Jamie Cameron

Despite any fan frustration regarding a stagnant offseason, there is plenty about which to be optimistic regarding the future of the Brewers organization. Here are the most important Brewers takeaways from a recent MLB.com survey of executives throughout the league. Image courtesy of © Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The offseason has been slow and cold for Brewers fans, but there are plenty of reasons to feel warm and fuzzy. The MLB.com executive survey anonymously polls front office execs, scouting directors and personnel, player development staff and analytics departments on a wide variety of topics, from pre-season awards favorites to which teams draft and develop talent most effectively. The survey received responses from all 30 MLB organizations, and it revealed a few truths about the Brewers. 1. The Brewers Maintain an Elite International Scouting Operation Unsurprisingly, the Brewers received strong marks for their international scouting operation, amassing 19.1% of the vote for best in baseball (third-best overall). Coming off an astounding rookie season, Jackson Chourio (3.9 fWAR) looks poised for mega-stardom. The Brewers system also boasts Jeferson Quero, Jesus Made, Yophery Rodriguez, Luis Lara, Luis Pena and so on. They have managed an impressively consistent run of international scouting success. They’ve shown not only an ability to identify talent, but the effectiveness of their player development staff in how those talents have consistently popped, improved, and progressed through their system. 2. The Brewers' Farm System is Headlined by Outstanding Depth I’d argue that at the time of this writing, the Brewers farm system leans towards depth over high-probability high-impact talent. That statement should come with caveats around Chourio’s graduation (I’d prefer to rank ‘pre-arb’ talent than prospect talent) and the likelihood of prospects continuing to pop. On the hitting side, Jesus Made and Braylon Payne each received votes for most likely ‘breakout prospect’ in 2025. Cooper Pratt received 4.2% of the vote for the best defensive prospect in baseball. While Brewers prospects didn’t get as much love for some of the major offensive categories (hit tool, usable power, overall hitter), it’s not difficult to fit potential jigsaw pieces into those slots this time next year. On the pitching side, Jacob Misiorowski received 15.2% of the vote (most) for best future closer and 15.2% of the vote (tied for second) for best fastball of any prospect. As a whole, the Crew were ranked third-best at acquiring prospects in trades, with 6.3% of the vote. 3. Drafting and Development are Cornerstones of Organizational Success What about domestic scouting? How about the Brewers' ability to develop their talent? They graded out well here, too. Milwaukee was voted as tied for the second-best drafting organization (10% of the vote) and received 16% of the vote (most) for the most underrated farm system in baseball. It’s easy to see why. The Brewers are flush with both close-to-ready talent (Tyler Black, Logan Henderson, Jacob Misiorowski) to high-upside prospects further away (Made, Eric Bitonti, Josh Knoth, Bryce Meccage). There’s good balance to the system, to boot—not surprising, for an organization who received votes for being the most effective developers of hitters and pitchers. How do we tie all of this together? By saying that the Brewers' combination of outstanding international scouting, consistently excellent drafting and player development make them the most underrated organization in baseball. It’s a strong statement, but one for which a legitimate claim can be made. Aside from the offseason lethargy, what do you make of the health of the Brewers organization? Who or what are you high or low on, entering 2025? View full article

JD Cameron gives a breakdown of Cristopher Acosta, one of the headliners of the Brewers forthcoming international prospect class View full video

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 63 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie work through news and notes from the mid-offseason freeze in activity. They break down the Micky Gaspar for Jovani Moran trade, talk through the Cubs incredibly aggressive ZiPS projections, dive into Brent Rooker’s extension to remain an A and speculate about the possibility of the Twins having a new ownership group by Opening Day. The guys then preview the forthcoming international window, which opens on January 15th. The guys talk through the bonus pool system, the complications of the Roki Sasaki signing, and why pitchers don’t typically sign for large bonuses. They walk through the headliners of the Brewers, Cubs, and Twins classes and reflect on the approach of each organization to acquiring and leveraging international talent. Finally, they finish with a mailbag question on potential breakout prospects for the Twins. 0:00 Intro 4:00 News Whip Around 27:00 International Signing Window 34:30 Brewers Preview 45:25 Cubs Preview 49:42 Twins Preview 1:02:00 Outro You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

The 2025 ZiPS projections for Milwaukee dropped on Monday morning. While the Brewers’ offseason has been stagnant, they’re well positioned to retain their NL Central crown in 2025, with a projected record in the 86-90 win range. Let’s dive into three takeaways from FanGraphs’s projections. Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images The Brewers Roster is Already Well Placed to Compete for the NL Central in 2025 While the Brewers' offense isn’t flush with star talent, it’s well-balanced. I’d argue that has an outsized impact in a competitive division, as they can absorb any lost production from various positions through injury or ineffective performance. The outfield and middle infield are set up for success, even with a slightly disappointing (surprisingly so?) 2.6 fWAR projection for Jackson Chourio. The corner infield positions remain the major cause for concern. Joey Ortiz filling a Willy Adames-shaped hole at shortstop leaves third base for a group of players who are either unproven (Oliver Dunn, Caleb Durbin), not quite ready (Brock Wilken), or only moderately effective in a managed role (Andruw Monasterio). On the other side of the infield, Rhys Hoskins will be overpaid at $18 million. Given the Brewers' lack of financial flexibility, I’d argue solving for one of the corner infield spots (though not both) remains a realistic offseason need. Further Rotation Depth is Needed The starting rotation might not look that exciting on paper, but ZiPS likes it quite a bit. In fact, it’s the primary area where they have a leg up on the Chicago Cubs (14.5 WAR to 12.2). While that’s an exciting foundation, some of it feels tenuous. There’s a healthy projection for Brandon Woodruff, who's coming off a missed season due to shoulder surgery. The model also likes Tobias Myers and Nestor Cortes plenty. After Aaron Civale (who is just an innings eater), there’s not much starting pitching depth that has shown proof of concept at the MLB level just yet. I'd argue this group needs deepening before spring. Trading Devin Williams was the Right Call The Devin Williams trade seemed like an inevitable fulcrum of the Brewers offseason, and, per ZiPS, it was the right call. The Brewers have an edge over the Cubs with their bullpen projection (5.3 to 3.6). It’s not a top-heavy group either, with several options well suited to pitch in medium- to high-leverage roles. The bullpen is also an area where the Brewers have strong reinforcements on the way in the upper minors. For one of several organizations who haven’t done much to bolster their MLB roster this winter, the Brewers have a strong foundation in place for 2025. Given their lack of financial flexibility and the strength of their farm system, trades seem like the most viable route to meaningful upgrades prior to spring training. Bolstering third base and adding starting pitching depth would be high-leverage paths to meaningful improvement. What do you make of the Brewers ZiPS projections? Where would you like to see them focus their remaining offseason energies and resources? View full article

JD Cameron gives a breakdown of Brailyn Antunez, one of the headliners of the Brewers forthcoming international prospect class View full video

The signing period for International Free Agency opens next week. Here's a preview of the headliners of the Brewers' forthcoming international prospect class. Image courtesy of © Stan Szeto-Imagn Images The signing period for international amateur free agency opens on Jan. 15, 2025. The Brewers are one of eight teams who will have the largest bonus pools, with each of the eight eligible to spend $7,555,500. The 2025 international signing period is unlike any in recent memory, with the decision of Roki Sasaki set to have significant ripple effects throughout baseball. It seems unlikely that the Brewers will sign Sasaki, but whoever he signs with will likely leave several top prospects hanging without deals. While it’s normally fair to assume teams will make good on their verbal agreements with prospects, this season, I’d approach the window with less certainty. Currently, Milwaukee has been closely tied to—and is expected to sign—three of the top 50 prospects, per MLB.com. 36. Kenny Fenelon, OF, Dominican Republic Kenny Fenelon is a 17-year-old outfielder from the baseball hotbed of Santo Domingo. He's an explosive athlete, with an offensive profile headlined by excellent bat speed and good power projection as he continues to grow into his body. Like many international prospects, Fenelon does most of his damage against fastballs and will need to show adjustability in his swing, both around the plate and against better secondary pitching he will see when he eventually comes Stateside. He has plus speed, so he’s a threat on the base paths. Good route running in the outfield is counterbalanced somewhat by a fringy arm. It’s the whippy, loft-oriented swing that's the headline here. Fenelon is expected to collect the 30th-largest bonus for an international prospect in the 2025 signing period, per Baseball America. He’ll likely sign for between $1-2 million. 42. Brailyn Antunez, OF, Venezuela Antunez is an up-arrow prospect in this class who hails from the same region of Venezuela as Jackson Chourio. Antunez is a thickly built, explosively athletic outfielder with good bat speed in his right-handed swing and the potential for above-average power long-term. He gets consistent plaudits for a discerning eye at the plate and the consistency with which he puts together strong at-bats. It’s easy plus speed (an organizational preference) on the base paths, with a skill set that could allow him to stick in center field if it all comes together. Antunez is expected to claim the class's 40th-largest bonus, around $1 million. 45. Cristopher Acosta, SS, Dominican Republic Acosta is a 16-year-old shortstop. Defense is the current foundation of his profile, with a good arm, soft hands, and good lateral movement; he's likely to stick at short. Offensively, Acosta has a line drive-oriented, right-handed swing that can get long at times. It’s a hit-over-power profile, though that could change as he continues to fill out. Acosta is expected to sign the 38th-largest bonus in the class, in that same $1-million neighborhood. Interest in the Brewers' latest crop of international prospects should be buoyed by their consistent success operating in the international market. Examples like Jeferson Quero, Luis Lara, Yophery Rodriguez, and Jesus Made have made it impossible to ignore the Crew's annual round of IFA signees, even when they aren't considered the elite players in the class. The new crop will undoubtedly be a fun follow in 2025. View full article

JD Cameron gives a breakdown of Kenny Fenelon, one of the headliners of the Brewers forthcoming international prospect class View full video

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 62 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie continue to reflect on an extremely busy and fun offseason. They break down the biggest signings and trades of the offseason in the last week, including Kyle Tucker being traded to the Cubs, Cody Bellinger to the Yankees, and the Brewers trading away bullpen ace Devin Williams. They then discuss the Ishbia brothers potential interest in purchasing the Minnesota Twins, including whether fans should view this as ‘good news’. The guys then review a very active Rule 5 Draft in which the Brewers, Cubs and Twins all took a player. They examine the skill set of each and try to predict whether they will stick on the MLB roster. Finally, they finish with listener questions on Eiberson Castellano and the Twins pool of catching prospects. 0:00 Intro 3:30 Kyle Tucker Trade 9:21 Cody Bellinger Trade 11:30 Cubs Next Move? 21:00 Ishbia Interested in Twins 25:38 Rule 5 Draft - Brewers Pick 31:30 Cubs Pick 35:42 Twins Pick 41:31 Listener Questions 56:35 Housekeeping You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

The Draft Lottery has come and gone and the Washington Nationals have clinched the number pick for 2025. Where did other teams land in the lottery and which team beat the odds to have the best move up for a selection? View full video

This week's crowd-sourcing question asks Twins, Brewers and Cubs fans; what is your dream offseason move? (realistic) and what’s a move (signing, trade, etc.) you’d be happy with? Hear what listeners had to say here. View full video

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 61 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie talk through an extremely active Winter Meetings. They break down the biggest signings and trades of the offseason so far, including Juan Soto to the Mets, Max Fried to the Yankees, Willy Adames to the Giants, and the Red Sox big trade to land Garrett Crochet. The guys then review a disappointing MLB Draft Lottery in which the Cubs, Red Sox, and Twins all moved down. They dig into the top 40 picks and bonus pools for each of those teams, before talking about some of the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the class. Finally they end with some listener questions. 0:00 Intro 3:00 Juan Soto to Mets 6:56 Max Fried to Yankees 9:28 Guardians making moves 13:47 Red Sox, White Sox deal 26:12 Adames to the Giants 26:59 Roki Sasaki posted 31:55 Draft Lottery 40:03 Draft Pools 44:40 Draft Overview 48:52 Listener Questions You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

The MLB Draft Lottery is in its third season at the Winter Meetings. Jamie answers all the questions on what the purpose behind it is as many baseball fans are still learning about the structure of it. View full video

The Brewers are sending eight prospects to the AFL this year to get more out of their development. Which players come as a surprise to Jeremy and Jamie and which do they believe will make the most out of their time in the AFL? View full video