5 Free Agent First Basemen to Upgrade the Brewers Lineup

[Ryan Pollak]

Jake Bauers is currently the projected starter at first. The Brewers might need to upgrade the position. Could they look at these guys for help?

Image courtesy of © Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Since Prince Fielder left for Detroit in 2012, the Milwaukee Brewers have been going on the carousel of trying to find a long-time first baseman.

Mat Gamel, Corey Hart, Juan Francisco, Mark Reynolds, Adam Lind, and Chris Carter had stints at first before the Brewers brought in Eric Thames on a three-year deal. However, the ride never ends as Jesus Aguilar, Justin Smoak, Jedd Gyorko, Daniel Vogelbach, and Rowdy Tellez were all brought in to play the position after the departure of Thames.

There were once rumors that former MVP Christian Yelich could get some time initially. However, according to Brewers beat writer Adam McCalvy, GM Matt Arnold debunked this rumor during the Winter Meetings.

Entering the 2024 season, the Brewers projected starting first baseman will be Jake Bauers, who was acquired in a trade with the Yankees in mid-November. However, with Bauers out of minor-league options and no potential backup in case of an injury, it's probably necessary to find an upgrade on the free-agent market.

We already discussed third-base options last week; now, let’s look into the other side of the diamond. We will rank five options from most likely to least likely. Here are five options the Brewers can sign to bolster first base.

Carlos Santana (Most Likely)
Santana, not to be mistaken as the musician, has been a part of six teams, including the Brewers, for their 2023 postseason push. During that tenure, he hit a .249/.314/.459 line with 11 home runs in just 52 games.

With Santana’s switching hitting abilities, he was well-utilized in Craig Counsell’s lineups. At 37 years old, the first baseman looks to get a payday similar to the $6.5 million salary he earned last year.

He won’t be a long-term solution for the Brewers, but will signify the team's intent on competing in the upcoming season. Should they go in this direction, prospects Tyler Black, Wes Clarke, and even Brock Wilken will have another year to develop at first base. According to Seth Cummings, an independent writer for the Nationals, the Nats and the Brewers are interested in Santana. It is believed the Brewers are the favorite to land him.

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Garrett Cooper (Likely)
When you think of reunions within the Brewers organization you probably think of Lyle Overbay or Travis Shaw when they returned for one season. How about we add to that list with former Padre, Garrett Cooper? Believe it or not, Cooper was drafted by the Brewers in the sixth round of the 2013 draft. He was eventually traded to the Yankees for RHP Tyler Webb in 2017.

Fast forward to 2022, and he was one of the three Marlins players represented in the All-Star game. The 2023 season, however, didn’t do him any favors as Cooper had a down year, posting a .251/.304/.419 slash line. His strikeout percentage, at 28.9 percent last season, is a little concerning. But he did show some improvement as part of the Padres last year.

What makes Cooper an attractive signing for the Brewers is his ability to hit against left-handed pitching. Last year, The Crew struggled facing left-handed starters with a .229 batting average while Cooper posted a .289 average against southpaws. Cooper would be a nice platoon option at first with Bauers. If Bauers doesn’t work out, Cooper can slot in a first as the everyday starter. Though he sees the ball better against left-handers, his career is .269/.343/.424 line is nothing to sneeze at.

This is Cooper's first year on the open market, and he will probably see a steady increase from his $4.2 million salary last year. A one-year, $7.5 million with an option for 2025 could reel in the former fish.

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Brandon Belt (Possible)
Sometimes, you just need to upgrade a position. Adding Belt to the roster does exactly that. The former two-time World Series champion is coming off his first 100+ game season since 2019.

In 2023, he hit 19 home runs, 43 RBI, and a .858 OPS with an incredible 136 OPS+ with the Blue Jays. Belt brought a veteran presence to a young team trying one last run at the playoffs before veteran players entered free agency. He could do the same thing for the Brewers.

Whether Milwaukee slots him in at DH or puts him at first, Belt can charge up the lineup, providing power for a young group of players ready to make a run in the postseason in Milwaukee. The only thing that may keep the Brewers from signing the long-time Giant is Belt himself. According to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Belt is considering retirement after 13 seasons. Belt has been experiencing issues with his back the last few years, which resulted in time on the Injured List.

He has already done quite a bit for a player in the league for 13 years. Belt has two rings and made an All-Star appearance back in 2016. What more could you ask for in a baseball career? Retirement or not, he’s had a memorable career. The man can still put up numbers that will intrigue any contending team. A Giants reunion isn’t out of the question if he's good to go for one more season. If the Crew wants him enough, they can offer a $5-6 million contract.

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C.J. Cron (unlikely)
Within the last year or so, some of the Brewers' fanbase hoped the Brewers would add former Angels' first baseman C.J. Cron. However, this did not happen, as he signed an extension to stay with the Rockies on a two-year deal in late 2021.

Coming off an All-Star 2022 season, Cron had spent a good chunk of the season on the Injured List. While he was with the Rockies, he hit 11 home runs with a .260/.304./.476 line in 56 games. The Los Angeles Angels were interested in the first baseman, trading for him and Randal Grichuk in a last-ditch effort to stay competitive in the AL West.

Cron played 15 games with his new team with hitting stats near the Mendoza Line and only one home run. It’s also worth mentioning he hit balls on the ground 43.1 percent of the time. That's not to say he didn’t hit the ball hard, as his hard-hit rate was around 40 percent last year.

If he could find any magic from his 2021 season, where he hit 31 home runs, had a .280 batting average, and an OPS of .905, the Brewers would find their first baseman for the next year or two. The two-year, $14.5 million deal he signed a few years ago is the most he takes at his age (34).

However, there are quite a few things to be concerned about. Cron's hitting ability outside the hitter-friendly Coors field in 2022 isn’t encouraging. In his 77 games away from home, he hit .214/.279/.340, striking out 27.8 percent of the time.

If we dive even deeper into his career stats, American Family Field isn’t friendly to his stats. Of the 30 active baseball stadiums in the league, Cron has a .118 batting average in Milwaukee. That is the second worst out of all stadiums, with only Busch Stadium in St. Louis being lower.

That may not indicate much. Take the case of Jesse Winker, who was traded to the Brewers last offseason. In a 2022 article by Adam McCalvy, Winker joined the Brewers as a career .344/.440/.591 hitter in Milwaukee. Now Winker is hitting a career .243/.364/.395 line at American Family Field.

Where it would be nice to see a player of Cron’s caliber in a Brewers uniform, there are a lot of signs saying he won’t be successful. But who to say that can’t change? Cron has only played 12 games in Milwaukee, and like many stats lines at the beginning of the season, those can all change in a matter of a couple of months.

Cron is still a consistent hitter at first base. If they want a right-handed hitter at first base against left-handed pitching, then platooning him with Bauers might be the best solution and could come cheaply should they be interested.

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Rhys Hoskins (Highly Unlikely)
This would be the best-case scenario for the Brewers, but also the least likely. Entering 2024, he is currently the best free-agent first baseman on the market.

He is a career .242/.353/.492 hitter, has a career 125 OPS+, and tons of power. Since his first full season, he has hit more than 25 home runs every season he has played, not including the shortened 2020 season.

So what’s the catch? Hoskins is coming off a torn ACL in his left knee that kept him out the entire 2023 season. He’s expected to recover fully, but after a year of rehab, we might not see the same numbers he’s been putting up. It’s the risks that teams interested in him will have to take.

With that in mind, Hoskins will probably look for a short-term deal that could help him get a more significant contract in the following offseason. MLB Trade Rumors projected the first basemen to get a two-year deal at $32 million.

That is definitely on the high side of things, but not too long ago, in December 2018, the Brewers signed a one-year deal to catcher Yasmani Grandal, who was guaranteed $18.25 million. With the current projected payroll at $94.5 million, the Brewers have the room to bring Hoskins.

Signing Hoskins can fill up two roles in the lineup, being the regular DH against right-handers and playing first base against left-handers. With William Contreras, Willy Adames, and Christian Yelich already in the lineup, Hoskins would be the clean-up hitter in a lineup that needs pop at a home run-friendly ballpark. A two-year deal worth $36 million with a mutual option for 2025 should be enough for the 30-year-old.

There is a chance the Brewers roll with what they have and give Bauers or even Tyler Black a chance at first. But it wouldn’t hurt to add a player at arguably one of the struggling positions on the field. Do you think the Brewers will add a first baseman? What players would you like to see the Crew add to their team? Let us know in the comments.

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[Michael Trzinski]

I like having a second 'Coop' at first base. I followed his progress in the Florida State League back in 2015 and was impressed with him then and am impressed with him still. Make it happen!

[Rick Daltons Flamethrower]

My preference is Rhys Hoskins who would clean up our need for a clean up player. First Base would be solid. 

[Doug B]

Yelich is 6'3" with a noodle arm. He's paid $26M. His contract is a team killer if he sits at DH. He needs to play 1B. 

[Ryan Pollak]

4 minutes ago, Doug B said:

Yelich is 6'3" with a noodle arm. He's paid $26M. His contract is a team killer if he sits at DH. He needs to play 1B. 

As much as that makes sense, Yelich has already been ruled out by Matt Arnold as a first base option. It's going to have to be a contract the Brewers live with until it eventually expires

[Jim French Stepstool]

8 hours ago, Michael Trzinski said:

I like having a second 'Coop' at first base. I followed his progress in the Florida State League back in 2015 and was impressed with him then and am impressed with him still. Make it happen!

I also remember following Coopers' progress through the organization. Was very disappointed when we dealt him for not much more than a warm BP body. He would be a decent platoon bat at 1B that could play every day if need be. I'd be interested, but I think we're looking for a one-year deal & that makes Santana most likely. If Cooper would go for a single year, great.

He's a dark horse, but the emergence of Clarke as a power bat is interesting.

It would be nice if things are a little more defined after this spring regarding Black. There are enough different scenarios for 1B in the next year or two that rolling with Santana for one season probably makes the most sense.

[sveumrules]

When Cooper was dealt back in 2017 we had Thames and Aguilar at 1B. From 2017-19 Brewers 1B combined for a 123 wRC+ and 9.4 WAR (7th in MLB among 1B). Ah, the good old days.

From 2020-23, Cooper posted 2.4 WAR compared to 0.8 WAR for Brewers 1B.

Sure, he would have been a no doubt upgrade to the abysmal production we’ve gotten from 1B in the 2020’s, but an extra 1.6 wins spread out over 546 games is about as marginal as it gets.

[Jim French Stepstool]

5 hours ago, sveumrules said:

 

Sure, he would have been a no doubt upgrade to the abysmal production we’ve gotten from 1B in the 2020’s, but an extra 1.6 wins spread out over 546 games is about as marginal as it gets.

You're right, but my disappointment at the time was more directed toward the fact that he really seemed to be coming into his own in 2017 & garnered nothing more than Tyler Webb, who had no pedigree, did virtually nothing for us & was mediocre afterward save for the abbreviated 2020.

I guess Cooper was getting a bit long in the tooth at the time (26) but I just didn't like the deal.

[Doug B]

21 hours ago, Ryan Pollak said:

As much as that makes sense, Yelich has already been ruled out by Matt Arnold as a first base option. It's going to have to be a contract the Brewers live with until it eventually expires

But WHY was he "ruled out" at 1B? Because the player refuses to try? Because management is dumb? It has to be one of those. Yelich will not help the team in LF or DH. 

[monty57]

I've been on the Hoskins bandwagon since the offseason started and I saw MLBtraderumors projection of 2/$36M. There may need to be other moves that happen to allow for the Brewers to spend that, but this thread isn't about the other moves. Signing Hoskins and putting his bat in the middle of the lineup would go a long ways to winning the division. It wouldn't cost prospects and would be the easiest, and probably most positively impactful move we could realistically make. Plus, it would only be for a year or two, at a point when we have a lot of young, inexpensive talent on the roster and can afford another higher-priced vet.

As usual, this was a good article, as the other options are all valid upgrades over the black hole we have at first base right now. We need to do something, and I think the Brewers' offseason is being held up in waiting to see what happens with Burnes. There's still plenty of time in the offseason, but at some point the ice will break and there will be a few moves made. One of them will be adding another 1B, as a competent 1B should add a couple of wins to our current roster.

[Fear The Chorizo]

1 hour ago, monty57 said:

I've been on the Hoskins bandwagon since the offseason started and I saw MLBtraderumors projection of 2/$36M. There may need to be other moves that happen to allow for the Brewers to spend that, but this thread isn't about the other moves. Signing Hoskins and putting his bat in the middle of the lineup would go a long ways to winning the division. It wouldn't cost prospects and would be the easiest, and probably most positively impactful move we could realistically make. Plus, it would only be for a year or two, at a point when we have a lot of young, inexpensive talent on the roster and can afford another higher-priced vet.

As usual, this was a good article, as the other options are all valid upgrades over the black hole we have at first base right now. We need to do something, and I think the Brewers' offseason is being held up in waiting to see what happens with Burnes. There's still plenty of time in the offseason, but at some point the ice will break and there will be a few moves made. One of them will be adding another 1B, as a competent 1B should add a couple of wins to our current roster.

Instead of spending $18-20M a season for at least 2-3 years to add Hoskins via free agency to play first, coming off a knee surgery, I'd prefer the Brewers sign Santana to a 1-yr (~$7-8M) deal to play 1st, then also make another free agent splash in adding either Jorge Soler (3-4 yr deal) or JD Martinez (1-2 yr deal) to be their everyday DH...Yelich could still get plenty of DH ab's against righty starters if there's a need to keep his bat in the lineup, and Contreras could actually get legit days off instead of DH-ing when he isn't catching a game.

This type of approach would allocate a similar dollar amount and actually bolster the lineup at two spots with veteran RH hitters with pop (Santana is a switch hitter) instead of one.

[monty57]

1 hour ago, Fear The Chorizo said:

Instead of spending $18-20M a season for at least 2-3 years to add Hoskins via free agency to play first, coming off a knee surgery, I'd prefer the Brewers sign Santana to a 1-yr (~$7-8M) deal to play 1st, then also make another free agent splash in adding either Jorge Soler (3-4 yr deal) or JD Martinez (1-2 yr deal) to be their everyday DH...Yelich could still get plenty of DH ab's against righty starters if there's a need to keep his bat in the lineup, and Contreras could actually get legit days off instead of DH-ing when he isn't catching a game.

This type of approach would allocate a similar dollar amount and actually bolster the lineup at two spots with veteran RH hitters with pop (Santana is a switch hitter) instead of one.

Santana is probably the move that is going to happen. We just need to realize that in the post-Covid era he's posted fWARs of -0.5, 1.0 and 1.7. He's an upgrade over Bauers, but he's not going to anchor a lineup. I think some fans have too high an expectation on Santana, and are going to be disappointed with what he'll probably do over the course of a season (Steamer projects .239/.329/.422 for a 0.8 fWAR).

Your thought that adding him along with a bat-only guy like Soler or Martinez makes sense, but MLBtr has Soler projected at 3/$45 and Martinez at 2/$40, so they are both expected to make around as much as Hoskins' 2/$36 MLBtr projection.

If the Brewers have that extra money, I'd be fine with signing Santana along with any of Soler, Martinez or Hoskins. Soler and Martinez would be basically DH-only, while Hoskins could split time with Santana at 1B/DH, but any of the three would be nice bats to have in the lineup.

If they don't have the money to sign Santana and one of those three, then I'd go with the guy who can play 1B, which is Hoskins. While I think Santana is the move that's going to happen, I'd be really excited if they could land Hoskins.

[Fear The Chorizo]

1 hour ago, monty57 said:

Santana is probably the move that is going to happen. We just need to realize that in the post-Covid era he's posted fWARs of -0.5, 1.0 and 1.7. He's an upgrade over Bauers, but he's not going to anchor a lineup. I think some fans have too high an expectation on Santana, and are going to be disappointed with what he'll probably do over the course of a season (Steamer projects .239/.329/.422 for a 0.8 fWAR).

Your thought that adding him along with a bat-only guy like Soler or Martinez makes sense, but MLBtr has Soler projected at 3/$45 and Martinez at 2/$40, so they are both expected to make around as much as Hoskins' 2/$36 MLBtr projection.

If the Brewers have that extra money, I'd be fine with signing Santana along with any of Soler, Martinez or Hoskins. Soler and Martinez would be basically DH-only, while Hoskins could split time with Santana at 1B/DH, but any of the three would be nice bats to have in the lineup.

If they don't have the money to sign Santana and one of those three, then I'd go with the guy who can play 1B, which is Hoskins. While I think Santana is the move that's going to happen, I'd be really excited if they could land Hoskins.

I'm not expecting Santana to be more than he has shown to be the past few seasons, which would still be a big upgrade at 1B, and he wouldn't require a platoon mate on the roster to have competent offensive production from a corner IF position.  plus he's still a quality defender over there.

The past few seasons, it seems like the Brewers have been chasing their tails trying to set up platoon options at 1B and 3B plus DH, often taking up 3-4 or even 5 roster spots and wind up getting below average offensive production to show for it from all 3 of those everyday lineup spots.  To me, there's value in plugging Santana in as the primary 1B and dedicating 1 roster spot to that position, then rolling the dice with Black at 3rd and signing a veteran DH to give your roster flexibility/depth elsewhere.  DH, IMO, should be a bigger priority in free agency for a team like the Brewers than 1B...if their model is defensive versatility to build the position player roster, I'd be much more ok with that if they would view the DH as more than an afterthought/bench role when Yelich or Contreras isn't occupying that spot in the lineup.  Even if the Brewers hold onto Burnes to start the season instead of trading him (and I hope that is the case), they have plenty of budget available to sign Santana and one of the more sought after DHs...particularly if they let Black open the season at 3B making league minimum.

[sveumrules]

7 hours ago, Doug B said:

But WHY was he "ruled out" at 1B? Because the player refuses to try? Because management is dumb? It has to be one of those. Yelich will not help the team in LF or DH. 

Yelich posted a 122 wRC+ and 4.1 WAR playing LF/DH last year.

[CheeseheadInQC]

7 hours ago, Doug B said:

But WHY was he "ruled out" at 1B? Because the player refuses to try? Because management is dumb? It has to be one of those. Yelich will not help the team in LF or DH. 

I could be wrong, but I think there was at least speculation that the outfield was easier on his back.

[Brewcrew82]

7 hours ago, Doug B said:

But WHY was he "ruled out" at 1B? Because the player refuses to try? Because management is dumb? It has to be one of those. Yelich will not help the team in LF or DH. 

A 4.1 WAR definitely helps the team, regardless of whether it's in LF or at DH. 

[jay87shot]

If we trade Burnes and Adames I would love to give Rhys a try. I personally wouldn't mind Black at 1st I think long term there is a better chance of Black at 1st over 3rd.

[Doug B]

On 12/29/2023 at 4:18 PM, Brewcrew82 said:

A 4.1 WAR definitely helps the team, regardless of whether it's in LF or at DH. 

-0.9 dWAR, he just takes up space in OF or at DH adding to the logjam. I realize they just want to nurse his back as much as possible to avoid making his terrible contract become a disaster, but 1B is the need of the team. So I guess he will just be a mediocre DH and the team will only win 81 games. So be it. It seems like they have no intention to actually try and compete this year but just protect assets and hope to rebuild.