Harold Hutchison

Third base was arguably one of the biggest problem areas for the Brewers in 2023, with a combination of injuries and offensive inconsistency from Luis Urias and Brian Anderson leading to the emergence of Andruw Monasterio as a solid bench asset and the late-season acquisition of Josh Donaldson. Can the Crew get help at this position from the farm? Image courtesy of © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK The situation at third base on the farm has changed the most since spring training this year. Just how much has the situation changed? Let’s take a look. Tyler Black (AA Biloxi/AAA Nashville) .284/.417/.517 with 25 doubles, 18 home runs, 73 RBI, 88 walks, 100 strikeouts in 450 at-bats Black was an exciting prospect the moment he was drafted, based on a high-contact bat that seemed a lot like that of Jeff Cirillo. In 2022, both his regular minor-league season and his Arizona Fall League season were cut short by injuries. However, he broke out in 2023, and it was a doozy – 55 extra-base hits and another 55 steals. In addition, he made the move to third base and held that position down, catapulting him to serious contention to be the Opening Day 2024 third baseman. Patrick Dorrian (AAA Nashville) .238/.312/.466 with 18 doubles, 21 home runs, 65 RBI, 34 walks, 127 strikeouts in 367 at-bats While much of his mark was made in the middle infield for the Sounds, Dorrian was primarily a third baseman in previous years. He has a solid left-handed power bat, and his defense is solid. The strikeout rate is a concern, but Dorrian’s development could be interesting. Brock Wilken (R ACL Brewers/A+ Wisconsin/AA Biloxi) .285/.414/.473 with eight doubles, five home runs, 29 RBI, 33 walks, 47 strikeouts in 165 at-bats The Brewers’ first-round pick in 2023 rose the system rapidly. Wilken could end up at either corner infield position for the team and offer a pure right-handed power bat. He also flashed speed, with four triples and four steals in his smallish sample size. If he has a negative, it is the fact he struck out as often as he got a hit. Conversely, Wilken’s OBP skills are also superb, and he more than held his own in pro ball. Zavier Warren (AA Biloxi) .236/.319/.406 with 15 doubles, 15 home runs, 63 RBI, 45 walks and 86 strikeouts in 377 at-bats While primarily playing first base, Warren still saw significant action at third base in 2023. Warren’s bat flashes a lot of power and can draw walks. While he’s primarily been a corner infielder professionally, he saw action at catcher in 2021. He has occasionally dabbled at the middle infield positions, which could make him an intriguing prospect for the Brewers’ bench. Ben Metzinger (A+ Wisconsin) .226/.344/.321 with 15 doubles, five home runs, 45 RBI, 55 walks, 119 strikeouts in 318 at-bats Metzinger split time at both corner infield positions for the Timber Rattlers in 2023 and displayed excellent OBP skills with some pop. He also displayed solid defense in Appleton. That said, he needs to display more power or improve his ability to hit for average to avoid being bypassed by others. Perhaps his development could hinge on playing some catcher, where he saw limited action in college. Eduardo Garcia (A+ Wisconsin) .208/.280/.326 with 13 doubles, four home runs, 29 RBI, 26 walks and 106 strikeouts in 298 at-bats Garcia had been a somewhat exciting shortstop prospect in 2022, but in 2023, he took a step back after primarily handling third base due to the Brewers drafting Eric Brown Jr. and a host of other shortstops. His defense has never been a question; it’s been the bat that has held him back. At 21, though, he could put it all together, but time could be running out. Luke Adams (A Carolina) .233/.400/.401 with 18 doubles, 11 home runs, 54 RBI, 76 walks, 99 strikeouts in 339 at-bats The Brewers drafted Adams in the 11th round of the 2022 draft – and that $282,500 signing bonus looks like a bargain this year. Adams displayed excellent defense at both corner infield positions and has a legit three-true-outcome bat and the ability to steal bases (30 steals). Adams could be a significant asset for the Brewers. Eric Bitonti (R ACL Brewers) .180/.333/.410 with one double, two home runs, nine RBI, nine walks, 15 strikeouts in 39 at-bats It’s a small sample size, but Bitonti flashed a three-true outcome bat and did pretty well at third base with the ACL Brewers after being drafted in the third round. Lefty power bats have thrived at American Family Field, and Bitonti could join a list that has included Prince Fielder, Geoff Jenkins, and Christian Yelich, among others. The strikeouts will need to come down, but Bitonti has a lot of time to develop. Demetrio Nadal (FRk DSL Brewers 2) .342/.478/.525 with six doubles, two home runs, 20 RBI, 24 walks, 19 strikeouts in 120 at-bats Nadal broke out in his second year in the DSL. While primarily playing third base, he also saw action in the outfield, at second base, and at shortstop. In addition to his defensive versatility, he showcased a dynamic bat, hitting for average and displaying excellent plate discipline. On the basepaths, he also demonstrated real speed (five triples and 33 stolen bases). How do things at the hot corner stand in the Brewers’ farm system? Do you think the Brewers have some answers at this position? Who do you want to learn more about? View full article

How you view the Brewers’ farm system’s state at second base depends on how you answer this question: What do you think about Brice Turang and Andruw Monasterio? Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK Brice Turang and Andruw Monasterio ended 2023 by splitting time at second base. They combined for 2.9 Wins Above Replacement – much of it fueled by defense (Turang posted 1.7 dWAR, Monasterio 0.9 dWAR). Turang’s struggles at the plate were profound – a .585 OPS is hard to justify, even with Gold Glove-caliber defense. Monasterio’s bat is better, and he can produce when he’s on a hot streak. He became a bit of a cult hero for the Crew, but his overall offensive production is still slightly below average (87 OPS+). Who might be available for the Brewers at second base down on the farm? Let’s look and see who is potentially available for the team. Patrick Dorrian (AAA Nashville) .238/.312/.466 with 18 doubles, 21 home runs, 65 RBI, 34 walks, 127 strikeouts in 367 at-bats Dorrian spent the most time at second base in 2023 but played all over the diamond. He was purchased from Baltimore in the middle of the 2022 season. His bat has flashed a lot of extra-base power, and his versatility is also a bonus. His 21 homers for the Sounds were second only to Keston Hiura. The one concern offensively is his 127 strikeouts – slightly more than a third of his at-bats. Felix Valerio (AA Biloxi) .224/.286/.345 with 10 doubles, six home runs, 31 RBI, 19 walks, 54 strikeouts in 264 at-bats Valerio came to the Brewers in a 2018-2019 offseason trade with the Mets. He was decent in 2022, but the offense dropped off a cliff in 2023. The good news? He only struck out in 20.4% of hit at-bats and delivered extra-base power. But his walk rate also dropped from 2022 and 2021. Was it the ball used early in the season that caused struggles for a lot of hitters? Valerio is still very young – he will be 23 in 2024, so a rebound cannot be ruled out, but he faces competition from more recently-acquired players. Robert Moore (A+ Wisconsin) .233/.321/.361 with 33 doubles, eight home runs, 62 RBI, 55 walks, 108 strikeouts in 490 at-bats Moore followed up his monster winter season in Brisbane with some solid work in his first full professional season in Wisconsin. Moore flashed excellent on-base skills with some solid pop (44 extra-base hits out of 114). He also added 26 stolen bases, making him a solid offensive threat. He’s probably two years away, and the big question will be whether he can improve in his second full season of professional baseball. Jose Acosta (A+ Wisconsin) .225/.282/.419 with 10 doubles, five home runs, 19 RBI, 10 walks, 45 strikeouts in 160 at-bats Acosta was an under-the-radar acquisition in 2022 and has an interesting power bat. His big issue has been hitting for average, and his OBP skills declined slightly as he related with Wisconsin in 2023 and struggled to get consistent playing time. In addition to second base, he saw action at third base, first base, and corner outfield spots. Mike Boeve (A+ Wisconsin/R ACL Brewers) .300/.400/.529 with six doubles, five home runs, 30 RBI, 14 walks, 25 strikeouts in 102 at-bats In a small sample size, Boeve showed flashes of the hit tool that made him an exciting draft pick for the Crew. Even when he scuffled in a smallish sample size in Wisconsin, he drew ten walks out of the 72 at-bats and delivered 18 RBI. While initially drafted as a third baseman, Boeve spent most of his time at second base in the Brewers system. He could rapidly rise if he can adjust to pro pitching. Jadher Areinamo (A Carolina) .306/.333/.407 with 26 doubles, four home runs, 52 RBI, 17 walks, 52 strikeouts in 396 at-bats Areinamo brought a high-contact bat with a lot of doubles to the plate in 2023 while primarily playing second base (he also saw action at third base and shortstop over his professional career). Areinamo saw a decline in his ability to draw walks (11 fewer walks in 146 more at-bats), but his power increased, and his strikeout rate declined. He’s not the most spectacular prospect, but then again, Andruw Monasterio wasn’t either, and Monasterio turned out quite nicely for the Crew. Dylan O'Rae (A Carolina/ACL Brewers) .349/.491/.395 with eight doubles, no home runs, 23 RBI, 57 walks, 37 strikeouts in 218 at-bats O’Rae, a third-round pick in 2022, has shown a very exciting hit-for-average/walk-drawing/speed combination in his professional career. In 218 at-bats, he stole 44 bases. He spent a lot of time at second base, with some time in center field and shortstop in 2023. While some might view his lack of power as a red flag, he’s shown that he can get hits and get on base. His defense was also superb, with only two errors in 33 games at second base. Josh Adamczewski (R ACL Brewers) .000/.125/.000 with one walk and three strikeouts in seven at-bats Don’t be worried by the very small sample size. Adamczewski, a 15th-round pick whom the Brewers defied the odds by signing for $252,200, similar to the way the Crew secured 2022 12th-round pick Luke Adams, could be a late-round steal for the Brewers akin to Brent Suter, Brandon Woodruff and Lorenzo Cain. What do you think about the state of second base in the Brewers farm system? Are there some players who warrant more attention this year? Could any of them force their way to the majors in 2024? View full article

I'd probably have the threshold relatively high - say 320 IP across the two seasons - for the option to vest. One of three things happens: Woodruff either is back to Woodruff - and the Crew gets their 1B ace back; Woodruff adjusts and becomes a different type of solid starter - and is still valuable; Woodruff can't get back to form or adjust - he becomes an expensive mop-up guy. The first two scenarios work out very well for the Crew. The third... we take a hit, but I'm thinking one of the other two are far more likely.

Go 2025-2026, an option for 2027 that vests at a certain threshold of IPs, and a mutual option for 2028.

My thinking is a little different. Keep the current alignments until expansion in 2030. Expansion teams: Las Vegas, New Orleans Four four-team divisions in each league: NL East: Mets, Phillies, Nationals, Pirates NL North: Brewers, Cubs, Rockies, Cardinals NL South: Marlins, Braves, New Orleans, Reds NL West: Giants, Dodgers, Padres, Diamondbacks ---- AL East: Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays AL North: White Sox, Twins, Tigers, Guardians AL South: Rays, Royals, Astros, Rangers AL West: Las Vegas, Angels, Athletics, Mariners Eight Playoff teams - four wild cards, four division titles. Wild Cards play each other in one-game knockouts to advance to a best-of-three series against the two lower-seed division champs at the division champs' parks. After that, League Divisional, League Championship, and World Series as they are currently done. This way, the wild card teams gets "punished" by having to go a knockout game before they get to the three-game set. They don't have their ace, and their best relievers are going to probably have to work, too. Division champs get an extra couple of days to rest their pitchers, reset their rotation.

I have begun to wonder if his future isn't more akin to Josh Hader's - dominating MLB closer after being a multi-inning fireman his first couple of seasons.

Maybe Miley comes back after declining the option for something like 2 years/$15 million or 3 years/$21 million.

The Brewers had some trouble at first base in 2023, due especially to Rowdy Tellez’s injury. While 2024 could see some short-term fixes, can the farm bring them some new players down the road? Image courtesy of Mike Krebs After posting solid numbers since his 2021 acquisition, Rowdy Tellez fell off a cliff offensively while trying to play through a forearm injury. It got worse when Luke Voit and Jon Singleton failed to produce at the MLB level for the Crew, before they ultimately brought in Mark Canha and Carlos Santana as trade acquisitions. While Tellez, Christian Yelich, and Canha give the Brewers options for 2024, what about the future? Let’s look at the farm, and see who could emerge. The players listed here are the top prospects who primarily played first base. So, while Tyler Black and Luke Adams are among some exciting prospects who did see action at first, they won’t be discussed here. Similarly, we won’t discuss Keston Hiura, who is likely to depart via minor-league free agency. Wes Clarke (AA Biloxi) .241/.392.,498 with 24 doubles, 26 home runs, 80 RBI, 89 walks and 147 strikeouts in 398 at-bats We covered Clarke while discussing catchers, but he spent a lot more time at designated hitter and first base than behind the plate in 2023. It does let us delve more into just how good he is, under the radar. While Jackson Chourio and Tyler Black may have gotten a lot of the limelight, it was Clarke who led the Shuckers in doubles (24), home runs (26), and walks (89), while finishing in the top five in OPS (2nd with .889), slugging percentage (2nd with .497), on-base percentage (4th with .392), and RBI (2nd with 80). The Crew’s search for a lefty-killer at the plate may very well come to a close with Clarke. Zavier Warren (AA Biloxi) .236/.319/.406 with 15 doubles, 15 home runs, 63 RBI, 45 walks and 86 strikeouts in 377 at-bats Warren moved to first base with Black’s shift to third base. While he struggled at the plate early in the season (as did many other Southern League hitters), he rebounded to post solid numbers overall. Warren’s a switch-hitter who has posted solid numbers since being a third-round pick in the abbreviated 2020 amateur draft. In addition to first base, he’s seen significant time at third base, but also has worked behind the plate, and at the middle infield positions in college and his pro career. Ernesto Martinez (A+ Wisconsin/AA Biloxi) .261/.345/.416 with 16 doubles, 12 home runs, 44 RBI, 40 walks and 79 strikeouts in 349 at-bats Martinez has quietly developed into a solid first-base prospect who recovered from a lost 2022 due to injuries. At 6’5” and 250 pounds, he has that Eric Thames-esque bulk to match the power numbers and OBP skills Thames displayed from 2017-2019. However, Martinez adds speed (54 steals over the last three seasons), and he also spent time in center field in 2021 and didn’t embarrass himself, either. He is a minor-league free agent after this season, but should be a high priority for re-signing by the Brewers. Jesus Chirinos (A+ Wisconsin/A Carolina) .265/.406/.433 with 17 doubles, nine home runs, 39 RBI, 64 walks and 102 strikeouts in 275 at-bats Chirinos flashed a lot of hopeful signs in 2022. In 2023, he struggled so much in Wisconsin that he was sent back to Zebulon, where he rebounded with an .899 OPS. A one-time catcher, Chirinos has settled into first base. Even when slumping, he posts a high walk rate, and his bat has the potential to be dangerous. While he is just 21, he becomes a minor-league free agent after 2024, so he faces a make-or-break year. Tayden Hall (A Carolina/R ACL Brewers) .274/.419/.320 with nine doubles, 25 RBI, 49 walks and 45 strikeouts in 192 at-bats Hall brings in some superb OBP skills and a decent hit-for-contact left-handed bat. He spent a lot of time on the injured list, though. In addition to first base, Hall also played catcher and left field. His biggest issues appear to be his health and the lack of power. What do you think about these prospects at first base? Are there some who you’d like see us put a little more focus on? Can anyone listed here provide needed depth at first base for the big-league club next season? View full article

The 2023 season has given Brewers fans a long look at what the future can hold for the major-league club just about all over the diamond. So, which catchers have shown they could be big contributors? Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports Rather than go by teams as we did in midseason, we will be looking at some of the top individual prospects still in the farm system as of October 15. Some may end up as minor-league free agents, others could be dealt, but as of now, these are who the Crew could eventually turn to. Payton Henry (Triple-A Nashville) .294/.341/.454 with 11 doubles, nine home runs, 35 RBI, 12 walks, and 59 strikeouts in 238 at-bats Henry was a one-time Brewers prospect who was dealt to Miami in 2021 for John Curtiss, then re-acquired in the 2022-2023 offseason. While initially on the 40-man roster, he was soon outrighted and spent all of 2023 in Nashville. Henry’s defense is very solid, but in a small sample, he’s struggled in the majors. He will be a minor-league free agent, but the Brewers may be well-served to bring him back for 2024. He could be a decent backup for William Contreras. Jeferson Quero (Double-A Biloxi) .262/.339/.440 with 12 doubles, 16 home runs, 49 RBI, 38 walks and 68 strikeouts in 336 at-bats Quero is arguably the best catching prospect in baseball, and one of the top prospects in the Brewers system. Not only does he get high marks for defense, his bat has been very credible in 2022 and 2023. The biggest concern with Quero is his health–he had two injured-list stints and was in only 90 out of 137 games for the Shuckers this season. He is likely to start 2024 in Nashville, but could force his way to Milwaukee at any point in the future. Wes Clarke (Double-A Biloxi) .241/.392.,498 with 24 doubles, 26 home runs, 80 RBI, 89 walks and 147 strikeouts in 398 at-bats There are two big questions Wes Clarke will need to answer in 2024. The first is, is he a catcher or a first baseman? When Quero missed time, Clarke had 34 games behind the plate, and didn’t embarrass himself too badly. He was also a legit power bat, leading Biloxi in home runs and walks. His offensive profile is much like Russell Branyan’s, as he also led the team in strikeouts. His ability to reduce the strikeout rate is the other big question he will have to answer next year. Darrien Miller (High-A Wisconsin) .228/.336/.364 with 20 doubles, 7 home runs, 47 RBI, 43 walks and 76 strikeouts in 316 at-bats Miller has been an underrated prospect behind the plate since 2019. He brings superb OBP skills, solid defense, and a lot of doubles in his offensive profile. The power is not shabby, either, with seven home runs. His lefty bat should do well at American Family Field. Miller surprisingly repeated at Wisconsin following a superb performance in Brisbane, but should be in Biloxi next season. Matthew Wood (Low-A Carolina and Wisconsin) .253/.377/.327 with 15 doubles, 4 home runs, 63 RBI, 73 walks and 68 strikeouts in 388 at-bats Which Matthew Wood bat is the real one? Was it the potential slugger in Carolina who posted a .956 OPS, or the OBP-heavy bat whose slugging percentage was 300 points lower? Should Wood rediscover his power, he could be an excellent fit at American Family Field. The good thing is that his OBP skills were very strong, despite the slump. He probably would be well-served to repeat at Wisconsin. Satchell Norman (Arizona Complex League Brewers) .308/.425/.473 with 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 20 RBI, 19 walks and 26 strikeouts in 91 at-bats Norman probably wishes the Brewers had kept two ACL teams in 2023 – he was in 30 of the 66 games the team played. His bat was arguably second only to that of Juan Baez in terms of being a dynamic contributor to the team’s success (his .897 OPS is superb for any position, particularly catcher), even though his defense was… adventurous. Norman will likely be in full-season A ball, but his bat could push him to a very high level by this time next year--even if there is a passed ball or two every week. Edgardo Ordonez (Arizona Complex League Brewers) .253/.384/.392 with 7 doubles, 1 home run, 7 RBI, 18 walks and 31 strikeouts in 79 at-bats Ordonez previously flashed a power bat in the DSL. It was still evident in his short sample from 2023 in the ACL. As was true for Norman, more playing time would have been beneficial. That said, Ordonez also has a more refined defensive game than Norman, even if the bat isn’t quite as dynamic. As a left-handed hitter, Ordonez is a good fit for American Family Field. Yannic Walther (Dominican Summer League Brewers 1) .235/.394/.304 with 4 doubles, 1 home run, 12 RBI, 26 walks and 37 strikeouts in 102 at-bats Walther was an international free agent signing from Germany, and displayed very strong OBP skills in the DSL. His defense was also very solid, and he was able to keep baserunners from taking egregious liberties as well. Walther’s bat is arguably a two-true-outcome profile, but a .394 OBP can still be very useful, even if he’s currently light on slugging. *** What do you think of the top Brewers catching prospects? Are there any you are particularly excited about for 2024? Who will be the next great Brewers catcher? Let us know! View full article

Boeve is the kind of hitter I like to see. Do I think the Crew is going to need some patience in the Midwest League? Yes, and I think the adversity will be good for him over the long haul. I do have him a bit high, based on the Tyler Black-esque bat. It's something the team should focus on going forward. EDIT: As a bit of trivia - in 2021, when Tyler Black was promoted from the ACL, he, too struggled - based on his .222/.388./.272 line in Carolina. He's turned out all right, I'd say.

1. I think Black's position is third - at least for a few years. Frelick/Mitchell/Chourio/Wiemer are your four OFs for the next five to six years. In 2024, Chourio will be starting at AAA, and the Crew have Canha/Yelich to handle 1B/DH. If you're keeping Adames and Monasterio/Turang as your starters at shortstop and second base, then third base is the only open spot left. 2. Devanney's floor is probably replacing Miller and/or Toro on the 40-man - his floor is probably their production. I've had him as an "overlooked" prospect for a while, myself. The Monasterio comparison is interesting - in one sense, he could be a solid contributor - Monasterio's profile is hitting for average and doubles, Devanney has more home-run power. 3. I think Henry is an excellent #2 catcher. Could he be more? The minor-league career points to a decent bat that isn't an embarrassment. Defense is solid. He and Quero would not be a bad tandem starting in 2025, and Contreras would fetch a nice trade return. The other option is to have Contreras spend a lot more time at DH/1B from 2025 on and ride with Quero/Henry as the primary catchers.

I'd argue for something like 2/17.5 million - $5 million in 2024, $12.5 million in 2025 Team option for 2026 at $15 million - it vests if Woodruff pitches 160 innings between 2024 and 2025 ($5 million buyout) Team option for 2027 at $20 million ($5 million buyout) Mutual option for 2028 at $20 million ($5 million buyout)

The conventional wisdom is that the Josh Hader trade was an unmitigated disaster for the Brewers. If you listen to the critics, the deal sent away a superb closer and wrecked the team’s hopes for the playoffs in 2022. But did that deal ultimately get the Brewers to the 2023 postseason? Image courtesy of © Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports August 1, 2022, is a date that will live in infamy for many Brewers fans. The Brewers traded Josh Hader to the San Diego Padres for major league pitchers Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet, and prospects Esteury Ruiz and Robert Gasser. Lamet didn’t pitch for the Brewers and was snapped up on the waiver wire by the Rockies four days after the trade. Rogers struggled with the Crew before getting a three-year, $33 million deal with the San Francisco Giants in December. The Brewers missed the playoffs by a single game, finishing just behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card race. However, trades don’t just stand by themselves or get judged by that season’s return. Brewers fans can fondly recall the Adam Lind deal with the Seattle Mariners, which gave the Brewers three pitchers in rookie league ball, one of whom was Freddy Peralta. Is anybody complaining about that deal these days? Indeed, Robert Gasser could be a similar success story from the Hader deal. But prospects are not the only long-term returns from a trade. There is sometimes an indirect return from these deals. In this case, we should look at what happened on December 12, 2022. The Brewers got involved in what became a three-team trade with Oakland and Atlanta, dealing Ruiz to the A’s and getting reliever Joel Payamps from the A’s while the Braves tossed in catcher William Contreras and minor-league prospect Justin Yeager in the process. In essence, Brewers fans can call Payamps, Contreras, and Yeager the indirect return from the Josh Hader trade. How have those acquisitions worked out? Yeager missed a lot of time, pitching two and one-thirds innings across three appearances, and he is slated to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. So, what he brings is hard to discern just yet. But there is no doubt about the other two players who came to Milwaukee in that three-team deal. Contreras has been superb for the Brewers, generating a .286/.365/.459 line in 514 at-bats. More importantly, he turned into a very solid defender behind the plate. He arguably is the team’s MVP, and the Brewers have him under control through 2027, and he is relatively cheap in 2024. Contreras for Ruiz even up was a massive steal. But the Brewers also got Payamps from the Athletics in the deal. The 29-year-old Payamps took his pitching up a notch, posting a 6-5 record with three saves, a 2.62 ERA, and 1,078 WHIP while becoming the primary set-up option for closer Devin Williams. Payamps is under team control through the 2026 season. To get Contreras and Payamps for Ruiz, who posted a .256/.308/.347 line with 63 stolen bases for the A’s as their primary center fielder is a huge win just on the 2023 season alone – and both Contreras and Payamps will be under team control for years to come. But would the Brewers have gotten in on that three-team deal if they didn’t have Ruiz, who seemed hard to fit into their outfield picture given the presence of prospects Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio, and Joey Wiemer, along with Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, and Tyrone Taylor on the MLB roster? While it’s possible, such involvement could have cost the Brewers Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, or even Abner Uribe, all of whom also made big contributions to the 2023 major league squad. Plus, given the talent pipeline the Brewers have, it’s quite likely that the long-term return for Josh Hader could get even better for the Crew around the 2025 offseason when the hot stove economic realities hit the Brewers. So while it was stunning at the time, fans should be thankful for the Hader trade, which has ultimately provided two crucial pieces for future success and added a solid prospect. In baseball, a trade that looks like a lemon at first can bring some very sweet lemonade down the road. View full article

Probably needs to be 4 years/$70 million to have a chance. Adames would be worth it, IMO, just as a leader and stabilizing force. If Turang's bat wasn't such a question mark, I'd feel different, but right now, the Crew needs Willy at short.

1. Third base. Solves what was the second-biggest offensive hole in the infield easily. 2. I see Yelich at 1B/DH from 2024 on. If he is at first/DH with Canha for 2024, that gives the Crew an outfield group of Frelick, Mitchell, Wiemer, and Taylor, with Perkins in AAA and Chourio knocking at the door. Once Chourio forces the issue, the Crew can deal Canha and/or Taylor and reload the system some that way. Once Taylor and/or Canha are moved, then Frelick/Mitchell/Wiemer/Choruio can rotate between the outfield and DH. 3. This is a big question - but then again, if his bat doesn't wake up, just at the AA/AAA level there's Devanney, Dorrian, Zamora, and Murray, with Eric Brown Jr. and Robert Moore pushing their way up and the chance that Juan Baez's bat could force a Chourio-like ascent through the farm system.

Guilarte and O'Rae remind me a bit of Juan Pierre (https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pierrju01.shtml) high-average/OBP, lots of speed. At his best, about 3-4 wins above replacement and a couple of top 16 MVP finishes.

I had thought Burnes for Westburg, Rodriguez, and D.L. Hall made sense for the Crew. I think we're past that now, to be honest. That said... with Black's emergence as a third baseman, plus Wilkin, Boeve and Adams in the system, the urgency for a third baseman is not there. Maybe a shortstop (Henderson) a starter (Rodriguez) and one or two pitching prospects for Burnes and an outfielder (Perkins? Wiemer?).

There were ten writers who cast votes for the awards. My ballot was: 1. Andruw Monasterio 2. Sal Frelick 3. Abner Uribe 4. Brice Turang Monasterio came up after that scary line drive incident in May and he just was a solid performer the entire season, both on offense and defense. In addition to that, he was a hero for the team over the June/July period. Frelick is very good - over the long term, he's Milwaukee's leadoff hitter. If he hadn't hurt his hand, I think he'd have been up to replace Mitchell (his surgery was in April, Mitchell was hurt in early May), and I think he would have been the team's top rookie in a runaway. As is was, the race between Monasterio and Frelick was about as close as the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year vote was between Ryan Braun and Troy Tulowitzki. Uribe did become a crucial component of the bullpen, so I put him third. Turang, I credited for his defense and his 26 steals on the season, but I couldn't but him higher because he was a liability at the plate. Incidentally, I can say that Uribe and Turang were also super close in the second tier under Monasterio and Frelick.

The Brewers offense was their Achilles heel in the 2023 Wild Card Series, while the pitching staff was a strength throughout the season. Could the Crew still have a strong staff without looking beyond in-house options for 2024? Image courtesy of © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. / USA TODAY NETWORK Despite injuries that cost Brandon Woodruff a lot of time in 2023–and which could keep him out for a fair bit of 2024–the Brewers are very strong in the pitching department. They could assemble a very credible staff in 2024 with the arms already on hand. (Get it?) In fact, 2024 could see a repeat of the formula the Crew used for their 2018 run to the cusp of the World Series–but with a much better baseline than the 2018 team had. The Rotation In replicating the 2018 magic, the 2024 Brewers would be going in with a much better rotation. The Crew’s ace in 2018 was Jhoulys Chacin, with Chase Anderson, Junior Guerra, and Zach Davies as key members of the rotation. Freddy Peralta made his debut that season. Wade Miley, Gio Gonzalez, and Brent Suter also played key roles. It was a rotation that was solid, but was not quite up to dealing with the Dodgers’ high-powered offense. For 2024, Corbin Burnes and Peralta, the 1A and 1C starters for the past three seasons, would be the first two in line, a massive upgrade from the Chacin-Anderson duo. Exercising Miley’s $10-million option for 2024 (really, a $9-million decision, since the team owes him $1 million in a buyout if they turn down their side of a mutual option) could give the Crew another solid piece in the rotation, though he can't be counted on for very many innings. Adrian Houser and Aaron Ashby could round out the top five, with Colin Rea (a free agent, but one the team could probably bring back pretty easily), Janson Junk, Robert Gasser, Jacob Misiorowski, Carlos F. Rodriguez, Evan McKendry, and Eric Lauer (whom they will non-tender, but could then re-sign) as potential depth options. Woodruff, the 1B starter for the Crew from 2021-2023, could be the equivalent of a trade-deadline acquisition for the Crew--or, if his shoulder capsule injury turns out to be a bit less severe than we all fear, he could be back before Memorial Day. In short, the 2024 Brewers would have a lot more pitching firepower from the rotation than their counterparts did in 2018. The Bullpen For 2024, Devin Williams will lock down the ninth inning far more often than not. To handle the seventh and eighth innings, the Crew have Abner Uribe, Joel Payamps, Trevor Megill, and Hoby Milner. Bryse Wilson has been a long relief ace for the Crew, and they have a lot of depth options, in Ethan Small, Clayton Andrews, Elvis Peguero, Thyago Vieira, Caleb Boushley, and J.B. Buskauskas. That is, arguably, on par with the 2018 bullpen, which was centered on a “Nasty Crew” of Josh Hader, Corey Knebel, and Jeremy Jeffress, each of whom could close out a game, with a very solid supporting cast who got the ball to them--Dan Jennings, Jordan Lyles, Taylor Williams, and Jacob Barnes being among them. However, the 2018 Brewers offer a clue to something that could make the 2024 version utterly fearsome on the mound. That year, Milwaukee bolstered their bullpen from the farm. Burnes and Woodruff saw significant action, not in the rotation, but primarily out of the bullpen for the regular season, with 45 of their combined 49 appearances coming in relief. Houser also made appearances in relief, after he missed lots of time in 2016 and 2017 due to injuries. In essence, they minimized the vulnerability of the 2018 team’s starters. Now imagine how the 2024 Brewers pitching staff would look if you took the projected rotation, with the late-inning bullpen combo of Williams-Uribe-Payamps-Milner-Megill, then had Misiorowski, Gasser, and Rodriguez bridging the gap between them, the way Burnes and Woodruff did in 2018. Overview If the Brewers choose to stay in-house while building another championship-caliber pitching collective in 2024, they could mesh their dominant rotation with the very successful 2018 bullpen formula. Tack that onto an offense that could feature some dynamic upgrades at positions that struggled at the plate in 2023, and the 2024 Crew has a chance to really brew up some magic. View full article

Rookies played a big role in the Milwaukee Brewers 2023 season--one that ended with the team’s third NL Central crown and fifth playoff appearance in six years. But which was Milwaukee’s top-performing rookie of 2023? In one sense, the Brewers were expecting to see a few rookies contribute at some point during this season. However, injuries to Tyrone Taylor and Luis Urias resulted in rookies getting a lot of playing time very early. Six rookies saw extensive playing time for the Brewers, filling crucial roles that helped the team nail down the division title and make the playoffs. Ten writers from Brewer Fanatic voted for the team’s top rookie. Let’s see who got the votes. Others Receiving Votes Outfielders Joey Wiemer and Blake Perkins When Urias injured his hamstring on Opening Day, forcing Brian Anderson to play third base, Wiemer got the call to handle right field. He soon moved to center, when Garrett Mitchell was injured. While he flashed power and speed, his biggest contribution was defense. Blake Perkins also came up (after being signed to the 40-man roster as a minor-league free agent) and provided some decent offense and defense. 4. RHP Abner Uribe 1-0, 1.76 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 16 hits, 20 walks, 39 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings pitched. Uribe was a top relief prospect on the MLB Pipeline top 30 and Brewer Fanatic Top 20 lists who dominated in Biloxi and Nashville before he got the call-up to Milwaukee in July. After his July 8 debut, he became part of a shutdown relief corps (alongside Devin Williams, Hoby Milner, and Joel Payamps) that rarely blew a lead. Uribe’s stabilization of the bullpen helped take the sting out of the not-so-good results posted by trade acquisition Andrew Chafin and Elvis Peguero’s cooldown from a superb start. 3. SS/2B Brice Turang .220/.288/.303 in 400 at-bats, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 6 home runs, 46 runs, 34 RBI, 26 stolen bases Turang was the Brewers’ Opening day second baseman, and while his 62 OPS+ over the full season didn’t seem like much, his contributions on the field defensively were outstanding. He still notched 1.6 Wins Above Replacement, and his 26 stolen bases added a certain form of dynamism at the bottom of the order. His offense improved in the second half, and he looks to be a contributor for the Brewers for a while to come. 2. OF Sal Frelick .246/.338/.351 in 191 at-bats, with 9 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 29 runs, 24 RBI, 7 stolen bases Frelick (controversially) didn’t make the Opening Day roster after a very hot spring training and an outstanding performance at the World Baseball Classic. He then started slow in AAA before suffering a hand injury. He returned to Nashville later in the season, and then got the call-up to Milwaukee in late July. Since July 22, he not only spelled Wiemer in center field, but held down right field until Taylor returned. In addition to being something of a sparkplug, he also provided excellent defense, although Brewers fans would like to see a little more caution on some plays. 1. IF Andruw Monasterio .260/.332/.350 in 277 at-bats, with 14 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 37 runs, 27 RBI, 7 stolen bases Monasterio was called up to Milwaukee after a very scary line drive into the dugout in late May concussed and shelved Willy Adames. He never went back down, providing stability at third base, then splitting time at second base with Turang. Monasterio became a surprising hero for the Crew. Interestingly enough, he was not on either the Brewer Fanatic Top 20 or the MLB.com Pipeline Top 30, making him an overlooked prospect. Congratulations to Andruw Monasterio, the top Brewers rookie of 2023! Share your thoughts on Monasterio, the others mentioned, and even how your vote might look. View full article