Cole McCormack

Chris Carter is a name that many may not remember. The former Major League Baseball player played for several teams throughout his career but always managed to make an impact wherever he played. Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 15th round in the 2005 draft, Carter was a highly-touted prospect in the minor leagues. Two years later, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Carlos Quentin, only to be traded again to the Oakland A’s eleven days later in a massive trade package. The Diamondbacks sent Carter, Brett Anderson, Aaron Cunningham, Dana Eveland, Carlos González and Greg Smith to Oakland for Dan Haren and Connor Robertson. Carter made his major league debut with Oakland in 2010, and his debut season was rough. He slashed .186/.256/.329 in 78 plate appearances, with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs. He would go on to spend two more seasons in Oakland. During this time, he established himself as a strong power hitter, hitting 16 home runs in 2012. On February 4, 2013, he was traded to the Houston Astros with Brad Peacock and Max Stassi for Jed Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez Jr. In Houston, Carter became an everyday player, and his power numbers skyrocketed. He hit 29 home runs in his first full season with the team, and followed that up with 37 home runs in 2014. However, he struck out…a lot. In 2013, Chris Carter led MLB in strikeouts with 212. During his time with the Astros, Carter maintained a strikeout percentage of 33.7%. His inconsistency at the plate led to him being released by the Astros after the 2015 season. He would eventually sign as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers on a one-year deal, where he was a force to be reckoned with at the plate. With the Brewers, Carter continued to be a power threat, hitting a league-leading 41 home runs. He slashed .222/.321/.499 in 644 plate appearances and a league-leading 160 games. Carter also led the league that year in strikeouts, with 206. The following offseason, the New York Yankees signed Carter to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. Unfortunately, Carter struggled at the plate, slashing .201/.284/.370 in 208 plate appearances with only 8 home runs and 26 RBIs. He struck out 76 times. New York released Carter before the All-Star break. He would spend time playing minor-league ball with the A’s, Los Angeles Angels, and Minnesota Twins, before retiring at the age of 32 in 2018. A powerful and feared hitter in his prime, Carter also had a career was marked by inconsistency. Despite his struggles, he put up impressive numbers throughout his career, hitting 158 home runs and 400 runs batted in. He may not be remembered as one of the best of all time, but it's safe to say that his time in Milwaukee was a memorable one. View full article

It’s official, Monte Harrison has signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. Monte Harrison is returning to where it all started. Initially drafted in the second round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, Harrison showed a lot of promise as an outfield prospect with a knack for getting on base. While assigned to the Arizona League Brewers at age 18, Harrison put up an OBP of .402 in 224 plate appearances. His most impressive season at the minor league level was in 2017 while playing for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, where he slashed .272/.350/.481 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs. During the 2018 offseason, Harrison was traded to the Miami Marlins alongside Jordan Yamamoto, Isan Diaz, and Lewis Brinson for Christian Yelich. A trade that, by today’s standards, is unanimously viewed as a win for the Brewers. MLB Pipeline ranked Monte Harrison as the Marlins’ #2 overall prospect in 2018. He would perform well in Double-A, stealing 28 bases while slashing .240/.316/.399 with 19 home runs and 48 RBIs. Harrison was added to the Marlins’ 40-Man roster in 2019 but wouldn’t play at the major league level until the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He played 32 games with 51 plate appearances, slashing .170/.235/.255 with one home run and 3 RBIs. Harrison played only nine games the following season with 11 plate appearances, slashing .200/.200/.300 with two hits and a double. The Marlins designated Harrison for assignment early in the 2022 season, and the organization released him. He would sign a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels, where he played nine games with 14 plate appearances, slashing .182/.357/.455 with one home run and three RBIs. The Angels designated Harrison for assignment before the All-Star break and he elected free agency in October 2022. On January 30, 2023, it was announced that the outfielder signed a minor league contract with the team that drafted him nearly a decade prior. In more ways than one can count, this is a solid move by the front office that helps the team maintain consistent outfield depth. Not to mention, he is a talented baserunner that could be a reliable asset to Brewers manager Craig Counsell should he need a pinch runner. Harrison is also only 27 years old, which is the average age of an MLB player. A breakout year could be possible if he is called to the majors. However, in all likelihood, Harrison will very likely spend his 2023 season in Nashville. If you want to keep an eye on Monte Harrison, he will be present at Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. View full article

Brian Shouse is a name that may ring some bells for Brewers fans. While he was never an all-star or a Cy Young winner, Shouse was still an effective relief pitcher that got the job done. Initially drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 13th round during the 1990 MLB draft, Brian Shouse worked his way through the minors and made his debut in 1993 at age 24. He pitched four innings in six games, racking up an ugly 9.00 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP. After spending several years in the minor leagues of the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates, he would only play in the major leagues once more after Boston Red Sox signed him in 1998. He pitched eight innings in seven games with a slightly improved 5.63 ERA and 1.63 WHIP. After 1998, Shouse would again endure a protracted absence from the major leagues, moving between the minor league systems of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Houston Astros. In 2002, Shouse would play in another MLB game for the Kansas City Royals, and he was here to stay this time. The Texas Rangers signed Shouse as a free agent in 2003, and they would prove to be a good signing. During his four-year stint in Texas, Shouse pitched 163 innings and struck out 112 batters while carrying a 3.59 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. He also earned 34 holds and one save. Shouse’s performance on the mound caught the eye of the Milwaukee Brewers, who traded minor league infield prospect Enrique Cruz and cash for Shouse on May 13, 2006. Now, the late 2000s were an awkward time for the Milwaukee Brewers. Sure, they had some rising stars like Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, but the big league club struggled to win games. Pitching was a big question mark at this time, both in the starting rotation and the bullpen. In 2006, when Milwaukee acquired Shouse, the team pitching staff held a 4.82 ERA. The offense drove in 730 runs, but the pitching staff gave up 833 runs. Shouse proved himself to be effective in the Brewers bullpen as a left-handed specialist. He maintained a 1.50 WHIP in 34 innings pitched in 2006. In 2007, at the age of 38, Shouse was even better. He put up a WHIP of 1.26 in 47.2 innings pitched. It seemed that despite his age, he was reliable and unstoppable. Rick Ankiel, infamously a pitcher-turned-outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, would later claim that Brian Shouse was the hardest pitcher he had ever faced in his career. 2008 would turn out to be Shouse’s best year with Milwaukee. He struck out 33 batters, earning a WHIP of 1.17 and a 2.81 ERA. His command on the mound helped Milwaukee clinch their first appearance in the playoffs since 1982. Shouse would end his career with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009 at 40. In recent years, Shouse spent time as a pitching coach for the Texas Rangers organization. In 2019, he was the pitching coach for the Nashville Sounds. However, he would be let go after one season in Nashville. While not the flashiest player, Shouse deserves to be remembered as a reliable arm in a lackluster bullpen during an important time in Brewers' history. His arm brought badly-needed stability to an often unstable pitching staff. View full article

Willy Adames is a fan favorite. The question is, can the Brewers afford to extend him? Willy Adames, Milwaukee’s star shortstop, is the most obvious extension possibility for the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason. Adames has been a fan favorite for many since being traded to the Brewers from Tampa Bay back in May of 2021. What kind of extension would be required if the Brewers wanted to keep Willy wearing a Milwaukee jersey? Willy Adames is 27 years old as of the writing of this article, and he is coming off of his best overall season yet, according to both Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs. In 2022, Adames had a 4.4 rWAR season with a career-high 31 home runs and 98 RBIs. However, there is more to extending Adames than just his stats. Upon being traded from the Rays to the Brewers on May 21, 2021, Adames was told to be himself. As a result, the city of Milwaukee fell in love with the sweet-swinging shortstop. His upbeat personality created a palpable energy among fans and even members of the clubhouse. After the questionable Josh Hader trade, David Stearns stepping down as President of Baseball Operations, and the team missing the playoffs in 2022, morale among fans is quite low. Extending Willy Adames would demonstrate that this organization is set on winning both in the short-term and the long term. Two significant free-agent signings recently reset the shortstop market's peak price. On December 8, 2022, Trea Turner signed a massive eleven-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. One day later, former Boston Red Sox infielder Xander Bogaerts signed an eleven-year, $280 million contract with the San Diego Padres. It’s clear the market has changed, and small market teams like the Brewers are being left in the dust. Adames is younger than both Turner and Bogaerts. Additionally, the Brewers have two more seasons of team control. At age 29, if no extension is agreed upon, he will become a free agent. An extension this offseason could be unlikely, but if he plays well in 2023, his market value can rise even higher than it is now. Willy Adames is a free agent after the 2024 season, but he has made it clear that he wants to remain a Brewer. When comparing the recent signings of Turner and Bogaerts, it is doubtful that the Brewers will hand out a massive eleven-year contract extension to Adames. But Milwaukee could pay him around $25 - $27M per season, which might be enticing to Adames given that he's still 22 months away from free agency. Looking at the potential 2023 payroll, the Brewers have freed up a lot of space, with Lorenzo Cain, Andrew McCutchen, and Josh Hader being out of the picture. Spotrac estimates Milwaukee’s current payroll is at an estimated $112.5 million. Last season was an estimated $131 million. If owner Mark Attanasio is willing to shell out some money to keep a fan favorite on the roster, it is possible that Willy could be a Milwaukee Brewer for the rest of his career. View full article

In all likelihood, Milwaukee will not trade for big name players like Juan Soto or Shohei Ohtani. As the August 2nd trade deadline looms, let’s take a look at a couple of players that the Brewers could realistically acquire without draining the farm system. How fast is the trade market starting to move? Fast enough that this list was three players long when it was written yesterday, before Andrew Benintendi was traded to the Yankees by the Royals. Still, there are a couple more names that could help push the Brewers into a deep run in the postseason and then we'll play with Baseball Trade Values trade simulator to ballpark what fair compensation might look like. Josh Bell - Washington Nationals The Nationals are yet again sellers this year. Juan Soto appears to be the most prolific piece to be moved this season, after rejecting a historic $440M / 15-year contract extension. However, a much more low key piece that could significantly impact the Brewers 2022 season is first baseman Josh Bell . This season, Bell has slashed .305/.385/.494 with an .879 OPS, 13 home runs, and 50 RBIs. Much like Benintendi, this addition would really boost Milwaukee’s lackluster offense and it would not drain the team’s farm system. Like Benintendi, Bell would be a rental, as he enters free agency after the 2022 season. A viable trade might look like this: the Nationals send Bell while the Brewers send Keston Hiura and two pitching prospects, Abner Uribe and TJ Shook. Hiura is a fan favorite for many in Milwaukee. However, it would be best for both Hiura and the Brewers if they traded him to a rebuilding team. He could really use a change in scenery and it would likely benefit his career. It is difficult to find a place on the lineup card where Hiura could be an everyday player. Shook has been a competent starter for Double-A Bilox. With 14 starts in the 2022 season, he has notched 91 strikeouts and has maintained a 3.94 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Uribe is ranked #19 in the Brewers farm system, though he has fallen out of Brewer Fanatic's Top 20 prospects. He is currently playing for Double-A Biloxi. He has only played 2 games in the 2022 season but has zero earned runs in three innings pitched. At the age of 22, he shows a lot of potential and is expected to play in the majors by the 2023 season. Trey Mancini - Baltimore Orioles Trey Mancini has been a fan favorite trade target since the 2021 season. His numbers in the 2022 season are on par with Christian Yelich, hitting 8 home runs and slashing .268/.345/.404. Not my favorite trade target but he could do some damage and could be a solid everyday outfielder, first baseman, or designated hitter for the remainder of the year with the crew. Because he is likely a free agent at the end of this year (he and the team have a mutual option, which rarely works out), acquiring Mancini would not cost much, really only one infield prospect named Eduardo Garcia. So far in Single-A Carolina, Garcia (ranked the #12 prospect by BF) has done well offensively. He is slashing .275/.321/.422 with a .743 OPS. He’s hit 9 home runs and 45 RBIs. The shortstop is only 20 years old and is estimated to appear in the MLB by 2024. However, an everyday position with Milwaukee at short is unlikely due to Willy Adames being under team control through 2024. Not to mention, the team has several infield prospects that would likely find more rapid success in the role by then, making this trade extremely beneficial for the team. In all likelihood, the Brewers won't need to break the (prospect) bank to pick up a helpful bat at the deadline. Let us know which bats listed above you like, or other ones that you're targeting. View full article

What does Milwaukee need to get to the World Series? Some relief might help, and the trade deadline is a prime time to pick up a few more reliable bullpen arms, fueling a deeper run into the postseason. Let's look at three players that could easily provide a boost to bullpen, and then using the fun Baseball Trade Values trade simulator, let's get some ballpark idea what they might cost. Joe Jiménez - Detroit Tigers Jiménez has proved himself to be an effective relief pitcher. His 3.22 ERA is nothing to scoff at, but his 2.15 FIP is extremely impressive. So far in 2022, he has pitched 36.1 innings. His control of the ball is also extraordinary, having struck out 49 batters and only walking 8 this season. If acquired, Jiménez would be under team control until 2024. It likely wouldn’t take much for the Brewers to acquire Jiménez, perhaps a fringe prospect in AA. The simulator accepted Jiménez for Milaukee 24-year-old RHP prospect Taylor Floyd. Floyd is not doing too hot in Double-A Biloxi, currently pitching with an 8.57 ERA in 21 innings pitched. However, like most prospects, he shows a lot of potential. Floyd is a sidearm pitcher, but his odd windup makes it appear as if he has a submarine delivery. His fastball has a lot of break to it and it could be interesting to see how he develops as a pitcher. John Schreiber - Boston Red Sox The Red Sox could be sellers this season and it is possible they would be willing to give up right-handed reliever John Schreiber. He would likely not come cheap as Schreiber is not a free agent until the 2027 season. You can see as much in how the trade simulator values him. That being said, he is still a worthy investment. His 2022 season has been very impressive with a 1.56 ERA and a FIP of 2.37, one can only imagine how great Schreiber could be with the assistance of Milwaukee’s pitching staff. This trade simulated accepted an admitted reach of a deal, but replace these particular players with comparable names and it would be fun to see how it would play out. The Red Sox sent Schreiber and the Brewers sent infield prospect Tyler Black and pitching prospect Russell Smith, plus additional cash considerations to complete the deal. Black is currently playing in High-A Wisconsin and is slashing .281/.406/.424 with an .830 OPS. He has hit 4 home runs and 35 RBIs. His most impressive factor is his plate discipline. So far in 2022, he has walked 44 times and struck out 45 times. He is Brewer Fanatic's #7 prospect as of July 1st. Smith is also playing in High-A Wisconsin and in 13 starting appearances, has put up an ERA of 4.63. It is clear that he has a lot of development to go before making it to the major league level. He is also ranked at #16 in the Brewers farm system, but did not make our top 20. Jorge López - Baltimore Orioles López is actually a former Brewer, having been drafted by the team all the way back in the second round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft. He was eventually traded to the Royals with Brett Phillips in 2018 for Mike Moustakas. In 2022, López is an all-star reliever. He has put together 18 saves, a 1.59 ERA, and a FIP of 2.94. The Brewers need better bullpen arms and it seems that López could help in that department significantly, working as depth in case either Hader or Williams suffers an injury before the postseason. He would also be under team control until 2025. López is an effective closer and so it's odd that the trade simulator thinks that acquiring him would not take much. An ideal trade would look like this. Brewers receive Jorge López and the Orioles receive infield prospect Felix Valerio (#9 on Brewer Fanatic's Top 20) and cash considerations. Valerio is an offensive powerhouse. There’s no beating around the bush there. At the age of 17, he had a 6.9 strikeout rate and a .319 batting average in the Dominican Summer League. Currently in Double-A Biloxi, he is slashing .246/.327/.416 with a .743 OPS. The simulator is by no means perfect, but gets to the truth of acquiring prospects at the deadline: it doesn't take premier prospects to nab impactful arms. Let us know which arms listed above you like, or other ones that you're targeting. We'll be back later this week to do the same for some hitters. View full article

Currently ranked as the 13th best prospect in the Brewers’ organization by Brewer's Fanatic, it is safe to say that Mario Feliciano deserves a real shot at playing in the big leagues. Finding how is the problem. Alright. I get it. The Milwaukee Brewers already have way too many catchers on their major league roster with Omar Narvaez, Victor Caratini, and Pedro Severino . These catchers have been extremely effective at the plate and behind the plate. That being said, Mario Feliciano deserves more at-bats at the major league level. Feliciano was drafted in 2016 by Milwaukee in the second round. Originally hailing from Puerto Rico, he had attended the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy prior to the draft. He had a breakout year in 2019 where he won Carolina League MVP as a result of his stellar offense. Bashing 19 home runs and slashing .270/.323/.473 that season in High-A, he proved himself as more than capable with a bat in his hands; especially at the age of 21. It should be mentioned that in the 2018 offseason, Feliciano required arthroscopic surgery and missed two months of the 2021 season as a result of a shoulder injury. Despite being so young, it led many to wonder if this trend of injuries will continue with the backstop prospect. Feliciano was called up to the majors, played one game late in the 2021 season where he drew a walk, and was immediately sent back down to the minors. A real “cup of coffee in the majors” type of situation. So far in 2022, he has spent the season in Triple-A Nashville and his numbers definitely make a substantial argument for a major league promotion. Feliciano is slashing .303/.355/.389 with a .744 OPS, 51 games into the 2022 season. He has an 18% strikeout rate and a 6% walk rate. His defensive numbers are solid with a .992 fielding percentage and 3 errors. At the age of 23, Feliciano is the youngest player on the Brewers’ 40-man roster. The sample size for Feliciano is admittedly small in terms of time in the majors. He played one game in 2021 but he has played 31 games in Spring Training. His 2021 performance was really impressive. He played 14 games and slashed .429/.467/.857 with a 1.324 OPS. Granted a lot of players tend to put up great numbers in Spring Training, only to fall apart in the regular season. He has shown that he is very quick on his feet and he has an above average arm. However, Feliciano’s power has diminished over the years, mostly due to the injuries as previously mentioned. So far this season, he has only hit two home runs in Nashville. The Brewers need bats. Their offense is performing below average. A player with a high batting average and good on-base percentage is an especially good fit. What the Brewers don’t need is another catcher. While this is a bit of a reach, Feliciano has played 7 of his 51 games as a designated hitter this season. He obviously would not be a permanent solution to the team’s problem on offense but he does deserve more time at the major league level, especially with the strides in offense he has made this season in Nashville. He shows a lot of potential and could eventually work his way up to being the next everyday catcher in a season or two. After all, Omar Narvaez will be a free agent after the 2022 season and it seems unlikely he will return next season due to the abundance of catchers that the team already has. There is a lot of promise and intrigue with Feliciano as a prospect and while he may not be well known to every MLB fan, his performance over speaks for itself. He deserves a shot during the 2022 season to really prove himself as a viable option behind the plate. View full article