The Milwaukee Brewers have been busy this offseason as they tinker with their roster in preparation for the 2025 MLB season. Fortunately for Milwaukee, many of their key pieces are returning next season and, since they are so young, should be even better than they were in 2024.
Of course, the brightest young star on the roster is outfielder Jackson Chourio, who last season became the youngest player in MLB history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season. He finished his stellar rookie campaign hitting .275/.327/.464 with 21 home runs, 79 RBI, and 22 stolen bases.
Christian Yelich, who missed the second half of the season due to back surgery, should be ready for Opening Day, according to reports. Before going on season-ending IL, he was hitting .315/.406/.504 with 11 home runs, 42 RBI, and 21 stolen bases.
Unfortunately, the biggest run producer on the team will not be back, though.
The Milwaukee Brewers Lost Willy Adames to Free Agency
Earlier this month, former Brewers shortstop Willy Adames signed a massive seven-year $182 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. It was long-expected that Milwaukee was not going to be able to afford him, but the team valued his leadership role last season with all of the young players on their roster. For that reason, they did not trade him last offseason as they did Corbin Burnes.
Adames drove up his price in 2024 with the best offensive season of his career. He hit .251/.331/.462 with 32 home runs, 112 RBI, and 21 stolen bases.
Now that he is gone, Milwaukee will move either Joey Ortiz or Brice Turang over to shortstop to take his place defensively (Pat Murphy would prefer to keep Turang at second, where he won a Gold Glove and Platinum Glove).
But neither came close to having the kind of run production Adames had in 2024, so the Brewers need to find someone who can (unless they plan on banking on their young stars improving offensively).
The Milwaukee Brewers Are Urged to Sign DH JD Martinez
In a recent article posted by Sports Illustrated, Patrick McAvoy suggests that Milwaukee sign six-time Silver Slugger JD Martinez, a designated hitter, who he believes could help replace Adames’ run production:
“Martinez is projected to get a one-year, $9.5 million deal this offseason by Spotrac. If the Brewers want to add a boost at designated hitter, Martinez should be the guy. He’s out there now and is available in free agency.”
The only problem with this suggestion, however, is that Martinez is on the decline and, at 37 years old, likely will not be better than he was in 2024.
Last season, playing for the New York Mets, Martinez hit .235/.320/.406 with 16 home runs and 69 RBI. In 2023, he was an All-Star for the Los Angeles Dodgers and hit .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 RBI.
Obviously, the 2023 version of Martinez would go a long way to help replacing Adames. However, as mentioned, it appears that he is in the midst of a steep decline in his production.
What is more, Martinez is a liability on defense. He has played just three games defensively in the last three seasons, and all of those came in 2023. Since he cannot provide any defensive relief, nor is he a threat to steal bases on the base paths, he is about as one-dimensional a player as there is, and that is not someone the Brewers would be interested in.
More Milwaukee Brewers News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Milwaukee Brewers: Reviewing the Corbin Burnes Trade 1 Year Later
- Milwaukee Brewers: Reason Corbin Burnes Took Less Money to Play for Diamondbacks Revealed
- Milwaukee Brewers Legend Reveals What Team Logo He Wants on His Hall of Fame Plaque
- Former Brewers Infielder Mike Brosseau Signs with NL West Contender
- Corbin Burnes Surpasses 1 Former Brewers Player for Largest Contract in Diamondbacks History
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
