The Milwaukee Brewers may have already filled out their 40-man roster, which means they cannot sign any Major League free agents without first designating someone for assignment. However, they can still sign free agents to minor league deals and invite them to Spring Training. These players can earn a spot on the 40-man roster through their play if current members perform poorly.
And that is just what the Brewers did on Monday. According to Adam McCalvy, Milwaukee has agreed to a minor league contract with Jake Bauers, who spent the 2024 season with Milwaukee:
Jake Bauers is back with the Brewers. It’s a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League camp.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) January 6, 2025
The Brewers previously acquired Bauers in a trade with the New York Yankees last offseason. They sent minor leaguers Jace Avina and Brian Sanchez to New York in return.
Jake Bauers Saw Plenty of Playing Time with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024
Bauers was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the seventh round of the 2013 amateur draft. Before arriving in Milwaukee in November of 2023, he was a part of several trades that involved other former Brewers players.
In 2014, the Padres packaged him and Joe Ross in the three-team trade that landed Trea Turner to the Washington Nationals. Bauers went to the Tampa Bay Rays while Ross landed in Washington.
In 2018, the Rays packaged him in a three-team trade that landed both him and Carlos Santana with the Cleveland Guardians.
After arriving in Milwaukee, Bauers played a career-high 116 games and hit .199/.301/.361 with 12 home runs, 43 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. He played first base and the corner outfield positions, and also pitched in four games.
Milwaukee Brewers Fans Have Positive Reactions to Jake Bauers Being Re-Signed
While Bauers did not produce much at the plate, he did provide one of the few postseason fireworks for Milwaukee during their series with the New York Mets. His pinch hit solo home run in Game Three gave the Brewers a 1-0, a game they eventually lost when Williams gave up the game-winning three-run home run to Pete Alonso.
Given his success in the playoffs and his ability to play multiple positions, Brewers fans had positive reactions to his re-signing:
Jake Bauers is back in MKE. https://t.co/1gafYOVD42 pic.twitter.com/yjSkQC8yag
— Hunter Baumgardt (@hunterbonair) January 6, 2025
I’m cool with it as a depth move, tbh. https://t.co/jyAseOmKlB
— Matt 🦡 (@MShadows17) January 6, 2025
I mean… I don’t hate it… no harm https://t.co/F7ZIdxOH2h
— Brewer Sooner (@BrewerSooner) January 6, 2025
Like this move. Obviously has some pop in the bat and is good depth. https://t.co/ddMQGfjBLz
— Evan (@EvanBoller) January 6, 2025
Excellent https://t.co/7hUypwHQLP
— Bral Turlick (@kneary22) January 6, 2025
For his career, Bauers is a .208/.302/.361 hitter with 51 total home runs and 183 RBI.
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