After flurry of moves, next step is developing talent

MILWAUKEE — As Brewers GM David Stearns tied a bow on the 2016 season at Miller Park on Tuesday, it marked the one-year anniversary of his starting the job. The year saw Stearns make 17 trades, 10 waiver claims, two Major League free-agent signings and two Rule 5 Draft picks. He also signed six Minor League free agents who saw time in the Majors in 2016.

That pace figures to slow as the franchise moves on to the next phase of rebuilding, Stearns said.

“I certainly think the amount of transactions and the number of player moves we’ve had over the past 12 months was a lot, and probably unprecedented in baseball over the past 12 months,” he said. “So expecting a replication of that amount of player movement, I think would be unreasonable.

“We have added to the amount of young talent we have throughout the organization, both at the Major League and Minor League level. Part of our next step is to continue to develop that young talent and let it play. I am sure we will make moves. I’m sure there are going to be opportunities that, in our estimation, allow our organization to get better. But I would be surprised at this point if it went to the extent that we’ve seen over the past 12 months.”

That prediction …

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