The Brewers have a strong corps of younger infielders with extra promising names within the pipeline. However with Willy Adames now a free agent, will the Brewers take into account different names in commerce or free company this offseason? Listed below are some gamers Milwaukee may take into account.
Nicky Lopez, 2B, 0.9 fWAR (free agent)
Lopez hasn’t impressed a lot on the plate lately with a paltry 68 wRC+ over the previous three seasons. However the Brewers may not want to focus on a full-time starter. He will probably be getting into his age-30 season, so maybe the Brewers suppose they might work one thing out of Lopez like he had in is 2021 season when he hit .300.
Lopez could be an inexpensive addition that matches the Brewers’ type, even when he doesn’t present a lot ceiling. As a bench participant, he may fill in at each second base and shortstop, relying on what the crew finally wants. He has a low strikeout profile with good contact charges and gives strong protection. Nonetheless, all these traits are pretty redundant given the remainder of the roster, however he matches that type nicely and could possibly be an inexpensive bench participant.
Josh Rojas, 3B, 1.9 fWAR (free agent)
Rojas is one other participant with a strong defensive profile and will slot in at third base, if the crew decides to maneuver Joey Ortiz to shortstop in 2025. Rojas isn’t an elite bat, however he’s proven sufficient to be an everyday within the majors. Since his first full season in 2021, he has a 97 wRC+, which is respectable when contemplating he would assist keep the protection’s elite standing.
With simply eight house runs and 10 stolen bases this previous season, he gained’t carry the crew in these classes, nevertheless it’s sufficient to contribute to the underside half of the order. This 12 months, Rojas posted the best barrel price and hard-hit charges of his profession. He hits a number of fly balls, and for a crew just like the Brewers that tends to be extra line-drive targeted, they could have the ability to optimize his output if he maintains that slight enhance in laborious contact. Whereas these charges have been profession bests, they have been nonetheless nicely beneath common, so Rojas may profit from a extra line-drive targeted strategy.
Rojas is ranked because the second-best third baseman free agent available on the market, based on MLB.com, so the crew may not wish to chase Rojas if his contract calls for are too excessive.
Oswaldo Cabrera, UTIL, 0.9 fWAR (New York Yankees)
At simply 25 years outdated, Cabrera gives a younger, versatile participant who may fill a number of roles on a crew just like the Brewers. Not solely did he get nearly all of his video games at third base, however the Yankees additionally used him as their first baseman on the finish of the season, the place he impressed at occasions.
Cabrera has a tantalizing offensive profile however hasn’t but had a breakout season. He makes good contact with a low strikeout price, however he hasn’t but turned that into dependable manufacturing. His 8.4% swinging strike price would have ranked fourth finest among the many Brewers 12 hitters with not less than 150 plate appearances, solely behind Sal Frelick, Brice Turang, and Ortiz.
Cabrera had extra house runs than Frelick or Turang regardless of enjoying solely about two-thirds as many video games. His defensive versatility is alone a worthwhile purpose so as to add somebody like Cabrera, however he might need extra offensive potential than most different free brokers the Brewers would add on an inexpensive contract. Nonetheless, at simply 25, he’s prone to value an honest quantity in a commerce package deal, even when he’s largely only a function participant for New York.
Ty France, 1B, -0.9 fWAR, (free agent)
There are many Brewers prospects that may make an influence subsequent 12 months, so the Brewers may not have to make a splash on a starting-caliber participant. Why not take an opportunity on a bounce again, then? If the Brewers need Tyler Black to spend some extra time within the minors at first of the season, a participant like Ty France may alternate with Rhys Hoskins at first base.
France has been on a gradual decline, dropping from a 129 wRC+ in 2021 to a 93 wRC+ mark this previous season. That was the primary time the primary baseman had a below-average mark since he grew to become a full-time participant. His strikeout price was additionally a career-high for a full season at 21.3%. However that’s nonetheless an affordable quantity, so would the Brewers take an opportunity on the ability output? As lately as 2022, France was a 20-home run hitter, and even this previous season he hit 13 over the fence.
He’s a critical defensive legal responsibility, although, so the Brewers would should be assured they might unleash a dormant offensive supply right here. France wasn’t a standout in any batted ball metrics, however he was hovering just under league common in most classes. If the Brewers look so as to add France, it must be with minimal dedication.
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs except in any other case famous.
