Playoff disappointment is being fueled with renewed hope for the future in Milwaukee. The Brewers have three top-100 prospects – Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick and Brice Turang – currently in their system. However, in a recent Athletic article, not one of six writers predict the Brewers to win the N.L. Central in 2025.
What is to be made of this? One, it was written before Chourio’s meteoric rise. Is it just typical overlooking the small market Brewers? Or are the Cardinals and Cubs going to own the division again? Or is it a case of simply overlooking the small market Brewers?
Brewers will look nearly completely different in 2025
In just a few years, the Brewers’ roster will likely look completely different. This could be part of the reason for not one writer from the article picking them to win the division in 2025. Only three players on the current roster are under contract for 2025. The three players under contract past 2024 are Christian Yelich, Aaron Ashby and Freddy Peralta.
Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Willy Adames are all set to be free agents before 2025. The Brewers should have plenty of room for some flashy additions to add proven commodities to the talented prospects who should be ready for the MLB by then.
Brewers’ pitching rotation in 2025
Projected 2025 Opening Day rotation: Freddy Peralta (29), Aaron Ashby (27), Ethan Small (28), Antoine Kelly (25), Russell Smith (26)
The Brewers rotation judging from the article listed here would need some upgrades. Judging by the article both Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff are projected to be gone. (This rotation was written before the trade deadline and included Antoine Kelly in the projected rotation).
To be frank, that isn’t going to cut it. The Brewers will need a stronger rotation than this if they do plan to win the Central in 2025. I like Freddy Peralta, but he hasn’t shown the ability to handle an ace workload. Ashby well he has the stuff hasn’t even put together a strong MLB season. I like them in the rotation, however, if they are 1-2, this team likely isn’t winning the Central as writers predicted.
“This is going to be my home for a while.”
Ready for tonight's return to the mound, Aaron Ashby discusses his contract extension, recent engagement and journey to earning a Big League role in a brand-new episode of Brewers Backstage 🎬
Full video: https://t.co/VA9XOWVzPv pic.twitter.com/QSjFTzOrOI
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 20, 2022
I would be stunned if the above rotation is as depicted. It seems like this is a very outside view of how the Brewers operate. They simply haven’t shown to just go full rebuild. They sign or trade for players to fill positions of need, not let it be a glaring weakness.
Brewers position players in 2025
Projected 2025 Opening Day lineup: C Jeferson Quero (22 years old), 1B Rowdy Tellez (30), 2B Brice Turang (25), 3B Luis Urías (28), SS Freddy Zamora (26), LF Christian Yelich (33), CF Garrett Mitchell (26), RF Joey Wiemer (26), DH Keston Hiura (28)
Another strong day offensively and defensively from Jeferson Quero in the Fall League
⭐ 105 mph Triple off CF wall
⭐ Another CS & athletic play on a dribbler
⭐ 0-2 1B off 94 mph up-and-in#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/3viCSUk9Cj— Brewers Player Development (@BrewersPD) October 27, 2022
For position players, I am really high on a number of the players here. However, I don’t see Sal Frelick and if I don’t see Frelick, I need to see a nice player here in return. The Brewers aren’t parting with Frelick without getting some talent in return or a guy who can fill a spot.
Also, I don’t think Urias or Zamora are staring caliber players. Urias is fine but I see him as more of a utility player the more I see him play every day in Milwaukee. The Brewers are likely to look very different in 2025, but I don’t think they fail to sign any free agents as they have in recent years with Kolten Wong or trading for a Hunter Renfroe or Rowdy Tellez. I think that’s part of the national outlook that the Brewers don’t sign anyone.
Overall, I think the Brewers would make more of an effort to surround the young prospects with a middle of the order piece whether it’s free agent or trade. Also, I don’t see the Brewers going forward with that rotation. The Brewers don’t break the bank, but they have also shown they aren’t going to do nothing either. Quero, Turang, Wiemer, Mitchell or Frelick will be surrounded by some other talent rather than Urias at third or Zamora at short.
Other teams’ division aspirations
While the Brewers seemingly get no love, there is plenty for the Cubs (for some reason). They have some young talent coming up, but the article has them going wild in free agency. They trade for Fernando Tatis as well. The Cubs received three votes to win the division and the Cardinals received three. The Cardinals have some really talented prospects coming through their system. Add to that the article has Willy Adames going to St. Louis.
That’s a blow to the Brewers and a win for the Cards. Well I can easily see the STL pick, I don’t get the Cubs. Assuming they do go crazy in free agency, OK. But I don’t get the zero votes for Milwaukee unless the prospects forthcoming aren’t viewed as game-changers. I do think Brice Turang is a solid non-exciting guy, I do think there could be some difference-makers. Also it is looking clear that Jackson Chourio will be up by 2025.
Well I don’t think the Brewers should necessarily be expected to be long-term winners, I think zero votes show more the disrespect for Milwaukee like the lack of free agency. St. Louis does look pretty dangerous with the farm system and their shrewd front office moves.
Bottom line
The Brewers just fly under the radar, but in my view this piece is just disrespectful to what the Brewers consistently do. They don’t spend like big market teams but they don’t just strictly go with system guys. The article had the Cubs making huge moves and the Brewers do basically nothing but go with in-system guys. The Brewers prospects are likely to be pretty solid and if the Brewers make smart moves to surround them with talent, I think they are going to be better than this article depicts.
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2 Comments
Antione Kelly isn’t even with the Brewers anymore, he was traded at the deadline this past year, 2022.
Yep, I would say just replace him with Gasser. Either way the Athletic basically must just be ignoring what Brewers have done in FA to fill holes or just because they’re the Brewers.