Stearns: "There are going to be budgets"

CHUCK FREIMUND: Hey, great to talk to you as we are ready to kick off the season here. You know, we're kind of like this been used to winning here the last three seasons, playoffs, the last two years. But I think we're a little skeptical because we're a little worried that there was so much turnover going into the season, so much player turnover, 14/15 new guys. Did you expect this when last season ended that you'd be turning off the roster over as much as you've done so far?

DAVID STEARNS: Well, we like winning, too, and we like competing. And certainly that's our expectation as an organization is to compete year in and year out for division championships. And playoff appearances. And we've been able to do that over the last three years. Certainly our belief is that we're gonna be able to do that again this year. There has been a significant roster turnover and candidly, we have a lot of turnover, most offseasons. We have a lot of turnover during the season, often where we're sending players back and forth to Triple-A. We generally are pretty transactional organization and we make trades during the season. So our coaching staff has proven that they're they're exceptionally capable of getting a team to gel. Continuing the positive culture that we've had here in the past. And we believe we'll be able to do that again.

BART WINKLER: We have such a passionate fan base. And I'm.. we're wrapped up in it. You know, Chuck and I work in the media. We're not going to pretend like we don't root for… We do care a lot about how the Brewers do. It affects us quite a bit. And we take calls and, you know, we can fan the flames ourselves. And I think the the concern that there is with the makeup of this team from now to a year ago, we always come back to the payroll that Mike Moustakas was here and Grandal was here. And then these guys depart. And now you've got these guys that if they have a good season, they can maybe make up for that. And I think the the consensus has been like it feels like the brewers have gone forward, forward and this year almost feels like a step back based on the payroll alone. Why is this year not going to be a step back?

DS: We believe we have a really talented roster and certainly we've lost some players from last year. But as I've said, we generally have some roster turnover. And the key for us is when we make investments, significant investments, especially in the free agent market, they have to be really wise investments. We can't chase the market. We can't chase players regardless of how much they may have contributed to our team in any single given year. And certainly you mentioned guys like Grandal and Moustakas. Those guys gave a lot to our organization. They were a big part of our team last year. We also recognize that we're not always going to be able to keep those types of players here. And that's something that this franchise, even before I got here, has dealt with very well. And we've been able to regenerate talent within the organization. We've been able to make some free agent signings that we think are going to help continue the string of competitiveness that we've had here. But certainly I recognize that we had a couple of really good players who walked out the door and went to other teams. I certainly don't ignore that. And so it's been my job to put the best team we can together, that then our opinion allows us to achieve our ultimate goal, which has continued and sustained success.

BW: Talking with Brewers General Manager David Stearns, I mean, just doing the radio show, whether it's baseball or football or basketball, it's always somehow we're always talking a lot more about money than I ever thought we would in doing a sports show. When you guys are trying to find the best fit for this team. You have to look at the multi-year deals. You have to look at the single year deals and to look at who's going to be a fit. How much does the financial aspect impact each and every decision? Is it? Is it more than you'd like it to be?  Obviously, it does play a role in the what you guys do just by the nature of the sport. It's just if we're frustrated with it, I would think that you guys in the front office have to be a little bit too.

DS: No, I don't think there's frustration. I think there's a recognition that that regardless of what business you're running, whether it's within sports or outside of sports, there are going to be budgets and there are going to be financial capabilities. And so it's our job to operate within those financial capabilities. And our ownership group has been incredibly supportive whenever we've gone to them with what we think is a really wise investment opportunity. We did that a year ago with Grandal and Mike Moustakas and signings that far exceeded what our original budget was slated to be in our ownership group was very supportive as we as we look throughout the free agent landscape this year, those type of big name signings really didn't materialize for us this year. So we were able to to spread some of those resources around, gather up a number of major league free agents who we think are going to be able to impact the team. And we're very we're very optimistic going into this season because of that work that we've been able to do in the offseason.

CF: It seemed like there's a lot of positions where at least going into the season platoon, you look at third base, first base and a few other spots through that. You don't have really a set lineup. I think going into the season.

DS: Yeah, I think that's probably, that's probably accurate. I think there are probably more positions this year that will be some form of timeshares based on matchup. Some of those will evolve over the course of the year as we get to know how players are playing, as we evaluate performance. But you're right, there's probably not quite as a stable lineup every single day that maybe we went into last year with. And that's OK. We won 96 games a couple of years ago with lineups that that were matched up very regularly based on who was who was pitching for the opposing team, who were playing. Health of guys, how particular players were performing. We were able to put together a really competitive club that had a really special year. So I believe we have certainly the capability to mix and match like that. I think we've got a really deep team. And so in those positions where where there might be more of a split duty might be more of a time share. I think we're equipped to handle that.

CF: You know, you said during the winter there wasn't any pieces out there through free agency that you thought, you know, economically fit what you guys want to do, your plan. But since you guys are under budget right now, it looks like compared to what it was, you know, years gone by. If you guys just could you take the attitude, Hey, if we hang in the race, were the race when comes July, we can go out there. And if we have to take out some salary, we're able to do it because we didn't spend enough in the offseason, in fact, we slashed our payroll.

DS: Yeah, I don't have any concerns at all about if we're competitive in July and looking to add that we're gonna have the space to do it. I think that's something that our ownership group has been tremendously supportive with since I've been here. It's something that Mark and I have talked about specifically about this season, where there may be some some acquisition opportunities mid-season. And so, yes, I think we will, we will have the room when and if an appealing buying opportunity comes around this season 

CF: When there was so much change over the team, does Mark, who you know, he obviously has got full confidence in you. And I don't when you first came aboard, he made a lot of changes. And Mark, what did it kind of held his breath at first because he wasn't used to that. When you made all these shades of the offseason? Did he, like, look at and say, oh, boy, what are we doing here.

DS: I think Mark understands our process. And we're in regular communication. He understands how we're running the organization. He understands our baseball operations goals. And he trusts us. And so I think Mark recognized what our offseason strategy was, understood how we evaluate potential free agent signings, how we're going to operate within within certain parameters. And he's been very supportive throughout.

BW: We know what happened with some of the pitchers this last week. Josh Hader and the arbitration case does not get the target he was looking for. You guys avoid arbitration with Brent Suter. That is a uniquely baseball issue. Craig Counsell, a little outspoken, not a big fan of the process. Is it time for baseball to look elsewhere or is that the best process that that you can have in this sport in determining how these guys are supposed to get a pay bump each and every year?

DS: You know, it's a really interesting part of our game and that I think everyone involved agrees it's not a good process. And that's been the case for as long as I've been in the industry. I don't think anyone likes the arbitration process on the club side, on the player side, management side, union side. But for whatever reason, it still exists. And the two sides haven't been able to come together to figure out an appropriate substitute. We've been we've been pretty successful at garnering settlements here since I've been here. We've had somewhere around 50 or so arbitration eligible players over my time here. And we've we've only gone to two hearings. So that's a pretty good success rate at settlements and on occasion, and we found one this year with with Josh where you just can't you just can't line up. And and the process is designed to actually go through and go to an arbitration hearing. But, you know, from your question? Is this something that everyone thinks works? No, I think I think everyone understands on both sides that this is an a great process. Unfortunately, there just hasn't come up with a better solution.

CF: With the farm system, I mean, you had when the top farm systems of baseball a few years ago, but obviously some of these guys are on the team, you know, traded some of those way to get parts to help you get to the postseason a few years. So, you know, I get that. What is the process? What's the state of the farm system as you going forward here? Because a lot of those great pieces, as I mentioned, are gone.

DS: Yeah, I think, look, we made some big trades. We traded four of our top six or eight prospects in what at that point was the top ranked farm system in all of baseball, which had four of those guys for Christian Yelich. That was a big bet on Christian Yelich. And Christian has has clearly repaid us for for that level of prospect investment in him. Elsewhere, we've made trades in season. And as you mention, we've had a number of players graduate to the major leagues and make very substantial impacts. Whether that's a Brandon Woodruff, a Keston Hiura, a Freddy Peralta, Adrian Hauser, guys who who compose what had been ranked as a very, very high system are now helping us the major league level. We still think we've got a very quality system, a system with a lot of depth, a system that's pretty young. And so you'll see a number of these younger players begin to work their way through our system and ultimately approach the major leagues. But we understand we're not at the same level in terms of overall system, depth and talent as we may have been three or four years ago. But we're a much better major league team and we've got a couple of playoff appearances and really competitive seasons to show for it. So we will certainly take that tradeoff while understanding that that's now our obligation to continue to restock the farm system and have that consistent pipeline help us produce at the major league level.

BW: You know, we can't we talk about, you know, how is this guy and this money, in this system? You I mean, you're the general manager of this ballclub. You oversee all these different teams. And I would think the hardest part of that is the human part of it. Like, you know, you see these guys running around the clubhouse with their kids. I forget who it was but I just saw video of one of the guys was like changing his kids diaper on the batting cage the other day. And there's guys that, you know, go through struggles like we saw with Travis Shaw. But you really, you know, you want to root for these guys and you want to give them every opportunity that you can. How do you. I mean, how. Without having to go on to a therapist, I guess it would wreck me. How do you how do you compartmentalize that where you have a business to run, but then you get to know these guys and their families? I would just think that would be the hardest part of the whole thing.

DS: Well, I think I think the human part of it is important. And I think one of the reasons we've had some success here is because we recognize the human aspect. We recognize some of the stresses and challenges that that players have. And we try to help them work through that. And so when when you see a player struggle, a player that you've gotten to know very well. A player like you said, you see their kids, you know, their families. We we try to help them work through their struggles. We try to stay loyal to our players at the same time. Certainly, we have an obligation to the organization and frankly, to our fan base to make the best baseball decision possible. But but we recognize there are balances there and we recognize that that these are human beings and they're working really hard and they care an awful lot. And so far from purely a matter of of respect, we owe it to them to to care equally about.

BW: It's been an interesting time. I mean, everything that's gone on in this off season has been centered around a team that you're familiar with in the Astros. So and now it's come out, at least the commissioner has hinted that all these players aren't going to receive any penalty, if you like, hit one of the guys as a pitcher you could get in trouble. And I don't want to get you in trouble. But I mean, this this whole off season, I don't think that it's been handled as well as it could have been handled. David, and I don't know what your thoughts are on the whole situation and seeing guys, you know, go through this.

DS: Sure. Look, I think first and foremost, my thoughts are this isn't good for the game and we need to focus on the players. We need to focus on the competition that's that's going on on the field. And at any time when there is any hint that the integrity of that the integrity competition has been compromised as as clearly it was in this case, that's a major problem for the sport and it's a major problem for the industry. And it's something that collectively, we need to address, to fix and to make sure it never happens again. So that's really where where my mind has been is this is this is not this is not good for the game. It's not good for the sport. I think we all in these positions try to be custodians for the sport at large. And and in this case, we need to figure out a way to make sure that the attention gets back on fair, regulated and competition with with integrity.