The MLB free agency buzz caught many off guard this year with surprising moves. The Angels have signed starting pitcher Tyler Anderson to a 3-year deal. The Yankees re-signed Anthony Rizzo to a 2-year deal, with a club option included. The Blue Jays also traded away starting outfielder Teoscar Hernandez to the Mariners.
Teams like the Padres, the Rangers, and the Mets have stayed busy. The Brewers have already made minor moves, but fans are still waiting for the big breakthrough. While fans are waiting on a big name, perhaps they should expect a boost in an unfamiliar statistic.
The Brewers Strategic Roster Build
In baseball, there is a new statistic that displays the value a player has at the plate. Weighted runs created plus, or wRC+ for short, is an adjusted form of runs created involving factors such as the ballpark effects. wRC+ displays the consistency and offensive impact of each player. The league average wRC+ is 100.
The Brewers had a strong offense last year and it rarely was the issue for the club. However, the Brewers are certainly on the hunt for another valuable run creator. Andrew McCutchen struggled to eclipse the expectations he set for himself in 2022. McCutchen recorded a wRC+ of 98 last year, just below the league average, and also saw a -4.1 BsR which encompasses base running ability.
It wasn’t the year for McCutchen, but other Brewers’ players have found themselves in the same boat. Omar Narvaez and Jace Peterson also struggled to generate runs in 2022 before hitting free agency. Jace Peterson has since joined the Oakland Athletics, where he will play everyday. Milwaukee has made it known the team is interested in making moves to generate more wins. Adding more run creation opportunities can help propel the team towards that goal.
Can Weighted Runs Created Plus Impact the Brewers?
It may seem odd that one statistic can generate the offensive value of a player. However, wRC+ is the new batting average in baseball as the sport has shifted towards run creation and not hit creation. The Brewers are in need of run creators and the moves to acquire Jesse Winker and William Contreras have helped address this issue.
Winker has a career wRC+ of 126, after coming off a down year in 2022. Winker recorded a 109 in Seattle while struggling to stay over the 25th percentile in average exit velocity. Both Abraham Toro and Jesse Winker had trouble driving the ball for the Mariners. However, the Brewers approach to hitting should see this issue change.
Given the current state of free agency, the Brewers options are limited. One rather risky option the Brewers should consider to address the offense is veteran outfielder Adam Duvall. 2022 was a year to forget for Duvall, who recorded a wRC+ of 87. Signing Adam Duvall would mean the Brewers are betting on history repeating itself. Duvall has recorded a lower wRC+ twice in his career, and each time he came back the year after to record his highest career wRC+. This isn’t to say that Duvall will launch homers left and right in 2023, but he will surely play motivated.
A Quick Bullpen Solution for the Brewers
Again, given the circumstances the market is shrinking for the Brewers. However, there are still multiple pitchers that can help boost the Brewers bullpen. Brad Hand put together an impressive season for the Phillies, recording an ERA of 2.80 across 45 innings. The 33-year old has had injury issues in his shoulder and elbow in the past. A two-year deal should still be in place for Hand in the future.
Another option the Brewers should consider is Trevor Rosenthal. The Brewers were the last team to acquire Rosenthal before he hit free agency. However, he hasn’t pitched at the major league level since 2020 before missing time due to injuries. Rosenthal has expressed his interest in playing again on Twitter, but teams have yet to reach out. Given the remaining options, the Brewers should take the risk in hopes of seeing the old Rosenthal emerge.
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