With Joel Payamps, Bryan Hudson Struggling, It's Time Brewers Promote Craig Yoho

[Jack Stern]

The Brewers could keep their airbending relief prospect in Triple-A Nashville through the first few weeks of the season because they didn't need him. Now they do.

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Craig Yoho’s stuff has been big league-ready for some time. Yet, it was no surprise when the Brewers reassigned him to minor-league camp near the end of spring training.

Yes, service time considerations are an unfortunate part of prospect promotion timelines, but Yoho remained in Triple A as the deadline for reaching a full year of service came and went. The main reason is that the Brewers have a full 40-man roster and entered the season with a strong bullpen. There was no need to expunge depth to create space for Yoho.

“We’re excited about his future,” Pat Murphy said the day of Yoho’s reassignment. “Right now, we think it’s best with the way our whole thing is constructed. Depth is a real big, important thing.”

For the first few weeks of the season, that argument held up. It no longer does. The struggles of Joel Payamps and Bryan Hudson have Murphy and the Brewers effectively operating with a six-man bullpen. There’s an obvious need, and Yoho is the best candidate to fill it.

Payamps, whose 13 earned runs allowed have him two-thirds of the way to last year’s total in a tenth of the workload, has become the most upfront liability. After he initiated the bullpen’s collapse in Arizona on April 12, the righty didn't pitch for a week. On Saturday, Murphy bluntly explained that he’s been reassigned to a role that “is not one of leverage.”

That night, recent workloads throughout the rest of the bullpen forced him to use Payamps with the Brewers trailing 2-1. He allowed a leadoff home run to Shea Langeliers on a 2-0 fastball.

“He gave up a big hit again, and that’s concerning,” Murphy said. “The track record has been pretty darn good, and he’s pitched well, even this year. In spring training, he was lights-out. Not that spring is our evaluation tool, but we just felt good about him coming [into the] season. It just hasn’t happened for him.”

A hesitancy to remove Payamps from the roster is somewhat understandable. Since he can't be optioned to the minors, the only way to get him off the roster without offering him to the rest of the league would be to place him on the injured list. Murphy correctly noted that his stuff remains the same as last year, when he pitched to a 3.05 ERA and 3.73 FIP and finished the year strong. His average fastball velocity of 94.6 mph is nearly identical to his 2024 mark, as is his Stuff+ across his entire arsenal. Payamps has spent his downtime working with the Brewers' pitching coaches on smaller tweaks, and they may feel he is close to a return to his effective self.

Season	Stf+ 4FB	Stf+ 2FB	Stf+ SL	Stf+ CH	Stuff+
2024	111	91	106	80	102
2025	105	91	108	85	103

That leaves Hudson, who has a minor-league option remaining, as the other demotion candidate. After receding stuff prompted a late-season assignment to Triple A last year, the southpaw has returned with inconsistent velocity and little control. In nine appearances, Hudson has issued walks at a 21.6% clip against an 18.9% strikeout rate.

Tasked with closing out a four-run lead on Friday, Hudson issued two walks and allowed an RBI double while recording just one out, forcing Trevor Megill into the game. The following day, Murphy implied his roster spot is not secure.

“Guys that don’t throw good and don’t have a long history of success are always going to be in that situation,” he said. “Hudson’s not throwing the ball good, so heads up. You never know.”

The unreliability of Payamps and Hudson has boxed Murphy into necessary overuse of other relievers. Grant Anderson has pitched five times in the last eight days, often in situations once reserved for an effective Payamps. Anderson and Jared Koenig had to pitch with the Brewers trailing on Saturday.

It’s not sustainable bullpen construction. The relief corps needs help in the middle innings, and even though Yoho has been more good than great so far in Triple-A—he’s posted a 3.17 FIP, with a diminished 23.7% strikeout rate in 9 ⅔ innings—he remains the best internal candidate to provide it.

The Brewers have avenues for adding him to the 40-man roster. They could designate Payamps for assignment, or they could option Hudson and transfer Aaron Ashby to the 60-day injured list. Which route is best is debatable, but the Brewers cannot continue carrying both struggling relievers. The time to promote Yoho has arrived.

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[sveumrules]

"They could designate Payamps for assignment, or they could option Hudson and transfer Aaron Ashby to the 60-day injured list. Which route is best is debatable, but the Brewers cannot continue carrying both struggling relievers. The time to promote Yoho has arrived."

I'd probably option Hudson/transfer Ashby to get Yoho on the roster for the upcoming road trip. He last pitched on the 18th so should be fresh and ready for some innings.

That gives you a few games to hopefully get Payamps a chance to pitch again before Myers needs to be activated for his start on Thursday, at which point Joel is either designated or one of Patrick/Henderson is optioned back to AAA.

Personally think I'd try running a six man rotation of Peralta, Quintana, Myers, Priester, Patrick and Henderson as long as they all keep pitching well which would leave a bullpen of Megill, Koenig, Uribe, Mears, Anderson, Yoho and Alexander.

[Brian]

Payamps hands down is the worst pitcher on the Brewers. 

[jay87shot]

Ashby has thrown some bullpen and sounds close to some rehab. I would think Civale or Nestor might be better candidates for the 60 day dl at this point. I have heard any updates on either. 

I think we 60 day DL Civale (would be May 31 return I believe) for Yoho 40 man.

Than trade Payamps ptbnl or phantom IL. For Yoho spot.

Myers for Hudson would be fine if nothing changes. 

Woody for Henderson

Ashby for ????

I would be a nice time to trade a couple arms for a 3B if Durbin doesn't take off. I will think of a couple ideas for the transaction ideas thread.

[Outlander]

I don't think they go with Yoho until after the Myers activation and corresponding move at the very least. Wouldn't be opposed to a Payamps outright and working out his issues in the minors. They have to pay him still but don't thinkg somebody else takes his contract on with the way he is pitching.