Will Brewers Protect Any of These Potential Free Agents in First Days of the Offseason?

[Harold Hutchison]

Image courtesy of © Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

When a team becomes very good at developing talent in the minor leagues, some painful offseason moments become unavoidable. Those pain points cluster around two deadlines: the late-November deadline to add eligible prospects to the reserve list ahead of the Rule 5 Draft; and the imminent arrival of minor-league free agency. The Brewers face that moment with a wealth of talent in the minors; that could lead to some tough calls. Whom should they add?

The Brewers currently have 43 players on their 40-man roster, four of whom (Jordan Montgomery, Logan Henderson, Shelby Miller, and Garrett Mitchell) are on the 60-day injured list and therefore don’t count against the limit. Montgomery and Miller are slated to be free agents. That takes the number down to 41.

Other pending free agents or players with options include Rhys Hoskins, Danny Jansen, Jose Quintana, and Brandon Woodruff. Hoskins, Jansen, and Quintana’s options will not be picked up by the Brewers; Woodruff's will be declined by the player. With the likely departures of Hoskins, Jansen, Quintana and Woodruff, the Crew is now down to 37, which gives them three spots to spare at the front end of the offseason.

The next question is, who else will they drop from the roster? The Crew seems to be overloaded in the outfield, with eight outfielders on the 40-man roster, plus a trio of infielders (Tyler Black, Andruw Monasterio, and Jake Bauers) who saw time in the grass in 2025.

One clear candidate for culling is Steward Berroa, whom the Crew picked up after a rash of summer injuries in the outfield that included Jackson Chourio and Sal Frelick. Berroa is arguably the last outfielder on the depth chart, and while he isn’t horrible, the 40-man spot could go to someone else.

On the pitching side, relievers Easton McGee and Rob Zastryzny are candidates to be waived or released. McGee was a solid multi-inning option for the Nashville Sounds but wasn’t quite suited for high-leverage work. Zastryzny was solid in 26 appearances, posting 0.5 WAR per Baseball Reference, but he will be 33 years old, and the last November in which he was not available to all 30 teams (one way or another) was 2018. This probably won't be the end of that streak.

Dropping two of those three would leave the Brewers with 35 players on the 40-man roster. So, whom might they add? One possibility is Coleman Crow, acquired from the Mets for Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor. Crow returned to the mound in 2025 after missing most of the previous two seasons and posted a 3.24 ERA across 12 starts and 50 innings between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville. However, he missed the entire second half with a flexor strain, so the team would have to feel exceptionally good about their background information on his health to spend a 40-man spot on him for the winter.

Reliever Justin Yeager (who between Double-A Biloxi and Triple-A Nashville posted a 2.04 ERA and 10 saves) is, perhaps, a more compelling option. Part of the William Contreras trade, he's settled in as a solid fastball-slider righty. He’s also five years younger than Zastryzny, putting him in his peak, as opposed to being on the tail end of it.

Finally, there's catcher Darrien Miller, who posted a .710 OPS at Double-A Biloxi (despite a batting average below the Uecker line) due to superb OBP skills. Miller, 24, also regained a bit of a power stroke, blasting seven homers, 10 doubles, and a triple in 240 at-bats. While not the top catching prospect in the system, for the chemistry-minded Brewers, Miller will have the advantage of having worked with young pitchers currently on the roster or on their way to the roster, and he offers a left-handed bat. He's probably a player they can keep on a minor-league successor contract, though, if those intangibles are important to them. Given his offensive track record, it's unlikely he has a future in the majors, so he probably won't merit a 40-man spot.

The final potential minor-league free agent the Crew could elect to keep is first baseman Ernesto Martinez Jr., who delivered a .745 OPS across 263 at-bats in Triple-A Nashville, where he lost playing time due to the acquisition of Andrew Vaughn. While Blake Burke, the Crew’s 2024 Competitive Balance Round A pick, is now overshadowing him, Martinez has shown that when he is hot, he can be an offensive force. He also provides excellent defense at first base and has been athletic enough to man center field in a pinch. He'd come cheaper than Bauers for 2026, but after a down year on the heels of signing a minor-league deal with the org last fall, he's even less likely to nab a place on the 40-man than he was one year ago.

In all likelihood, it's only Yeager whom the team will seriously consider promoting to the 40-man list. The rest of this group could return as minor-league free agents or be allowed to pursue their next opportunity. Each is worth keeping tabs on, though, given the way their arcs in the organization have unfolded and the roles they could play under the right circumstances. The Brewers will want to keep roster space open for the promotion of otherwise Rule 5-eligible players next month; for free agents they might wish to sign; and for any Rule 5 guys they want to target in their own right. They can open more such slots at the non-tender deadline or via trade, though, so if they do decide to roster Yeager (or even one of the longer shots), don't be shocked.

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[Spencer Michaelis]

I have a tough time believing Justin Yeager would be valued more highly than Coleman Crow, unless Crow’s injury is much, much worse than we think.

Even beyond the potential value a quality starter brings in comparison to a middle reliever, anything close to Yeager’s 20.2 K% to 16.7 BB% ratio in AAA is incredibly tough to make work at the big league level.

Yeager is someone I’m sure they’d like to keep in the organization, but frankly, he’s not someone I’d see any need to use a 40-man spot on. Certainly not in lieu of McGee or Rob Z, both of whom have shown better MLB traits.

[JohnBriggs12]

I think it may be time to cut ties with Garrett Mitchell.  All that potential, but sadly he can't stay on the field.  I had high hopes that 2025 might be the year, but he got off to a very sluggish start and once again went down with a serious injury.  How can someone who's played so little baseball the last 3-4 seasons be ready to compete at the highest level. 

[long ball]

i think Coleman crow will be added to the 40 man, but I’d be somewhat surprised if anyone else is. 
 

I actually would be shocked to see them cut ties with McGee. He has 1 more option left and we need some shuttle squad guys. 

[dsid74]

They can also pass Peralta (Sammy) thru waivers and probably resign him to a minor league deal.  Unlikely anyone would give him a ML deal and he would be crazy not to get into this organization and work with our lab, coaches and player development staff.

[Branyanisthegoat]

Easton McGee seems like the perfect shuttle long man for us at a minimum. He doesn't walk guys, zips projects him at 1.94, 1.90, and 1.81 bb/9 over the next 3 years, with a respectable FIP.

For anyone he belongs on the 40, with the Brewers defense, I think he could put up a nice season if pressed into action.

 

[Stubby66]

I expect they will protect Yeager and Crow for sure. Definitely remove Bauers and Berroa. I'm a big believer that Woodruff will be back of any of the free agents. Expect them to trade Monso,  Seigler and Black at some point. I think that Preister should be considered in a trade too because they made a mistake with not capitalizing on Myers value last winter. One team the Brewers line up with is Texas for Jung. Move Durbin to second and Turang to short. Then trade Ortiz. 

[Trax]

3 hours ago, Stubby66 said:

I expect they will protect Yeager and Crow for sure. Definitely remove Bauers and Berroa. I'm a big believer that Woodruff will be back of any of the free agents. Expect them to trade Monso,  Seigler and Black at some point. I think that Preister should be considered in a trade too because they made a mistake with not capitalizing on Myers value last winter. One team the Brewers line up with is Texas for Jung. Move Durbin to second and Turang to short. Then trade Ortiz. 

Ortiz isn't worth much as a stand alone but he is as a defensive replacement.  We hopefully add an infield bat no doubt and it can be 3rd, SS, or 2nd with the versatility we have.  We could sure throw in Seigler or Black or Mitchell in with a trade but none are stand alone draws.  Might add one with a Peralta trade or something like that.  No way would I move Priester with the years of control we have with him.  He hasn't even peaked yet.  He is who you build around.   I'd only bring Woody back with a team friendly deal with a team out.  He owes us that much and I wouldn't risk anymore. 

[MurphsPeckers]

Great article--I don't think this changes much, in terms of--having sufficient room on the 40-man to protect who they want--but Connor Thomas was outrighted and elected free agency, so the roster is now at 36.  

[jay87shot]

I would say Crow is a super safe bet to be kept. I wouldn't think anyone else would be picked in the rule 5 so keeping them should be easier. I wouldn't want to lose EMJ but if I was his agent I would look to move elsewhere, our 1B depth is to good and a bunch of organizations could give him a big league chance at some point next year.

[Lathund]

I really don't know how you'd come to the conclusion that they wouldn't seriously consider adding Crow to the 40-man. Unless they believe his injury is career ending, or just about, he's a lock to be added. Plenty of teams who'd be fine with adding him to the 40-man over the winter, stashing him on the 60 day IL as soon as it's available, and using a long rehab stint and his first minor-league option for rehab. That is even assuming his injury keeps him out until next year, which it very well might not. 

Yeager is a possibility, but unlikely. EMJ is even less likely, especially given that Bauers, Black, Vaughn are already on the 40-man, and they also have Burke, Adams, Wilken, Boeve who they don't need to protect. 

[Lathund]

7 hours ago, Stubby66 said:

I expect they will protect Yeager and Crow for sure. Definitely remove Bauers and Berroa. I'm a big believer that Woodruff will be back of any of the free agents. Expect them to trade Monso,  Seigler and Black at some point. I think that Preister should be considered in a trade too because they made a mistake with not capitalizing on Myers value last winter. One team the Brewers line up with is Texas for Jung. Move Durbin to second and Turang to short. Then trade Ortiz. 

Jake Bauers put up 114 wRC+, with even better underlying numbers (.364 xwOBA) to support it. He'll earn something like $2-2.5m in arbitration, can play some LF, plays solid 1B defense and is a better baserunner than the other 1B options, and hits LH. That's absolutely not someone you "definitely" remove. If they want to move on from him, he would at least get *something* in return in a trade, but seems a good candidate to keep. 

Trading Priester makes absolutely no sense. The point of having guys with 5 years of team control who have proven they can handle MLB is to keep them. At least until their later arbitration years. Myers looked good again towards the end of the year, he'll be a useful player. We saw early on this season why having SP depth is so vital, it's why we even got Priester in the first place. 

As for Jung, I like it. Assuming he's available and not overly expensive. I don't really see why the Rangers would trade him though, unles they were going for Bregman/Suarez or something. 

[Sugarrayray]

17 hours ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

I think it may be time to cut ties with Garrett Mitchell.  All that potential, but sadly he can't stay on the field.  I had high hopes that 2025 might be the year, but he got off to a very sluggish start and once again went down with a serious injury.  How can someone who's played so little baseball the last 3-4 seasons be ready to compete at the highest level. 

I definitely think they have to consider moving on from him (as much as I really like the guy) if he has any trade value. I’m not sure how much value he has on his own at this point, but maybe adding him in a package could help net something good. But I really don’t think they need to cut ties with him just for the sake of doing it. If he doesn’t have much trade value he absolutely should be kept, I am thinking.

[biedergb]

Re: 40 man protection. I would do so for Coleman Crow, and +/- on Yeager as he has shown well but is advanced age for a prospect and guys like him are what the FO has excelled and finding. So with that said, they will likely protect Miller and Yeager and we watch Crow pitch elsewhere 🙄

 

Mitchell - definitely not someone to expect as a full time starter, but he has value as a bench guy, defensive player. His trade value is super low for all those reasons, so he is best to keep here, unless some team overvalues him and offers something, but otherwise keep him, but do not just DFA him.

 

Like last year - a bat a preferably one that can play in the infield (3B, SS or 2B) is the primary need. We have to also temper enthusiasm on Durbin, as Ortiz when he came over looked like more O and OK D, and he has flipped that script this past season. He had some offensive pedigree, and Durbin could also maintain or regress. So still need someone to slot in with Turang, and then a Durbin/Ortiz combo of bench/starter "platoon" can help while awaiting the progress on several IF prospects over the next 1-3 years (Pratt, Wilken, Adams, Fischer, Made, Pena)

[Outlander]

Think they still protect Crow, too much talent to just let walk away. Hopefully can work out a minor league deal with Yeager and don't add him to the 40 man. Probably have to bring Bauers back because Black continues to disappoint and Martinez didn't capitalize on his breakout 2024. Can't imagine a DFA of McGee, Peralta is a likely DFA as the off season progresses. Would lean toward keeping Zastryzny as well after his solid two years with the Brewers, no options but still a league minimum guy. Can always release him during Spring Training if it looks like he won't make the team.