Harold Hutchison

There is a huge difference. I never said there wasn't. But we've seen both Contreras and Narvaez before him have glaring shortfalls fixed by the Crew's coaching. Clarke's had higher CS% figures in the past. 2023 could have been a blip. Hard to think that Charlie Greene and the coaching team can't at least narrow that gap. But I don't see Haase or Nola as long-term options - or much of an option. Navarreto... is he even MLB-caliber? Also, Clarke brings to the table something only one other catcher in Maryvale (Quero) has: Experience working with two of the Crew's top rotation prospects: Carlos Rodriguez and Jacob Misiorowski. That is a factor as well that might inch things toward a favorable outcome. And then there is a bat that outperformed Jackson Chourio's in several categories last year, which is also part of the equation. Take all that together, and I'll stand by calling Clarke the third-best catcher in Maryvale.

Woodruff's injury and the Bally Sports collapse is a tough 1-2 punch. That said, could this team really work well? I'd put the starters at roughly on par with 2018 - maybe a step higher as Peralta is a true TOR/ace type that the Crew lacked that year. There are a couple of vets (Miley, Ross, Rea) and a comeback candidate (Ashby) but also a lot of young prospects (Rodriguez, Hall, Gasser, Misiorowski, McKendry) in the mix as well.

Clarke does have the potential to complicate things. He's a legit 3TO bat and he's pretty good at 1B. Certainly, he could be an option if one of Black/Wilken stumble or end up dealt. That said, he's also spent substantial time (30+ games, 25+ starts each of the last two seasons) behind the plate. In 2023, his traditional fielding numbers were on par with Jeferson Quero (he was a bit behind in CS% in 2023). There is a case that he's the best catcher not named William Contreras or Quero in Maryvale this spring. Given the Bally Sports situation, there is a case for the Crew to move Contreras for a haul in the 2024025 offseason (three years of control for one of the best catchers in MLB should bring a LOT), and go with Quero/Clarke as their 1-2 at catcher.

Could be very intriguing with Quero, Black, and Hall... Maybe even a Peralta extension?

But the Crew was able to flip Ruiz for William Contreras and Joel Payamps.

I'd say a relatively low-end outcome is Ortiz being Atlanta-level Orlando Arcia (96 OPS+, excellent D) as opposed to the 2018-2019 Arcia for the Crew or 2023 Turang. Hall, at worst, is Josh Hader 2.0 for the Crew. Still an excellent return before even thinking about the CB-A pick...

Absolutely. Gasser doesn't have much left to prove in the minors. He could very well be in the 2024 rotation. Ashby will be back - and he could also be an asset in the rotation. Peralta-Miley-Ross-Ashby-Rea-Gasser is still pretty solid, and Carlos Rodriguez, Evan McKendry, Janson Junk, and Jacob Misiorowski are also options - even if DL Hall is staying in the pen to join Williams and Uribe as the 2024 equivalent of the Crew's "Nasty Boys" of 2018 (Knebel/Jeffress/Hader). Ortiz either bumps Turang at second or takes over for Adames at short. If the former, that's an upgrade. If the latter, the Crew will likely have the return from the Adames deal to help out, too.

Better yet, find someone who will sign under slot - and the Crew can replicate what they did in this most recent draft: Get a Cooper Pratt or Bishop Letson.

Worst case for the Crew? DL Hall joins Devin Williams, Abner Uribe, and Jacob Misiorowski to create a bullpen nightmare for 29 other MLB teams in 2024, with Hall/Uribe/Misiorowski sticking around through 2929. We're talking a pen that makes the 2018 Crew's Nasty Boys of Knebel, Jeffress, and Hader look hittable. This current team looks a lot like the late 2017-2018 Crew. A couple of bigger holes, but could catch fire and make a run. Still plenty of time for another move or two.

Williams, Hall, Uribe, and Misiorowski (late season call-up) just became the 2024 Nasty Boys. That said, finding out Ethan Small was designated for assignment was, to me, disappointing. I probably would have dropped Bukauskas, Jahmai Jones, or Chris Roller instead.

Ortiz at least platoons at second and/or third. Maybe an eventual Adames replacement?

Recently, we've pondered ways the Brewers might get aggressive and make a multi-stage move to get better in the short term, including versions of that that would hearken to the famous Yelich-Cain maneuver of 2018. Is this team really primed for that? Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports Brewers fans well remember the 48-hour stretch in January 2018 during which the Christian Yelich trade and the signing of Lorenzo Cain were announced. It was an incredibly exciting time for fans, who saw the team take the outfield from decent to one of the best in the majors (Ryan Braun and Eric Thames – no slouches at the plate – were the third and fourth options for the Crew), and those moves fueled a run to Game 7 of the 2018 National League Championship Series. Fans are eager to see a similar one-two punch, given the pending free agency of Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames. But that very circumstance may make waiting until 2024-2025 to make the big moves worthwhile. The 2024 Roster With the signing of Rhys Hoskins to handle first base, the Brewers do not have any glaring holes in their roster. Tyler Black is likely to handle third base, since his bat has nothing left to prove in the minors. Brice Turang is a very good defender at second base (or even shortstop). Andruw Monasterio provides solid performance at second, third, and shortstop as the top bench option, with Oliver Donn, Owenr Miller, and Vinny Capra as additional depth on the 40-man roster. Brock Wilken could be poised to rocket up the minor-league system. Adames has shortstop locked down for at least the coming year. Catcher has William Contreras, perhaps soon to be joined by Jeferson Quero, and quite possibly Wes Clarke (who is more likely depth at first base and DH, but he's seen significant time behind the plate, and his bat is much better than those of Eric Haase and Austin Nola). Outfield and designated hitter are more than covered by Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, Garrett Mitchell, and Christian Yelich. If Blake Perkins or Chris Roller see a lot of time in Milwaukee in 2024, things have deteriorated badly for the Crew. Assuming a six-man rotation of Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, Wade Miley, Joe Ross, Colin Rea, and Aaron Ashby, the Crew is very solid there. That doesn’t include the Triple-A depth of Janson Junk (on the 40-man, but possibly NPB-bound) or non-roster invitees Evan McKendry, Carlos Rodriguez, Robert Gasser, and Jacob Misiorowski. Then, of course, there is the bullpen, which rolls out Devin Williams, Abner Uribe, Joel Payamps, Trevor Megill, and Hoby Milner as the top late-inning options, along with long-relief ace Bryse Wilson. Further down, there is plenty of depth in the form of Elvis Peguero, Taylor Clarke, Clayton Andrews, Ethan Small, and Thyago Vieira. Keep in mind, Gasser, Rodríguez, and Misiorowski could end up in the pen sometime in the latter part of 2024 (see the Crew’s 2018 run). At this point, the Crew looks pretty locked down for the season, and should be able to hold off the Cardinals, Reds, and Cubs for the NL Crown. 2025 Looks Less Settled If the Crew of 2024 looks like a favorite for another division title, the 2025 Crew will have a lot more uncertainty. Burnes will definitely be gone via free agency, while there remains at least some chance of an extension or a re-upping with Adames. Both are top-15 players at their positions, and would be huge losses. Contreras will be entering arbitration, and his performance will command a substantial (though still very affordable) price, even in his first arbitration year. Rhys Hoskins has an opt-out after 2024. Wade Miley (assuming the option is not exercised) and Joe Ross will be free agents, putting a lot of the rotation depth on the shoulders of young pitchers. Peralta-Ashby-Rea is a step down from the Burnes-Woodruff-Peralta trio the Crew ran out to start 2023. The Crew could also have to decide about whether to hold Williams and Freddy Peralta for a 2025/2026 run or deal them before they reach free agency, after 2025 for Williams and after 2026 for Peralta. (Extensions may not be options barring a resolution of the Bally Sports situation.) Rodríguez, Misiorowski, and Gasser could very well end up in the 2025 rotation along with Peralta, Ashby, and Rea after their bullpen seasoning in 2024. Still, the team may want to hedge a little. Misiorowski could end up sticking in the pen (see Josh Hader) long-term, and Rea is unlikely to be around past next year. The bullpen would see similar uncertainty, as Milner joins Williams as potential free agents after 2025. The Crew may want some blue-chip talent there behind Uribe. That said, many key contributors or potential contributors would be in pre-arbitration years: Frelick, Mitchell, Wiemer, Turang, Monasterio, Black, Quero, Uribe. There are other prospects who could rocket up the system (Yophery Rodriguez, Juan Baez, and Cooper Pratt come to mind), make their way up in a longer grind (see Ernesto Martinez), or otherwise break out (Wes Clarke). The only major contracts, assuming Adames passes on a qualifying offer, would be Yelich’s $26-million salary, Miley’s $12 million (assuming a mutual option is exercised), $8 million for Peralta (assuming a team option is exercised), and about $17 million for Hoskins (provided he doesn’t opt out). This does not includes prospects forcing their way up the ladder in the minors. In short, there will be more salary flexibility, even with the uncertainty of the Bally Sports collapse hanging over the Crew. Overview There is a very simple reason that Matt Arnold didn’t replicate the Yelich-Cain double move from the 2017-2018 offseason, beyond the difficulty of doing so: The Crew didn’t need to. As things stand now, the 2024-2025 offseason could be much different. The Crew will be going in with a lot of good players but some potential holes, and could be looking to fill them for the long term, depending on how things go in the minors. They may also be seeking some relief for congestion at certain positions (outfield would be one, barring a move to first base or DH by Yelich, which then closes it off for Clarke/Martinez). In short, Brewers fans who felt disappointed because they didn’t see a pair of big blockbuster moves in the 2023-2024 offseason have to just take some advice from the old Brooklyn Dodgers teams: Wait till next year. View full article

I'd agree with breaking Ashby in as a reliever, too. Control his innings some, build him up as an eventual starter later in the season. Gasser and Rodriguez could start, but I'm not opposed to using them in the pen alongside Misiorowski in a repeat of the 2018 strategy used with Burnes and Woodruff.

Plus, having natural center fielders means you have a lot more range - and that means they get to some balls that may otherwise drop in for hits. That prevents runs.

If the Crew makes Yelich the primary DH (120 games), much of this resolves itself. Frelick in left field, Chourio in right, Mitchell/Wiemer platoon in center, although you could rotate them around for matchups/days off. Wiemer and Mitchell effectively platoon as the 4th outfielder on the squad.

I'm inclined to rotate the four as well, have the position player group look like this: lf: Frelick rf: Chourio dh: Yelich c: Contreras 3b: Black 1b; Hoskins cf: Mitchell/Wiemer ss: Adames 2b: Turang/Monasterio bench Haase (eventually Quero), Turang/Monasterio, Miller, Mitchell/Wiemer

In 1986, the Brewers gave a one-time prospect with the San Francisco Giants a non-roster invitation to spring training. That invitee, Rob Deer, won a roster spot and went on to post a monster season, leading the squad with 33 home runs and 86 RBI. Could the 2024 non-roster invitees have similar impact? Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK Just last season, Andruw Monasterio, Colin Rea, and Sal Frelick, who got invites to big-league spring training from off the 40-man roster, and they ultimately played key roles in the Crew’s run to a division title. This year’s crop of non-roster invitees (NRIs) are homegrown, for the most part. Several could also play big roles for the team, the way Deer did in 1986. Let’s look over these players. Potential Opening-Day Starter Tyler Black The signing of Rhys Hoskins gives the Brewers some help at the top of the order. He’ll either bat second or fourth, joining Frelick, Christian Yelich, and William Contreras at the top of an increasingly potent batting order. Who bats fifth? That could very well be Black, whose bat has nothing left to prove in the minors, and who slots in nicely at third base, another position the Crew is looking to upgrade, even with Monasterio’s solid performance in 2023. Eventually On The 26-Man In 2024 Carlos Rodriguez Rodriguez has been an outlier, which made him a contender for Ace of the Future. As an NRI, he probably won’t break camp with the major-league squad in late March, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be an impact. While it’s possible he could end up in the rotation at some point, it also seems possible the Brewers could use him the way they used eventual co-aces Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes in their 2018 run. Jacob Misiorowski Like Rodriguez, Misiorowski is a contender for Ace of the Future, but primarily due to his stuff. Like Rodriguez, he probably won't break camp with the Crew. Misiorowski is still trying to build endurance as a starter, after averaging less than four innings a game in 2023. That said, he is probably the most likely to be called up if the Crew wants to bolster their bullpen for the 2024 pennant run, simply because he would be a high-end late-inning option in the majors as things stand right now. Robert Gasser Gasser, best known as being the last bit of return the Brewers kept in the Josh Hader trade, also is not likely to break camp with the big-league Crew. That said, of the top prospects, he could be the one most likely to slot into the rotation when called upon. Potential Unsung Heroes Evan McKendry McKendry doesn’t get the hype that Rodriguez, Misiorowski, and Gasser receive. That said, he has proved himself to be a capable back-end starter. Why might he end up an unsung hero? It could very well be that it will be his turn in the rotation, should the Crew need someone to handle a game for an injured starter or a second game of a doubleheader. Tobias Myers Like McKendry, Myers hasn’t received the hype of the top pitching prospects. In this case, he is more like Andruw Monasterio, given that he arrived as a minor-league free agent in the previous offseason and received an NRI this year. Again, his call-up might come based on a rotation spot. Still, Monasterio and Rea have both demonstrated a player doesn’t have to be a top prospect to be a big hero. Wes Clarke Clarke has been the subject of multiple pieces recently, due to a breakout season with Double-A Biloxi that saw him split time between first base and catcher (where he backed up top prospect Jeferson Quero). As noted elsewhere, he outperformed the highly-touted Jackson Chourio in several categories. While the signing of Rhys Hoskins appears to have blocked him for the short term at first, his work with Rodriguez and Misiorowski in Biloxi may give him an edge over Austin Nola if the Crew looks for help behind the plate beyond Quero. Brock Wilken In one sense, there is no middle ground if Wilken is in Milwaukee by the end of the 2024 season. He will have either forced his way onto the major-league roster with a dominating performance, or the Brewers will have had to call him up due to failures and/or injuries affecting Black, Jake Bauers, Hoskins, and perhaps one or two others. If it is due to performance, Wilken would probably end up displacing either Black (at third) or Hoskins (at first). Overview Non-roster invitees are not always tracked over the years, yet Brewers history has seen some of the biggest impacts come from these players who got a chance with their invitation to spring training – and took it deep. Which of this year’s invitees will become the next big hero, following the path of Rob Deer, Jace Peterson, Colin Rea, and Andruw Monasterio? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

They probably hoped to do so last year at Nashville, then Luis Urias injured his hamstring on opening day, and that plan went by the wayside. I think no professional team's plans for a season survive the first game, and it may go back to them failing to survive the first day of training camp/spring training.

Haase's time in Milwaukee ends about as soon as Quero's called up to Milwaukee. Nola may well have an opt-out in his deal should a MLB slot open up. That puts Navarreto as the lone catcher. Clarke's found plenty of time in past seasons. Even if he is at DH/1B, they can still coach him up.

Again, I'll just point to what we saw with the last two acquisitions at catcher. Omar Narvaez and William Contreras both came in with questions about their defensive chops. By the time Narvaez left as a free agent, the questions were not about his glove. Contreras also made huge improvements on defense. Given the team's track record of improving catchers' defense, and given that Clarke got more starts behind the plate than Biloxi's "official" backup, Nick Kahle, in 2023, I think they could improve Clarke to be at least average behind the plate. Lots of baseball to be played, but I think the Crew has shown they can improve catchers' defensive issues and make them decent behind the plate, and Wes Clarke can be the latest in that line.

I can do it in about one sentence. Several Brewers who received non-roster invitations to spring training, notably Tyler Black, Wes Clarke, and Brock Wilken, could likely provide solid performance at first base for a much cheaper price.

The numbers at Biloxi beg to differ. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=eb728882 Clarke and Quero were comparable in fielding percentage, if you double Clarke's 34 games at catcher, he would have had ten errors and eight passed balls to Quero's nine errors and ten passed balls. The only differential was CS%, where Quero threw out 35% and Clarke got only 10%. So, that points to Clarke as a credible #2 catcher who probably hits well enough for a lot of time at 1B/DH, where he also excels.

In one sense, the Brewers seem to be set at catcher, with William Contreras as their starter and under club control through the 2027 season. But for how long will he remain a fixture? Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports William Contreras got a lot of honors in 2023, but those who follow the farm system are no doubt aware of Jeferson Quero, who will be 21 years old during the 2024 season. Quero, second only to Jackson Chourio on the MLB Pipeline and Brewer Fanatic top Brewers prospects lists, could be in Milwaukee in this season. Then there is Wes Clarke, who posted a monster season of his own alongside Quero and Chourio in Biloxi in 2023. Who will be the Crew’s catcher for the long term? Let’s look each of these players over. The Case for William Contreras Contreras was arguably one of the biggest trade steals in the history of the Brewers, acquired in a three-team trade involving the Oakland A’s and Atlanta Braves during the 2022-2023 offseason that also netted relief pitcher Joel Payamps and minor-league hurler Justin Yeager, for the paltry price of outfielder Esteury Ruiz. Contreras was the team’s MVP for 2023, posting an ,825 OPS with 38 doubles, 17 home runs, and 78 RBI over 141 games (108 as catcher, 33 as designated hitter). While his bat always has been impressive, in Milwaukee, he improved on his defense, which had previously been considered a weakness. Contreras brings the proven track record in making his case to be Milwaukee’s catcher. With an All-Star Game appearance, a Silver Slugger Award, and 11th-place finish in MVP voting in 2023, his résumé is extremely strong. But those very decorations also figured to make him expensive when he becomes arbitration-eligible, starting next winter. At that point, the Brewers' financial disadvantages start to enter the picture and influence decisions. The bankruptcy of Bally Sports is not likely to help matters for the short term. Could the Crew extend Contreras? It’s possible, but it would be pricey. Contreras might be dealt, although probably not for at least two years, and he could fetch a huge return given his level of performance. The Case for Jeferson Quero Jeferson Quero was not as highly-touted as other prospects in the July 2019 international free agent class, but the young catcher has been a huge hit. His defense was already strong, and Quero has minor-league Gold Glove awards for that, but it became obvious that his bat wasn’t horrible, either. Indeed, at just 20, Quero posted a .779 OPS in Biloxi in 2023, after racking up a .781 OPS between Low-A Carolina and High-A Wisconsin in 2022, combining for 26 homers in those years. Quero’s OBP skills have also improved, making him a legit threat at the plate. If there is a question mark for Quero, it’s his health. He has made trips to the injured list in each of his professional seasons, playing only 23 of 54 games in 2021, 95 out of 130 in 2022, and 95 out of 137 in 2023. That being said, Quero could be locked up in a manner similar to Chourio, giving Milwaukee long-term stability at the position that hasn’t been since since Jonathan Lucroy was with the Crew. At the very least, he will factor into their plans before this season is over--be it as a backup to Contreras, an injury stopgap, or a potential trade chip. The Case for Wes Clarke Clarke was not on many people's radar screens at the start of 2023. That was understandable, given his pedigree: he was a 10th-round pick in 2021. From the beginning, though, Clarke’s offensive profile carried some intrigue. He draws his walks, and generates huge power on contact, at the expense of many strikeouts. But while many think of him as a first baseman, he is arguably going to be the third-best catcher in Maryvale this spring – even with MLB vets Eric Haase and Austin Nola there alongside minor-league veteran Brian Navarreto. In 2023, Clarke broke out big-time, as noted when we discussed him and fellow under-the-radar first base prospect Ernesto Martinez. He outperformed Chourio in multiple statistical categories, and then performed well in the Arizona Fall League, earning an invitation to spring training with the Brewers. Clarke primarily has played first base, but over the last two campaigns, he's spent a lot of time filling in behind the plate, proving very capable when Quero was on the injured list. He made the fringe of the MLB Pipeline top prospect list during the Crew’s flurry of offseason deals. If there is a knock to his performance behind the plate, it is that he doesn’t make runners scared of the potential consequences of attempting larceny on the basepaths, with only a 10% caught stealing rate in 2023. He had higher rates in 2021 and 2022, but in this area, he is clearly a step behind Quero. Still, he’s not a bad option behind the plate, albeit he is a bat-first option. Then again, so was Contreras when the Crew acquired him. Overview The Brewers may not be set at catcher, but that is not due to a lack of talent at that position. If anything, they have a lot of good options to feel totally locked into any one of them in the long term. That said, the team’s need for help at designated hitter and first base could ease the logjam. Brewers fans should not be surprised if all three of these players are on the team’s major-league roster at some point in 2024, but they also shouldn’t be surprised if the team makes a deal involving one of these players for help elsewhere, be it soon or in 2025 or 2026. View full article