Brewers 2020 non-tendered free-agent targets

A few weeks ago we took a position-by-position look at the Milwaukee Brewers and potential free-agent signings.

On Wednesday, as the deadline to tender arbitration-eligible players hit, over 50 more players hit the market after being non-tendered by their teams (such as the Brewers did with reliever Alex Claudio, outfielder Ben Gamel and utilityman Jace Peterson).

Would any of these newfound free agents be a fit for Milwaukee?

Let’s take a look at a few possible names (hint: we won’t be listing any catchers):

TYLER ANDERSON, LHP

Milwaukee perhaps could use a starting pitcher, particularly a left-handed one. Currently Eric Lauer – or Brent Suter, who is currently slated to be back in the bullpen – is the only southpaw option on the 40-man roster (Josh Hader and Angel Perdomo are the other lefties on the 40-man). Anderson actually pitched decently in his time with Colorado from 2016-19, recording a 104 ERA+ and 8.0 K/9. Last season with San Francisco, however, he posted a 4.37 ERA (98 ERA+), 1.381 WHIP and a career-low 6.2 K/9.

JOHN BREBBIA, RHP

Brebbia was a late arrival to the majors, debuting days before his 27th birthday in 2017. In three seasons with the Cardinals he posted a 3.14 ERA (132 ERA+), 1.013 WHIP and 10.2 K/9. He missed the entire 2020 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, which he had in June, meaning he’d likely miss some time in 2021 as well. Milwaukee’s has a decent bullpen returning, but Brebbia is just the kind of guy the Brewers like to have in their back pocket for later in the season and 2022.

DELINO DESHIELDS, OF

With Craig Counsell as manager, Milwaukee has been a team which likes to swipe a bag or two. In Counsell’s first four seasons as Brewers head man, the team ranked first, first, first and third in the National League in steals. Last season, though, dead last (with just 15!). DeShields could be a reliable fourth outfielder – he’s not going to play right, but Christian Yelich could always move over there when Avisail Garcia needs a day off – and he brings the element of speed which Counsell likes. In every season in which DeShields has played at least 100 games he has 20+ stolen bases, with a high of 29 in 2017. His career stolen-base percentage is 77.8%.

MAIKEL FRANCO, 3B

There are two “true” third basemen who were non-tendered Wednesday. One was Franco, the other Travis Shaw. We’re not sure we see a reunion with the latter occurring. Franco’s power could play well in Milwaukee. Between 2016-18 with Philadelphia, he slugged 25, 24 and 22 home runs. He slipped to 17 homers and a .234/.297/.409 slash line in 2019 with the Phillies. Last season in Kansas City he bounced back to the tune of .278/.321/.457 while playing all 60 games. The only player with experience at third in majors on the Brewers’ 40-man roster is Luis Urias. Milwaukee did sign Zach Green to a minor-league contract on Wednesday and invite him to spring training, but this is definitely position of need.

BRIAN GOODWIN, OF

Barring a return of Gamel, who was non-tendered, the Brewers could use a fourth outfielder who can play all three positions. Enter Goodwin, who has done just that during his five-year career as a (mostly) backup. Of course, Goodwin isn’t necessarily the best defensive outfielder (career -2.0 dWAR). He does, however, have some pop in his bat, owning a career .455 slugging percentage. He hit 13 homers in 74 games with Washington in 2017 and 29 doubles and 17 homers in 136 games with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019. Last year with the Angels and Cincinnati he combined to hit .215/.299/.417 with six home runs and five steals in 164 plate appearances.

JOSE MARTINEZ, 1B/DH

Martinez is coming off a subpar 2020 in which he hit just .182/.265/.295 in 98 plate appearances for Tampa Bay and the Cubs. His 2019 with St. Louis wasn’t that hot either, as he slashed .269/.340/410 (98 OPS+) with 10 home runs. But hear us out. In those seasons, he was mainly an outfielder, designated hitter and/or pinch hitter. Martinez had his greatest success in 2017-18 with the Cardinals – when he mainly was playing first base. In 2017 he hit .398./.379/.518 with 14 home runs in 106 games. The following year, .305/.364/.457 with 30 doubles and 17 homers in 152 games. Maybe Martinez is already washed up. But he’s right-handed – career slash line of .307/.382/.534 vs. lefties – so perhaps he could be a good platoon partner with Dan Vogelbach.

DANNY SANTANA, UT

I think we know how manager Craig Counsell and the Brewers feel about utility players. Santana can play all over the field – he’s played every position but catcher in his major-league career. And not just a game or two. He’s appeared mostly in center field and shortstop, but also has 53 games at first base and 14 at third, for example, both of which appear to be positions of need for Milwaukee. Santana had what appeared to be a breakout season with Texas in 2019, slashing .283/.324/.534 with 28 home runs and 21 steals. But in 63 plate appearances in 2020 he went just 8-for-55 (.146) with one homer.

KYLE SCHWARBER, OF/DH

If there is a designated hitter in the National League, presumably Vogelbach will fill that role. If not, he’ll be at first base, partly at least we surmise, even though he only played twice there for the Brewers in 2020. Why not Schwarber in that role as well? We know he can mash – 30 homers in 2017, 28 in ’18 and 38 in ’19. Last season he struggled with a .188/.308/.393 slash line, although he still hit 11 home runs in 59 games (only Keston Hiura and Christian Yelich had more on the Brewers). OK, we know this probably won’t happen especially since Schwarber, like Vogelbach, hits left-handed, but wouldn’t you love to see the reaction on the faces of Cubs fans if it did?

CHASEN SHREVE, LHP

Claudio is gone, having been non-tendered, and Shreve is just the kind of guy who can fill his role – and potentially with even better success. He’s been good at getting both lefties (.228 OBA) and righties (.227) over his career. In 2020, left-handers were just 2-for-32 against Shreve. Both hits, however, were home runs, which has been a problem over Shreve in his seven-year career (1.6 HR/9). He also walks too many batters (4.5 BB/9). He does strike a lot of guys out (10.5 K/9) and is coming off a year with the New York Mets in which he had a 1.160 WHIP, thanks to a career-low 6.1 H/9, as well as a career-high 12.2 K/9.

RYNE STANEK, RHP

The word “opener” might be music to Counsell’s ears, which is a role Stanek has often filled in his career. Stanek had 2+ good years for Tampa Bay beginning in 2017 before being dealt to Miami in 2019. He recorded a 3.55 ERA, 1.225 WHIP and 10.8 K/9 with the Rays over 142 innings. His time with the Marlins didn’t go as well. In 31 1/3 innings he recorded a 6.03 ERA and 1.755 WHIP (but 11.2 K/9). Last season he allowed eight runs on 11 hits (three home runs) in 10 innings with eight walks and 11 strikeouts.