Going into the 2024 MLB season, it was a foregone conclusion that shortstop Willy Adames was playing his last year in a Milwaukee Brewers uniform. When he went on to hit .251/.331/.462 with 32 home runs, 112 RBI, and 21 stolen bases, any slim hopes that Brewers fans had of being able to re-sign him evaporated.
Earlier this offseason, Adames signed a seven-year $182 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, which is the largest contract in that franchise’s history.
In order to fill Adames’ spot defensively, the Brewers’ most likely plan is to move Joey Ortiz from third base to shortstop. While this makes sense given the fact that Ortiz’s primary position in the minors was shortstop, the new problem becomes who will be Milwaukee’s everyday third baseman in 2025.
Per one Brewers insider, it will likely be one of two players.
Milwaukee Brewers Insider Suggests Oliver Dunn or Caleb Durbin Will Play Third Base in 2025
Of course, Ortiz is not the only player on the Brewers roster who could take over shortstop. The other is Brice Turang, who won both the Gold Glove at second base and the Platinum Glove as the best defensive player in the National League.
That being said, it may not make much sense to move a Platinum Glove winner away from the position at which he has experienced so much success. Presuming, therefore, that it will Ortiz who moves, Brewers insider Adam McCalvy believes that the third base job could come down to Oliver Dunn or Caleb Durbin:
“Rookie Caleb Durbin, the infielder acquired with veteran left-hander Nestor Cortes from the Yankees in the Devin Williams deal, is one option. Another is Oliver Dunn, who made a splash for the Brewers early last season before being demoted to the Minors and seeing his season end in June due to a back injury. He’s healthy again after picking up at-bats in the Dominican Winter League, Arnold said.”
As McCalvy notes, Durbin was acquired in the trade that sent Devin Williams to the New York Yankees. An intriguing prospect, he was projected to compete for New York’s starting second base job before he was dealt to Milwaukee.
Earlier this offseason, he set the Arizona Fall League record for steals in a season with 29. They play 22 games.
Since beginning is professional career, the former Fon du Lac Dock Spiders star has walked more than he has struck out.
Dunn, meanwhile, hit .221/.282/.316 with a home run and seven RBI in 41 games for the Brewers last season before his demotion and season-ending injury.
Durbin is a right-handed hitter while Dunn bats left-handed, so a platoon between the two is certainly possible as well.
One might expect that Andruw Monasterio will be given a chance to compete for the job as well.
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