Milwaukee Brewers fans have taken notice this Spring—there are three viable catching options, and based on their spring training, all three should be on the Opening Day roster. Those three are Gary Sanchez, William Contreras, and an out-of-options player, Eric Haase.
The Field of Catchers with the Milwaukee Brewers
William Contreras is guaranteed a roster spot, especially given that Pat Murphy and plenty of others view him as one of the best catchers in the game. The real question is, who is going to be the backup?
The Brewers signed Gary Sanchez to a one-year $3 million contract that almost guarantees he’ll be on the Opening Day roster. It’d be a surprising move to cut him after signing him at the end of February, and the $3 million is a guaranteed contract.
Sanchez has never been known as a defense-first catcher, but he’s done enough to make a name for himself. It’s the bat that sets him apart when it’s going right. Sanchez had his first full season in 2016 with the New York Yankees, and for two seasons, it seemed like he’d become one of the best catchers in the game.
He swatted 53 homers, drove in 132 runs, slashed .284/.354/.569, and finished 2nd in Rookie of the Year in 2016, with an All-Star appearance and Silver Slugger in 2017.
From there, the wheels fell off for Sanchez. After a couple of injuries and a trade with the Minnesota Twins, he’s trying to have a career resurgence with the Milwaukee Brewers. So far this Spring, Gary Sanchez has only appeared in 3 games and hasn’t quite got it going yet.
Eric Haase Has Fan Support
That’s where Eric Haase’s name comes up. Haase has the resume of a journeyman catcher who hasn’t quite caught on entering his age 31 season. He doesn’t offer the same light-tower power that Gary Sanchez once displayed, but he’s never really handled full-time catching duties. However, he has the profile for a backup catcher in the big leagues. He’s an excellent game-caller and has just enough power to be a fine backup for the Brewers behind Contreras.
Fans think so, too, and his .421/.500/.632 slash line has them believing the Milwaukee Brewers should have three catchers on their roster.
Yeah Eric Haase is making the roster. Gonna have to be someone surprising who gets left off atp
— baseball szn when (@brewer_sufferer) March 18, 2024
Eric Haase could be like a thousand other Cactus League heroes who are cut by the end of April…
…but I don’t see how you can’t bring him north at this point (unless you can trade him for a leverage reliever maybe.)
Eric Haase has been awesome in spring training. Are we going to carry three catchers?
— Alex (@Patsnation87) March 16, 2024
— The Brewer Nation (@BrewerNation) March 17, 2024
Another Eric Haase homer. He is on a tear this Spring Training.
Every day I think it’s more likely we see three catchers to start the year. Haase is forcing our hand, Sanchez is just back from a wrist injury (three passed balls yesterday), and we’ll see Contreras and Sanchez DH. https://t.co/V257RcmEZm
— The Brew Crew Scoop (@BrewCrewScoop) March 14, 2024
Eric Haase is DARING the Brewers to carry three catchers.
He just clocked his third homer of the spring to dead center.
— Dominic Cotroneo (@Dom_Cotroneo) March 16, 2024
And now a Gary Sanchez homer! Please see my Eric Haase homer tweet from a few minutes ago about starting the year with three catchers 😂 pic.twitter.com/duzCq4OfYQ
— The Brew Crew Scoop (@BrewCrewScoop) March 14, 2024
It remains to be seen if the Brewers will consider carrying three catchers. It’s a bit easier now that the NL also has the DH. However, roster construction is still a bit of an issue, especially given their defensive limitations as backup catchers and not having the bat to play elsewhere in the field.
It’s also important to note that manager Pat Murphy sees it as a bit of a long shot.
Brewers Manager Pat Murphy says that catcher Eric Haase “has been good as anybody in camp” so far.
But recognized the difficulty of keeping three catchers on the roster.
Said not many teams are able to do that, but “we’ll see” if it happens.
— Hunter Baumgardt (@hunterbonair) March 15, 2024
