Harold Hutchison

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

The brewers could even add an option year or two as well. 2024: $10 million 2025: $15 million 2026: $15 million (team option with $5 million buyout, option becomes a guaranteed year if he pitches 150 innings in 2025) 2027: $17.5 million (team option with $5 million buyout, option become guaranteed if he pitches 150 innings in 2026) 2028: $20 million (mutual option with $5 million buyout) Woodruff could be guaranteed $30 million through 2026, but has the chance for as much as $87.5 million through 2028.

The whimper that the Brewers’ 2023 season ended with was disheartening, with some eyeing the potential departures of franchise mainstays. But could the Crew go for broke in 2024 with in-house improvements and make another run for the postseason? Image courtesy of © Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports Let’s face it: the 2023 Brewers had some real weaknesses, notably in the offensive production department. First base, third base, center field, designated hitter, and second base were all offensive deserts for at least some portion of the season, and it showed. That said, there are some very plausible in-house options to improve those positions this season, giving the Crew one more year if they decide to keep Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames in Milwaukee for one more year to make that run. Designated Hitter Jesse Winker generated a lot of walks but little else for the Crew as the primary designated hitter, and he will depart shortly. One in-house replacement for him could be Mark Canha, who has a team option for 2024, costing Milwaukee $11 million. Another could be Christian Yelich – who is no slouch defensively in the outfield but may need to move due to the presence of Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Tyrone Taylor, Jackson Chourio, and Joey Wiemer. The team also used William Contreras at the position semi-regularly, which could be more frequent if Jeferson Quero forces his way to Milwaukee in 2024. First Base Rowdy Tellez started the season on pace for a career year, then a forearm injury he tried to play through derailed the season. While he could come back – a healthy Tellez in good form is a very dangerous threat, as seen in 2021, 2022, and early 2023 – the fact is, the Brewers could turn to one of the Canha/Yelich duo and get an uptick in offensive performance and defensive acumen at the position and land some return for Rowdy. Second Base Brice Turang provided Gold Glove-level defense at second base. However, his offense left much to be desired in 2023, with an OPS+ of 62. It was slightly better than Jesse Winker’s OPS+ of 60, and Turang helped the Brewers win in ways that didn’t show up in the box score, posting 1.6 wins above replacement, but he also was a black hole in the lineup for most of the year. The Brewers have some options for more offense – notably top rookie Andruw Monasterio, along with Owen Miller and Abraham Toro. Tyler Black could also see some time at the position if the Crew wants to go bat-first, and Cam Devanney is an arguable dark horse for some playing time after a superb 2023. Of course, Turang could take his offense up a level, as he did after initially struggling when he received mid-season promotions during his minor-league career. Third Base As with first base, the Brewers saw a hot start from Brian Anderson, who took over after Luis Urias was injured on Opening Day. However, Anderson cooled off after May and found himself on the bench as Monasterio took over at third. The Brewers later brought in former MVP Josh Donaldson for some extra power at the position, and he was solid, but he also cooled down a little near the end of the season. While Donaldson has a team option, 2023 was also the year that Black showed he could defend at the hot corner and demonstrated he had nothing left to prove offensively in the minors. Devanney, Miller, and Toro could also be contenders at third. Center Field Joey Wiemer flashed some power, demonstrated excellent defense, and swiped some bags after being called up following Urias’s injury. He ultimately delivered a 76 OPS+, good for 0.9 Wins Above Replacement. Like Turang, many of his contributions to the Brewers' 92-win season didn’t make the box score. The improvement here could easily be the return of Garrett Mitchell, who’s posted an OPS+ of 120 at the MLB level in a small sample size, or when Jackson Chourio makes his MLB debut. Wiemer, of course, could also develop and improve as well, leaving the Brewers with a plethora of good options. Overview The Brewers have no shortage of potentially significant offensive upgrades at the positions that were somewhat problematic in 2023. Could they be enough to help the team make another run at the postseason should Burnes and Adames stay? That answer could very well be a yes for the Brewers. View full article

Houser's worth it at that price. A solid starter who can hold down a 3/4 spot in the rotation. Take up the Miley option, too. As for Woodruff... I'd offer this deal: $12.5 million in 2024 $12.5 million in 2025 Team option in $15 million in 2026 that vests if he pitches 200 innings total in 2024-2025 or a $7.5 million buyout Team option: $20 million in 2027 or a $7.5 million buyout. Which is why I'm okay with going a little higher - 2/$25 million, but add a couple of team options. The Crew still gets the chance for a QO after 2025.

Offer him 3 years, $50 million ($15 million in 2024, $17.5 million for 2024 and 2025, team option for 2026 w/$5 million buyout). Worst case, by the end of that point, Baez is ready to take over at short.

Refining my thinking on the roster some more... LF: Frelick 3B: Black 1B: Yelich C: Contreras DH: Canha CF: Mitchell SS: Adames 2B: Monasterio RF: Taylor Bench: Caratini, Toro, Miller, Perkins Rotation: Burnes, Peralta, Miley, Houser, Ashby Bullpen: Uribe, Payamps, Milner, Megill, Vieira, Small, Rea, Bryce Wilson At this point, I'm inclined to make one more run - deal Devin Williams for a three-prospect package (all AA/AAA, a starter, a reliever, and a position player), make Uribe the closer. Plan to go QO with Burnes and Adames. Assume Woodruff's return will be the de facto starter acquisition - he'll get a QO as well, and I'd anticipate him taking it. I'd also flip Peguero for at least another AA/AAA prospect or some low-level lottery tickets. Try to see if I can get an Adam Lind-esque return for Tellez and Lauer. I figure at some point in the season, I'll flip Perkins when one of Chourio/Wiemer forces the issue from Nashville, and Tyrone Taylor becomes the 4th OF/DH. If both force the issue, then Canha can also be dealt. Tyler Black ends up the 3B. His bat has nothing left to prove in the minors. Let's get it to Milwaukee. I'm not going to sweat the defense - the Diamondbacks series (not to mention most of 2022) exposed the paucity of dynamic bats. So at the MLB level, Black is the 3B. In the minors, Juan Baez gets reps at shortstop, and Satchell Norman gets lots of time behind the plate.

Baez took his bat up a notch this year... and I'd like to see Adams get playing time at third - even with Boeve and Wilken there. That said... Brown's health is a huge question. Baez, on the other hand, is a very dynamic hit-for-contact bat who took it up a notch this year. I'd keep him at short. You don't often get a .900ish OPS at that position. The good-field, barely-hit Brewers fell to a Diamondbacks team that had a dynamic offense. Tyler Black could hold down third for a while. If Black's bat is MLB ready (no reason why it isn't), then why not keep Baez at short?