Tyler Black Has Options Remaining, But That Doesn't Make Him More Helpful to the Brewers

Tyler Black’s first tastes of the big leagues were brief and unsuccessful. The Brewers selected his contract at the end of April, but he only appeared in 18 games, slashing .204/.316/.245 (68 wRC+) in 57 disjointed plate appearances. Despite entering the season as Milwaukee’s No. 4 prospect (according to MLB Pipeline), there was no place for Black on the big-league roster, and he did not push the envelope enough to create one. As things currently stand, it could be a similar story in 2025.

There are openings in the lineup. While the Brewers added infielder Caleb Durbin as part of the Devin Williams trade last week, they still have an infield position with no designated starter. Unfortunately, Black did not take well to second or third base in the minor leagues, prompting the organization to move him to first base full-time for most of 2024.

Black could be a left-handed complement for Rhys Hoskins at first base, but the Brewers may prioritize competent defense in that role. That’s why Jake Bauers remained on the roster over Black for the entire season, even as his bat cratered in the second half. Perhaps the Brewers view Andruw Monasterio as their best defensive backup first baseman, after he gained his first experience there in 2024.

Black has two minor-league options remaining, so the Brewers face no pressure to shoehorn him onto the active roster. They can easily keep him in the organization without rostering him in the majors. At first glance, that may seem like the most compelling argument for hanging onto him instead of dangling him as offseason trade bait.

This was why the Brewers could comfortably keep all of their young outfielders as potential logjams brewed. In the event of a roster crunch, they could option one of Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, or Blake Perkins to Triple-A to continue playing regularly. If injury or underperformance created an opening in the outfield, they could recall the demoted player and plug him back into the starting lineup.

Mitchell and Christian Yelich’s injury troubles prevented that situation from arising, but the Brewers would not have been in a serious bind had everyone remained healthy. Every young outfielder had (and still has) options, which created roster flexibility. The odd man out would still serve as valuable depth on the 40-man roster because he’d have a direct path to contribute if any other outfielder went down.

That’s not so for Black. He’s not an infielder, where his hands and instincts remain clunky. At this moment, he’s effectively confined to DH duty. While Hoskins’s poor defense means Black could fill in without a significant dropoff in the field, he’s not a clean replacement for any other player. Because they can play capable defense at several positions, Monasterio and Isaac Collins have more value as optionable depth.

The Brewers can option Black to Triple A, but he’s an inefficient use of a 40-man spot, particularly if they have other plans for reinforcing their first-base depth. The harsh reality is that Black brings little value to this roster, as it’s currently constructed. If he’s rarely a realistic choice for a promotion, he is not genuine depth.

Trading away an outfielder is the best way to change that. Black’s speed and athleticism should make him a capable left fielder, and he and Yelich could share time in left and at DH. However, he lacks Mitchell’s upside, Frelick’s experience, and Perkins’s elite glovework as a fourth outfielder. The Brewers may not be comfortable trading a known commodity to accommodate a player with limited outfield reps as a professional.

The alternative is trading Black. It comes down to how the Brewers project each player to contribute in 2025 and what they can receive in return. Nothing is forcing a move, but Black’s odd profile and nonexistent fit may prompt them to shop him more aggressively. The depth argument for stashing him in Triple-A is less compelling than it is for other players. Making good on his prospect pedigree now via trade may be the best course of action.

There is little question surrounding Black’s excellent plate discipline, bat-to-ball skills, and speed. In those senses, he fits in with his former minor-league peers who have formed a scrappy core throughout the Brewers’ lineup. His offense has a high floor and is MLB-ready. The problem is that his shortcomings render him too limited to fill the open roles on the big-league roster. As a result, he could find himself with another organization before getting a prolonged opportunity to establish himself in Milwaukee.