The Milwaukee Brewers currently have left-handed hitting Jake Bauer and righty Owen Miller penciled in as options at first base. It has been assumed that GM Matt Arnold is looking for another first baseman to add into the mix. Carlos Santana has been a popular name tossed around, but it’s possible that he is demanding too much money for the Brewers liking.
Recently a MLB Insider connected Milwaukee to a 33 year old free agent first baseman. This right-handed hitter was originally drafted by the Brewers in 2013, was an All-Star in 2022 with the Miami Marlins, and could be one of the cheaper options available.
Milwaukee Brewers reportedly considering first baseman Garrett Cooper.
MLB Insider Robert Murray, who used to cover the Brewers as a beat writer, has reported that his sources are indicating that Milwaukee has considered Garrett Cooper as an option at first base. Murray went on to indicate that one rival scout predicted that Cooper could see an increase in power numbers playing outside of LoanDepot park and at American Family Field.
Cooper, 33, was originally drafted by the Brewers in the sixth round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He’s coming off a season with the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres in which he hit .251/.304/.419 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI.
When asked about Cooper’s fit at a more hitters’ friendly ballpark in Milwaukee, one rival scout predicted that he could hit 20-25 home runs.
Earlier this off-season we looked into Garrett Cooper as an option at first base. Despite being considered outside of his prime playing years, he set career highs a season ago in games (123), plate appearances (457), home runs (17), and runs batted in (61). His career OPS+ is 109 and he also has a .816 OPS against left-handed pitchers.
From a salary standpoint, Cooper has an estimated value lower than the players such as Rhys Hoskins, Carlos Santana, C.J. Cron, and Joey Gallo. Spotrac projects him to make $6.9 million. in 2024. If the reports regarding Carlos Santana demanding closer to $8.0 million are true then it’s possible that Milwaukee turns their attention to Cooper instead.
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1 Comment
Gallo is washed up and Hoskins out of their range. I’d spend the cash on Cron or Santana, but if they want to be cheap over a million bucks, I guess Cooper would be fine (600 PAs would make him a 20 HR guy).
I just don’t like any of our other options. Miller is awful. Jake has done nothing yet.
And 3B is still an issue unless Black is a ROY candidate. 2B terrible also unless Toro supplants the awful Turang. Love the OF, SS, and C, but they need to fix the rest of it now.
How is it they were the only team in MLB that might have gotten better production at DH by letting their pitchers hit?