Could the Brewers Set Up an Eric Haase vs. Jake Bauers In-Season Battle?

[Tim Muma]

A lack of minor-league options and the Milwaukee Brewers' quest to retain key positional depth pieces could lead to an in-season competition to open the 2024 campaign. You should know, by now: the Opening Day roster is always a temporary construct.

Image courtesy of © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Hopefully, talent largely dictates who makes the initial 26-man roster. However, logistical considerations like minor-league options also play a large role in the Milwaukee Brewers' decisions. This can lead to some unique or suboptimal depth charts to begin the season, in an effort to retain as much organization-wide flexibility as possible. As we approach the start of the 2024 schedule, the Brewers find themselves in a difficult position centered around the off-season acquisitions of Jake Bauers and Gary Sánchez, along with the dominating spring performance of Eric Haase. None of those three players have a minor-league option, and Sánchez will be on the 26-man roster (if fully healthy) as a DH and catcher (sort of).

Thus, it comes down to Bauers vs. Haase--a strange dilemma, because their lack of positional versatility would put the Brewers in a bind over the long haul. Milwaukee traded minor leaguers Jace Avina and Brian Sanchez to acquire Bauers, so GM Matt Arnold likely wants to give him some rope to start the season. Despite Bauers' .211/.302/.413 career line, it appears the Brewers saw something in his left-handed stick, or an area they could improve, to believe Bauers would bring more production to the club than he has at his other stops. Barring a sudden change, he will start the 2024 season as the backup first baseman and left-handed option as a DH and pinch-hitter. Though Bauers has played in the outfield at times, there's no indication the Brewers see him as an option out there.

With Bauers locked in and unable to provide infield coverage, it would make it challenging to carry three catchers in William Contreras, Sánchez and Haase. Manager Pat Murphy has already said he's not usually a fan of it. But Haase's .414/.469/.897 spring slash is tough to ignore, and could give the front office doubts about exposing him to other teams. His Arizona performance includes four home runs, two doubles and 10 RBIs in just 32 plate appearances, while providing solid defense. However, with Sánchez seen as having a guaranteed spot and Bauers getting a look to begin the year, Haase's inclusion would leave the Brewers with one backup outfielder and only one backup infielder to cover multiple spots.

C - Contreras
1B - Rhys Hoskins
2B - Brice Turang
3B - Sal Frelick
SS - Willy Adames
LF - Christian Yelich
CF - Garrett Mitchell
RF - Jackson Chourio
DH - Sanchez

Bench - Joey Ortiz (infield)
Bench - Blake Perkins/Joey Wiemer (outfield)
Bench - Bauers (1B)
Bench - Haase (C)

That thin setup doesn't typically work well in matchups and late-game situations. Assuming Bauers isn't going anywhere before real games begin, do you risk losing Haase after the spring he has posted? There's no doubt another club would pick him up immediately. So maybe there's an option to delay the decision and gather more information.

How about a two-week tryout when the games count?
The Brewers could put both Haase and Bauers on the Opening Day roster and give them about 10 games to prove they can handle their respective roles. Why two weeks? Milwaukee could start Sánchez on the 10-day injured list to give him more time to work back fully from the fractured wrist he suffered last September. Sánchez could undoubtedly use more offensive reps, but more importantly, additional work with the Brewers' catching wizards to improve his defense. Having four passed balls in two spring games is a touch concerning. Going this route allows the Brewers to keep another infielder like Andruw Monasterio on the roster to ensure versatility. Once Milwaukee's brain trust thinks Sánchez is 100 percent ready to roll, then they will have to make the decision on who is likely moving to another club: Bauers or Haase.

 

Eric Haase - Milwaukee Brewers (3)* pic.twitter.com/kuOQmeAC5Q

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) March 16, 2024

Their roles on the Brewers would differ, so evaluating the two across a small sample of regular-season games entails its own issues. But at least it buys time and allows the team more opportunity to make the "right" call. If they deem it time for Bauers to go, prospect Tyler Black can take his spot as the left-handed first baseman and DH. Remember, Black spent more time working at first base than third base this spring, and Murphy expects him to do the same in Nashville to begin the minor-league season. But Black would also provide coverage at third and second base (unlike Bauers), meaning Monasterio could be sent to Triple A to open the spot for Sánchez, who essentially becomes the DH instead of Bauers.

Should the Brewers believe Haase's value is lower than Bauers' and that Sánchez will suffice as the backup backstop, Sánchez will simply replace Haase on the 26-man roster.

The Brewers' margin for error to reach the postseason this year is slimmer than in the recent past. These fringe choices could make the difference in a handful of games that determine a playoff spot six months from now. What do you think about this option? Do you lean toward a specific type of roster construction a week before Opening Day? The next week-plus will be fascinating to watch.

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[eddiemathews]

This is the way. What a novel idea.

[Tim Muma]

11 minutes ago, eddiemathews said:

This is the way. What a novel idea.

When I saw your comment on the.other article, I laughed. And then I was worried you hacked my brain & saw this article was posting today.  Something about great minds...

[eddiemathews]

5 minutes ago, Tim Muma said:

When I saw your comment on the.other article, I laughed. And then I was worried you hacked my brain & saw this article was posting today.  Something about great minds...

Well, it really doesn't take a lot of deep thought to come up with this plan - otherwise I wouldn't have thought of it. If it were up to me I'd be shopping Bauers right now for anything I could get...which would at best be a lottery ticket, if there were any takers at all. The A's might give up a couple of season tix to games in Vegas. So I guess it makes more sense to go the route you described.

[rolafaive]

I think I might be inclined to cut Sanchez loose, that wrist injury for a catcher scares the hell out of me and dangle Bauers as a reader pice to someone.

[eddiemathews]

48 minutes ago, rolafaive said:

I think I might be inclined to cut Sanchez loose, that wrist injury for a catcher scares the hell out of me and dangle Bauers as a reader pice to someone.

Yeah, I can see that. But Sanchez would seem to have more upside at the plate, and can do exactly what Bauers does (although as a righty, so there's that). The $$ difference is small ($1.7mm more for Sanchez to cut him) but that might make a difference...and he could catch in an emergency even if the Brewers decide he shouldn't do it on a once-a-week basis.

[Tim Muma]

1 hour ago, eddiemathews said:

Well, it really doesn't take a lot of deep thought to come up with this plan - otherwise I wouldn't have thought of it. If it were up to me I'd be shopping Bauers right now for anything I could get...which would at best be a lottery ticket, if there were any takers at all. The A's might give up a couple of season tix to games in Vegas. So I guess it makes more sense to go the route you described.

I guess it depends on how strongly the Brewers' brass feels about getting more out of Bauers than any other team has. I'd probably feel more confident about them pulling something more out of him if he were a pitcher. There is the chance that, depending on if/when they try to pass him through waivers that no team claims him. 

[S_mCanderson]

Seems like a fine plan, other than the Sanchez IL thing. Might as well just start with 12 pitchers, or go with the slightly shorter bench. In the first 10 days of the season they have 3 off days. 12 pitchers or a shorter bench would be no issue.

[eddiemathews]

22 minutes ago, S_mCanderson said:

Seems like a fine plan, other than the Sanchez IL thing. Might as well just start with 12 pitchers, or go with the slightly shorter bench. In the first 10 days of the season they have 3 off days. 12 pitchers or a shorter bench would be no issue.

They are likely to need lots of innings out of the pen. Starting pitching is thin and inexperienced, and I could see many short starts/multi-inning relief appearances. All year, for that matter.

[patrickgpe]

I wasn’t that excited about the Bauers trade. If they cut him loose I wouldn’t be upset. With Sanchez’s wrist injury I could see the value in keeping Haase for now. 

[Kripes - Brewers]

12 hours ago, patrickgpe said:

I wasn’t that excited about the Bauers trade. If they cut him loose I wouldn’t be upset. With Sanchez’s wrist injury I could see the value in keeping Haase for now. 

I mean, between Bauers and Haase, it seems to me you'd have a better chance of passing a Bauers through waivers and keeping him in the sytem if Haase struggles for some reason. It bothers me that they'll make a decision to ride the hot hand during the season, but not to start the season. The odds would say you've seen what Bauers has to offer, so that combined with the reduced positional flexibility tells you it's time to cut bait bait there. You gambled with an early postseason move and it didn't work out. Either him or Sanchez needs to go.