The Milwaukee Brewers are not going to make any big-name signings this offseason. They also are not rumored to be in any trade discussions for any marquee players. Instead, they saw one of their own most popular and well-known players, Willy Adames, sign a massive seven-year $182 million with the San Francisco Giants, and they traded away two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees.
While Milwaukee feels like their bullpen can thrive without Williams (he missed most of 2023 after all), there is still a question as to how they will replace Adames’ offensive production. Last year, he hit .251/.331/.462 with 32 home runs, 112 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. Joey Ortiz is likely going to replace him at shortstop, but he only hit .239/.329/.398 with 11 home runs, 60 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.
And while Ortiz is still young and is likely to get better, he still won’t make up for the team missing the immense production Adames brought to the lineup.
The Milwaukee Brewers Wanted to Sign Paul Goldshmidt
Earlier this offseason, it was reported that the Brewers desperately wanted to pursue former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in free agency. Apparently, they were willing to go “all in” to get him.
But there was just one problem: Rhys Hoskins picked up his $18 million player option for 2025. As both Hoskins and Goldschmidt are right-handed hitting first basemen that cannot play anywhere else, Milwaukee could not justify signing him, nor could they find a trade partner that was willing to pay Hoskins $18 million.
Last season, Goldschmidt hit ..245/.302/.414 with 22 home runs and 65 RBI. Hoskins hit .214/.303/.419 with 26 home runs and 82 RBI in his first season since recovering from a torn ACL.
Goldschmidt has since signed with the Yankees, so any thought of Milwaukee still pursuing him is no more. However, they do still need to find a player to replace Gary Sanchez, who appeared in 47 games as a DH, the most of any player on the Brewers roster last year.
The Milwaukee Brewers Could Sign Former Pittsburgh Pirates First Baseman Josh Bell
In a recent article posted by Sports Illustrated, Patrick McAvoy suggests that the Brewers should pursue free agent first baseman Josh Bell, who of course faced Milwaukee a great deal during his playing days with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“Milwaukee isn’t going to hand out a massive deal this winter, but it doesn’t necessarily need to if it wants to get a little better,” McAvoy wrote. “The Brewers could use a boost at first base and should turn their attention toward one-time All-Star Josh Bell.”
Last season, Bell hit .249/.319/.405 with 19 home runs and 71 RBI for the Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks. He won a Silver Slugger while with the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres in 2022 when he hit .266/.362/.422 with 17 home runs and 71 RBI.
Bell was an All-Star with the Pirates in 2019 when he hit .277/.367/.569 with 37 home runs and 116 RBI.
A durable player, Bell has never played less than 143 games in a season (aside from the COVID-shortened 2020 season, in which he appeared in 57 of 60 games).
While Goldschmidt would not make sense to pair with Hoskins because they are both right-handed, Bell can give manager Pat Murphy some flexibility because he is a switch hitter. Bell also has some experience in the corner outfield positions, but has not played there since 2021.
McAvoy mentions in his article that Bell is projected to get a $5 million deal in free agency. The Brewers paid Sanchez around $7 million last year. For that price and that potential production, it would make a lot of sense for Milwaukee.
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