The Milwaukee Brewers were quite active in the offseason. Not many of the moves were met with much hoopla, but the moves have turned into solid additions by General Manager Matt Arnold.
The quiet additions, particularly in the Brewers bullpen, have paid strong dividends.
It has been two names many fans probably said ‘Who?” when they were acquired or afterthoughts in deals that have turned filled roles and solidified the Brewers bullpen.
Quiet Trade Additions Have Turned Into Gems in the Brewers Bullpen
Elvis Peguero, Acquired in the Hunter Renfroe Trade
The Brewers decided to go young with position players and moved on from Hunter Renfroe despite a very strong year by the outfielder. Renfroe hit .255 with 29 homers and 72 RBI last season. The Brewers acquired three pitching prospects for Renfroe, with the top among them being Janson Junk. But it’s been another arm that has been doing yeoman’s work out of the Brewers bullpen: Elvis Peguero.
The Brewers beat the Reds in 11 innings, 5-4. Joel Payamps, Peter Strzelecki, Devin Williams, Elvis Peguero and Bryse Wilson combined for five innings without an earned run following Corbin Burnes’ exit.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) June 3, 2023
Peguero, 25, made 16 total relief appearances for the Angels in the last two seasons, making his Major League debut in 2021. He was originally signed by the Yankees in 2015.
Peguero boasts a 1-0 record, 2.89 ERA, and 1.08 WHIP in 18.2 innings across 14 appearances so far this season. He has struck out 16 while walking seven and allowing six earned runs. Not bad for a pitcher that many could not even tell you how Peguero found his way to Milwaukee. He’s not only found his way to Milwaukee, but he’s earning high-leverage spots and the trust of Craig Counsell.
Elvis Peguero: Three scoreless innings in relief. 7 whiffs on 14 swings on the slider.
Suspicious Minds can’t help but wonder if he will earn some late-inning work if he keeps this up.
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) April 26, 2023
Brewers Bullpen Netted Joel Payamps In William Contreras Deal
The Brewers made a shrewd acquisition by jumping into the Sean Murphy to Atlanta deal. It seems the Athletics coveted Brewers’ No. 8 prospect Esteury Ruiz – acquired in the Josh Hader move – so much that it allowed the Brewers to acquire not only All-Star catcher William Contreras but also Joel Payamps and 25-year-old pitcher Justin Yeager.
Payamps has appeared in 26 games and has a 2-0 record, tossing 27.1 innings with a stellar 2.30 ERA. He also has just a 1.06 WHIP, striking out 31 and walking just five, and even collected his first MLB save. He is striking out 10.2 per nine as the Brewers have tried to harness his power sinker and slider.
#Brewers Win! Final: 4-3! (in 10)
W. Williams (2-0)
S: Payamps (1)1st career save by Joel Payamps locks down the 9th season win for the Crew.
Rea started (& shoved) but the biggest pitching performance goes to Williams ⬇️ who struck out the side in order in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/vI5svE5WQP
— The Brewer Nation (@BrewerNation) April 14, 2023
Payamps came to the Brewers with over 100 innings of MLB experience, spending four seasons bouncing between Arizona, Toronto, Kansas City, and Oakland. He was solid in 2022, posting a 3.23 ERA in 41 appearances spanning 55.2 with the Royals and A’s to go along with 41 strikeouts and a 1.37 WHIP.
Payamps recently delivered in tight spots on back-to-back nights (May 23 & May 24) in the Brewers’ victories over the Astros. He entered in the sixth inning on May 24 with two on and one out and struck out Yordan Alvarez, and got Kyle Tucker to lineout to center field. Payamps has escaped many jams for the Brewers. After those escape jobs, he entered games with 13 inherited runners on base and allowed just one to score. Payamps has been a pivotal piece in the Brewers bullpen.
Joel Payamps has been the most important reliever this season for the #Brewers
What a trade.
— Dominic Cotroneo (@Dom_Cotroneo) May 24, 2023
Unheralded Additions Have Shined in the Brewers Bullpen
Not much was known or expected from Payamps. However, along with a few other unlikely candidates in the Brewers pen, he has been very good and dependable for Craig Counsell and the Crew.
Payamps and Peguero have been outstanding, and so has Bryse Wilson. None of the acquisitions garnered much attention and weren’t the top players fetched in the deals. But they have been relied on heavily by Craig Counsell, and they’ve delivered. While the bullpen was a question mark entering the season, the Brewers’ unheralded additions have been stellar for the Brewers. If the bats can score runs consistently, the Brewers bullpen has proven they will lock it down.
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