Friday's Frosty Mug: A minor move and plummeting trade value

Kyle is on the DL with a hand injury, so I'm making a spot start on the mug today.

The Brewers can only try to forget the Padres series after losing the in an offensive shootout yesterday by a score of 10-8. Morineko has our recap. The Padres took three of the four games this series while Milwaukee moves on to Colorado.

After the game, the Brewers made a minor roster move, sending Sean Halton back to Triple-A and purchasing the contract of reliever Rob Wooten. Wooten, 27, has been the closer for Triple-A Nashville this season, posting 20 saves with a 2.94 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.

The big story coming out of last night's game wasn't that roster move, however. Rather, it was the plummeting trade value of Yovani Gallardo and, to a lesser extent, Michael Gonzalez.

There were a number of scouts at yesterday's game, at least some of whom had come to see Gallardo pitch. That includes Red Sox scouts. So it was a fine night for the beleaguered starter to have the second-worst start of his season. Gallardo went just 3.2 innings and allowed six earned runs on eight hits and three walks. In general, he looked out of sorts, and his velocity looked like it was even lower.

Howie Magner says he would be shocked if the Brewers traded Gallardo at this point, well Tom Haudricourt has the most poignant tweet of the game:

Talk should no longer be if #Brewers will trade Gallardo. Talk should center on what/if they can do to salvage a pitcher losing his stuff.

— Tom (@Haudricourt) July 25, 2013

After the game, Gallardo told Adam McCalvy that he "might be overthinking". I'm not sure what that has to do with rapidly diminishing velocity, but it's something. Fox Sports Wisconsin has more quotes from Gallardo following the game.

Buried in one of Ken Rosenthal's articles is a tidbit about the Brewers saying the team appears likely to keep both Gallardo and Kyle Lohse at the trade deadline. According to Rosenthal, the two could be candidates for an offseason trade.

Curt Hogg from Reviewing the Brew reminds us that Gallardo still has value with his bat, pointing out that the pitcher is sixth on the team in offensive WAR.

Michael Gonzalez has been a popular name brought up in trade rumors as teams seek bullpen help, but he did not help his cause last night, either. Gonzalez gave up four runs in an inning of work.

With one more game in the Brewers/Padres series, this is still relevant: Gaslamp Ball has a roster of players who have played for both the Brewers and Padres. The lineup has potential and the bullpen is great, but the rotation alone will lose that team 100 games.

Meanwhile, Ryan Braun is, of course, still in the news.

• Braun says that he will talk eventually, but that he is not legally allowed to say anything at this point.
• Porter Fischer, the former Biogenesis employee who leaked the papers to the Miami New Times, spoke to ESPN's Outside the Lines. Fischer's said he felt harassed by MLB investigators, but is still willing to cooperate. MLB isn't the only one harassing him, though, as people have apparently gone so far as to try poisoning Fischer's dog.
• Brewers COO Rick Schlesinger has been reaching out to sponsors and season ticket holders to gauge public sentiment and begin planning for the offseason.
• Mark Attanasio says the Brewers are working on ways to give back to the fans this season. Adam McCalvy has more on a conversation Attanasio had with reporters.
• Details on Braun's PED usage are beginning to come out as it appears he used mint or cherry flavored lozanges that were laden with testosterone. Apparently this method allows the drug to cycle in and out of one's body quickly, meaning a drug test must be done shortly after ingestion.
• After allegations from some reporters that free agents could stay away from Milwaukee because of Braun, both Kyle Lohse and Burke Badenhop said they did not think the former-MVP would play into other players' decisions on where to sign.
• Disciples of Uecker are talking about Braun in their "Rounding the Bases" post, discussing how his suspension effects the Brewers rebuild.

Looking ahead, Donovan Hand is sore after being hit on the hand while batting, but expects to make his next start.

The Hardball Times takes a look at recent in-season managerial firings, and who stands a chance to be let go this season. Ron Roenicke is placed in the "general underachievers" category with the note that " firing him on the heels of the Ryan Braun suspension would be a rabbit punch to a reeling fanbase. Not impossible, but really cold if they do it."

In the minors, Wisconsin Sports Tap takes a look at the newest Brewers' prospect, Nick Delmonico.

Royals Review has a post up considering trades they would like to see Kansas City make, including acquiring Rickie Weeks from the Brewers. Kyle joined in to give his opinion on a potential deal.

Around the Majors:
Angels: Acquired two prospects from the Mets for an international signing bonus allotment slot.
Athletics: Placed C John Jaso on the seven-day DL and called up C Stephen Vogt.
Astros: Signed SS Wilson Amador
Braves: Placed SP Tim Hudson on DL, recalled RHP Alex Wood
Cardinals: Recalled RP Marc Rcezpenckszkzki from Triple-A and optioned RP Carlos Martinez
Dodgers: Designated SP Ted Lilly for assignment.
Marlins: Placed OF Marcell Ozuna on the DL
Royals: Hitting coach George Brett will return to his duties position as vice president of baseball operations.

Former major leaguer Robert Fick admitted that he took performance enhancing drugs twice over his career. He says that the game is 90% clean today, however. Fick will now fade back into obscurity.

Athletics Nation has a pretty neat article up where they had an interview with Oakland's Vice President of Sales and Marketing Jim Leahey. The Athletics are currently 23rd in the MLB in average attendance.

That's all I've got today, unless you want a new sport.