Burning Questions For 2025 Brewers Spring Training: Do the Brewers Need a Fifth Outfielder?

[Ryan Pollak]

With Blake Perkins out until mid-May, a spot has opened up on the Opening Day roster. Should the Brewers consider a fifth outfielder for the sake of depth?

Image courtesy of Matt Marton/USA TODAY Sports

Entering Spring Training, the Brewers had five strong contenders for the three outfielders position leading us to one question: Who is going to be the fourth outfielder? In what seemed like a competition between Garrett Mitchell and Blake Perkins, it was settled before games really got going as the latter injured his shin, keeping him out until mid-May.

Now the question becomes: Is four outfielders going to be enough? Do the Brewers need to have a fifth outfielder entering the season while they wait on Perkins to get healthy?

Christian Yelich could be a regular DH while Jackson Chourio, Mitchell, and Sal Frelick round out the three positions in the outfield. Then every once in a while, Yelich can play an outfield position (he's likely limited to the corners at this point) while the others have breaks or platoon with each other. If they do opt to keep another outfielder on the Opening Day roster, which option currently in camp is best?

Manuel Margot

Before the Brewers announced Perkins' injury, Todd Rosiak noted Manuel Margot was in the Brewers clubhouse and eventually signed a minor league contract with the club.

Margot is coming off a down year with the Twins with a .238/.289/.337 line in 343 plate appearances. His career norms suggest he will at least have better success against left-handed pitching; a .269 batting average and a .713 OPS against southpaws last season confirms he has that potential.

As a right-handed bat, Margot would be a great platoon with projected center fielder Mitchell or even Frelick, who hasn’t found as much success against the lefties thus far.

In order for Margot to make the Opening Day roster, the Brewers will have to remove someone from the 40-man roster, whether it be by DFA or adding a player to the 60-Day Injured List. Depending on how well Margot does for the Brewers, the club could DFA him upon Perkins' return or attempt to trade him for another asset with minor league options remaining.

Brewer Hicklen and Isaac Collins

Both Hicklen and Collins had similar paths to the big leagues. Hicklen was signed to a minor league contract back in November 2023. He didn’t make the Opening Day roster, but he battled his way through Nashville to finally get selected to the 40-man roster in July.

Hicklen didn’t get called up until September, but hitting 21 home runs with the Sounds seemed too good to pass up. Unfortunately, he has yet to get his first hit in MLB. He’s only had nine career plate appearances, so his potential still vastly outweighs what we know about him from that small sample.

As for Collins, he was claimed off waivers back in December 2022 and has tried to fight his way to the major league roster since. Sure enough by September last year, he too got the call. When called up, Collins was batting .273 in Nashville with 14 home runs and 76 RBI. He did get a single on his first career at-bat, but he hasn’t gotten one since.

Both these bats could be a nice temporary replacement for Perkins. They both have minor league options left and are ready for major league pitching. The only real difference is Collins can also play the infield if the Brewers need it (not that they do, but having the flexibility is nice).

So it’s a three man race for a fifth outfield spot, right? Well, not exactly, as a fourth option has emerged in recent weeks, and this one is quite a familiar face to Brewers fans.

Mark Canha

Just a few days after the Perkins injury, the Brewers signed first baseman and outfielder Mark Canha to a minor league contract. Whereas fans initially thought this would be another temporary solution in the outfield, skipper Pat Murphy seems to have other plans.

Canha was originally acquired by the Brewers at the 2023 trade deadline in a deal with the Mets. During his tenure, he hit five home runs and 33 RBI with a .287 batting average and an .800 OPS. At the time, he was utilized as a corner outfielder, first baseman, and designated hitter.

To give the team more payroll flexibility, the Brewers traded Canha to the Tigers. His numbers slipped a little in Detroit, but they picked back up when he joined the Giants later in the season. With Canha becoming an option at DH, this could allow (force?) Yelich to play more in the field, allowing the outfielders to rotate in and out as needed, avoiding potential fatigue and burnout. This can also provide a bigger competition at third base as Tyler Black might have to find more playing time at other positions.

With Murphy speaking highly of this new signing, he is a strong candidate to be on the Opening Day roster. Like Margot’s situation, adding Canha would mean a player will have to be removed from the 40-man roster.

So, what’s the solution here? Do the Brewers add a fifth outfielder? Is Canha being relegated to first base and DH better than another outfielder? Is there a scenario where Canha and another outfielder make the Opening Day roster?

There are only 13 position player spots up for grabs, so whatever decision the front office makes will be a tough one.

Prediction: Mark Canha and Isaac Collins make the Opening Day roster; Blake Perkins added to 60-day IL.

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Follow Ryan Pollak on X: @Ryeandfish

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[Michael Trzinski]

Not completely sold on Margot but he does have experience and wouldn't be the worst choice to make the 26-man. If Margot struggles this spring, either Hicklen or Collins deserve a shot, especially if they have a good spring. I think Canha will be the backup at 1B and get limited playing time out in 'the corn.' 

[rafa]

Ok, I know I'm late to the party on this one but to answer the question, no way!

The Brewers still have 4 solid outfielders without Perkins and yes, we all know Yelich is going to DH some. Yelich really likes playing the field so don't think tat he's going to be DH for 80-90 games, more like 40-50.

If you want the right handed bat in their for CF, then it's Chourio who is already getting reps there and has played the position a lot in the minors.  Besides, Mitchell and Frelick would still do ok IMO against lefties. 

Canha can play one of the corner spots when Chourio is in CF, Haas has over 150 games played in LF as well. 

No, we do not need a 5th outfielder whatsoever.

[ecjimg]

Yeh, Mitchell vs Perkins is a pretty easy call...........even pre Perkins injury. If Perkins hits, hes more likely to get Frelicks spot.

[endaround]

The Brewers have Canha for the outfield. Dunn can play there in an emergency as can Black.  Really no reason to add Hicklen or Collins to the team for a month.  You could add them but they really shouldn't play. That month would better spent seeing if Black is a feasible platoon partner at 1B and investigating if Durbin and Dunn are actually MLB players.

The bench then of Haase, Frelick, Black/Canha, Durbin/Dunn, and Monasterio. When Perkins is ready you re-evaluate.