RHP Matt Bush, designated for assignment on Saturday, has been released by the Brewers.
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) July 3, 2023
The Milwaukee Brewers have released RHP Matt Bush. Bush could never find his footing in Milwaukee, as he ended with a 9.58 ERA in only 12 games pitched this season.
There was high hopes for Bush who started the season as set-up man to closer Devin Williams but ineffectiveness and a two-month stint on the injured list ultimately ended his time in Milwaukee.
Teams who could be interested in Matt Bush?
While this is a step back for Bush’s career there are teams who could use his services, and hopefully he can get a reset on a team that won’t be contending this season.
Washington Nationals
The Nationals have the second-worst bullpen ERA in the Majors (5.06 ERA.) With the team missing two bullpen arms adding Matt Bush would be a good move for Washington. The Nationals are 34-49 and are currently in the rebuilding stage. Adding Bush could fortify this team’s bullpen and hopefully Bush can regain his confidence in a low-pressure environment.
Oakland Athletics
Close your eyes and try to name someone in the Oakland A’s bullpen much less their roster. Okay open them did you name anyone yet? No okay well this would be a perfect low-cost move for the A’s. Oakland for years has shied away from spending significant money, and signing Bush would be the perfect elixir for a team not expected to contend for years to come. Oh and they have the worst bullpen ERA in the Majors (5.76 ERA.)
Kansas City Royals
The Royals have a bright future but they are not ready to win quite yet. Kansas City just traded away closer Aroldis Chapman to the Rangers for a couple of prospects and are a little-short handed down in the pen. Adding Bush could improve the team’s fourth worst bullpen ERA in the Majors (4.93 ERA.)
Colorado Rockies
Bush is the perfect Rockies pitcher. Throughout his career, Bush has been a predominately fastball-changeup pitcher. Pitching at Coors Field isn’t easy for pitchers who rely on throwing the breaking balls. Via Fangraphs, Bush threw his fastball for the Brewers at 51 percent of the time, and his changeup at 39 percent. Coors Field is better for Bush who relies heavily on his fastball which hasn’t been as effective this season due to the rotator cuff injury which caused a three-mile dip in his velocity but hopefully with this time off he can regain some of his velocity back.
Where will Matt Bush land?
The Oakland A’s seems like the perfect landing spot for Bush. Oakland enjoys getting players who cost little-to-nothing and Bush has proven before that his pitching talent can bring value to a team in rebuild mode. Oakland has a pitcher-friendly ballpark, and one of the reasons Bush thrived in Texas and is that he was able to pitch at a place suited to give up fly-ball outs. Via FanGraphs in 2021 pitching for the Texas Rangers, Bush had 72 percent fly ball outs versus 27 percent ground ball outs. In recent years, he’s been more of a fly ball pitcher, and that turned out to be the case in his final year in Texas, and the 2023 season with the Brewers where induced 37 percent of fly ball outs to 28 percent ground ball outs (Via FanGraphs.)
Oakland bringing in Bush would improve their bullpen, and him pitching in a pitcher-friendly park would be the best thing for Bush to be back on a team.
