As we strategy the vacations, it’s value taking a look on the Milwaukee Brewers’ roster to the place they nonetheless have holes and the way these vacancies is likely to be stuffed. There’s nonetheless loads of time left within the offseason and the Brewers are notoriously affected person relating to free brokers, so there will definitely be adjustments between now and spring coaching, however we are able to not less than take a look at the place these adjustments are more likely to come.
First, let’s do a fast recap of the Brewers’ exercise to date this offseason. Right here’s a fast checklist of main leaguers from final season who turned free brokers this offseason in a single kind or one other and what their standing is:
Willy Adames (signed with San Francisco, 7 years/$182 million)
Wade Miley (unsigned)
Joe Ross (unsigned)
Colin Rea (unsigned)
Gary Sánchez (signed with Baltimore Orioles, 1 yr/$8.5 million)
Frankie Montas (signed with New York Mets, 2 years/$34 million)
Hoby Milner (signed one-year cope with Texas Rangers)
Bryse Wilson (signed with Chicago White Sox, 1 yr/$1.05 million)
Jake Bauers (unsigned)
Moreover, Rob Zastryzny and Kevin Herget have been claimed off waivers by the Cubs and Mets, respectively.
The workforce’s different huge loss, in fact, is nearer Devin Williams, who was traded final week to the New York Yankees for starter Nestor Cortes Jr. and infielder Caleb Durbin (who was just lately slotted in at No. 15 on MLB Pipeline’s checklist of the Brewers’ prime 30 prospects).
As for additions past Cortes and Durbin, the Brewers haven’t carried out a complete lot. The Brewers have made one main league free agent signing; lefty Grant Wolfram, who was signed on an MLB deal however who has by no means really pitched above Triple-A (the place he was good for the Rangers’ affiliate final season). As a substitute, their exercise has been restricted to minor league offers with spring coaching invitations, which have gone to catchers David García, and Ramón Rodríguez, outfielder Jared Oliva, pitcher Jon Duplantier (who was then launched a month later so he may pursue a chance in Korea), and pitchers Deivi García and Bruce Zimmermann. Milwaukee additionally picked up lefty Connor Thomas from the Cardinals by way of the Rule 5 draft, they usually added right-handers Chad Patrick and Logan Henderson to the 40-man roster.
The Present Roster
The Brewers’ present 40-man roster is full, although that features Robert Gasser, who will definitely begin the season on the 60-day IL. (The roster being full actually doesn’t preclude the Brewers from additional exercise; I don’t imply to be callous, however a number of gamers at present on the 40-man are possible considered as expendable.) Based mostly on how the offseason has gone to date, right here’s an early 26-man roster projection, with notes the place query marks stay.
Place gamers
Catchers (2): William Contreras, Eric HaaseInfield (5): Rhys Hoskins, Brice Turang, Joey Ortiz, Andruw Monasterio, Caleb DurbinOutfield (5): Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins
The again finish of the infield is the place the questions are. Monasterio is ok as a utility infielder, however he actually struggled offensively final season and isn’t the kind of participant the Brewers want to get a complete bunch of begins out of. Durbin, having by no means performed within the majors, is a significant query mark, and it stays to be seen how his protection holds up. As has been the case all offseason, this spot—a fourth beginning infielder—stays the most probably place for the Brewers so as to add.
Tyler Black might be the favourite for the thirteenth place participant spot, however Oliver Dunn can be within the combine (and will conceivably even take Durbin’s spot). Actually, I’d like to see Black have an incredible spring and drive his means into the image; I’m an enormous fan of the affected person strategy he showcased as a minor leaguer, nevertheless it hasn’t occurred for him in restricted main league alternatives but. Black additionally doesn’t appear to have a place; for these hoping to see him as the reply at third base this season, it seems to be unlikely, as Nashville overwhelmingly used Black as a primary baseman in 2024, and he performed solely 9 video games at third. Whispers appear to suppose his greatest place is within the outfield corners.
There’s additionally nonetheless discuss of Sal Frelick at third base, however whereas Pat Murphy appeared to proceed to be open to the concept in latest feedback, he did additionally say—appropriately, I’d add—that it doesn’t make a ton of sense to maneuver a Gold Glove-winning outfielder to the infield, and Frelick’s bat will not be precisely as helpful to the offense as Mookie Betts’ is in Los Angeles.
Pitchers
Starters (5): Aaron Civale, Nestor Cortes, Tobias Myers, Freddy Peralta, Brandon WoodruffSwingmen (2): Aaron Ashby, DL HallRelievers (6): Trevor Megill (nearer), Jared Koenig, Nick Mears, Joel Payamps, Connor Thomas, Grant Wolfram
The relievers are removed from sure. Thomas, as a Rule 5 choose, must be on the roster or returned to St. Louis. Wolfram was signed to a significant league deal, so I anticipate him to be within the combine. This projection leaves out J.B. Bukauskas, Bryan Hudson, Elvis Peguero, and Abner Uribe. Individuals will get damage. The Brewers will in all probability throw out a pair extra fliers within the type of additions late in free company. Craig Yoho may very well be concerned—as a pure reliever, I’d anticipate him to be extra more likely to open the season with the Brewers than Jacob Misiorowski, who I anticipate can be throwing starter innings in spring coaching.
The place may assist be coming?
As was talked about, the plain reply is an infielder. Durbin may very well be that reply, however I’m skeptical—I believe it’s extra possible that he primarily takes Monasterio’s spot because the workforce’s utility man. Milwaukee has the flexibleness so as to add nearly any non-first-base infielder, as both of Ortiz or Turang may transfer to quick (it looks like the choice is to maintain Turang at second base, however I’m positive they wouldn’t hesitate to maneuver him to shortstop if the suitable state of affairs offered itself). If the Brewers go the free agent route, listed below are some still-available free brokers who may match, beginning with the unlikely ones:
Aside from Alex Bregman (who the Brewers won’t signal), Ha-Seong Kim is the most effective infielder obtainable however is nearly positively out of the Brewers’ worth vary. Gleyber Torres has sketchy defensive metrics and can in all probability get extra money than he’s value, and people are waters that the Brewers don’t normally swim in. An outdoor-the-box answer may very well be Jurickson Profar, however his days as an infielder are lengthy behind him (he was final a full-time infielder in 2018, and he was unhealthy), and he’ll in all probability get a fairly large bump in wage after a shocking season wherein he gained a Silver Slugger.
Just a few that appear extra possible: Josh Rojas performed good protection for Seattle final season and gained’t hit a lot, however he’s not a whole zero offensively and is simply a pair years faraway from a three-WAR season in Arizona. Jose Iglesias, after a yr out of the majors, had a wildly efficient season final yr at age 34, however I’d be extraordinarily doubtful of his offensive numbers (he had a sky-high BABIP); if the Brewers (and his agent) aren’t anticipating him to hit like he did final yr, he may very well be an possibility. Paul DeJong may very well be a match, nevertheless it’s exhausting to know what you’ll get from him; he’ll solely be 31 in 2025, however he’s been—at greatest—inconsistent as a significant leaguer. Likewise, Nicky Lopez is simply getting into his age-30 season, however he was fairly horrible for the White Sox in 2024 and hasn’t been wherever near a league-average hitter since 2021. Another potential bounce-back candidates embrace Yoan Moncada, Jorge Polanco, and Brendan Rodgers; different choices, like Whit Merrifield, in all probability should not suited to a task that asks greater than “backup infielder” at this level of their careers.
If none of these gamers are the reply, the Brewers may look to the commerce market. I’m not likely going to take a position on who is likely to be obtainable by way of commerce, however rumors have swirled round gamers as high-profile as Alec Bohm and Brandon Lowe. I believe this sort of splash is unlikely for this Brewers workforce, however with the minor league system in fairly fine condition, you by no means know.
Expectations
I believe the Brewers are going to be very conservative this offseason. Their TV deal is in flux and is probably going bringing in much less cash—perhaps considerably so—than final yr. They’re paying a ton to Rhys Hoskins, which possible limits their flexibility additional. I believe they’ll get one of many above infielders (my intestine tells me DeJong, however I’d want Rojas) and doubtless one or two relievers on small offers. However I do suppose the bullpen is able to changing Williams from inside, and after the commerce for Cortes, the rotation seems to be in respectable form (with the qualification that we do not know what to anticipate from Woodruff this season). A splashy commerce for an infielder isn’t out of the query, however I don’t anticipate the Brewers so as to add a lot wage, so I see it as unlikely.
