Brewers Give Robert Gasser A Break With Minors Assignment

[Steve Drumwright]

With 17 games in 17 days, you knew there would be moves to keep the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen fresh. This one, though, has more of an odd feel to it.

The Brewers on Tuesday optioned left-handed starter Robert Gasser to the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and selected the contract of right-handed starter Garrett Stallings from Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers had an opening on their 40-man roster to accommodate Stallings' promotion for his MLB debut.

Gasser had a solid outing in Monday's series opening against the Cincinnati Reds, going 5⅔ and giving up three runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts. The move to the ACL generally indicates a team giving a player a break to get some planned rest. Gasser is in his first full MLB season following Tommy John surgery at the beginning of the 2024 season. Combined with his minor-league time, Gasser threw just 43⅔ regular-season innings. He currently is at 62⅔ innings this year between Nashville and the Brewers just past the midpoint of the season.

In seven MLB starts this year, Gasser has a 4.98 FIP (4.54ERA) with an 8.4% walk rate and 23.4% strikeout rate.

Stallings is a 28-year-old who was drafted in 2019 in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Angels. He was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in May 2024 in a minor trade and has been at Nashville since. This year in 12 starts and four relief appearances, Stallings has a 3.45 ERA in 62⅔ innings, walking 22 and striking out 59. He will provide another length option for the Brewers, possibly even making a spot start.

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[adambr2]

Well that is a very nice way to word “enormous paycut”.!

I get it though, they need an arm in this stretch. 

[formerlybis]

Interesting. This is not a name I've heard discussed. They could still bring Gasser back for one of the DH games in STL next Tuesday. 

[liveforoctober]

36 minutes ago, formerlybis said:

Interesting. This is not a name I've heard discussed. They could still bring Gasser back for one of the DH games in STL next Tuesday. 

This is a good thought. Good way to utilize the DH quirk by adding some innings to the bullpen now by making that roster spot a shuttle position while not exactly taking Gasser completely out of the rotation.