Harold Hutchison

I'm thinking a right-handed Burnitz with speed, myself.

Joey Wiemer has been a pleasant surprise for Brewers fans since he was called up after Luis Urias went on the disabled list after Opening Day. As of this writing, he’s been a key part f the Brewers' 8-2 run since Urias was injured, with a home run, two doubles, and some excellent defense in right field. Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports When Brewer Fanatic did their top 20, Joey Wiemer was behind two other outfielders, Sal Frelick and Jackson Chourio. There was even a credible case that Wiemer and Frelick deserved spots on the Opening Day roster, only to be blocked by trade acquisition Jesse Winker and long-time standby Tyrone Taylor, who’s been no slouch in center. But Wiemer is a top prospect, but who could he be compared to? Let’s take a look. Hunter Renfroe Wiemer’s right-handed power bat and strong arm immediately remind Brewers fans of the team’s regular right fielder in 2022 – Hunter Renfroe. Wiemer’s bat could easily rack up 25-30 home runs in an MLB season, as Renfroe has on average since becoming a major-league regular in 2017. But he also has a cannon for an arm, posting double-digit outfield assists totals – and he’s already snuffed out a runner from the outfield in the majors. But Wiemer doesn’t have some obvious weaknesses seen in Renfroe’s game. For instance, Renfroe has struggled to draw walks and get on base consistently. Wiemer’s been a consistent walk machine, even in the majors. Then there is speed – Renfroe hasn’t flashed the ability to engage in on-base larceny, while Wiemer has. Corey Hart The Brewers’ long-time right fielder, Corey Hart, was a mainstay in right field during two playoff runs in the 2006-2011 timeframe, having moved there from initially playing first base to third base. Hart demonstrated speed in his early MLB career and the minors, posting 20-20 seasons in 2007 and 2008. Hart, like Wiemer, also proved to be credible in center field early on before finding a permanent home in right. While Hart was able to hit 30 home runs later in his career, his bat was more a gap-power bat with 45 doubles in 2008 and 9 triples in 2007. Wiemer’s been more of a pure power bat. Hart’s OBP skills were solid but relied a bit more on being plunked at the plate – which can be a hazardous way to do so. Jeromy Burnitz Another comparison could be Jeromy Burnitz – who handled right field for the Crew in the last 1990s and early 2000s. Burnitz had the power and the OBP skills, albeit he was a left-handed batter. Much like Wiemer, Burnitz also provided decent play in center field. The biggest breakdown was that Burnitz was never much of a speed merchant on the bases, averaging seven swipes a year. Wiemer is a threat for a 30-30 season. Other Players Ryan Braun was a right-handed power bat with power and speed over his career but lacked the OBP skills and defense to compare to Wiemer. Rob Deer offered the power and OBP but not the speed. Overview On many teams, Wiemer would be the top prospect in the system, and the fact he plays a clear third fiddle to Frelick and Chourio speaks well for the team’s depth. But his ceiling includes some Brewers who were among the best in team history in right field. View full article

This is where maybe extending Houser would not be a bad idea. He'd probably come reasonably cheap ($5 million or so), and having him as a solid back-of-the-rotation guy at worst probably helps moving forward. At this point, go with a five-man of Burnes, Rea, Lauer, Peralta, Miley, then expand to six when Houser finishes his rehab. Start stretching out Ethan Small to fill in for the rotation, and have him, Junk, and Gasser ready to backfill any holes.

Fifteen games is, in baseball terms, practically nothing. It’s less than 10 percent of a season. It’s enough to affect many fans’ feelings about offseason moves, though. In that spirit, let’s take a look at the Hunter Renfroe trade. Image courtesy of © Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The Brewers had a tough decision to make around the non-tender deadline just prior to the Winter Meetings, and they elected to pull the trigger on a trade that would give them some budgetary flexibility and bolster their pitching depth, at the expense of a powerful bat. Los Angeles Angels Received OF Hunter Renfroe Milwaukee Brewers Received RHP Janson Junk RHP Elvis Peguero LHP Adam Seminaris The Brewers embarked upon the 2022-2023 offseason with multiple prospects in the outfield, including Garrett Mitchell, who performed well in September 2022; Joey Wiemer, who showed power, speed, and defense in a rapid climb after being drafted in the fourth round of the truncated 2020 MLB Draft; and Sal Frelick, the team’s 2021 first-round pick. Mitchell, Frelick, and Wiemer were all in the Top 101 prospect list Baseball Prospectus issued prior to the 2023 season. Given the proximity of all three players to the big leagues, the organization needed to make some room. In the meantime, with the departures of Brent Suter, Brad Boxberger, Trevor Gott, and Taylor Rogers, there was a need for some new bullpen arms. The Angels were looking for a corner outfielder to upgrade from Jo Adell, their disappointing former top prospect. The deal with the Angels helped the Brewers address both needs, and let the Angels move Taylor Ward to left with Renfroe taking over in right. Assuming Christian Yelich moved to being the primary designated hitter and Tyrone Taylor became the fourth outfielder, the Brewers had space for all of their prospects, and all five of the Crew’s outfielders on the MLB roster could play at least a decent center field. That’s some pretty enviable depth on a 26-man roster. Then came the Kolten Wong trade, and Jesse Winker became the primary DH. That re-formed the outfield logjam that had been cleared by the Renfroe trade. Ultimately, Luis Urías and Taylor going on the injured list led to Mitchell and Wiemer seeing plenty of time in Milwaukee, while Frelick started 2023 at Triple-A Nashville. Going into Saturday’s game, Wiemer and Mitchell had each posted 0.6 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference, tied with Willy Adames. That’s an outstanding pace this early in the season, especially with Wiemer’s struggles at the plate. Frelick is scuffling a little in Nashville. In Los Angeles, Renfroe has produced a .937 OPS and boasts his best walk rate since 2019, delivering 0.5 WAR for the Angels. Junk, Peguero, and Seminaris are all in the minors, with Junk coming up to replace Brandon Woodruff after the Brewers’ co-ace went on the injured list, too. When one considers that the Brewers are 10-5 after a loss to the Padres Saturday, while the Angels were 7-6 going into Saturday, things have worked out reasonably well for the Brewers in this deal over the short term–albeit not perfectly, given Wiemer’s struggles to hit for average at the MLB level in a very small sample. But trades don’t just have a short-term outlook. Take, for instance, the deal in the 2015-2016 offseason wherein the Brewers traded Adam Lind to the Mariners for three pitchers who hadn’t even gone to full-season ball. The Mariners got one year of decent production (Lind had an OPS+ of 94), but Freddy Peralta made his Brewers debut in 2018, and since then, he’s been third fiddle to Corbin Burnes and Woodruff in the rotation. Similarly, the Josh Hader trade of last year, while roundly panned given the struggles of Rogers and how Dinelson Lamet ended up a waiver wire claim by the Rockies, saw the Brewers flip outfielder Esteury Ruiz for William Contreras, Joel Payamps, and Justin Yeager in a three-team deal this offseason, and Contreras has been producing well so far for the Brewers, while Payamps has been decent in the lower tier of the Crew’s bullpen hierarchy. Will Renfroe stay with the Angels? If so, this deal will look better for the Angels, because he will provide more production for them. Will he walk? If so, the Angels could find themselves watching Junk, Peguero, and Seminaris contribute to Milwaukee’s success for years to come, while the Crew’s young outfielders shine. The short version of all this is: we have a long way to go until we can really evaluate the Hunter Renfroe deal. It seems to be working for both teams so far, but there’s a lot of time to go before the full effects of the deal this season are known, not to mention what it means in future years. View full article

While much attention of fans will be directed to the Nashville Sounds, the Biloxi Shuckers are almost as crucial. Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK The jump from A+ to AA is where many prospects hit the wall. So this is a proving ground – prospects either prove they live up to the hype, take a big step forward, or never see the majors. The Biloxi roster features a number of players at that crossroads and others looking to take that next step. Let’s see who is there. Pitching The Shuckers staff featured the only player on that team to be on the 40-man roster, Abner Uribe, whose fastball regularly hits triple digits. He, James Meeker, and Ryan Middendorf form the core of a bullpen that should be able to lock down games once the Shuckers have a lead. Adam Seminaris will headline the rest of the pen. The rotation will be headed by breakout prospect Brandon Knarr, Brewer Fanatic top 20 prospects Carlos Rodriguez, and Justin Jarvis, who has been solid during his pro tenure, with Nick Bennett and TJ Shook rounding out that group. Catchers Jeferson Quero, unsurprisingly, headlines the catchers opening 2023 with the Shuckers. The real surprise is that Darrien Miller, who performed well at A+ Wisconsin, was kept there, leaving Nick Kahle and Jason Lopez as the backups. Wes Clarke has spent time behind the plate during a brief 2022 stint in Biloxi but may be seeing a lot of action at first base due to the absence of other players. Infielders Since Ernesto Martinez is joining Miller for another Opening Day with the Timber Rattlers, Clarke will become the primary first baseman in the early going, where he has been solid defensively while posting good offensive numbers. Zavier Warren will be opposite Clarke on the infield at third base while Freddy Zamora, Felix Valerio, Tyler Black, and Ethan Murray fight it out for playing time in the middle infield. Outfielders MLB Pipeline’s new #1 overall prospect, Jackson Chourio and Tristen Lutz headline the group and will likely man center field and right field, respectively. While listed as an infielder on the official roster, Noah Campbell is likely the primary left fielder and has played there a lot. Still, Tyler Black and Felix Valerio have seen some time in the outfield, Black in center and Valerio in left. Given the crowded state of the Shuckers' middle infield, one or both could be in left. Overview The Shuckers have some talent, but the front office also made a couple of confusing calls. The Shuckers could have had Quero, Miller, and Clarke as their catcher group, with Martinez manning first base. However, they will have to use left field and designated hitter to handle a surplus of talent in the middle infield. The pitching staff has some real potential, as well. It is easy to imagine that this team could have at least a half-dozen players up with the Brewers for Opening Day 2025. View full article

Sal Frelick had a very exciting spring. Between Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic, posting a .808 OPS in some abbreviated spring training action before he took the WBC by storm with a slash line of .303/.333/.435 for Italy. Image courtesy of © Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin via Imagn Content Services, LLC Despite that superb performance, he’s in Nashville right now, awaiting his shot – collateral damage from the Kolten Wong trade that cleared space for fellow top prospect Brice Turang, who we discussed earlier because the return included DH/OF Jesse Winker. Like Turang, Frelick is not quite a clone of some past or current stars, he’s a bit of a hybrid, but a very obvious comparison can be made from the get-go. Ichiro Suzuki The similarities between Frelick and Ichiro are quite noticeable. Both are outfielders with superb defense, hit for a high average, and can swipe a lot of bags. Add in Ichiro’s NPB stats, and the comparison becomes somewhat stronger. Frelick is a classic leadoff hitter who could contend for a batting title. But the comparison breaks down into one key area. Unlike Ichiro, though, Frelick has shown a solid ability to coax walks over his minor-league career. That ability didn’t quite show up as strongly in the WBC and spring training in 2023, but it is nice to know that Frelick has that capacity. But who could it be comparable to if the walk drawing doesn’t come from Ichiro? Paul Molitor Frelick’s walk drawing ability seems to be reminiscent of another iconic player, the Ignitor himself. To be precise, we’re talking the Paul Molitor from 1987 to the end of his career in 1998 when he averaged as many walks as strikeouts. Frelick’s career minor-league totals (as of the morning of April 5) of 158 games, 745 plate appearances, and a .327/.403/.473 slash line, 36 doubles, ten triples, 13 homers, 38 steals, and 76 walks are comparable to the average of Molitor’s 1991-1992 seasons. That said, the Molitor comparison does break down because, in the later years, Molitor was more of an RBI threat and flashed much more power than Frelick seems to show. Frelick, who is 5’10” and 182 pounds, gives up a couple of inches to Molitor (6’, 185 pounds) in height and is built a bit more like Ichiro (5’11”, 175 pounds). Other Comparisons If you want to talk about other comparisons for Frelick, it is hard to ignore three former Brewers: Lorenzo Cain, Carlos Gomez, and Nori Aoki. Cain, like Frelick, offers speed and a good ability to hit for contact while also providing excellent defense. That said, Cain’s ability to draw walks was nowhere near what Frelick offered. Gomez was a superb defender with speed, but he didn’t have Frelick’s ability to hit for contact or draw walks. Aoki was a contact hitter with speed, and some OBP skills, who primarily played corner outfield positions. Overview Frelick’s floor is probably that of Nori Aoki, but with the ability to play defense at a near-Gold Glove level in center field. Not a horrible outcome and extremely valuable, but that is the floor. The ceiling is more akin to that Ichiro/Ignitor hybrid, a regular threat to provide double figures in doubles, triples, homers, and steals while walking 65-70 times a season and hitting .300. Truly a special player and one who the Crew should consider extending as soon as possible. View full article

Andrews also saw some time in CF during the 2019 season. Might be interesting to see if that comes back as well.

The Nashville Sounds, the AAA affiliate of the Brewers, arguably is the minor-league roster of most importance to the Brewers in 2023. Image courtesy of © Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports After all, the players here have climbed through multiple levels of competition and are on the cusp of the majors. A fair number of the players on this roster were non-roster invitees to spring training or were on the Brewers’ 40-man roster to start the spring. Let’s take a look at this team and give some thoughts. Pitching At least 14 of the pitchers on the Sounds roster were on the 40-man roster were NRIs to spring training. This gives the Brewers a lot of depth options, both in the rotation (where Janson Junk, Robert Gasser, Colin Rea, and Tyler Herb are) and out of the bullpen (from which Ethan Small, Cam Robinson, Alex Claudio, Jake Cousins, Clayton Andrews, Elvis Peguero, and Lucas Erceg could contribute). Cousins is currently on the 7-day disabled list for the Sounds, while Jason Alexander, expected to be part of the Sounds rotation, is on the 60-day injured list with the MLB team. Catchers Payton Henry is the third of three catchers for the Brewers – and should be the primary catcher for the Sounds, and would be a credible second catcher for the Crew if not for the presence of Victor Caratini. Alex Jackson and Brian Navarreto are suitable backups, along with Brent Diaz, who is on the “developmental list.” Could the Brewers have been better served by an aggressive promotion of Darrien Miller or Wes Clarke, who arguably are closer to the future of the position than Jackson or Navarreto are? Infielders The Brewers have a pair of one-time major-leaguers at first base in, Jon Singleton and Keston Hiura, who are trying to get back to the big leagues after showing a lot of promise before losing their way. The Sounds infield has NRI Josh VanMeter and prospect Cam Devanney on the injured list to start 2023. Still, Andruw Monasterio, Eddy Alvarez, and offseason acquisition Abraham Toro all look to get playing time, while third-base prospect Patrick Dorrian is on the developmental list. Outfielders For Sal Frelick, being back in Nashville after spring training and his performance in the World Baseball Classic must be frustrating. But it will be a question of when, not if, he joins Garrett Mitchell and Joey Wiemer in Milwaukee. Blake Perkins, who was on the 40-man roster, joins 2023 NRIs Monte Harrison (on the development list), Skye Bolt, and Tyler Naquin in the outfield. Hiura spent some time in left field with the Brewers in 2022, and Devanney has also seen time in the outfield. Overview The Brewers could field a not-so-horrible team that could sneak its way to 75 wins from the Sounds roster, particularly given some of those currently on the IL. But Nashville’s real purpose is to have players ready to move to Milwaukee – or make their way back. Peguero, Erceg, Robinson, Small, Gasser, Devanney, and Frelick all could be part of the future. Claudio, Hiura, Cousins, Rea, Henry, and VanMeter are among those who have been in the big leagues in the past. There is no shortage of potential contributors to major-league success here, albeit if some are showing up, it’s a bad sign for the Brewers on the injury front. View full article

No, not assuming that, but if there is a package coming... maybe get a couple of near MLB-ready prospects or low-service time MLB players, but also get a younger player or two.

The Brewers should not just look at immediate or near-MLB prospects in any deal involving Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Willy Adames, and Eric Lauer, among others. After all, there is always the future to consider, and taking a long view can reap benefits. Take the Adam Lind trade, where the Brewers got three very young prospects, including Freddy Peralta. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp So, it may not be bad for the Crew to look for that option in the rookie leagues (DSL, ACL, GCL) or even full-season A and A+ leagues. After all, given the harsh hot-stove realities they face, the Brewers should be looking to generate multiple waves of prospects and, ideally, find the prospects that other teams are undervaluing. These players come with a bigger risk – they won’t quite have the track record of the AAA or AA prospects discussed earlier, and there’s a longer road to MLB. Well, you make the trade and take your chances. SS Frederick Bencosme and OF Braylin Tavera, Baltimore Orioles Think of Bencosme as a left-handed Jeff Cirillo with some speed who can play shortstop—a good option off the bench in the worst case. Tavera already has monster OBP skills and could develop into a superb power bat in the outfield, with an ETA down the road, even if the outfield is already crowded in the farm system. SS Angel Genao and OF Jaison Chourio, Cleveland Guardians Genao is a switch-hitting middle infielder who looks to develop some decent power down the road. Given how the Brewers love versatility, Genao looks like a natural fit for the Crew if they keep the front office band together. If the other guy sounds familiar, he’s Jackson’s younger brother. Jaison has incredible OBP skills and is a switch-hitter, so a family reunion could pay off big for the Crew. RHPs Miguel Ullola and Jose Fleury, Houston Astros If the Brewers want to create the Peralta Poach of a decade ago, the Astros could be a potential partner to do that with a pair of pitchers. Ullola has a fastball that hitters struggle with, much like Peralta. Fleury posted a 15:1 K/BB ratio in his early stops. Either pitcher would be a massive boost to a late 2020s Brewers rotation or bullpen. 2B Adrian Palencia and RHPs Walter Urena and Nixon Encarnacion, Los Angeles Angels Palencia is a switch-hitting middle infielder with some pop, a lot of speed, and excellent OBP skills, and they could be a Keith Ginter with speed for the Brewers bench down the road. Urena and Encarnacion would-be candidates to replicate Peralta as rookie-league steals. SS Ryan Reckley and C Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants A pair of switch-hitters, Reckley and Bailey, both have flashed excellent OBP skills. Bailey is a 3TO bat at catcher with the superb defense who’s had injury issues, meaning he may need time at DH or first base to minimize trips to the disabled list. Reckley has OBP skills, speed, and pop but suffered cracked vertebrae, which ended his season after 11 games. SS Carlos Colmenarez and 1B Xavier Isaac, Tampa Bay Rays The Crew could have a couple of intriguing options for lottery tickets from the Rays. Colmenarez is a superb defender with OBP skills, some speed, and the ability to rack up doubles – much like Craig Counsell. Isaac is a slightly taller Prince Fielder, but his coachability and left-handed bat could bode well as the Brewers' primary 1B in the late 2020s and early 2030s. SS Tucker Toman, RHP Dahian Santos, and UT Adrin Pinto, Toronto Blue Jays If Brewers fans like Robert Moore, they could also like Tucker Toman, a similar switch-hitter who plays the middle infield. Toman could easily slot in at third, second, short, or be a utility guy. Pinto is only 5’6” tall, but he has a ton of speed, OBP skills, and the fearlessness that could remind Brewers fans of Fernando Vina. Santos has a dynamic slider that could make him a dominant closer like the “Nasty Boys” types the Reds put together in 1990. Overview This list is far from exhaustive, but the Brewers could secure several prospects for the long term in any trade that involves Burnes, Woodruff, or other players. There are risks – injuries and inability to adjust; we’re familiar with all of that from other prospects who looked good at first. But the rewards from some of these prospects could be huge. View full article

Should the Brewers have to trade Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Willy Adames, or other players who have impending free agency, pitchers will not be their only targets. It would be a form of tunnel vision that would not benefit the team in the long run. After all, teams must score runs to win, not just prevent the other team from scoring. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp As with pitchers, we assume the Brewers will avoid strengthening division rivals or potential contenders in the NL. After all, the team is looking for playoff runs, and aiding rivals is a bad way to make the playoffs. So, which position prospects might the Brewers be going for? There is a veritable cornucopia for the Crew. IF Jordan Westburg, Baltimore Orioles The Brewers could look to enhance their options at third base in a deal with Baltimore, and Westburg would make for a nice fit, given his right-handed bat. Westburg has a higher strikeout rate, and given the Crew’s experience with Keston Hiura, that may have them nervous. Unlike Hiura, Westburg at least can play defense well. C Bo Naylor and SS/2B Brayan Rocchio, Cleveland Guardians As a destination for Burnes and/or Woodruff, Cleveland has the potential for some real returns for the Crew. Naylor, a left-handed hitter, might make for an excellent platoon partner for Jeferson Quero and allow the Brewers to have William Contreras be the full-time DH (or platoon with Darrien Miller). Rocchio is a switch-hitting middle infielder with some pop and a high baseball IQ, giving the Crew another option in the infield. C Yainer Diaz and OF Justin Dirden, Houston Astros While both Diaz and Dirden made Bleacher Report’s Top 100 prospects list, they are at relatively strong positions for the Brewers. That said, Diaz also played a lot of first base so he could be at least an option there with Miller or other prospects. Dirden is a center fielder who often pulls the ball and has strikeout issues. That said, American Family Field is conducive for left-handed hitters to succeed. IFs Zach Neto, Kyren Paris, and Livan Soto, Los Angeles Angels The Angels could give the Brewers some real options for depth – either for their system or to flip in deals (see the Trevor Richards for Rowdy Tellez deal in late 2021). Neto is a shortstop with a good bat who may move to second, while Paris seemed to have something click hitting-wise. Soto is more a speed merchant and bench asset – a poor man’s Brice Turang – but bench assets are often very useful. IF Brett Wisely, San Francisco Giants Wisely is an intriguing hitter, reminiscent of Jeff Cirillo, while adding some real ability to steal bases. Maybe he can’t beat out prospects like Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Joey Wiemer, Brice Turang, Tyler Black, and Cam Devanney for playing time, but he could end up being the guy who still gets a hundred starts by giving each of them a day off – or by filling in when someone is on the disabled list. IF Curtis Mead and OF Tristan Peters, Tampa Bay Rays Mead was a steal for the Rays, who broke out in 2021 and featured a very dynamic bat that could play first, second, or third for a team. He has excellent OBP skills, and his power is on an upward trend. The Crew’s best shot to get him may be a mid-season deal if the Rays are in a pennant hunt. Peters was part of a trade that did not go well for the Brewers, and the Giants dealt him to Tampa, but his high-contact bat, speed, and doubles power could be handy off the bench when the Crew needs a hit at a crucial time. IFs Orelvis Martinez and Addison Barger and 1B Spencer Horwitz, Toronto Blue Jays The Brewers could easily lock down their corner infield spots if they strike a deal with the Blue Jays for some of their players. Martinez and Barger are both third-base prospects, one batting right-handed, the other left-handed. Horwitz could be the long-term answer the Brewers have sought at first base since Prince Fielder left as a free agent after the 2011 season. Overview If the Brewers are looking to bolster the position player group, they could have a lot of young options to do so. Ideally, they would fill holes at first base and third base rather than bank on converted shortstops, but some players could be extremely valuable role players. Durability demonstrated by Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken Jr. is rare, so a team can always have a little depth. View full article

It seems inevitable – and you will even see it in some breakdowns before the June draft or in various top prospects lists. The prospect in question will be compared to a past player. In one sense, this can be helpful, to give you a sense of what that prospect can do. Image courtesy of © MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK But let’s also be very honest, since cloning a baseball player is still very well into the realms of science fiction; the single-player comparisons don’t exactly work. Why? Every player is unique, so the direct comparison doesn’t quite work. Christian Yelich wasn’t a pure repeat of past great Brewers corner outfielders like Geoff Jenkins or Ben Oglivie; he also added the ability to steal a bunch of bases and contend for a batting title, as Paul Molitor did at one point. So, with that in mind, let’s figure out which MLB players, past or present, can describe Brice Turang, who, as of this writing, has excited Brewers fans. There are two who come to mind readily. Craig Counsell Turang takes after the current Brewers manager’s playing style in some ways. He has excellent on-base skills and has shown positional versatility across the infield in the minors. Turang has also shown, to date, some very solid defense over the years. Counsell also flashed some speed, swiping as many as 26 bags in a season. That said, the Counsell/Turang comparison needs to catch up. Turang’s offense has shown signs of being far more dynamic than Counsell’s over his career. There’s also the potential for more power (Counsell’s career high in homers was nine with Arizona in 2005, and Turang looks to crack double digits as an everyday player). So, if Turang is not a complete clone of Counsell, there must be another player who “fills in the gaps” to describe Turang’s offensive capabilities more completely. It’s a somewhat bigger name. Jimmy Rollins When you look at his career from 2001-2005, you can see some other “gaps” in describing Turang’s offensive game. Rollins averaged 37 doubles, ten triples, 12 homers, and 34 steals a season, with an OPS+ of 93. This does seem to match what Turang posted in 2022, where he spent the entire season in AAA. If Rollins had a weakness compared to Turang, it was in OBP skills. Rollins put up 58 walks for every 662 at-bats per 162 games. Turang drew more than that in each of his full minor-league seasons. Rollins also developed more power than Turang will likely flash in his later career. Others Turang’s versatility also includes the ability to play in the outfield, similar to Hernan Perez, who was primarily an infielder for the Brewers from 2015-2019. This could prove helpful to Turang in Milwaukee, as there are some other blue-chip prospects at shortstop, second base, and third base. Orlando Arcia also merits some consideration, given the outstanding glove he flashed from 2016-2021. Overview Brice Turang’s ceiling is likely the best of both Counsell and Rollins's 2001-2005 versions. Turang’s defense could easily be contending for Gold Gloves. Still, offensively, he could be a very sneakily potent force between the OBP skills and the chance he could regularly hit double figures in doubles, triples, homers, and steals with regular playing time. But as a floor, Turang is still likely to be a valuable contributor who could get 60-100 starts a season among multiple positions, where the OBP skills, speed, and pop can still be valuable, a cross between Counsell and Perez. Either way, he may already be making a strong case for a lengthy contract extension. What do you think, Brewer Fanatics? Should the Brewers lock up Turang in his rookie season? View full article

The farm system will see some changes no matter how the Brewers do early in the 2023 season. If the Brewers do well, the team will likely be looking at what assets can be dealt to bolster the team for a playoff run. Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp If the results are disappointing – and that could be decided in as few as 20 games – then the farm system could see additions. Who might the Brewers be targeting for players like Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Eric Lauer, and Willy Adames if things get to that point? As was the case when potential Burnes deals were outlined, the Brewers will try to craft a deal that minimizes the risk of them facing Burnes and Woodruff in the regular season but also could provide a superb return. So, as a rule, we will avoid a deal with division rivals or potential contenders, but an outside contender looking in will be an option. Let’s look around. RHP Grayson Rodriguez and LHP DL Hall, Baltimore Orioles As many have discussed, Baltimore may be the best opportunity for an excellent return for the Brewers in a Burnes deal. Rodriguez and Hall are two of the biggest reasons why – Rodriguez is a potential ace, offering a one-for-one replacement for Burnes, while Hall could be a solid asset. Any deal involving Burnes and Woodruff will have to involve pitching prospects. LHP Ky Bush and Eric Torres, Los Angeles Angels The Angels have been willing to take some high-priced assets off Milwaukee’s hands and send a solid return. Hunter Renfroe got the Brewers three pitchers. If the Angels are to acquire Burnes or Woodruff, then Bush may well be someone to insist on as the centerpiece of any deal. Torres would also be a nice addition, giving the Brewers another shutdown relief option to join Can Robinson, Abner Uribe, and James Meeker. RHPs Gavin Williams, Daniel Espino, Tanner Bibee, and LHP Logan Allen, Cleveland Guardians The Cleveland Guardians have a wealth of options should they and the Brewers end up talking pitchers. Espino has the highest ceiling but will start 2023 on the disabled list, something the Brewers are already sweating with their #3 starter, Freddy Peralta. However, Williams, Bibee, and Allen look excellent as starters. The Brewers could go for a quantity approach – say, Bibee and Allen – to bolster their rotation after a Burnes/Woodruff trade. LHP Kyle Harrison and RHP Landen Roupp , San Francisco Giants If the Brewers choose to risk dealing Burnes or Woodruff to an NL team, the Giants will make sense in the crowded NL West, and Harrison makes sense as the centerpiece of a deal. Harrison would make an excellent complement to Robert Gasser and Ethan Small in what would be a lefty-heavy rotation in the future in the event this shakes out. Roupp is a righty who gets a lot of strikeouts and made a huge leap in 2022. RHP Misael Tamarez, Houston Astros The Brewers may want to think outside the box when it comes to their requests for Burnes or Woodruff, and when it comes to those, Tamarez may be one of those guys who is a sneaky good acquisition, like Manny Pina was in the K-Rod deal back in 2015. His stuff has blossomed since he was a 19-year-old international free agent signing. RHP Sem Robberse and LHP Ricky Tiedemann, Toronto Blue Jays The Blue Jays, like the Orioles, are in a tough division and could use Burnes or Woodruff to bolster their chances against the Rays or Yankees. The return would, naturally, be high, especially if a bidding war were to erupt (see what happened with the #1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft for the Bears). Tiedemann is perhaps Toronto’s top pitching prospect and arguably a mandatory part of any deal back. Robberse is intriguing as a mostly self-taught pitcher who could be a prime candidate for the pitching lab. RHPs Jose Butto and Dominic Hamel, New York Mets Butto and Hamel are interesting contrasts. Butto may be a right-handed Brent Suter, a solid multi-inning relief option who could start in a pinch. While his ceiling is arguably low, Butto would still be a valuable component of the bullpen, which isn’t a bad thing. On the other hand, Hamel is known for a superb spin rate, which Burnes also brings to the table. Overview The Brewers have a lot of potential options when it comes to deals, and doing so in a way that avoids strengthening the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, or other potential post-season opponents – and could weaken some of them if a trade becomes necessary or at least force them to work a lot harder amid a pennant race. View full article

Brewers fans are rightly excited about the team’s top pitching prospects. Some of them are very, very good. But that doesn’t mean others, much less heralded, don’t deserve a closer look. Image courtesy of © USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Take, for instance, Brent Suter. An unheralded 31st-round draft pick in 2012, he ended up being arguably the best pitcher to emerge from that draft class, and he outperformed the more-heralded Jed Bradley, picked in the first round the prior year. Who might emerge as Suter did and become a valuable member of the Brewers' pitching staff? Brandon Knarr Between Wisconsin and Biloxi, Knarr posted an 11-8 record and a 2.89 ERA, with 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Knarr was not even drafted – he was an amateur free agent signed in 2020 after the pandemic-shortened 2020 draft. But he has easily become the Brewers’ best left-handed starting pitching prospect over the past two years. Knarr will need to be added to the 40-man roster after 2023. Justin Jarvis Jarvis rebounded to an extent from a tough 2021 and was decent in Wisconsin before he did a little better in Biloxi. Jarvis has been workmanlike and eats innings, which the Brewers often turned to high-priced free agents for as late as 2019. Could the 2018 fifth-round pick sort things out in 2023, or is he headed to the bullpen? Max Lazar Prior to the pandemic, Max Lazar was an up-and-coming prospect with a 2019 season that was dominating. Then, he spent most of the next two seasons on the disabled list, returning to action late in 2022 with some decent numbers, given his long layoff. Then, he went to Brisbane for the 2022-2023 winter season and looked closer to his pre-pandemic form. Lazar must be added to the 40-man after this season, so he could face a make-or-break season. Pablo Garabitos and Christian Morales These left-handed relievers seemed to be breaking out in 2022 with the Carolina Mudcats. Both showed some multi-inning capability, missing since Josh Hader became a strict ninth-inning closer. They may still be a few years away from Milwaukee, but their ability to contribute to the big-league team in 2023 is a potential trade asset. James Meeker While Anber Uribe and Cam Robinson drew much of the attention as potential closers, Meeker dominated, and his 2022-2023 Brisbane season put him on the map. While he is older, Meeker could, if he keeps at either pace, be a valuable reinforcement for a few seasons. Meeker also played infield in college and could be an emergency asset on the bench. Clayton Andrews Like Lazar, Andrews was an intriguing prospect for Brewers fans before the pandemic. Andrews looked like a very solid multi-inning reliever; he even saw some time in the outfield and posted a .811 OPS. After the pandemic, he had a lot of time on the disabled list and struggled, but in spring training, he showed signs of being the old Clayton Andrews, which could be very good for the Crew’s bullpen and bench. Who says the two-way player has to be a slugger? Quinton Low A potential closer? Slugging first baseman? Both? Low’s bat is quite good; he can handle first base and batting left-handed… well, that could be very good on the offensive side of things. In a sense, the Brewers could bring back their old #PitchersCanRake trend, once shown by Brandon Woodruff, Adrian Houser, and Brent Suter in recent years. In another sense, Low could be a guy who could be used regularly in a blowout (either wins or losses) to save the bullpen. Ryan Middendorf Middendorf rocketed up the ladder in 2022 after being signed from an independent league team and didn’t look bad anywhere from the complex lead to Biloxi. He held up well in the Arizona Fall League, too. His K/9 ratio was no lower than 11.2 in each stop, except for Biloxi, and his K/BB ratio was no lower than 3.20. Teams always need relief pitchers, but cheap relief pitchers are very valuable. Michele Vassalotti Vassalotti struggled as a starter but turned around when he went to the bullpen with the Mudcats in 2022. He, Morales, and Garabitos could share the late-inning duties in Wisconsin, but the Brewers will need to work fast to keep him around if he shines in the role. Overview The Brewers’ pitching depth in the minors is quite deep, with many good players out there. Among the pitchers, some could shine – and if not be a direct replacement for Burnes and Woodruff, they can be solid performers or key assets in a trade that improves the team elsewhere. View full article

Miller repeating A+ is a shock to me. I really thought he'd be partnering with Quero in AA.