David Go

The Brewers' deal that sent outfielder Tyrone Taylor to the David Stearns-led New York Mets last month may not be the only occasion this offseason where the Brewers subtract from the outfield, a position of strength. Image courtesy of © Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports Only three outfield spots exist for Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, Garrett Mitchell, Blake Perkins, and the recently extended Jackson Chourio. With the expectation that Chourio will crack the Opening Day roster, it may be advantageous to deal from their surplus now rather than later. Who might be the odd man in the outfield? Christian Yelich's resurgent 2023 reestablished himself as an All-Star caliber outfielder, but a hefty salary and full no-trade clause eliminate any possibility of a trade. Rookie Sal Frelick performed admirably in his first taste of the majors, accruing 1.2 WAR (per Baseball-Reference) while reaching base at a .341 clip in 223 plate appearances. But the Boston native was more highly regarded than any Brewer prospect besides Chourio, making it unlikely the Brewers will move on from him. Switch-hitter Blake Perkins showcased his elite speed and defense in a part-time role in Milwaukee while posting a respectable .718 OPS after his June 3 recall, but his age, 27, and limited track record result in little trade value. Teenager Jackson Chourio recently inked the third-largest contract in franchise history. It's safe to say he'll be around for years to come. Enter Joey Wiemer and Garrett Mitchell. Joey Wiemer The well-regarded prospect Wiemer earned the call to the big club after Luis Urias strained his hamstring on Opening Day. His reckless but effective defense and a never-ending stream of energy quickly endeared him to fans. Still, the swing-and-miss issues that plagued the youngster and the frustration of watching his unorthodox swing ended the honeymoon phase almost as soon. The 24-year-old finished the year with a painful .204/.283/.362 line that is 25 percent below league average by wRC+. His 39.1 hard-hit rate and 89.3 average exit velocity revealed Wiemer can impact the baseball. Still, that ability was hidden by his propensity for strikeouts and his lack of line drives. Behind the measly slash line was a strong split, the right-handed Wiemer performing admirably against opposite-handed pitching. Wiemer's .815 OPS and seven home runs against southpaws ranked second on the team (minimum 75 PA), while his .568 OPS against right-handers was second worst. His minor league performance indicated a slight preference for facing left-handers, though not nearly as extreme as what 2023 manifested. The burly outfielder shined with the glove despite his extended offensive struggles. His +8 Outs Above Average and +5 arm Runs Above Average both ranked in the top five of all NL outfielders. Though anything but graceful, his 28.9 feet/second sprint speed ranked in the 89th percentile of all major leaguers. Wiemer displayed a solid floor of a speed-and-defense outfielder with some power in his first go-around in The Show. Solving the swing-and-miss issues could unlock his All-Star potential... easier said than done. Garrett Mitchell Mitchell's 2022 debut held significance in two primary ways - the first of a wave of homegrown talent in the big leagues and a jolt of energy to a struggling team. The former first-rounder did not disappoint in his first taste of Major League pitching, hitting .311 with eight stolen bases in just 28 games. Behind the solid output was a concerningly high 41.8 strikeout rate and unsustainable .548 BABIP (Batting Average, Balls In Play). Like Wiemer, Mitchell showcased elite defense while outdoing the former with a remarkable 30.2 feet/second sprint speed, ranking in the 99th percentile. That base running prowess showed its downside for Mitchell, who played just three games after sustaining a serious shoulder injury while diving into a base in mid-April. The 25-year-old boasts a .795 OPS (120 OPS+) through 47 games across the past two seasons, but significant questions persist. The Brewers have allowed the left-handed hitting Mitchell to face lefties just 11 times in his short big league career, informed by the splits he carried during his time in the minors. Additionally, doubts remain about his ability to stay healthy. Mitchell has Type 1 diabetes, so the Brewers have monitored his usage. Mitchell played just 64 games in 2021, also missing time due to injury in 2022. Better Trade Candidate? To my surprise, a recent poll I ran on Twitter showed that Brewers fans overwhelmingly supported trading Wiemer rather than Mitchell. This shows likeability (though I consider Wiemer very likable) but also reveals that Mitchell has yet to struggle against big-league pitching. Both carry solid floors as fourth outfielders with speed, defense, and a high ceiling if the contact numbers improve. But because Wiemer spent more time in Milwaukee, pitchers exposed his flaws, something Mitchell has not experienced. Rather than focusing on which skill set will be more valuable at the Big League level, the Brewers should consider the roster fit for each. Mitchell profiles more as a true center fielder, while Wiemer has shown elite right-field defense (and average to plus defense in center). With Chourio in town for the next 8-10 years, the Brewers may benefit more from having an elite corner outfielder. The Brewers' lineup, both today and tomorrow, is littered with left-handed options, including Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, Brice Turang, and Tyler Black, who all bat from the left side. The Brewers learned how detrimental it can be to lack lineup balance during the first half 2023. The lineup may benefit more from having a right-handed option to balance the lineup. Though predicting a trade return precisely is impossible, Mitchell may carry more return value than Wiemer. Some fear Wiemer and Mitchell may turn into platoon options - if they do, Mitchell would hold the strong side of a platoon, whereas Wiemer would be relegated to facing left-handed pitching only. Additionally, Mitchell has yet to falter against Major League pitching, as Wiemer has. Ultimately, the Brewers should decide to deal with their outfield depth this offseason. Carrying more players at a position than at-bats to go around often stunts the development of young players, a mistake that would decrease output and trade value. The Brewers seem intent on continuing their competitive cycle and are well-positioned to do so. However, their depth remains thin in the rotation and corner infield and those weaknesses must be addressed. If the Brewers want to maximize their chances of competing this year and beyond, trading Joey Wiemer or Garrett Mitchell may be the cost. 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The Brewers swung a deal with the Dodgers to acquire recently-DFAed LHP Bryan Hudson. Hudson struggled in his brief Big League debut in 2023 but showed he's big league ready in his time at AAA-Oklahoma City. To acquire Hudson the Brewers gave up a legitimate prospect, 18-year-old LHP Justin Chambers. Was the price too high? View full video

The Brewers added veteran catcher Austin Nola on a Minor League deal last week, adding to an already deep catching position. The deal provides a nice veteran contributor to Triple A who could see some big league time, but it makes less sense for Nola. Why did Nola choose to sign with the Brewers? View full video

The Brewers acquired a soon-to-be designated for assignment arm, Taylor Clarke from the Royals recently in an uncharacteristic trade. Clarke had modest levels of success in 2021-22 but struggled with the Royals last year. Out of options, Clarke must make the big league bullpen to stick with the team. Why did the Brewers make this move? View full video

The Brewers hosted a revolving door of left-handed relievers behind Hoby Milner in 2023 but have sought to avoid repeating that in 2024. The Crew signed Rob Zastryzny to a Minor League deal recently, a former Cub and Pirate who could factor into the team's big league bullpen. Could we see him in a Brewers' uniform already on Opening Day? View full video

The Brewers recently dealt from their already-depleted starting rotation depth, sending Adrian Houser to New York in a three-player trade with the Mets. The deal brought back an intriguing arm but could cost the Brewers, as they may be unable to admirably replace Houser's innings. View full video

The Brewers recently dealt Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor to New York in exchange for RHP Coleman Crow. How will the Brewers cope with the loss of Tyrone Taylor, a valuable member of their recent teams? Who might step up in his absence? View full video

The Brewers traded two longtime organization members, Adrian Houser and Tyrone Taylor, to old friend David Stearns and the New York Mets. Who is Coleman Crow, the pitching prospect they received, and was it worth giving up two established big leaguers? View full video

The Brewers officially inked former Nationals righty Joe Ross to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Ross comes to Milwaukee after a few injury plagued seasons after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery. Ross spent time in late-2023 in AAA with the Giants organization, showing enough promise to land a guaranteed deal with the Brewers. What role do the Brewers envision for Ross? View full video

Click to listen here (Spotify link here) as Vinny Rottino joined me on The Barrel Banter podcast to discuss his career - his time at UW-La Crosse, playing for his hometown team, representing Team Italy in the WBC, the trek to Asia to play in Japan and Korea, the transition into scouting and later broadcasting. We also spend time talking about the impact a manager can have given the Brewers' recent high-profile managerial change.

The Brewers made an under-the-radar move on Monday, re-signing left-hander Wade Miley to a one-year deal. The veteran tossed 120 innings last season with a 3.14 ERA, bringing stability to a depleted rotation. View full video

The Brewers signed top prospect Jackson Chourio to an eight-year extension, the biggest in MLB history for a player yet to make his MLB debut. Did they need to do this? And how could this change the offseason? View full video

The Brewers signed right-handed relief pitcher Sam Carlson last week, a former second-round pick of the Mariners. The most interesting aspect of Carlson may be his off-field exploits, where he boasts nearly 1 million social media followers. Carlson made the transition to a sidearm slot last year, struggling in his first year but showing promise. View full video