Brewers Avoid Arby with Bauers

[jay87shot]

https://reviewingthebrew.com/brewers-sign-key-role-player-to-one-year-deal-ahead-of-non-tender-deadline-01kaksq3daag

It looks like Bauers is getting 2.7 to stay with the team for 1 more year.

With the good last month and playoffs, I think this is a pretty solid move. I am pretty sure there was a swing adjustments in there that was a big reason for his strong end of the year.

[brewmann04]

so looking like 1st base is resolved for 2026

[Scooterfletcher]

Would like Tyler Black to have gotten a real chance at this role and if he failed, pick up a Vogelbach-type-acquisition if it failed.   I guess Black becomes. either Mat Gamel or Brent Rooker…

[markedman5]

Vogelback types are no longer Brewers types……..they want guys who can defend and run at least a little. 
 

They took a shot with Hoskins because of his history as a hitter even though he couldn’t run…….but Guys like Vogelbach( dh only) and Rowdy don’t really fit as a platoon left handed option anymore ……no defensive versatility.

[sveumrules]

15 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

Would like Tyler Black to have gotten a real chance at this role and if he failed, pick up a Vogelbach-type-acquisition if it failed.   I guess Black becomes. either Mat Gamel or Brent Rooker…

Brent Rooker was one of 1,338 players to get at least 1,000 PA in the minor leagues between 2017 and 2022. His .275 isolated slugging was the 6th highest on that lengthy leaderboard. His 136 wRC+ came in a tie for 37th to 42nd.

Tyler Black is one of 1,333 players to get at least 1,000 PA in the minor leagues from 2021 to 2025. Black's best attribute is a 15.7 BB% that ties him for 53rd to 56th on that leaderboard. His .172 isolated slugging is over 100 points lower than Rooker and lands him in a tie for 435th to 444th place. His 129 wRC+ came in a tie for 95th to 109th.

If Black is going to become Rooker he will need to take a massive leap in raw power. As of now he is more of a work the count, hit a single, maybe happen to run into one kind of guy. 

[Frisbee Slider]

I would not have expected Jake Bauers to be a meaningful middle of the order presence for the Brewers in 2026 after Milwaukee acquired him in November 2023.

[BrewerFan]

20 hours ago, Scooterfletcher said:

Would like Tyler Black to have gotten a real chance at this role and if he failed, pick up a Vogelbach-type-acquisition if it failed.   I guess Black becomes. either Mat Gamel or Brent Rooker…

I wouldn't put the final nail in Black just yet. 
 

If he hits, he'll earn a shot. A LHed bat off the bench, if someone in the OF goes down, Bauers goes down... whatever. 

[BrewerFan]

19 hours ago, markedman5 said:

Vogelback types are no longer Brewers types……..they want guys who can defend and run at least a little. 
 

They took a shot with Hoskins because of his history as a hitter even though he couldn’t run…….but Guys like Vogelbach( dh only) and Rowdy don’t really fit as a platoon left handed option anymore ……no defensive versatility.

I don't think they'd write guys who can't run well or field off entirely if not for Yelich. And even with Yelich, if there was some scenario in which they could get Schwarber cheap... they'd make it work. 

[markedman5]

3 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

I don't think they'd write guys who can't run well or field off entirely if not for Yelich. And even with Yelich, if there was some scenario in which they could get Schwarber cheap... they'd make it work. 

Yeah……if they can get a superstar bat cheap they’d probably be interested…..lol

Now back to reality…….guys that can’t run……are marginal offensive players and have no position versatility are not likely guys the brewers are going to have much interest in going forward…….ie Vogelbach.

[treego14]

Jake can rake!

Now, he can afford a steak!

Glad this news ain't fake!

[CheezWizHed]

On 11/21/2025 at 6:18 PM, Scooterfletcher said:

Would like Tyler Black to have gotten a real chance at this role and if he failed, pick up a Vogelbach-type-acquisition if it failed.   I guess Black becomes. either Mat Gamel or Brent Rooker…

After the season Jake had last year, I don't understand this take at all... 

Black hasn't been able to beat out Bauers (even the previous year's poorer version).  Jake continues to improve, is a good defensive 1B, a good PH... Yet, you want to go back to scrap heap pickings? 

Unless he really breaks out next year, I'd bet this is his last year (doing a second year of arbitration for a then 31yo backup 1B that gains less than 1.0 WAR is unlikely). But I don't think we will find a cheaper LH 1B that will outhit Jake this year either. 

[Roderick]

A little more than I would have thought they would have had to go.  

I suspect they will tell Bauers to get a lot of OF reps in during spring training, for total flexibility.

But, if Vaughn starts out WhiteSox-cold, and Bauers starts out hot, I can see getting to a straight platoon pretty fast.  

 

[BrewerFan]

15 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

After the season Jake had last year, I don't understand this take at all... 

Black hasn't been able to beat out Bauers (even the previous year's poorer version).  Jake continues to improve, is a good defensive 1B, a good PH... Yet, you want to go back to scrap heap pickings? 

Unless he really breaks out next year, I'd bet this is his last year (doing a second year of arbitration for a then 31yo backup 1B that gains less than 1.0 WAR is unlikely). But I don't think we will find a cheaper LH 1B that will outhit Jake this year either. 

Yeah, he's been great defensively. I don't see the issue myself. He also put together some very good ABs vs the Dodgers. 

Also we still have Black. So lets say Bauer doesn't play well, struggles, whatever. Black is still on the 40-Man and will likely get the first shot. They're similar players but Black walks a lot and Bauer has a lot of power. 

Black will determine his future, but he's running out of time.

 

He was... really impressive in VERY limited ABs this year for us. Great plate discipline, looked athletic. Attacked strikes, but did not bite. He'd like win most of his challenges, but he certainly took his walks. Hope he picks it up. He'd be nice to be able to work into the lineup in 2027... even if he comes with less power than you'd like. I think we can make it up elsewhere...