It’s shocking to write this, but the Milwaukee Brewers probably don’t need to sign any starting pitchers this off-season.
They could definitely sign someone like Brett Anderson to another one-year deal for additional depth. But for the first time in a very long time, the Brewers have a solid rotation. And not only that, a rotation with years of control and youth on their side.
Milwaukee’s bullpen was in or near the Top 10 last season, but two late injuries definitely hurt them in the playoffs. Devin Williams breaking his hand and Brent Suter off the playoff roster with an injury took away depth they had all season. And Brad Boxberger having one of the best seasons he’s had in a long time really bailed them out. Hunter Strickland and eventually Aaron Ashby were solid, but it just wasn’t enough.
So besides a corner infielder, power-hitting outfielder and a new hitting coach, it wouldn’t hurt the Brewers to sign an older or experienced arm to make their bullpen even better. The team is only a few pieces away from competing for the NL Central and World Series again.
Here are three early targets the Brewers could go after this off-season.
Joe Kelly
If you don’t know who Joe Kelly is yet, you will in a second. He made himself into a meme in 2020 after basically deliberately hitting two Houston Astros players when the season started. This came after their cheating scandal had come out and the first time they hit the field again.
The reaction Kelly made to mock the Astros players that were angry they were being hit will now be on the internet forever.
No matter what happens, it’s the Joe Kelly fight club for life. 💙 pic.twitter.com/9ZxlUCczSY
— Taylor Thompson (@TayThomp622) November 7, 2021
Fortunately for Kelly, he was able to back up his trash talk and new internet fame. During the shortened 2020 season, Kelly ended with a 1.80 ERA over 12 games. He only gave up three runs total during those games. In 2021, he ended with a 2.86 ERA over 48 games. You can add 50 strike-outs, 13 holds and two saves to his stats as well.
The two-time World Series champion would bring playoff experience to the roster. He is a curveball-heavy reliever, and uses that pitch almost 45% of the time. The rest of his arsenal is a sinker, 4-seam fastball and also a changeup. His fastball averages around 98 mph. There will be a lot of teams interested in Joe.
Kelly won’t be cheap, but imagine a shutdown bullpen combo of Kelly, Williams and Hader.
Alex Colome
The right-handed reliever just came off a one-year, $5MM contract with the Minnesota Twins. He had a career-high ERA of 4.15 over 67 games and a record of 4-4. It seems a bit high, but he does have a career ERA of 3.11.
Colome started his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, but was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2018. In an odd connection to the Brewers, Colome was actually traded to the Chicago White Sox and the Mariners received now Milwaukee Brewer Omar Narvaez.
The 32-year-old actually relies on only two pitches, a 94 mph fastball and a 90 mph cutter. He uses his cutter more than 70% of the time. Colome would be a solid fastball reliever. It might be a little too repetitive pitching immediately after someone like Corbin Burnes, but would definitely fit in the bullpen.
He is the perfect bounce-back reliever candidate that the Milwaukee Brewers love to sign. Colome also has 155 saves under his belt, was the AL Saves Leader in 2017 and an All-Star in 2016. Taking a chance on players like Boxberger and Strickland last year proved to be more than valuable.
Grant Dayton
Dayton will probably be another under-the-radar option this free agency. He just won a World Series ring with the Atlanta Braves, but sadly spent most of the year injured. Left shoulder inflammation sent him on three separate 10-day injured lists before hitting the 60 day in early July and then sending the rest of the season on a rehab assignment.
Fun to think of all the random guys that will get rings.
Ender Inciarte
Pablo Sandoval
Kevan Smith
Johnathan Lucroy
Jeff Mathis
Spencer Strider
Edgar Santana
Grant Dayton
Abraham Almonte
Alex Jackson
Josh Tomlin
NATE JONES
Bryse Wilson https://t.co/dyPAz8G0cV— Braves Cold Takes (@BravesColdTakes) November 3, 2021
He only appeared in 13 games in 2021 and had an ERA of 6.23, but definitely wouldn’t have been as high if he would have been healthy. He had a 2.30 ERA in 2020 and 3.00 ERA in 2019. The Braves signed him in 2017, but he didn’t make his debut for them until 2019 because of Tommy John surgery.
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The Alabama native just turned 33, and would be a left-handed option in the bullpen. You can never have enough of those. Dayton relies on his 4-seam fastball that averages around 90 mph, and also uses a 77 mph curveball. He is basically a variation of Brent Suter, but throws a faster 4-seam, slower curveball and doesn’t really use a changeup. He instead tosses a sinker to throw off the hitters.
Dayton isn’t a household name or a sexy signing, but another lefty reliever with a different style of pitches doesn’t hurt to compete for bullpen spots. Especially if Milwaukee can’t bring back relievers like Brad Boxberger and Hunter Strickland.
Also a fun fact, Dayton is colorblind. That means when we play the Reds, he might wonder why they aren’t that color and why they are called that.
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