The Brewers Have One Last Roster Decision to Make

[Ryan Pollak]

Players have been told they will make the team. But the Brewers need to make one last decision with a spring training favorite before the season starts.

Opening Day is now three days away and while the Brewers have a few days to make it official, it seems like all, but one spot is set for the 26-man roster.

According to Brewers beat writer Curt Hogg, Joey Ortiz, Bryan Hudson, Blake Perkins and Andruw Monasterio have all been informed they have made the roster. However, there was one roster concern that has risen over the weekend.

While there are no reports as to how this injury occurred, Garrett Mitchell has been looking to make his second opening day roster. Coming off a shoulder injury, Mitchell was looking to bounce back and make an impact this spring.

In 14 games and 52 plate appearances, Mitchell is hitting a .319/.385/.426 with a home run and eight RBI. He was projected to play regular time in centerfield and a potential platoon spot with Perkins. He was a shoe in to make the roster barring any injury but would’ve kept another hot bat off the roster.

Ever since Gary Sanchez signed with the Brewers, Eric Haase was on the outs. Haase signed a one-year deal with the team back in December where he’d make one million should he make the roster. Now on the bubble he knew he had to do whatever it takes to be there at the start of the season.

While it has been stated the team wasn’t interested in keeping three catchers on the roster, Haase is making it a little difficult to cut him. In 42 plate appearances he has hit a .378 batting average with a 1.236 OPS and is tied for the second most home runs this spring (four) only behind Willy Adames who has six.

The Crew still have a few days to lock in their roster to start the season. If Mitchell is good to go, Haase will more than likely be cut from the roster. Because he doesn’t have any more minor league options, the team will have to remove him from the 40-man roster and will have to be placed on revocable waivers where he could be claimed by any team. Judging by his spring training stats, there might be some interest in the player.

The Brewers could start Mitchell on the 10-day injured list giving Haase a chance to translate his spring training stats to the regular season. Consider it to be his last stand. He does have limited experience in the outfield so he could slide into a backup role for both catcher and the outfield.

Assuming Mitchell is good to go and barring any other injuries, here what the projected roster looks like for the Brewers:

Catcher: William Contreras, Gary Sanchez

First Base: Rhys Hoskins, Jake Bauers

Second Base: Brice Turang

Third Base: Andruw Monasterio, Joey Ortiz

Shortstop: Willy Adames

Outfield: Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Blake Perkins

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Starting Rotation: Freddy Peralta, Jakob Junis, Colin Rea, DL Hall, Joe Ross 

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Bullpen: Bryan Hudson, Trevor Megill, Hoby Milner, Joel Payamps, Elvis Peguero, Abner Uribe, Bryse Wilson, Thyago Vieira

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IL: Wade Miley, Devin Williams, Taylor Clarke

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Other than Haase, no other player will need to be placed on revocable waivers. This will leave the 40-man roster at 39. This will give the flexibility to add a player like Robert Gasser or Tyler Black to the roster without having to designate a player for assignment.

The projected roster also suggests right-handed pitcher J.B. Bukauskas will start this season on the Triple A roster. Bukauskas was rewarded with an additional minor league option this offseason giving the organization flexibility to send him down without having to place him on waivers. Over the spring, he struck out 16 batters in 9 2/3 innings, a 3.72 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.

Wade Miley is expected to go on rehab assignments at the start of the season and could be ready by mid-April. When that time comes, the Brewers will have another decision to make. Until then, these Brewers will be ready for March 28 when they take on the New York Mets.

What do you think of the Brewers roster? Would you like to see Eric Haase on the opening day roster? Will Garrett Mitchell start the season on the IL? Let us know.

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[Trax]

Would hate seeing Haase cut but carrying 3 catchers and 2 at 1B is not doable long term.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

Perkins seems like an odd choice. Nothing against him, he just is redundant on this team. He's a good defensive OF, who is fast and draw's walks. That's one thing the current OF is really good at.  Hard to believe he will have a lot of playing time opportunities.

[JohnBriggs12]

Seems like a few weeks ago, that everyone was talking about the outfield depth.  In fact Arnold was so sure he had plenty of depth in the OF, that the first move he made in the offseason was to trade away Tyrone Taylor and then have Frelick transition to 3B.  Now that depth is gone.  Wiemer, not surprisingly needs time at AAA to work on a revamped swing and  Mitchell is hurt as usual.  Now for the time being Frelick is back in the outfield as an everyday player.  That leaves Glen Perkins as the only true extra outfielder.  At best, Perkins is a 5th outfielder. 

The Mets backup catcher is Omar Narvaez.  If I'm Arnold, I'm on the phone with Stearns and offering him Haase for Tyrone back. 

[jay87shot]

1 hour ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

Seems like a few weeks ago, that everyone was talking about the outfield depth.  In fact Arnold was so sure he had plenty of depth in the OF, that the first move he made in the offseason was to trade away Tyrone Taylor and then have Frelick transition to 3B.  Now that depth is gone.  Wiemer, not surprisingly needs time at AAA to work on a revamped swing and  Mitchell is hurt as usual.  Now for the time being Frelick is back in the outfield as an everyday player.  That leaves Glen Perkins as the only true extra outfielder.  At best, Perkins is a 5th outfielder. 

The Mets backup catcher is Omar Narvaez.  If I'm Arnold, I'm on the phone with Stearns and offering him Haase for Tyrone back. 

We still have plenty of OF depth. Yeli, Frelick, Chorio, Weimer, Perkins with Bauers and Haase who can play a bit of OF as well. Weimer cab be up in a week or so if need be and Perkins as a 4th OF is still solid. Yeli won't DH as much and Sal maybe only plays a bit in the IF to start but nothing major. 

[rolafaive]

I still would keep Haase and send Perkins down, if for no other reason are all that comfortable that Sanches and the wrist problem don't flair up again. Though Sanchez does hit for power, I would rethink the #2 catcher at this point.

[sveumrules]

1 hour ago, rolafaive said:

 

I still would keep Haase and send Perkins down

 

Who is the 4th OF if Perkins is sent down?

[sveumrules]

14 hours ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

That leaves Glen Perkins as the only true extra outfielder.  At best, Perkins is a 5th outfielder. 

His name is Blake Perkins.

Last year, he posted 1.2 WAR in 168 PAs.

Tyrone Taylor came in at 0.8 WAR in 243 PAs,

[JohnBriggs12]

3 hours ago, sveumrules said:

His name is Blake Perkins.

Last year, he posted 1.2 WAR in 168 PAs.

Tyrone Taylor came in at 0.8 WAR in 243 PAs,

Taylor was recovering from a shoulder injury for much of the year.  Over August and September he slugged .572.  No offense to Perkins, but Taylor provides a little more pop.

[sveumrules]

2 hours ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

Taylor was recovering from a shoulder injury for much of the year.  Over August and September he slugged .572.  No offense to Perkins, but Taylor provides a little more pop.

No doubt TT has more pop, but Perkins walks more with a 13.7 BB% last year compared to a 3.3 BB% for Taylor.

That's how Blake ended up with a .326 OBP compared to only a .267 OBP for Tyrone.