Offseason Big Name Potential Targets

[jay87shot]

From the offseason thread it seems like most of us are in agreement that it will be a generally slow offseason and not a lot of roster changes are needed. However most would be in favor of adding a high quality bat or arm for the right price. I thought we could make a list of potential big names that could make sense to trade (or sign) for. I am going to have an extended list here that likely 

DH/C- None     Unless we get an overwhelming offer for Contreras or Yeli the will be no need for a big names.   

1B- Very Unlikely    With Vaughn under control for next year I doubt that a 1B acquisition makes sense, Cody Bellinger with his ability to play 1B and OF would be the only realistic big name that I could see being an option. Pete Alonso and Yandy Diaz are maybe big names but make less sense than Belly.

IF-  This one has some range.     Trades = Jose Ramirez, CJ Abrams, Zach Neto, Ozzie Albies, Brandon Lowe, Marcus Semien, Nolan Arenado, Matt Chapman???   FA= Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Luis Arraez, Eugenio Suarez.  Some of those names aren't really upgrades like Albies, Arenado, or Arraez but are big names that could be dealt, a bunch of them will likely be way to expensive (Bichette/Bregman), or just really unlikely to be traded (Rameriz, Neto, Abrams).

OF- Again a decent depth of names, maybe a better list of trade candidates  Trades= Steven Kwan, Jarren Duran (other Boston OF), Luis Robert (if cut/FA), Daulton Varsho, Bryan Reynolds, Byron Buxton,   FA=Belly, Harrison Bader, Trent Grisham 

SP- We have plenty of depth but I could see a sneaky trade for a controllable top of the rotation arm in the right circumstance. I doubt we would sign a big name but there are a couple discount names that could be of interest.   Trades= Edward Cabrera, Sandy Alcantara, Joe Ryan, MacKenzie Gore,  Drew Rasmussen, Pablo Lopez,  Free Agents- Shane Bieber, Zach Gallen, Justin Verlander

RP- I doubt we would trade a whole lot away for a reliever but if we have some money a free agent might make sense.     Trade-Pete Fairbanks, Padres reliever, ???  FA- Devin Williams, Michael Kopech, Tyler Rogers, Kenley Jansen

[Playing Catch]

I think the Brewers are unlikely to add any significant payroll. Mostly because I think it allows for them to make creative trades at the deadline like they did this season with the Shelby Miller trade.

Going into next season with our current mix of infielders sounds good to me. Adding a big lefty corner sounds great, but with our outfield depth, Yelich needs to be a primary DH, so that lefty corner needs to probably be as good of a defender as Yelich is in LF. Bauers represents said quality at first base, and kinda in the outfield.

There are better players than Bauers? Of course. But are there better players that will be happy in the same role as Bauers?

I'd also say that I could see the Brewers trying to resign Jansen if they are uncomfortable with the Haase/Quero/MiLBFA guys. The front office seems to like having a legit hitting backup at catcher (e.g. Caratini/Sanchez/Jansen).

[adambr2]

Hoskins will definitely not be back. I would like a LF first baseman who is an upgrade from Bauers. Other than that maybe a pen arm. Can’t see a major splash happening unless it’s at SS. A starting pitcher is possible if we trade Peralta or don’t sign Woodruff.

[jay87shot]

I would be most interested in possibly adding Devin Williams back at a low-rate with some incentives. He won't get a big multi year deal with his year he had. However his numbers have been pretty good 2.89 FIP, 13 k/9, 3.8 bb/9. If we could do like 1/6 with incentives to 12-14 I think that would be smart of Devin and fit our needs well if it is in the 8th or 9th.

I also like possibly adding a high end arm, specifically Edward Cabrera if the cost isn't to high. Maybe like Pratt/Quero, Patrick, and Wilken for Cabrera? It would be a risk but he is a guy that won't cost a lot and could be filthy for a couple years, maybe even open to a team friendly extension.

[long ball]

We have very little in committed in future salary. At least 25 players on our 40 man are going to be pre-arb. But our roster will be getting more expensive in 2-3 years as we start having these guys roll through arbitration. 
 

this might be an off-season they could strike on a big contract that hangs around late into the off season like they did with Grandal. Multi year free agent deals would probably be tough because of the impending arbitration cases starting in a couple years. 
 

Always tough to see who that player will be, but a center fielder would be a potential place to add. This would allow us to have insurance from a Mitchell injury and keep Chourio in a corner. Not sure there’s a name out there that really fits the Grandal mold though- possibly Grisham could be a guy who is young enough to take a 1 year deal if the multi year deal doesnt materialize for him. 

[BrewerFan]

3 hours ago, adambr2 said:

Hoskins will definitely not be back. I would like a LF first baseman who is an upgrade from Bauers. Other than that maybe a pen arm. Can’t see a major splash happening unless it’s at SS. A starting pitcher is possible if we trade Peralta or don’t sign Woodruff.

I'd really like to see Woodruff re-signed... and short of that an attempt.

If we can't... I don't think there's anything else that makes a whole lot of sense. At least nothing obvious. They could make a big move for a guy under team control... but who would that be? Doesn't seem like it'd be Jose Ramirez and I'd rather not trade Made or Pena for him at this point anyway. 

[Scooterfletcher]

Wouldn’t be smart to go big in FA.

[jay87shot]

10 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

Wouldn’t be smart to go big in FA.

I wouldn't think we would but if a guy like Belly or Bichette don't get a big multi year deal and take a 1 year deal with a player option, we could maybe (extemely unlikely) sign a bigger name if we make a run and Mark A. gets a bit wild.

[Lloyd330]

13 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

Wouldn’t be smart to go big in FA.

All depends on what happens this year - Our time is now.

[nate82]

On 9/17/2025 at 10:30 AM, jay87shot said:

Luis Robert (if cut/FA),

Luis Robert should be a primary DH to keep him healthy.  I wouldn’t classify him as a full time OF.  If the White Sox release him I would be very interested and maybe he could have a comeback season.  If he gets cut I don’t believe he will get a huge contract but it won’t be at the league minimum either.

[jay87shot]

 

6 hours ago, nate82 said:

Luis Robert should be a primary DH to keep him healthy.  I wouldn’t classify him as a full time OF.  If the White Sox release him I would be very interested and maybe he could have a comeback season.  If he gets cut I don’t believe he will get a huge contract but it won’t be at the league minimum either.

I put Robert on there in part because he is a big name, I agree he is a 4th OF/DH based off his last 2 years. I will point out the re-animation of Andrew Vaughn after he left Chicago. If he does get cut he could be a sneaky upside add just for that reason.

What would you all think about trading for Byron Buxton? He is a 5 WAR player in what will be like 120 games and he has gotten poor defense grades in CF. If were to acquire him and platoon him and Yeli in LF/DH he would be the kind of bat that would take the offense to the next level. He is only making 15 per for the next 3 years. With the tear down the Twins had I would think he would wave a no trade. Collins could either be part of the trade or maybe move to a 4th OF/3B/2B platoon.

[Lathund]

On 9/19/2025 at 2:51 AM, jay87shot said:

What would you all think about trading for Byron Buxton? He is a 5 WAR player in what will be like 120 games and he has gotten poor defense grades in CF. If were to acquire him and platoon him and Yeli in LF/DH he would be the kind of bat that would take the offense to the next level. He is only making 15 per for the next 3 years. With the tear down the Twins had I would think he would wave a no trade. Collins could either be part of the trade or maybe move to a 4th OF/3B/2B platoon.

Buxton has been about as clear as I've ever seen anyone be about how he is not going to waive his no trade clause, even after the big sell-off. Sure, things can change. But players who do end up changing their mind tend to leave some leeway in what they say, as in saying how happy they are where they are and having no intention of moving, while not actual saying things like remaining a Twin for life, or never leaving. I'd be shocked if he waived it. And if he did, there would be so many teams interested that the bidding would get quite crazy. 

 

[Scooterfletcher]

10 hours ago, Lathund said:

Buxton has been about as clear as I've ever seen anyone be about how he is not going to waive his no trade clause, even after the big sell-off. Sure, things can change. But players who do end up changing their mind tend to leave some leeway in what they say, as in saying how happy they are where they are and having no intention of moving, while not actual saying things like remaining a Twin for life, or never leaving. I'd be shocked if he waived it. And if he did, there would be so many teams interested that the bidding would get quite crazy. 

 

Weird to say but it’s impossible to both make us a non-playoff team or a World Series favorite no matter what we do this off season.  We will be really good yet not star studded enough regardless.

[MadThinker88]

I suspect that the pending labor dispute (after the 2026 season) will impact the thinking of many clubs and players.

Many players might see this as a final chance to cash in big before the landscape changes.  Many clubs might be wary of spending too much if labor dispute (lockout or strike) wipes out a chunk of the 2027 season...

[jay87shot]

10 hours ago, MadThinker88 said:

I suspect that the pending labor dispute (after the 2026 season) will impact the thinking of many clubs and players.

Many players might see this as a final chance to cash in big before the landscape changes.  Many clubs might be wary of spending too much if labor dispute (lockout or strike) wipes out a chunk of the 2027 season...

I don't disagree with this, I think that top of the market has a lot of question marks and teams are going to be worried about huge deals. I think it would be crazy to pay Kyle Tucker 10/400 like some people have suggested, Bregman, Schwarber, Alonso, Bellinger, and Bichette all should have teams apprehensive about the lengths of those deals. The pitching market with Suarez, Valdez, King, and Cease has solid pitcher but not really an ace, with the landscape I wouldn't go over 5 years for any of them.

[landoc88]

If the Brewers could add just one name this offseason its Bo Bichette. Plays ss and better then Joey Ortiz. They won't do it but he's perfect. P.S. im not an Ortiz guy at all if the Brewers traded him i personally would not care.

[sveumrules]

29 minutes ago, landoc88 said:

If the Brewers could add just one name this offseason its Bo Bichette. Plays ss and better then Joey Ortiz. They won't do it but he's perfect. P.S. im not an Ortiz guy at all if the Brewers traded him i personally would not care.

Bichette is going to be trying to get more money than Adames did this past offseason.

If the Brewers were prepared to pay free agent prices for a SS I think they would have just stuck with the guy they were already familiar with.

Adames 2021-25
3,184 PA | 110 wRC+ | 19.8 WAR
121 BB+ | 118 K+ | 96 AVG+ | 129 ISO+
0 DRS | +21 FRV

Bichette 2021-25
2,952 PA | 121 wRC+ | 17.7 WAR
69 BB+ | 84 K+ | 120 AVG+ | 104 ISO+
-24 DRS | -23 FRV

Also questionable how much of a shortstop Bichette will truly be moving forward with those defensive metrics.

[TURBO]

5 hours ago, landoc88 said:

If the Brewers could add just one name this offseason its Bo Bichette. Plays ss and better then Joey Ortiz. They won't do it but he's perfect. P.S. im not an Ortiz guy at all if the Brewers traded him i personally would not care.

Wait, what?

Bichette is a better SS than Ortiz?  You mean offensively, right?

[TURBO]

My guess is that we will get not one single player from the OP post.

Not even one of them...

[BrewerFan]

On 9/30/2025 at 8:08 AM, jay87shot said:

I don't disagree with this, I think that top of the market has a lot of question marks and teams are going to be worried about huge deals. I think it would be crazy to pay Kyle Tucker 10/400 like some people have suggested, Bregman, Schwarber, Alonso, Bellinger, and Bichette all should have teams apprehensive about the lengths of those deals. The pitching market with Suarez, Valdez, King, and Cease has solid pitcher but not really an ace, with the landscape I wouldn't go over 5 years for any of them.

Closer to 500M has been the consensus... that I've seen... and I would love to see the Cubs give him that. He's more athletic and as good of a hitter(plus, a better fielder at a more important position)

And when you say "I wouldn't go over 5 years for any of them," do you mean... the Brewers? Or just anyone? Because most of them are going to get at least 5 years. 

Bichette's a 27 year old SS with an 800+ OPS. He's getting a deal over 5 years. 

I wouldn't expect some drastic shift in contracts this off-season because of what the owners might, maybe, try to do in next years CBA.

I mean, we lost a World Series and a season talking about a cap. What's more, I'd assume any "cap" will look a more like the NBA than the NFL and that's IF it were to happen... which I don't think it will. 

 

I'd expect Tucker still gets 450+ The Dodgers are shockingly the favorites and he'll probably end up there...which I'm numb to at this point. 
Bichette gets mid 300s most likely(wouldn't be surprised to see the Yanks go after him given Volpe's struggles). 
Schwarber should gets 40M AAV if it's 4 years or less and maybe 35 if you go 5 years...IMO.
Alanso is probably going to get 7/210 to stay with the Mets. 
Bregman... I don't really know what he'll get. He was really good this year but got hurt. 40M AAV over 3years. I could see the Red Sox just adding a couple years and avoiding free agency. 

Framber Valdez I'd put in the 7 year 240M range.
 

The work stoppage and the aims at these new caps and floors were well known going into last year and they didn't really put a dent into free agent prices. I don't expect they will this year either. 

 

And even if things work out as well as the owners and the commissioner could hope for, they're not going to go into a 180 or even 200M hard cap in 2 years. 

Most likely, they'll get a salary floor... which will only actually serve to hurt a team like the Brewers, more revenue sharing and then maybe something closer to the NBA salary cap. They won't do max contracts or anything, just you can go over to keep your own players would be my best guess. 

[BrewerFan]

On 9/29/2025 at 9:37 PM, MadThinker88 said:

Many players might see this as a final chance to cash in big before the landscape changes.  Many clubs might be wary of spending too much if labor dispute (lockout or strike) wipes out a chunk of the 2027 season...

If they're pushing for a cap, it's a safe bet much of '27 will be wiped out... but it's not like the clubs have to pay those players. 

On 10/1/2025 at 6:12 PM, TURBO said:

My guess is that we will get not one single player from the OP post.

Not even one of them...

They've signed 2 or 3 players from a list like this in the last decade, so... that's a safe bet. 

I'd certainly be interested in someone like Fairbanks if you could get him for ~3/27 or Kopech if he's only going to cost 3-5M. I think that's a worthwhile risk to take on and it wouldn't be a long term deal. 

 

But otherwise, of course we're not going to go sign a big name FA. I do hope they are aggressive in looking for a power arm out of the BP. That was the one thing I wanted at the deadline(at least the one thing I thought it was worth giving up good prospects for, a controllable reliever). 

I hope the Megill thing is no big deal, but it'd be nice to have someone who could slow in between Uribe and Megill if he's healthy and some protection against injury... and the Brewers work well with relievers... plus, a World Series run could be an additional 50-100M in revenue for a small market team(apparently), so... Bichette isn't realistic, nor are most of those names, but there are a couple and then quite a few more not mentioned. Helsely. I'd definitely see how realistic that was. He wasn't great after the trade, so... he could be an option. 

 

And again, I think including Jordan Montgomery into the Shelby Miller deal served two purposes. Balance the salaries and then an ancillary benefit would be to keep an eye on Jordan Montgomery and how his recovery is coming along. Could be a great guy to sign on a team friendly deal to prove he's healthy again. 

[jw5511986]

I would prefer to add through trade than FA at this point in our window, especially with the uncertainty of a potential work stoppage.

[wibadgers23]

On 9/17/2025 at 1:02 PM, Playing Catch said:

I think the Brewers are unlikely to add any significant payroll. Mostly because I think it allows for them to make creative trades at the deadline like they did this season with the Shelby Miller trade.

That is a super depressing viewpoint but you sadly might be right.  We aren't spending in the offseason so we can trade for Shelby freakin Miller at the deadline.  Wow.

[Jopal78]

On 9/17/2025 at 1:12 PM, jay87shot said:

I would be most interested in possibly adding Devin Williams back at a low-rate with some incentives. He won't get a big multi year deal with his year he had. However his numbers have been pretty good 2.89 FIP, 13 k/9, 3.8 bb/9. If we could do like 1/6 with incentives to 12-14 I think that would be smart of Devin and fit our needs well if it is in the 8th or 9th.

I also like possibly adding a high end arm, specifically Edward Cabrera if the cost isn't to high. Maybe like Pratt/Quero, Patrick, and Wilken for Cabrera? It would be a risk but he is a guy that won't cost a lot and could be filthy for a couple years, maybe even open to a team friendly extension.

Williams got lit up for ten runs in his first 10 innings with the Yankees, yet still wound up with his H/9, BB/9 HR/9 K/9 at or near his career marks and pitched a career high number of innings. 

He won’t need to take a pay cut from the 9 million he made in ‘25 or play for incentives, and will almost certainly get a hefty multiyear deal somewhere not called Milwaukee. 

 

[jay87shot]

21 hours ago, Jopal78 said:

Williams got lit up for ten runs in his first 10 innings with the Yankees, yet still wound up with his H/9, BB/9 HR/9 K/9 at or near his career marks and pitched a career high number of innings. 

He won’t need to take a pay cut from the 9 million he made in ‘25 or play for incentives, and will almost certainly get a hefty multiyear deal somewhere not called Milwaukee. 

 

You are probably right however I would guesstimate that he would be in the range of 2-24 to 3-45 after last year, whereas if he had a really good year he could have made a case for like Hader money. So if he wants to bet on himself he could take a 1 year deal to get back to that top tier money. However I will concede that someone like the Dodgers would give him 1/15 guaranteed and in that case and my incentive idea doesn't work.