Matt Breen

Because of this - and with arbitration raises - I'm skeptical we have much money to spend next season. I could see a modest addition or two - but once you start sniffing at $10 million a year type guys - I'm skeptical. But who knows.

Arenado would be fascinating - just wonder what salary we'd have to take on. He might have a no trade clause as well - which could complicate things.

The Brewers haven't played Black at 2B since 2022, so I'm guessing that's a sign they don't like him there. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they just want to see him at 1B, 3B, OF - wherever else. If he can play 2B, it would seem logical to give him a go - with Ortiz at 3B and Turang at SS. But that's a big 'if'.

I want to add that I considered McMahon and Arenado, but I removed them due to cost. I don't think that the Brewers will be able to add a lot of salary in 2025. McMahon is due $44m over the next three years. Plus we'd have to pay to get him. I just see that as too rich for Milwaukee. Also, I'd be concerned about McMahon outside of Colorado. He has a career .814 OPS in Colorado, while on the road it's .673. I'd be worried about that. As for Arenado, I'm guessing he wouldn't cost much to acquire - the key is how much we'd have to pay on the contract. Can't hurt to look - but I'm guessing it will be too rich for our blood.

Josh Smith is someone I should have added to this list. Good thought. I would be a little worried about cost of acquisition - but it doesn't hurt to try.

The likely departure of Willy Adames this offseason in free agency will create a large hole in the Brewers' lineup. For this exercise, we will look at adding a third baseman, with Joey Ortiz shifting over to shortstop. A shortstop/second base duo of Ortiz and Turang would be stellar from a defensive standpoint. Image courtesy of © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Mind you, the team could keep Joey Ortiz at third base, move Brice Turang to short, and add a second baseman. But for this article, let’s keep things simple. Let’s just say Ortiz slides over to shortstop for 2025, and the club shops for a third baseman. Here are some options for next season: Internal Options Oliver Dunn: Dunn showed a nice glove in limited playing time in 2024, but his bat has a big hole in it, making him an unlikely everyday player. Is it possible? Sure. But it’s unlikely. Fans like to point out the 21 home runs Dunn hit at AA in 2023. But outside of 2023, he has never had double-digit home runs and holds a career .248 average in the minors. It’s just not that inspiring. But who knows? Tyler Black: The team doesn’t seem to trust Black’s glove enough for him to be the full-time third baseman. Perhaps they will revisit things in 2025 and live with Black’s weak arm. But I find it unlikely. Black may get some reps at third base but on a limited basis. Brock Wilken: Not ready. The man demonstrated some nice power at Biloxi but only hit .199. He needs more time. Mike Boeve: Boeve missed part of 2024 with injuries but hit a robust .306 in 66 games at Biloxi. However, he lacks power, and - like Tyler Black - he has a weak arm. The team will probably give him more time in the minors as they figure out his long-term position, which may be first base. Andruw Monasterio: He’s an adequate reserve who isn’t that good. Free Agents The free-agent options at third base are not particularly exciting. The good players will be too expensive. Most of the other free agents are past their sell-by dates. One may have a nice rebound campaign in their bat, but to count on such a thing would be foolish. Too Expensive Alex Bregman, Ha-Seong Kim. Unless a perfect storm brews up, the Crew won’t be fishing in these waters. Please No J.D. Davis. Davis is a hack in the field and should be avoided. Too Old Justin Turner. Respect to the man as he can still hit, but at 40, he’s done being a full-time (or even part-time) fielder. Mediocrity Gio Urshela and Paul DeJong—neither of these guys is inspiring. DeJong has some pop in his bat but not much else, and Urshela does a little bit of everything but not much else. Rebound candidates Wilmer Flores, Brandon Drury. Flores and Drury are just a year removed from quality seasons, but both had miserable years in 2024. Drury’s year was shockingly bad, with a .169 batting average and a sub-.500 OPS. This after two straight .800 OPS years. Flores was not quite as bad in 2024, but not by much. He was never the best fielder and may be best suited for first base. Injury concerns Yoán Moncada. Moncada has only played in 208 games in the past three seasons. But at 29, he is the youngest of this group of free agents. His batting averages over the past four years are .263, .212, .260, and .275 (note the last number was for 2024 and included only 40 at-bats). He has hit double-digit homers five times and produced seasons of 4.0+ bWAR in 2019 and 2021. Moncada has been erratic, which is probably tied to his injury history. When healthy, he has produced. Trade Candidates There are many trade options out there, but I’ll hit on three that could be available. Eugenio Suárez. The Diamondbacks third baseman is owed $15 million on a team option for 2025. The club will likely pick it up, as the 33-year-old Suárez hit .256 with 30 home runs in 2024. Such numbers would nicely replace Willy Adames' production. The big question would be if Arizona would trade Suárez. The man’s production has often been erratic - and he strikes out - a lot. And there’s the $15 million. The Diamondbacks have some options to take over third if they move on from Suárez, but none are clear-cut. Thus, dealing him would be a risk. Suárez shouldn’t cost too much as a one-year rental, but other teams would likely be in the market for him if he were made available, driving up the price. Ke’Bryan Hayes. Really? Hear me out on this one. Hayes had a poor 2024 and struggled with back issues. He’s under contract for at least five more seasons for $43 million. So why would the Brewers want him? The answer is to look at Hayes’ 2023 season. He hit .271 with 15 home runs and a solid .762 OPS while playing outstanding defense. He had consecutive seasons of 4.4 and 4.0 bWAR in 2022-23. The Pirates are the Pirates and may want to move on from Hayes and his contract. While $8 million a year isn’t cheap, it’s not expensive either. If the Pirates are willing, Hayes shouldn’t cost much to acquire (other than taking on the $40+ million contract). Also, Hayes will turn 28 in January, so the team won’t just be getting him in his twilight years. But let’s not think he’ll turn into a slugger. He is not going to replace Adames’ numbers. If he hits .258 and a dozen home runs (basically his career averages), he’s doing pretty well, assuming his defense remains top-notch. That, however, is a big question. Hayes’ defense is where he derives a majority of his value. Back injuries are tricky, just look at Christian Yelich. In the end, the Pirates would have to be interested in dealing with Hayes, and the Brewers would have to be convinced that his back problems are a thing of the past. But a Turang/Ortiz/Hayes infield would be sweet to watch. Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Another Pirate? This move would really annoy fans, as many will want a power bat. Kiner-Falefa is not a power bat. He’s a glove-first infielder who hits for a decent average - and modest power. He has never hit more than eight home runs in a season. He doesn’t walk often but doesn’t strike out excessively, either. In 2024, it added up to a .269 batting average and a sub.-700 OPS. But he did produce 3.6 bWAR. Adding Kiner-Falefa to play third base would essentially be doubling down (or would it be tripling down) on slick-fielding, light-hitting infielders. Kiner-Falefa/Turang/Ortiz would be a pitcher’s delight. But such a move would mean sacrificing power in 2025. Kiner-Falefa’s ability to play all over the infield would fit nicely with the club’s penchant for defensive flexibility among its players. He will be 30 in March 2025, and he has one year (at $7.5 million) left on his deal. So, any trade should not cost the team much, and there is no long-term commitment. What will the Brewers do in 2025? As always, the answer is that they will look at everything. There is no clear-cut answer. They’ll poke around the trade market, inquire about free agents, and assess their internal assets. Ultimately, don’t expect a big free-agent signing like Alex Bregman. Instead, expect them to look at Suárez as his production and acquisition cost would fit in with the team’s philosophy. If Suárez is unobtainable or costs too much, the next step would be to look at free agents with a higher upside. The guy that jumps out is Yoán Moncada. He is a risk due to his injury history. But if he stays healthy, he would be a nice addition. Moncada won’t hit 30 home runs, but he’s historically been a solid defender at the hot corner, and if you can get a .756 OPS - his career number - that’s a big win. After that, I wouldn’t be surprised if the club went after someone on a low-cost deal - or even a minor league deal - in hopes they would rebound. Brandon Drury fits this mold. He’s a right-handed bat who could be paired with the left-handed Dunn. Of course, you must feel good that Drury can rebound after an awful 2024. If the club wants stability and predictability - a guy they can send out to third base every day and get a respectable performance (but not much else) - then Gio Urshela or Isiah Kiner-Falefa are your guys. They won’t hurt you but won’t help you that much either. I want to stress that these are just some options for Milwaukee in 2025. The team could consider adding a middle infielder and keeping Ortiz at third base. But that opens up a whole new set of options, which I’m sure the Brewers will consider in 2025. The organization will undoubtedly look at middle infielders, both minor and major league, who they could shift to third base. Also, the club will check out the minor league shelf of third base prospects - using Devin Williams and perhaps Tyler Black as trade bait. Just don’t expect a Coby Mayo-like prospect coming to Milwaukee. View full article

I was at Game 5 of the 1982 World Series. I was 18. When we lost the next two, it was terrible, but I remember thinking 'we'll be back'. 42 years later I am still waiting. It's tough.

As we look at the 2025 Brewers, the first step should be figuring out how to keep the team's most accomplished hitter, Christian Yelich, in the lineup for a full season. To do that, the best option may be to commit to him as their full-time designated hitter. Image courtesy of © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images In 2024, the following players (and the number of games played) appeared at the designated hitter position in ten games or more for Milwaukee: Gary Sanchez - 47 Rhys Hoskins - 37 William Contreras - 35 Christian Yelich - 26 Jake Bauers - 17 Tyler Black - 10 The team took a mix-and-match approach, but the result was getting Sanchez and Bauers in for more than 600 plate appearances. This was planned for Sanchez as the club liked his power. As for Bauers, the team felt his left-handed bat would help out by giving Hoskins, who had missed all of 2023 with an injury, an occasional rest. But the Bauers/Sanchez tandem was underwhelming. While they did his 23 home runs, they combined for a .208 batting average, with Bauers hitting below the Mendoza line. And while the tandem didn’t exactly light the world on fire, the setup did allow the club to give position players, such as Contreras, a rest from the field. Or if a player was nursing an injury, as Yelich was at times. This approach provides flexibility up and down the roster. The problem facing the Crew is that Christian Yelich turns 33 this December. He is tied to the franchise for at least four more years and more than $100 million. It’s a considerable investment. While Yelich still runs well, he is a below-average fielder - and let’s be honest - that part of his game will only get worse as he ages. Even more important is his injury history. Yelich had back surgery in August and has a history of back issues. The team must be concerned about his health and availability going forward. He may no longer be a batting champion and mash 40+ home runs, but over 130-140 games, if he can hit .300 and add 20 home runs, he’s incredibly valuable to a club that lacks elite, well-rounded hitters. The upside to making Yelich a full-time DH is that it gives him a better chance to make it through the entire season in top shape. It also allows the team to have an elite defensive outfield of Chourio, Mitchell, Frelick, and Perkins. Most of all, it puts the DH slot into the hands of Yelich, as opposed to players such as Sanchez and Bauers, who struggle to keep their batting averages over .200. The downside is that it limits how often players such as Contreras can get a day ‘off’ from the field. No position is more grueling than catcher. And it forces Rhys Hoskins (who I believe will opt-in for the 2025 season) into full-time duty at first base. This is not a terrible situation, but it is not good, as Hoskins had a -3 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) and -4 OAA (Outs Above Average) in 777.1 innings at first base in 2024. If the club looked to go down this route, this is how it could potentially be managed: Yelich plays 130-140 games at DH. Perhaps he gets a few games in the field, but it should be limited Contreras plays 20-30 games at DH. Over the last two years, he has been the DH for 33 and 35 games, respectively Eric Haase (or whoever the club uses as a backup catcher) starts 30-40 games behind the dish Hoskins plays 140 games at first base The club could consider getting Tyler Black (or someone like him) to operate as a super-sub, getting in time at first base, left field, and third base. In the end, the main goal is replacing Sanchez and Bauers's 20 home runs and .208 batting average with Yelich's 20 home runs and .300 average. There are other upsides and downsides, but this is the big takeaway. To maintain the flexibility they enjoyed this year, the team may elect to keep sending Yelich out to the field. Maybe even making him more of a left fielder/designated hitter. But every time he goes out into the field, he adds a little more risk to his overall health. To have Christian Yelich full-time in 2025 would be a boon for the Brewers, who will need to find some extra offense when Willy Adames departs in the off-season. And so, the club should consider shifting Yelich to a full-time designated hitter for 2025. View full article

Just sweet.

Time for a magical October run for the Crew!

I hope so.

wow.

He tried to leg out a triple but was called out. If he had made it, he would have hit for the cycle as well. Just extraordinary.

My brothers and I (and now my son) get together and watch this every few years. Just brilliant stuff. It's stupid, but in a lot of ways, really smart (if that makes sense).

Just really sweet. I'm 60 years old. In 1982, I saw us lose in the World Series, and thought, 'Oh well, we'll be back.' Hasn't quite worked that way. Let's see it happen 42 years later. Also, everyone - appreciate these teams. I lived through some awful Brewer clubs. Each year was a slog. You knew it was going to be ugly - but you hoped and prayed. To win four division titles in the past 7 or whatever years is pretty amazing. Enjoy it. Go Crew.

I am still baffled how Bauers made it this far into the season. Dude is hitting .197, I mean - seriously. Sure he's a better fielder than Hoskins - but he's just a black hole.

Cardinals fall under .500. Hee, hee, hee. It's petty - but I enjoy it.

My son saw this last night in Madison. A friend got him free tickets. He said it was just a blast. I went to the '82 World Series - game 5. So freaking close! He said I'll love it.

When the Brewers added Rhys Hoskins last January, the hope was that the team had found a middle-of-the-order power bat they had been missing for the past few years. Things haven't gone as planned, which means Brewers fans will likely see him again in 2025. Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images Assuming he’s healthy, Rhys Hoskins was a 30+ home run guy who walked at a 10-15% clip. Was he a mediocre defender? Sure. Did he have a great hit tool? No. But a .240-.250 batting average was not out of the question. Add in the power and on-base skills, and you will have some nice value. But there were two red flags: Hoskins was 31 years old coming into the 2024 season. Big, one-dimensional sluggers (Hoskins is 6’4” and 245 pounds) often don’t age well. And two, Hoskins had missed all of 2023 due to a torn ACL. Doctors had proclaimed Hoskins fit for duty - but any major knee injury is worrisome. The results for 2024 have been underwhelming. As of September 10, Hoskins is hitting a weak .208. His walk rate is the lowest of his career - giving him a sub-.300 OBP. His strikeout rate is the worst of his career, his fielding is not good, and he’s one of the league's slowest players. It has led to a bWAR of -0.6 - or a -0.3 if you prefer fWAR. On the positive side of the ledger, Hoskins has hit 23 home runs in just 115 games. Unfortunately, that’s the only thing he’s done to justify his contract. And speaking of his contract, the Brewers swung for the fences when signing Hoskins earlier this year. They could have brought back Carlos Santana for less than half the price - but such a move lacked upside. Hoskins - it was hoped - offered a more steady and reliable bat. But it came at a price. Let’s look at the details. 2024 salary: $12 million Hoskins can opt out of the deal in the off-season and receive a $4 million buyout. If Hoskins skips the buyout, he gets an $18 million salary for 2025. If Hoskin opts in with Milwaukee for 2025, there is a mutual option for 2026 for a $16 million salary, which, if not picked up, triggers a $4 million buyout. What does this exactly mean for Hoskins and Milwaukee? He can walk away after this season and pocket $16 million for 2024. Or he can stay with the club in 2025 and end up with $34 million in compensation ($12 million for 2024, $18 million for 2025, and $4 million for the mutual option buyout). Mutual options rarely get exercised, but Hoskins would end up with $48 million over three years if triggered. But as stated, mutual options rarely get exercised, so let’s assume it does not. Does Hoskin exercise his opt-out after this season? In an article looking at the 2025 makeup, I considered this possibility last month and stated that Hoskins's opt-out of his contract was unlikely. Well, that assessment hasn’t changed. It would be a stunning move for Hoskins to opt out of his deal this offseason. If he does so, he’s giving up $18 million in 2025. He’ll never make that kind of money on the open market. All the signs are trending downward for the man. He would be lucky to find a deal of more than $10 million in free agency. Someone would be intrigued by his power, but not to the tune of $18 million. For that reason, Rhys Hoskins will be back in Milwaukee in 2025. To opt out of his contract would be a monumental surprise and cost the slugger millions of dollars. And so, the Crew (and Milwaukee fans) should prepare for at least one more year of Hoskins. This will cause many fans to groan, as they have been highly critical of the well-paid slugger for obvious reasons. Should we be dismayed by the return of Hoskins? Well, dismayed might be too strong of a word. Disappointed resignation might be a better term. Undoubtedly, many would like to see him gone and his $18 million salary allocated to other needs. But there’s still hope for the man. Perhaps a year removed from his ACL will help Hoskins, who still can hit the long ball. He is not that old. Plenty of 32-year olds, such as Hoskins, have good years at the plate. And he will be highly motivated to have a big season - as he’ll likely hit free agency after the 2025 season. Money can cause people to achieve amazing things. No matter the answer, expect Rhys Hoskins to return to the Brewers in 2025. View full article

I don't think you can go wrong with any of Skenes, Chourio, or Merrill - or even Masyn Winn for St. Louis. They all have had really nice campaigns. Right now, I'm guessing Merrill - but if the Pirates keep pitching Skenes - he might get it. Especially if the Jacksons split the 'position player' vote. Still several weeks of ball - so anything can happen. But if the voting was right now, I'm guessing Merrill wins it.

The article goes a long way to demonstrate how productive Willy has been, but it doesn't really try and answer the 'can we sign him' question. Perhaps that's evident - the answer is no. He'll be the top shortstop in free agency, and should get $25+ million a year. I think Dansby Swanson's 7-year/$177m deal is a good comp. Sportrac pegged him at 7-years/$175m - https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/2435/valuing-top-2025-mlb-free-agents Perhaps a market doesn't emerge for Adames (it does happen - look at Chapman and others last year). But with a dearth of quality shortstops (the only other really good one is Ha-Seong Kim), someone will pay the price. I just don't see Milwaukee paying $25 million - or even $20m - for 5+ years for Adames. And we have a replacement waiting with Ortiz/Turang. Losing Willy's bat will be huge. But unless we want to suddenly grow our payroll by $20m a year (which is unlikely), I'm guessing he is gone.

wow. this is sad.