Which former Brewers player (or farmhand) would you most like back for the stretch run?

[liveforoctober]

I saw this question posed on X and I thought it made for good discussion and also a fun little trip down memory lane in some cases.

Which current player around the league, who at one time played for the Brewers or was in the Brewers farm system, would you most like back on this year's team for the stretch run? You are getting the player as is - so you can't take prime Corbin Burnes or prime Devin Williams ... you are getting them in their July 2026 form.

I have thought this through a bit and in my opinion I have 4 guys who I could argue to be the answer and then a handful of other guys who are fun to think about or who are having nice seasons .. but unless I am missing someone I think a case could be made for 4 different individuals that would help us out the most.

I'll be interested to hear who you all come up with.

[wiguy94]

Not sure if you have the same four that I’m thinking of but I’m seeing a clear four. Drew Rasmussen, Josh Hader, Tristan Peters, and Mauricio Dubon. I think of those four I’d narrow it down to the two pitchers. I think Peters and Dubon are solid but I don’t buy Peters offense being as good as it’s been which makes both of them more glove first utility types and I think we are fine there.

It comes down to a SP and RP. Hader would be awesome because I don’t trust Ashby as the top LHP in the bullpen but I think I’m going to go with Rasmussen. Think he would just really complete the rotation for us and I’d trust him starting playoff games as our #2 SP.

[adambr2]

I think in terms of pure value added for a run, it has to be Drew Rasmussen. What a boost that would be for the rotation and would give us the 1-2-3 that everyone wants in the postseason. 

[CheezWizHed]

SP: Either Reese Olson or Rasmussen would be wonderful.  Burnes is slated to be ready by the playoffs. Would you say no? Freddy Peralta would be great too. Shane Smith sounds like a typical fixer upper Brewer move. 

3B: I was surprised how much Dubon had improved since we had him. Willy Adames if his contract doesn't come with.  Luis Urias is out there, but not much of an improvement on Ortiz. Probably Caleb Durbin is the best option.

RP: Hader is an easy one here. Tobias Meyers would be another reclamation project (i.e. the Jeffress Award). Or we could get Holby Milner back because it would hurt the Cubs. 

1: Olson

2: Durbin

3: Hader. 

[liveforoctober]

9 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

Not sure if you have the same four that I’m thinking of but I’m seeing a clear four. Drew Rasmussen, Josh Hader, Tristan Peters, and Mauricio Dubon. I think of those four I’d narrow it down to the two pitchers. I think Peters and Dubon are solid but I don’t buy Peters offense being as good as it’s been which makes both of them more glove first utility types and I think we are fine there.

It comes down to a SP and RP. Hader would be awesome because I don’t trust Ashby as the top LHP in the bullpen but I think I’m going to go with Rasmussen. Think he would just really complete the rotation for us and I’d trust him starting playoff games as our #2 SP.

Durbin was my 4th over Dubon. Admittedly, I didn't realize Dubon had put together such a good summer stretch. What a season he is having..

After a disastrous start ... Durbin has come all of the way back to be worth 2.2 WAR (BRef) .. which is better than every position player we have other than Turang.

Also, shout out to Bryan Hudson ... really nice bounce back year with the White Sox. Would love to throw him back in the mix...

[RWeeksFan23]

5 hours ago, liveforoctober said:

After a disastrous start ... Durbin has come all of the way back to be worth 2.2 WAR (BRef) .. which is better than every position player we have other than Turang.

 

That's.... crazy to think about.

Especially after the brutal start he got off to.

[Outlander]

7 hours ago, CheezWizHed said:

SP: Either Reese Olson or Rasmussen would be wonderful.  Burnes is slated to be ready by the playoffs. Would you say no? Freddy Peralta would be great too. Shane Smith sounds like a typical fixer upper Brewer move. 

3B: I was surprised how much Dubon had improved since we had him. Willy Adames if his contract doesn't come with.  Luis Urias is out there, but not much of an improvement on Ortiz. Probably Caleb Durbin is the best option.

RP: Hader is an easy one here. Tobias Meyers would be another reclamation project (i.e. the Jeffress Award). Or we could get Holby Milner back because it would hurt the Cubs. 

1: Olson

2: Durbin

3: Hader. 

Olson is out for the year, has been out since July 2025. Per the question, player is as is so would be no help for this season.

[CheezWizHed]

51 minutes ago, Outlander said:

Olson is out for the year, has been out since July 2025. Per the question, player is as is so would be no help for this season.

Well obviously, I missed that. 

Rasmussen is an easy substitute.