-Cruz was playing

Starting point is 00:24:24 injured for most of the year. Some of us had some inside scoop that he'd been dealing with a leg injury for that back half of the year. But they never acknowledged it. Now you're hearing that, you know, that's part of the reason why his numbers dipped in the second half. So I feel like the reds with it because I always see it coming down to pitching. Like that's where I always go to that who's got the depth? Who can keep up with the big teams depth wise?

Starting point is 00:24:50 And when you look at what the brewers have, where a healthy woodruff, Peralta, which I believe he's not getting traded, most people have said that it's not what they're doing unless somebody comes in with one of those, you know, godfather deals, which you guys couldn't refuse. So never say never, but it seems like he's coming back. You've got the Miz coming back. Is Quinn Priester going to be as good as he was this past year? I don't know.

Starting point is 00:25:13 But either way, solid depth. You guys got a nice rotation. I think depth-wise, I feel like the Reds are the closest thing to that when they have all their guys healthy. You know, they got, you know, Chase Burns coming up. And they got Hunter Green, who's still there, although he's been rumored to be moved. Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott. Like, that's a very good rotation that I think is the next team,

Starting point is 00:25:37 unless the Cubs make some moves, I still put the Reds as the closest ones to threatening what the Brewer is going to be in 2026. What about you? Yeah, even though there was three teams from this division making the postseason, And I don't look at the, you know, anybody really being great. I mean, the Brewers had the 97 wins, but certainly the door is open for someone.

Starting point is 00:26:05 The general managers, the owners in this division, got to look at it and say, why are the Brewers win in the division every year, right? That's what they're trying to figure out. The Cardinals are, like I said, they're trying to follow the blueprint that you guys have do. Don't overspend, make smart deals, but build. sold your own farm system, produce your own stars. These guys like terrain coming up, making the smart deals.

Starting point is 00:26:32 Remember when the Contreras deal went down? And everybody's like, how did the Brewers walk away with Contreras? Just smart business decisions, you know? And not everything works out the way you wanted to. I don't think the Reese Hoskins deal is something that you guys look fondly on in retrospect. But at the same time, you were looking for a power bat. And the hope was that he'd be okay and it just didn't work out. But by the way, Paul Goldschmidt's out there in case you need him again this year.

Starting point is 00:27:00 Well, I liked him last year. Was it last year or two years ago? It was last year. Last year, it was when he was the first free agent. He went to the Yankees. But I know you're a big Goldie fan. So if you need a first place, he's available if you need him. I was surprised that he was in the leadoff spot.

Starting point is 00:27:17 I just don't see him as a lead off in her. And he was leading off on the Angies. I'm surprised. I can't explain that. I don't know why they had them there. And obviously, it wasn't something that stayed that long, but I don't know. Sometimes I scratch my head at some of the decisions any managers make, even my own in St. Louis. Like, you know, there's something you're just like, what are we doing? But I don't know. What do I know? Baseball winner meetings come up right around that second week of December shortly after Thanksgiving. And sometimes moves get made

Starting point is 00:27:49 But, you know, all the groundwork will be laid at those meetings and probably the GM meetings that just happened. Same thing as well, the meetings that happened out in Vegas. But I'm just curious to see what's going to happen in this division. And we both are going to keep an eye on the Cubs, right? I mean, the Cubs continue to act like a small market, right? For whatever reason, they won't play in the big pool with guys like the Dodgers and the Mets, even though they obviously can do that. But they've also made some good deals.

Starting point is 00:28:18 and had brought it, you know, Kate Horton's awesome. PCA was very, very good for a long time last year. And then he went ice cold until the end of the season. But obviously, he's a special talent in center field that's going to be there forever. I mean, I was talking to about our center fielder, Victor Scott, and he was a finalist for the gold glove. And I'm like, I don't know if anybody's going to win one until PCA is not in this division in center field. He's just that good. So that's obviously a big piece. It's not that I want the Cubs to make big moves or anything like that to make things more difficult, but I'd be shocked if they don't do something.

Starting point is 00:28:56 And if the Kyle Tucker thing doesn't work out and he ends up going someplace else, I would imagine they would chase after a few more of those big bats. I'm just not overwhelmed by this free agent class this year. There's not like a guy where I'm like, oh my God, super sorry. I love me some Kyle Schwerber. Don't get me wrong. But again, paying a DH. like I don't mind I don't mind paying him you know 30 million a year to just come up and hit 55

Starting point is 00:29:21 homeruns I'll do that I guess I guess I don't know I don't know what bothers me it's maybe the old school mentality where I'm like all he does is hit though I mean is uh I'd be shocked if Philly let him get away from him I mean it's not like they're hurting for funds either so I would be surprised he seems like a really good fit with that locker room and that clubhouse and you know I don't know what it's going to take for Philly to get over the hump but I'd be shocked if Shoreber ended up going someplace else. But I don't know. I was glad when he got out of the division

Starting point is 00:29:49 and the Cubs let him move, I was like, yay, because he used to just maul the Cardinals back in the day. So he's had a couple of balls that haven't landed yet off us. Well, same here. What are you? What do you think the Brewers are going to do? Is there any big swings that they might take or is there anything sneaky? You think that

Starting point is 00:30:07 they have, that would surprise you and the fans at all? The only thing is on the table, I guess, and the rumblings are they're going to keep him, is Freddie Peralta. That's, they're not going to go out and sign Bellinger or anybody, and they don't need Bollinger, but they're going to, it's not going to sign any of these guys. They're going to wait for someone to drop in their lap in the off season, like towards spring training. Somebody's looking for a job like Kintana, and that's the way they operate.

Starting point is 00:30:35 Unless they get somebody through a trade, a Peralta trade, I don't see a block. But, I mean, who knows they could, if they're going to trade anyway, they'd have to make some big moves like a trade of contraris or stuff like that. Who knows, but they haven't made a blockbuster move like that in a while. All the trades they've made in the last few years, JD, we're all expected guys who were in contract years. Right. Yeah, the big names, you know, the birds and the haters. Is there any spot on the roster for the brewers that's got some depth that you guys think

Starting point is 00:31:04 you might trade from to go get guys? No, because need all the starting pitching they can have right now. They're bullpen guys. no there's no place the good players around but you know they're keeping strangs and the free licks and churrios and all that they need another they need one they need another maybe another outfielder with power they need maybe a left fielder with some power they need maybe a third basement so yeah they don't have a position it's not that they can go out there and do something like that if anything if they acquire somebody it's going to be because they're going to have to give somebody up

Starting point is 00:31:38 for them. Like you can trust. So. See, I'm more like, I was surprised the brewer stood packed at the trade deadline last year. I thought that that was the team to really go and take a swing with. Like, like we are really freaking good. And if we can trade a couple of prospects to go get that one piece to put us over the top, you know, maybe we can take down the Dodgers this year.

Starting point is 00:32:02 So I was a little surprised that they were as quiet as they were. And I'm sure you guys were too. Like, I mean, you expected it. but at the same time, you're like, when is the team going to be at that level again? Because getting close to 100 wins, it's not normal. It's not. Nobody is that all that. That's the way they are in the small market.

Starting point is 00:32:19 I'm not expecting anything. And I don't anticipate anything happening major. And even at the trading deadline, they didn't take a big swing. Then they came out right after the trading deadline and started a 14-game winning streak. So people complained what they didn't make any deals, including me. But then they came out there and were just fine. So I guess everybody's got a point at the postseason, but still, look at this. This is where we got to win the games.

Starting point is 00:32:45 So and it's not happening. Yeah. What in my, in real quick, in your opinion, because I was like getting the outside take on some of this because I always see my players here in St. Louis through my own St. Louis, rosy red goggles. But what, what do you think somebody like Brennan Donovan is worth? like what do you think a team should be willing to give up to acquire somebody like that where he's got a couple years of control still is the type of player he is still but is going to be you know 31 by the time his contract time is up and he hits free agency like what do you think he's worth i think he's worth three players a really good prospect and then two guys two veterans two two you might have to throw an aging veteran contract in there but then a a guy who's going to come in, a good young player who's in the prime of this career. So I think that.

Starting point is 00:33:39 I think a guy from the farm system, a player who, you know, like the Brewers had to take on Nester Cortez, and they were never going to resign him, something like that. And then you're going to have to get a player who's going to be able to produce for you right now. He's losing a player like that who's producing for you right now. Yeah, yeah, I've been hoping. My hope is that they can grab, and if we're focused on pitching, I'm hoping that it's like, You get one, like very young, controllable, like a 26-year-old type of guy who's ready to start now, who can fill a rotation spot.

Starting point is 00:34:13 It may not be like a super top prospect in somebody's rankings, but at least like top 20, who's ready to compete. And then like a double a guy or something like that. And then if you can get that veteran as well, because they still got to fill out their rotation for this year. You know, if they do trade Sunny Gray, they only really got like two dudes who are, who are ready to go on opening day that people would trust. So, yeah, it's going to be interesting. A lot of people think the Cardinals are going to be one of the busier teams this offseason

Starting point is 00:34:44 where I guess we've made the decision that the brewer is probably going to be pretty quiet. You bet, but anything could be surprised me with the Milwaukee Brewers. Who knows? But I would lean on probably being very, very quiet. Jady, have yourself a great Thanksgiving. We'll talk to you in the new year and all that, and you and I will get together and do another one of these. Yeah, let's do it. Go, pack, go. Take down them Vikings.

Starting point is 00:35:08 I hope so. Big game coming in, J.D. Haffron, Packer fan, terrific host of Lockdown Cardinals. My name is Chuck Freeman, host of Lockdown Brewers, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network out there. Have yourself a great weekend, everybody.

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