Harold Hutchison

While many fans may look to free agency to plug holes, they often focus on major-league free agents. But could minor-league free agents help Milwaukee fill some holes? Image courtesy of © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK A minor-league free agent can be an excellent pickup. Look no further than Andruw Monasterio, who was signed in the 2021-2022 offseason as a minor-league free agent, and who was named Brewer Fanatic’s Top Brewers Rookie of 2023. Can they secure others who could make a similar difference for the Crew? When looking at the minor-league free agents, we’re not just looking at those who could have a big impact in 2024 at the major-league level, but those the Crew could develop. That doesn't mean, though, that we won't find some 2024 contributors in the process. Here are ten contenders to help out, either in 2024 or beyond, currently on the minor-league free-agent market. C Mario Feliciano Feliciano had a number of injured list stints in 2023, but the Brewers will be looking for either a decent backup for William Contreras or someone to take a lot of Triple-A catcher time when Jeferson Quero forces his way to Milwaukee (assuming they choose to keep Wes Clarke at first base). Feliciano could fit in well, knows how the Brewers handle pitching, and offers a solid bat when he's healthy. A one-time top prospect for the Crew, the 25-year-old Feliciano still could turn things around, or at the very least be a decent No. 2 for Contreras or Quero (or both). LHP Alemao Hernandez If the Brewers are looking for a pitching equivalent to Monasterio, Hernandez might be a worthwhile signing. The 24-year-old lefthander worked from the rotation, going from High A to Triple A in one season after pitching in the Mexican League for the entirety of his previous professional career. If the Brewers are looking for potential Nashville-Milwaukee shuttle candidates, Hernandez is arguably one at whom they should take a long look. RHP Max Lazar Lazar was a prospect who looked like an under-the-radar steal prior to the pandemic. He recovered from a pair of injury-riddled seasons, starting with winter ball in Brisbane. The Crew should look to bring him back as rotation depth within the system. At 24, he still has plenty of gas left in the tank; he could be a potential replacement for Bryse Wilson. 1B Lewin Diaz While he scuffled in three major-league stints with the Miami Marlins, in 2023, Díaz’s OBP skills seemed to level up. He has flashed some good glove work in the majors, finishing second in Total Zone Runs in 2022, despite only playing 58 games. A left-handed power hitter, Díaz could surprise in American Family Field (see Eric Thames for one example). RHP Nick Neidert Neidert is a one-time blue-chip pitching prospect who has been decent in three MLB stints with the Marlins. He had injury issues in 2022 (nothing related to his arm), and was healthy for all of 2023. Neidert looks like a prime candidate for the Crew’s pitching lab, and could be a sneaky-good pickup for the team. He would also have plenty of team control for the Crew, should he stick with the club. LHP Cam Vieaux Vieaux could be an option as a lefty out of the pen and an eventual replacement for Hoby Milner (nothing against Milner, but he is 32, and he's now arbitration-eligible). Vieaux had a brief cup of coffee with the Pirates in 2022, and while he’s 30, he still offers multi-inning capability and past starting experience, and has plenty of team control. RHP Jason Alexander Like Monasterio, Alexander is proof that minor-league free agency can be a significant source of help for a big-league club, coming over after the 2021 season as a minor-league free agent from the Angels system to be the fill-in hero for the Brewers pitching staff in 2022. He had his own injury problems in 2023, but his past performance has been solid. Reuniting with Alexander would not be the worst move the Crew could make. C/IF Tony Wolters With the Crew in need of a new backup catcher following Victor Caratini’s departure, Wolters makes for an interesting option. A left-handed hitter who has demonstrated good OBP skills, he has also played second base, shortstop, and third base in the majors, offering some additional versatility to the bench. Wolters is not likely to start, given the presence of Contreras and Quero, but he may fit right in as a backup. LHP Garrett Williams Since moving to the bullpen after the 2020 season, Williams has averaged more than a strikeout per inning. While control has been an issue (he also averaged more than a walk an inning), Williams does offer the ability to go multiple innings, avoided the go-fer ball in 2023 (except for one occasion), and still can fill in as a starter if needed. Williams could be a candidate for the pitching lab, although at 28, he still is a bit of a project. 1B/3B Jason Vosler Vosler is a left-handed power bat who plays third base and first base. That general profile fits American Family Field very well. In Vosler’s case, he has shown some solid OBP skills and some legitimate power in the minors, even though he scuffled in two out of three major-league cups of coffee. What do you think of these minor-league free agents? Are there any you think should be added to the list? Let us know in the comments below. View full article

James Meeker had a similar breakout in Brisbane last year,

Much of the trade talk for the Brewers surrounds Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames, both of whom could fetch a big haul. But could some small-scale deals land the Crew a similarly (if less obviously) valuable payoff? Image courtesy of © Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports The harsh economic realities exposed by the departure of Craig Counsell may drive the blockbuster moves that get the heat in the hot stove season, but the Brewers have a crowd in the outfield, the middle infield, and the bullpen. With their surfeit of talent, they could make some under-the-radar deals to address some areas of concern. At the same time, these deals won’t involve the team's top young prospects. In these scenarios, the Crew keeps their young outfielders (Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio, Joey Wiemer and Garrett Mitchell) and the effective Tyrone Taylor, plus face of the franchise Christian Yelich. Here are five deals the Crew could make this winter, all rated as either fair or a minor overpay by BaseballTradeValues.com: Cleveland Guardians get RHP Joel Payamps for RHP Hunter Gaddis and Competitive Balance Round A pick Payamps pitched well out of the bullpen early in 2023 and became a top setup man for Devin Williams, but he has arguably been bypassed for late-inning work by Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill. That said, his 169 ERA+ would be tops in the Guardians bullpen. In return, the Crew gets starter Hunter Gaddis and Cleveland’s Competitive Balance A pick. Gaddis gives the Brewers another starter as insurance behind Wade Miley and Joe Ross, both of whom have been known to spend time on the injured list in the past. Adding the pick makes up the difference between the value of Payamps, who still has three years of team control left, and the largely fungible Gaddis. Kansas City Royals get LHP Hoby Milner and Competitive Balance Round B pick for LHP James McArthur and Competitive Balance Round A pick Milner had been an unsung hero and earned a late-inning spot for the Crew, but the Royals’ desperation for bullpen help makes dealing him to Kansas City viable. (This one is complicated by the late-breaking news, which we learned Sunday, that they signed lefty Will Smith to stabilize that unit, but it's still possible to make it work.) While Milner is behind several other relievers on the Crew, he could be an invaluable weapon for Kansas City--especially if Smith assumes the closer role there. In return, the Crew gets reliever James McArthur and the Royals’ 2024 Competitive Balance A pick. McArthur could be a lefty in the pen to replace Milner, but with a lot more team control (and he comes a bit cheaper). The Royals’ Competitive Balance A pick is also a nice add for the Crew, even if they have to chip in their own Competitive Balance B pick to make this deal work. Colorado Rockies get OF Blake Perkins and SS Freddy Zamora for C David Isea, OF Aldalay Kolokie, and LHP Ervin Torres With Chourio’s long-term deal in place, the Brewers will need to clear a 40-man roster spot. In this case, Colorado, who had poor performance from their outfielders in 2023, could be a nice destination for Perkins, whose spot on the Nashville-Milwaukee shuttle could be in jeopardy after the addition of Chris Roller. Zamora seems similarly blocked by the acquisitions of Vinny Capra and Oliver Dunn. The Crew relieves some of their middle-infield congestion, and the Rockies get potential help in the outfield and middle infield in return for three rookie-ball prospects. Cincinnati Reds get RHP Elvis Peguero and SS Eduardo Garcia for Comp Balance B pick and $500,000 in international bonus money Peguero started off well, but got hit harder as the season went on and has been bypassed by multiple relievers. That said, Peguero and Eduardo García can be moved to the Reds for a Competitive Balance B pick and $500,000 in international bonus money for the Crew to bolster their farm. The Reds are in just the right place to trade a little long-term value for the kind of pitching depth that they couldn't maintain down the stretch last season, as they faded from playoff contention. Pittsburgh Pirates get LHP Ethan Small for 2B Wesley Zapata and $594,800 in international bonus money Small has been on the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle for two seasons and is on his last year of being optionable. With McArthur (or Milner, if you couldn't swing that deal) on the roster, Clayton Andrews having one more option year, and Aaron Ashby as an option from the bullpen, he could be moved. In return, the Crew gets second baseman Wesley Zapata, a switch-hitter with excellent OBP skills who’s posted solid numbers in the Pirates system, and some international bonus money. Overall, these moves don’t seem like much, but the Brewers would get a starter with lots of team control for depth; a left-handed reliever whom they'd control through 2030; a young outfield prospect who can replace the outfielders dealt to acquire Dunn and Jake Bauers; another young pitching prospect; a young catcher; and a middle-infield prospect. They would also net two additional picks in the 2024 MLB draft, both of which would be in the Competitive Balance A round--giving the Crew a very good chance to stock their farm system with blue-chip talent with three picks in the top 40. They'd even add almost $1.1 million in international bonus money to bolster their farm system further and seek the next Chourio. What do you think about these trades? Would you make these moves? Who else would you consider dealing? Let us know in the comments below. View full article

They'd really be risking a run into luxury tax territory if they did - because they'd probably want to get Burnes locked up to some sort of deal, and I see Milwaukee holding out for a very good haul.

I look at IKF, and ask... why? Monasterio and Turang are two decent SS options, there's Devanney and Capra at AAA, Zamora and even Dunn in AA. I'd rather offer Adames three years at $20 million per year, and see if Baez's bat holds up. If Baez pulls a Chourio (and based on a VERY low K rate and the increase in power from 2022-2023, he could), the Crew could have a nice orderly transition from A to B in 2026-2027.

I'd probably stick Flores in Carolina at the start of the year. He's had two in the DSL, and quite frankly, since all the outings were starts, why put him in the ACL?

The rapid rise of Jacob Misiorowski in 2023 excited a lot of Brewers fans, but could other pitchers replicate that sort of season? Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports The fact is, the Brewers could see multiple pitchers rocket up the minor-league ladder, some of whom dominated while being young for their league. These six pitchers posted some superb seasons and could be very exciting to watch in 2024. Logan Henderson (Low-A Carolina) 4-3, 2.75 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 50 hits, 26 walks, 106 strikeouts over 78 2/3 innings pitched in 18 games (18 starts) Henderson came back after missing most of 2022 with elbow surgery and punched out a lot of hitters. He primarily deployed a fastball-changeup combination, with a slurve as his third pitch. Henderson is practically unhittable, and his control was solid. The best news: He built himself up to pitch at least five innings in each of his last eight starts, with a 2.66 ERA, slightly lower than his season-long total of 2.75. The big question will be whether he can show the durability to be a starter. If not, he has a bright future as a top-end reliever. Patricio Aquino (Carolina) 5-3, 2.75 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 80 hits, 31 walks, 86 strikeouts over 88 1/3 innings pitched in 21 games (19 starts) He didn’t quite have the hype of Henderson or Jacob Misiorowski, but Aquino emerged as a solid prospect in 2023. His fastball-slider combination has racked up a lot of strikeouts, but the big news was a drastic cut in his walk rate from rookie ball. He also reduced his home run rate. His changeup is a bit behind the other two pitches, but Freddy Peralta was quite solid early on with his limited arsenal. Melvin Hernandez (Rookie DSL Brewers 2) 2-2, 2.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 32 hits, 9 walks, 30 strikeouts over 35 innings pitched in 10 games (7 starts) Hernandez hasn’t made either the MLB Pipeline Top 30 or the Brewer Fanatic Top 20. However, his 2023 performance was solid by any measurement, and he did that in what was an age-16 season as one of the youngest in the DSL. Hernandez displayed excellent command and control, allowing just one home run and nine walks over the short season. Currently standing at 5’11” and listed at a positively bantam 139 pounds, he could mature a bit physically and be very good, very quickly. Enniel Cortez (DSL Brewers 1) 4-1, 1.58 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 35 hits, 5 walks, 49 strikeouts over 45 2/3 innings pitched in 11 games (8 starts) Cortez simply dominated at the bottom rung of pro baseball, and still didn’t crack either the MLB Pipeline Top 30 or the Brewer Fanatic Top 20. He was about two months older than Hernandez, but delivered stunning results, allowing just five walks and one go-fer ball. Cortez simply was unhittable, and was arguably the DSL Brewers' ace. He earned Brewer Fanatic’s Short Season Pitcher of the Year award for 2023. At 17, he can still see some physical development, and that could make things very exciting. Eric Prado (DSL Brewers 1) 2-1, 1.54 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 24 hits, 14 walks, 37 strikeouts over 41 innings pitched in 11 games (7 starts) Prado was less hittable than Cortez and Hernandez in 2023, although he did issue as many free passes as those two hurlers combined. Like those two, he didn’t make either of the aforementioned prospect lists, but he still posted a 0.93 WHIP and a 1.54 ERA, which is quite spectacular no matter how one looks at it. In fact, in some ways, he could argue that he, and not Cortez, was the ace of the DSL Brewers 1 squad. He didn’t rack up the punchouts, but he certainly didn’t get hit very much, either. Anthony Flores (DSL Brewers 1) 1-3, 3.22 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 33 hits, 16 walks, 57 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings pitched in 11 games (11 starts) Flores was a clear third for the DSL Brewers 1 squad starters, but there's no shame in coming in Show in a race with these particular horses. He took major steps forward across all the metrics, minus allowing his first go-fer ball as a pro. Unlike the other DSL pitchers, Flores was a starter the entire season, and even pitched a complete game, so he’s worked up to regular rotation status. Still, though, he was snubbed by bot MLB's and our own prospect lists. Until they have Stateside success, young hurlers are often overlooked this way. Which of these pitchers do you think could duplicate Misiorowski’s rapid rise through the system? Could some of them get even better than they already are? View full article

Jackson Chourio brought himself to the brink of MLB at the age of 19, with a rapid climb up the farm system over 2022 and 2023. Could other positional prospects match that rise? Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK The ascent of Jackson Chourio has Brewers fans excited to see him in Milwaukee come Opening Day 2024. Yet, other prospects in the farm system are also set to make a huge move through the pipeline, at multiple positions. It could give the team some big-time help by 2026, when they might need to fill a lot of holes in their lineup, particularly since it is very unlikely that stars like Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames will decide to extend or even sign qualifying offers for 2025. Let’s look at five prospects who could force their way up very quickly in 2024 and make the Brewers future look fabulous. C Satchell Norman (Rookie ACL Brewers) .308/.425/.473, 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 20 RBI, 19 walks and 26 strikeouts in 91 at-bats Norman flashed the ability to hit for average and draw walks, and he also brought some extra-base power. His biggest issue is defense (9 passed balls and a 10% success rate throwing out would-be base-stealers), although some might take a look askance at his higher strikeout rate (28.6%). Still, his .897 OPS could propel him past other catching prospects (not named Jeferson Quero) should the team be okay with a bat-first player donning the tools of ignorance. If Norman is moved to designated hitter, he could rise even faster, with defense as a non-issue. 3B Demetrio Nadal (Foreign Rookie DSL Brewers 2) .342/.478/.525, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 20 RBI, 24 walks, 19 strikeouts in 120 at-bats While Brock Wilken, Mike Boeve, and Tyler Black all look like solid third-base prospects for the Brewers (with Black having a distinct shot at being in Milwaukee some time in 2024), Nadal’s plate discipline, speed (33 stolen bases), and developing power could make things interesting at the hot corner in the Brewers system. Just how much power Nadal develops could determine whether his ceiling is as a utility player (he also played shortstop, second base, and outfield) or as an everyday starter, but he already more than doubled his extra-base hit total from 2022 in 22 fewer at-bats, and he walked more than he struck out in 2023. SS Juan Baez (Rookie ACL Brewers/Low-A Carolina) .351/.377/.527, 19 doubles, 4 home runs, 48 RBI, 10 walks, 27 strikeouts in 222 at-bats Baez broke out big-time in 2023, showing an elite ability to make contact. While his low walk rate (4.5%) might be concerning in isolation, Baez also had an extremely low strikeout rate (12.2%)–and he also flashed a dynamic bat, racking up 27 extra-base hits while adding speed to the mix (19 steals in 21 attempts). The big question about Baez is defense, as he posted an .833 fielding percentage at shortstop and an .891 at third base in 2023, and scouting reports have questioned his footwork and focus in the field. However, if the Brewers elect to have a bat-first shortstop, Baez could climb like a rocket. In the DSL in 2022, Baez had a higher walk rate (8.5%), and only struck out 15.7% of the time, and flashed signs of the power and speed he showed in 2023. SS Cooper Pratt (Rookie ACL Brewers) .356/.426/.444, 2 doubles, 8 RBI, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts in 45 at-bats Pratt has drawn some comparisons to Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson through the draft process, and hit for a high average while showing OBP skills. His biggest competition at short is Baez. Pratt’s defense at the position is pretty solid according to scouting reports, which note his ability to get good reads on balls and his good hands at the position. The big question is if he can develop power from his impressive physique. If the power comes, as it did for Henderson, there could be no stopping Pratt from a meteoric rise through multiple Brewers affiliates in 2024. OF Yophery Rodriguez (Rookie DSL Brewers 1) .253/.393/.449, 13 doubles, 6 home runs, 36 RBI, 41 walks, 40 strikeouts in 178 at-bats Calling Rodriguez a left-handed Chourio is not exactly accurate, even though both are very talented center field prospects. Rodriguez doesn’t quite hit for the average Chourio does, but his OBP skills and plate discipline could be better than the phenom who is considered one of the best prospects in pro baseball. Rodriguez walked more times than he struck out in 2023. His skillset could lead him to make a very similar climb, starting off by skipping the Arizona Complex League, as Chourio did at the start of 2022. Which of these prospects do you think could make a rapid rise through the minor-league system? Are there any that we forgot about? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

If Miley returns, it could mean a five-man rotation of Burnes, Peralta, Miley, Houser, and Rea... if the Crew brings back a couple of minor-league free agents (Boushley comes to mind right away), add Junk, McKendry, Gasser, Rodriguez, and Misiorowski stay in the minors a bit... then come up in the bullpen (see the Burnes/Woodruff promotions in 2018).

The Brewers have a number of credible relief prospects in the upper levels of the minors, but could they also have some high-level talent further down the ladder? Put another way: is a relief pitcher who hasn't yet reached Double A ever a prospect? Image courtesy of © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK The fact is, starting rotations are not the only place where exciting pitching talent can be found in the lower levels of the minors. There are interesting arms in the bullpens, too. Having a constant pipeline of talent can be valuable in more ways than one. The Brewers used prospects to get some potential 2024 help in the last month. So, which relievers really delivered in the lower minors in 2023? Let’s take a look. Kaleb Bowman (High-A Wisconsin/Double-A Biloxi) 2-1, 5.94 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 35 hits, 11 walks, 41 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings pitched in 29 games Bowman was a lights-out closer for the Timber Rattlers in Appleton, earning a promotion to Biloxi, where it got a little rougher. Still, for his first season in affiliated baseball, Bowman proved to be a credible pitcher, and an offseason in the pitching lab could build on an 11.1 K/9. Brannon Jordan (High-A Wisconsin) 3-0, 3.21 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 31 hits, 13 walks, 39 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings pitched in 26 games Jordan was a ninth-round pick in 2021, and has shown strikeout capability. He served as a closer in the past. In 2023, he cut his walk rate down by 37 percent. Similar development in 2024 could make him a real asset for the Brewers’ bullpen. Justin King (High-A Wisconsin) 1-2, 2.91 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 23 hits 25 walks, 54 strikeouts over 30 2/3 innings pitched in 28 games King has seen multiple stints on the injured list since the Brewers signed him as a free agent in June 2022. But when he is on the mound, he has simply dominated, averaging just under 16 strikeouts per nine innings. His big weakness is the free pass. If he can limit the walks, the Crew could have a Josh Hader-type closer on their hands. Karlos Morales (High-A Wisconsin) 4-6, 4.91 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 39 hits, 40 walks, 54 strikeouts over 47 2/3 innings pitched in 33 games Morales proved to be a solid multi-inning reliever in 2023, even though he issued a few more free passes. Morales spent four seasons in the Arizona Complex League, then repeated in Wisconsin in 2023. He averages more than one strikeout per inning. Morales could be a left-handed version of Bryse Wilson, and that can be a very valuable bullpen asset. Tanner Shears (Low-A Carolina/High-A Wisconsin) 4-2, 1.45 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 26 hits, 42 walks, 77 strikeouts over 49 2/3 innings pitched in 41 games Shears was unhittable in 2023, allowing one hit for every two innings pitched. He also racked up 14 strikeouts per nine innings pitched and 10 saves. Shears, a free-agent signee from independent ball, could benefit from an offseason in the pitching lab to help cut down on the walks he issued. Shane Smith (Low-A Carolina/High-A Wisconsin/Double-A Biloxi) 7-4, 1.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 36 hits, 21 walks, 86 strikeouts over 59 2/3 innings pitched in 38 games Smith joined with Shears and King to form a lethal 1-2-3 out of the Timber Rattlers bullpen. He even pushed himself to Biloxi for a couple of games, after he lost a lot of time in 2022 due to injuries. Smith, a free-agent signee in 2021, did just about everything one would want from a fireman, notching 10 saves while averaging 13 strikeouts per nine innings. Chase Costello (Low-A Carolina) 9-4, 3.76 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 52 hits, 20 walks, 53 strikeouts over 64 2/3 innings pitched in 28 games Costello, an offseason free-agent pickup who spent 2022 in independent ball, handled a Bryse Wilson-esque long relief role for the Mudcats, averaging over two innings an outing. While he wasn’t overpowering, he limited both hits and walks. Like Wilson, Costello was an effective bridge to the late-inning relief corps. Gerson Calzadilla (Rookie ACL Brewers/Low-A Carolina) 4-0, 2.11 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 35 hits, 13 walks, 38 strikeouts over 42 2/3 innings pitched in 18 games Calzadilla was a terrific multi-inning option for the ACL Brewers in 2023, posting four saves and notching just under one strikeout per inning. He struggled a little in a brief call-up to the Mudcats, but he could be exciting to watch in 2024. Osbriel Mogollon (Rookie ACL Brewers) 2-3, 3.72 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 35 hits, 24 walks, 43 strikeouts over 38 2/3 innings pitched in 11 games (five starts) Mogollon showed he could still punch hitters out, but was a bit more hittable in the Arizona Complex League than he was in the DSL. That said, he cut down the wild pitches and hit batsmen, which compensated somewhat for the increased walk rate. Notably, in the more offense-friendly ACL, he only allowed one home run. What do you think of these pitchers? Are there others in the low minors you think could break out big-time? Let us know in the comments! View full article

Small sample size... I think with more time, he'll settle down. But hopefully, one of Small/Andrews can step up and be the in-house Milner replacement.

Elvis Peguero and Blake Perkins for Jimenez

Even in bad years, the Brewers have always been able to put together solid (and sometimes spectacular) bullpens. The farm system has helped out tremendously in that department in the past. Can it continue to do so? Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports A number of relief pitchers in the farm system are flashing significant potential. Some are not “traditional” minor-league prospects, but given the harsh hot-stove economic realities that have seen the Brewers lose arguably the franchise’s best manager of all time and have to non-tender a pitcher who is one of their best starters of all-time, the Crew needs to do a lot of improvisation to compete and thrive. Let’s look at some of the relief pitchers who stood out at the upper levels in 2023. Ethan Small (Triple-A Nashville) 2-4, 3.18 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 40 hits, 24 walks, 61 strikeouts over 51 innings pitched in 38 games (two starts) at Nashville 0-0, 11.25 ERA, 2.75 WHIP, 9 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts over 4 innings pitched in two games in Milwaukee Small, the Brewers’ first-round pick in the 2019 draft, has emerged as a solid bullpen option. Small sample aside, he punches out hitters with regularity. It is his last option year, but at this point, his ability to go multiple innings could be valuable for the Crew in 2024, given the major-league club’s rotation situation. Clayton Andrews (Nashville) 6-0, 2.53 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 39 hits, 31 walks, 74 strikeouts over 57 innings pitched in 48 games (one start) at Nashville 0-1, 27.00 ERA, 3.60 WHIP, 10 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings pitched in four games in Milwaukee Andrews is a late-round steal for the Crew, a 17th-round pick in the 2018 draft that provided players that the Crew later dealt for 2021 contributors like Willy Adames (acquired for Drew Rasmussen) and Daniel Norris (Reese Olson). Andrews, though, could be another reliable left-handed option from the pen with multi-inning capability. He also posted a .772 OPS over 16 starts in center field between Wisconsin (then full-season A) and Carolina (then Advanced-A) in 2019. Cam Robinson (Nashville/Double-A Biloxi) 3-2, 5.33 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 58 hits, 39 walks, 58 strikeouts over 50 2/3 innings pitched in 49 games Robinson had a rough 2023, being outrighted from the 40-man roster after getting hit hard. He did rebound to post 15 saves, the most in the Brewers’ minor-league system. Robinson can generate strikeouts, and prior to 2023, he was lights-out. He is currently a minor-league free agent, but someone the Brewers should consider re-signing. Darrell Thompson (Biloxi/Nashville) 5-4, 4.12 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 49 hits, 29 walks,, 77 strikeouts over 59 innings pitched in 48 games Thompson is 29 years old, but he posted very good strikeout numbers across two upper-level minor-league stops–primarily in Nashville. While the numbers at Nashville looked rough, Thompson was playing his first full season of affiliated professional baseball in 2023 and an offseason in the pitching lab could make him very reliable. James Meeker (Biloxi/Nashville) 8-4, 3.39 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 97 hits, 15 walks, 81 strikeouts over 93 innings pitched in 36 games (eight starts) Meeker followed a dominant performance in Brisbane with a season wherein he arguably did it all. He was a shutdown relief pitcher, bridging the gap for closers. Then, he stepped into the rotation for the Shuckers after multiple starters went on the injured list. In all aspects, he was solid, and finished the season with two appearances for the Nashville Sounds. The Crew may wish they had put him on the 40-man, as he is Rule 5 eligible. TJ Shook (Biloxi) 7-5, 4.62 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 83 hits, 36 walks, 107 strikeouts over 97 1/3 innings pitched in 25 games (12 starts) Shook split time between the bullpen and rotation for the Shuckers, and the numbers were pretty solid. Notably, he struck out more than one hitter per inning, and improved on his hit, walk, and home run rates from 2022. Shook could be very valuable simply for the versatility he displayed; Bryse Wilson and Brent Suter have been recent comps to the role he could fill on the Brewers pitching staff. Max Lazar (High-A Wisconsin/Biloxi) 1-5, 3.26 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 67 hits, 19 walks, 73 strikeouts over 69 innings pitched in 33 games (one start) Prior to the 2020 pandemic, Lazar was looking like a late-round steal as a starting pitching prospect, like Brandon Woodruff. Injuries in 2021 and 2022 sidetracked him, but 2023 was a solid comeback year for Lazar in Appleton and Biloxi following a superb performance in Brisbane. He is a minor-league free agent, but the Crew should bring him back as another potential Wilsonesque, overqualified mop-up man. Nick Bennett (Biloxi/Nashville) 4-3, 4.43 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 65 hits, 25 walks, 64 strikeouts over 65 innings pitched in 33 games (three starts) Bennett posted decent numbers for Biloxi before getting a late-season call-up to Nashville. He averages just a hair under one strikeout per inning, and his metrics were on par with 2022’s. Bennett faces a lot of competition, but he has past starting experience, so he could still be valuable depth. Russell Smith (Wisconsin/Biloxi) 2-5, 4.80 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 58 hits, 29 walks, 74 strikeouts over 54 1/3 innings pitched in 29 games (two starts) Smith is tantalizing. He posts outstanding strikeout numbers, but he has been hit hard and issued too many walks. With an arm like his, though, the Brewers can only hope that he can put it all together and emerge as a late-inning asset. Blake Holub (High-A West Michigan [DET]/Double-A Erie [DET]) 6-4, 3.03 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 53 hits, 17 walks, 76 strikeouts over 65 1/3 innings pitched in 48 games Holub was acquired in the deal that sent Mark Canha to the Tigers, and the Crew got a guy who could be a late-inning asset, averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Holub also kept walks down for the most part, but gave up the occasional go-fer ball. Interestingly enough, Holub was a two-way player in college, a right-handed first baseman with some pop. Which of these pitchers do you think will make big contributions for the Brewers in 2024? Did we miss any pitchers in the upper minors? Let us know in the comments. View full article

The Bally blowup leads to the Crew riding some more rookies. Dunn takes 2B and platoons with Monasterio at second, with Turang coming in for defense at second and/or short. Black gets third. Caratini returns as the backup backstop - at least until Quero forces the issue. Roster also assumes that by the deadline, the Crew may sell/option players to break in Misiorowski, Carlos F. Rodriguez, and Gasser ala 2018. C: William Contreras ($0.77M) 1B: Christian Yelich ($26.00M) 2B: Oliver Dunn ($0.77M) 3B: Tyler Black ($0.77M) SS: Willy Adames ($12.40M) LF: Jackson Chourio ($0.77M) CF: Garrett Mitchell ($0.77M) RF: Joey Wiemer ($0.77M) DH: Sal Frelick ($0.77M) Bench OF: Tyrone Taylor ($1.70M) Utility: Andruw Monasterio ($0.77M) Utility: Brice Turang ($0.77M) Backup C: Victor Caratini ($5.00M) SP1: Corbin Burnes ($15.10M) SP2: Freddy Peralta ($5.50M) SP3: Aaron Ashby ($1.45M) SP4: Adrian Houser ($5.60M) SP5: Colin Rea ($3.50M) CL: Devin Williams ($6.50M) RP: Abner Uribe ($0.77M) RP: Hoby Milner ($1.70M) RP: Bryse Wilson ($1.30M) RP: Joel Payamps ($1.70M) RP: Trevor Megill ($0.77M) RP: Ethan Small ($0.77M) RP: Clayton Andrews ($0.77M) Payroll is 30.39% under budget

I wonder if teams are trying to lowball the Brewers in the wake of the Bally blowup... thinking the Crew will be desperate to cut payroll.

The Brewers farm system has developed excellent pitchers over the years. Even with the potential lossés of Corbin Burnes (via trade) and Brandon Woodruff (non-tendered, in the shadow of shoulder surgery), they could field a solid pitching staff in 2024. But will the team get big-time help down the road, as well? Image courtesy of © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports While the Brewers have some excellent starting pitching prospects in the higher levels of the minors, there are some truly exciting players on the lower rungs of the farm-system ladder. Let’s look over some of the starters who stood out in the lower levels of the minors in 2023. Nate Peterson (High-A Wisconsin, Low-A Carolina) 6-4, 3.75 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 64 hits, 31 walks, 78 strikeouts over 74 1/3 innings pitched in 19 games (12 starts) Peterson made two-thirds of his appearances with the Mudcats, and was very good in Zebulon. After earning a promotion to Wisconsin in his first year of full-season baseball (despite spending about a month on the injured list), he struggled some, but he could do better after getting used to the rigors of full-season ball. Patricio Aquino (Low-A Carolina) 5-3, 2.75 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 80 hits, 31 walks, 86 strikeouts over 88 1/3 innings pitched in 21 games (19 starts) Aquino was arguably the ace for the Mudcats, as a 20-year-old in his first full season of professional baseball. Most notable was his improved control, as he decreased his walk rate. He also lowered his home run rate. He’s likely to move up to Wisconsin to begin 2024, but could move fast. Will Rudy (Low-A Carolina) 5-3, 3.46 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 78 hits, 26 walks, 69 strikeouts over 80 2/3 innings pitched in 18 games (18 starts) Like Peterson, Rudy made his professional debut in full-season ball. He stayed with the Mudcats all season, and posted solid numbers, even if he didn’t overpower hitters (7.7 K/9 IP). This was Rudy’s first season of pro ball (he didn’t play after being drafted in 2022), so he could take a big step up in 2024. Logan Henderson (Low-A Carolina) 4-3, 2.75 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 50 hits, 26 walks, 106 strikeouts over 78 2/3 innings pitched in 18 games (18 starts) Aside from Jacob Misiorowski, Henderson arguably has the best “stuff” of any pitcher in the Brewers system. He was ramped up relatively slowly, but by the end of the 2023 season he was able to pitch into the sixth inning. He spent time on the 60-day injured list in 2022, so his health will be crucial. Brian Fitzpatrick (Low-A Carolina, Rookie ACL Brewers) 1-2, 6.46 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 31 hits, 18 walks, 33 strikeouts over 30 2/3 innings pitched in 11 games (seven starts) Fitzpatrick’s 2023 was derailed by a trip to the 60-day injured list, but he put up decent numbers at Carolina. The lefty, a 10th-round pick in 2022, will seek to rebound in 2024 and is headed to Brisbane for the 2023-2024 winter season. Quinton Low (Low-A Carolina) 1-3, 4.68 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 20 hits, 29 walks, 47 strikeouts over 32 2/3 innings pitched in 14 games (seven starts) .207/.324/.345 with one double, one home run, three RBI, five walks, 11 strikeouts in 29 at-bats In some ways, Low is at a crossroads. He flashed intriguing two-way ability in 2022, splitting time between the bullpen and first base in the ACL. In Carolina, the batting took a backseat to development as a potential starter. The Brewers need to make up their mind as to what they want: a two-way threat? A reliever? A starter? Melvin Hernandez (Dominican Summer League Brewers 2) 2-2, 2.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 32 hits, 9 walks, 30 strikeouts over 35 innings pitched in 10 games (seven starts) Hernandez was one of the youngest players in the DSL, but he was arguably the ace for the Brewers 2 squad. Of particular note was the lack of free passes issued to hitters–with Hernandez almost going four innings between walks, on average. Listed at 5’11”, 139 pounds, he clearly has a lot of development ahead of him, but the command and control seem to already be there, and he may have nothing left to prove in a short-season league. Enniel Cortez (DSL Brewers 1) 4-1, 1.58 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 35 hits, 5 walks, 49 strikeouts over 45 2/3 innings pitched in 11 games (eight starts) Cortez put together a dominating season for the DSL Brewers 1 squad, punching out more than one hitter per inning, and allowing less than one walk per nine innings. Cortez earned Brewer Fanatic’s Short-Season Pitcher of the Year in 2023 with his performance, allowing just one home run on the season. Like Hernandez, he may be ready to skip future short-season leagues. Eric Prado (DSL Brewers 1) 2-1, 1.54 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 24 hits, 14 walks, 37 strikeouts over 41 innings pitched in 11 games (seven starts) Prado actually outperformed Cortez by some metrics in 2023, and did so while being about a year and a half younger than the average DSL player. While he was less hittable than Cortez, he did walk more batters and give up more homers. Still, he’s made a strong case to skip the ACL in 2024. Anthony Flores (DSL Brewers 1) 1-3, 3.22 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 33 hits, 16 walks, 57 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings pitched in 11 games (11 starts) Oftentimes, the numbers Flores posted would be considered indicative of the best pitcher a team had at the Rookie level. Flores improved virtually across the board in 2023 in just about every metric (his home runs allowed went up, but only fractionally). Flores spent a second year in the DSL, so it is an open question as to whether he goes to Maryvale or if he starts off in Carolina. Which of these low-level starters have you excited? Do you think we forgot any? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

I get kind of an Adam Lind vibe... Then again... Adam Lind did land us the deal that brought Freddy Peralta to Milwaukee.

Given that 2023 was his first full season, I wasn't disappointed in Moore at Appleton. If anything, I saw him as an option to replace Turang down the road. Dunn added some pop in 2023, but really, I didn't see him as a must-add. The Crew has Devanney, Dorrian and Zamora at Nashville, plus Turang/Monasterio/Miller/Toro/Adames on the 40-man, and Black's pretty much the front-runner at third. Unless we think we'll get blown away by an offer for Adames... I don't see the utility of Dunn - and would have at least kept Moore - maybe send Garcia or Murray instead.