An Early Preview Of The 2025 Position Battles

[Harold Hutchison]

With an 80-57 record and a nine-game lead over the Chicago Cubs, you would think the Brewers are pretty set at most positions. Guess again, this team may be on the cusp of one of the best regular-season records in its history, but it is also a team that could see major changes over the offseason.

Why might one of the best teams in the National League, a team that is clearly the best in its division, make major changes? In Milwaukee’s case, it comes from a mix of both harsh reality and high-class problems.

The harsh reality is one discussed before: Milwaukee just simply can’t match the payrolls teams like the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, and others. The high-class problem is that the Brewers also have a lot of good options in their position player group. So, which positions could be in flux?

Shortstop

The Brewers winning the World Series in 2024 might be seen as a miracle by some. Willy Adames remaining in a Brewers uniform come 2025 would definitely be seen as miraculous by just about anyone who follows baseball enough to know who he is.

In his final year before free agency, he is leading the Brewers with 27 home runs and 95 RBI and adding a 121 OPS+. Other than some guy by the name of Robin Yount, he’s been the best to play shortstop in Milwaukee Brewers history.

The question is who takes over for Adames. The Brewers have two very capable options. The first would be Brice Turang, their current second baseman. Turang offers Gold Glove caliber defense, but his bat is somewhat inconsistent. His hot streaks can be hot (.816 OPS in April), but when he isn’t, his bat is below average (.639 OPS since May 1 per Baseball Reference), albeit with solid OBP skills (34 walks in 373 at-bats from May 1 to August 31).

The other option is Joey Ortiz, the incumbent third baseman. Ortiz also provides excellent defense, but his bat is superior to Turang’s (100 OPS+ to 87 OPS+ for Turang). In this case, it may make sense for the Brewers to move Ortiz to shortstop, but that would create an opening third base.

Third Base

With Ortiz moving to shortstop to replace Adames, the Brewers need a new third baseman to replace Ortiz. Options on the 40-man roster include Andruw Monasterio, who has been a solid defensive option with a below-average bat in 2023 and 2024, Tyler Black, who has been a hitter without a position, and Oliver Dunn, who played some third base in a platoon with Ortiz early in the season.

Black has the highest offensive ceiling of the three, with Dunn having somewhat of an offensive edge over Monasterio as a left-handed power bat. However, the Brewers also could give 2023 first-round pick Brock Wilken a lengthy look at the hot corner in spring training.

First Base

Rhys Hoskins may not opt out of the second year of the free-agent deal he signed with the Brewers in the 2023-2024 offseason. Jake Bauers has been a solid backup at not only first base, but both corner outfield spots. But even then, the position could be in flux – the Brewers could find a take for Hoskins or Bauers, and Black could see some time at first base in 2025.

The Outfield

The corner outfield positions might seem locked in, but even with the Joey Wiemer trade, the Brewers have a lot of outfield talent. Currently, Jackson Chourio primarily handles left field, with Garrett Mitchell and Blake Perkins splitting time in center, while Sal Frelick is usually in right. The return of Christian Yelich next season, the addition of Brewer Hicklen, and Tyler Black’s search for a defensive home could change things.

Designated Hitter

Yelich may get most of the at-bats at DH by default, partially to lessen the load on his surgically-repaired back, but also because the younger outfielders are that good defensively. William Contreras could also see time there, along with Hoskins (if still on the roster) and Black.

Backup Catcher

Gary Sanchez probably will not stick around after 2024, but Eric Haase will probably be around as a backup at the start of 2025, at least until Jeferson Quero makes up for a lost 2024 season.

Bench

The Brewers could even see some changes on the bench. Isaac Collins has handled multiple infield and outfield positions over the last two seasons and may be worth a look. Depending on spring training performances, the Brewers could see Sal Frelick or Blake Perkins as a fourth outfielder, although Frelick did see limited action at third base and could offer more positional versatility.

Overview

Successful teams often try to keep the roster together. In the case of the 2024 Brewers, there may be changes, some of which are driven by harsh economic reality, but others will likely be due to the emergence of prospects who might be upgrades over players currently on the roster.

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