A year after winning the NL Central, the Milwaukee Brewers failed to make it into the MLB Playoffs in 2022. It was a tough season for the Brewers, a team that dealt with injuries and issues closing out games. Heading into the 2023 campaign, the Brewers will look a bit different.
Related: 2022-23 MLB Offseason Recap: Minnesota Twins
Notable Additions
- 3B/OF Brian Anderson
- C/DH William Contreras
- RHP Janson Junk
- LHP Wade Miley
- INF Owen Miller
- OF Blake Perkins
- RHP Elvis Peguero
- 2B/3B Abraham Toro
- RHP Bryse Wilson
- OF Jesse Winker
After a disappointing 2022 campaign, changes were expected in Milwaukee for next season. The Brewers are set to add a new catcher in William Contreras, acquired in the three-way deal that sent Sean Murphy to Atlanta. Contreras hit 20 home runs and recorded a 138 OPS+ in 97 games last season. The 25-year-old split time behind the plate last season in Atlanta with Travis d’Arnaud, but should be the regular catcher in Milwaukee.
The most notable move that the Brewers made this winter was the deal that sent second baseman Kolten Wong to Seattle, and gave Milwaukee Abraham Toro and Jesse Winker in return. Toro should provide some versatility for the Brewers, while Winker will look to rebound from a tough 2022 season. Winker — who we rated as one of the best left fielders in the league — hit just .219/.344/.344 for the Mariners last season. Still, the new Brewer possesses good pop and one of the best eyes in the game.
Other interesting moves include the return of former Cub Wade Miley, and the addition of Brian Anderson. Anderson struggled in 2022, but did post three solid campaigns prior to last season.
Notable Subtractions
- RHP Brad Boxberger
- OF Andrew McCutchen
- C Omar Narváez
- 2B Jace Peterson
- OF Hunter Renfroe
- RHP Trevor Rosenthal
- RHP Justin Topa
- 2B Kolten Wong
Milwaukee added a couple of outfielders this winter, but did lose two in Andrew McCutchen and Hunter Renfroe. The former went back to Pittsburgh, while Renfroe was dealt to an Angels team in need of some added punch this past November.
The most notable loss was of Kolten Wong, an on-base machine who belted a career-high 15 home runs last season. One could look at the deal between Milwaukee and Seattle as a sell-high maneuver, but the loss of Wong will sting nonetheless. However, the impending arrival of infield prospect Brice Turang could soften that blow — assuming the former first-round pick shifts to short given the presence of Willy Adames.
A Recap
The Brewers are in a win-now phase — there is no question of that. Milwaukee boasts one of the league’s best rotations, thanks to a group headlined by Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. Plus, the Brewers’ 2022 batters finished in the top three in MLB last season in home runs (219), and in the top half of the league in OBP (.315) and SLG (.409). Still, the Brewers failed to make it to the postseason.
The main weakness for the Brewers last season was the team’s bullpen, which finished outside of the top ten in ERA and recorded 29 blown saves. That figure stood as the third-worst total, behind only the Cubs and Rays. Milwaukee didn’t add much of anything to its bullpen this winter, an interesting plotline heading into 2023.
The lineup, on the other hand, has the chance to be a major strength. With William Contreras and Jesse Winker in tow, the Brewers have the potential to be a difficult team for pitchers to handle thanks to a number of hitters with pop and the ability to work counts. It should be an interesting season in Milwaukee
