The Milwaukee Brewers reportedly may not be done adding free agents. Despite the calendar currently displaying a date in March and opening day being roughly three and a half weeks away they are quietly scanning the mid-tier pitching market. This news was announced by MLB Insider Robert Murray on The Baseball Insiders podcast.
Which mid-tier pitchers could the Milwaukee Brewers target?
Robert Murray did not specifically say which players the Brewers were in touch with, but he did list Mike Clevinger and Michael Lorenzen as the top two mid-tier pitchers still available. He labeled them as great insurance policies in wake of the uncertainty facing Wade Miley’s availability for opening day. Importantly he also believes that either option could be affordable as well.
Would Mike Clevinger make sense in a Milwaukee Brewers uniform?
33 year old Mike Clevinger was once a staple in the Cleveland Guardians starting rotation. Across five seasons he posted a 3.20 ERA over 523.1 innings pitched. He then spent time with the San Diego Padres in 2020 and 2022 (4.20 ERA over 133.1 innings pitched) and the Chicago White Sox in 2023 (3.77 ERA over 131.1 innings pitched). Spotrac has his market value at $13.6 million per year.
Would Michael Lorenzen make sense in a Milwaukee Brewers uniform?
Long time Cincinnati Red (seven years) Michael Lorenzen initially was a multi inning reliever who also dabbled as a two-way player, but over the past two seasons he has transitioned to a starting pitcher. Across 18 starts with the Los Angeles Angels in 2022 he posted a 4.24 ERA and he had a 4.18 ERA between the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies in 2023. Spotrac has his average annual value estimated at $9.2 million.
With spring training already underway it is likely that these mid-tier pitchers will sign for less than Spotrac’s estimates. Milwaukee has several starting pitching options this year, but they are without co-aces Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. Adding another piece to the puzzle could be beneficial as they likely will rely upon several different arms to navigate the 162 game season.
Follow me on Twitter @tylerkoerth. Follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great sports content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!. We cover the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers, and Wisconsin High School Sports. Additionally we provide the latest news coverage on the NFL, MLB, and NBA.