The Milwaukee Brewers may be in the market for starting pitchers this offseason. Brandon Woodruff recently underwent shoulder surgery and may miss all of 2024, Wade Miley has a $10.0 MM mutual option, Adrian Houser is projected to make $5.6 MM in arbitration, and of course there is the dilemma of what to do with Corbin Burnes.
In the farm system they do have some pitchers near MLB ready. Robert Gasser is arguably the most ready, but pitchers like Carlos Rodriguez and Jacob Misiorowski are not too far behind. It’s possible that a few of these players factor into the Brewers 2024 plans, but depending upon what happens with the guys mentioned in the introduction adding a few veteran pitchers through free agency may be something that they consider doing.
Here we will take a further look at three external options that the Brewers could consider. These are all veteran players who have estimated market values under $10.00 MM and they may not receive multi year contracts.
Three free agent starting pitchers for the Milwaukee Brewers to consider in wake of the Brandon Woodruff surgery news.
- Brewers option #1: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu
At age 36 Hyun-Jin Ryu made a successful return to the mound in 2023 after undergoing tommy john surgery in 2022. He ended up making 11 starts for the Toronto Blue Jays and had a 3.46 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. Between 2024 being his age 37 season and first full season back from injury he is a perfect one year deal candidate and spotrac has his market value estimated at $8.10 MM.
- Brewers option #2: RHP Kyle Gibson
After going to the World Series in 2022 with the Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Gibson signed a one year, $10.00 MM deal with the Baltimore Orioles for 2023. The 35 year old ended up starting 33 games and having a 4.73 ERA. He gave up a league worst 198 hits, but he also played in arguably the toughest division in baseball in which there is no shortage of hitters in the American League East. Spotrac has his 2024 value at $8.50 MM.
- Brewers option #3: RHP Carlos Carrasco
After spending 11 seasons in Cleveland, Carlos Carrasco had a mixed bag of results with the New York Mets. He was dreadful in 2021 and 2023 with ERAs of 6.04 and 6.80, but in 2022 he made 29 starts and had a 3.97 ERA. Coming off a down year he may not get the full $6.80 MM that spotrac has the future 37 year old predicted to make.
Milwaukee could also elect to pursue a pair of familiar names. Julio Teheran is currently a free agent, but his market value skyrocketed to $5.70 MM after a great partial season with the Brewers. Additionally Colin Rea is also scheduled to become a free agent and is someone Milwaukee could look to bring back.
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