Headlines

  • Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib
  • Reds Release Jeimer Candelario
  • Dave Parker Passes Away
  • Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles
  • Pirates Reportedly Have Very Few Untouchable Players At Trade Deadline
  • Griffin Canning Believed To Have Suffered Achilles Injury
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Brewers Interested In Avisail Garcia

By Connor Byrne | December 13, 2019 at 10:45pm CDT

Along with the previously reported Rays and Marlins, the Brewers have interest in free-agent outfielder Avisail Garcia, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

As a member of the Rays, the 28-year-old Garcia spent the majority of last season in right field, where the Brewers employ the incredible Christian Yelich. However, the club’s not nearly as well off in left, especially after trading Trent Grisham to the Padres. Although he doesn’t carry much experience at the position, Garcia could fit in there for Milwaukee. Based on his 2019 performance, Garcia would be an upgrade over Ben Gamel and could enable Ryan Braun to primarily handle first base, where the Brewers don’t have an obvious answer.

Garcia, who has spent almost all of his MLB tenure with the White Sox, has had an up-and-down career to this point. In fact, he has been a replacement-level player or worse across a few seasons. However, Garcia performed well last season in Tampa Bay, which led MLBTR to predict he’d land a two-year, $12MM contract in free agency.

Over 530 trips to the plate as a Ray, Garcia slashed .282/.332/.464 with 20 home runs en route to a 112 wRC+ and 1.8 fWAR. While the big-bodied Garcia doesn’t look like a speedster, he stole 10 bases, ranked in the 90th percentile in Statcast’s sprint speed metric and acquitted himself well in the field. In 869 innings as a defender last season, Garcia saved a pair of runs, posted a 2.2 Ultimate Zone Rating and finished plus-3 in Statcast’s Outs Above Average metric.

Share 0 Retweet 8 Send via email0

Milwaukee Brewers Avisail Garcia

Rangers Re-Sign Jeffrey Springs
Main
Trade/FA Rumblings: Arenado, Keuchel, Cards, Twins, Marlins, Mets, Correa
View Comments (47)
Post a Comment

47 Comments

  1. hiflew

    6 years ago

    Why would the Brewers sign a right fielder to play left so their left fielder can play first when a simpler solution would be to just sign a first baseman to begin with?

    6
    Reply
    • Ashtem

      6 years ago

      Garcia can play all three

      Reply
      • Beerfan

        6 years ago

        As can Yelich. Braun played some 1st base the past couple years and wasn’t horrible at it.

        1
        Reply
        • Marytown1

          6 years ago

          Garcia is 6’4”. Could he play some 1b too?

          Reply
    • LH

      6 years ago

      It came out Braun would move to first a few months ago, can’t remember exactly why.

      Reply
      • Beerfan

        6 years ago

        He’s played a few games at first the last 2 season and it wasn’t horrible.

        Reply
      • enricopallazzo

        6 years ago

        Counsell just stated Braun won’t be the primary 1B. Doesn’t mean it’s set in stone but he was just quoted saying that in the last week I think.

        1
        Reply
      • steelerbravenation

        6 years ago

        Because he is getting iup there in age but can still hit & is still getting paid

        Reply
    • lowtalker1

      6 years ago

      Left field is the easier of the 3 positions. Different angles and you don’t need as strong of an arm to play left as you do right. You also don’t need stellar defense to play in left either.

      2
      Reply
      • moody

        6 years ago

        Yeah, and the sky is blue. smh

        Reply
    • MannyPineappleExpress9

      6 years ago

      Why are we blindly believing that to be what will definitely happen? For starters I still don’t think Braun winds up playing much, if any 1b (I don’t recall him playing there at all in ’19). Second, is it a lock that Yelich will be ready to go to start the year? Third, if Garcia is signed, maybe he plays RF and Yelich moves to lf. Or first. Or maybe Garcia ends up at first.

      Or maybe he’s not signed at all, and this whole story is nothing but opinions and *gasp* rumors.

      Reply
    • daveineg

      6 years ago

      The FA crop at 1B isn’t too exciting and moving Braun there might be easier on his body. But they might sign or trade for a LH bat and reduce Braun’s role overall much like the Nats did with Zimmerman.

      Reply
      • andremets

        6 years ago

        Trade for Dom Smith for 1st.

        Garcia reminds me so much of a former Brewer from 2018; Domingo Santana.

        Reply
      • Dorothy_Mantooth

        6 years ago

        There are tons of 1B free agents available who fit right into the Brewer’s budget. If they don’t go with Garcia, I could see Smoak ending up in MIL or Thames resigning at a smaller amount than what he projected to get in arbitration. If both of those options fail, they could go full reclamation with Greg Bird or Travis Shaw and save a bunch of money for another pitcher.

        Reply
        • cheesemanforever

          6 years ago

          Thames yes, Shaw please no.

          Reply
  2. 8

    6 years ago

    Would be a great fit, could play RF and some 1B

    Reply
  3. thomps07

    6 years ago

    I’s be ok with this!

    Reply
  4. Johnny Baseball

    6 years ago

    Don’t get me wrong I like Garcia and he would be better than Gamel. I would rather them let Tyrone Taylor & Cory Ray be their depth and get an OFer at the TDL if necessary. It is funny to think they will spend money on an OFer rather than pitching or 3B. Why not sign Todd Frazier and one of the top pitchers left on the market instead of wasting 5 mil on Garcia.

    1
    Reply
    • MannyPineappleExpress9

      6 years ago

      Something tells me if there was mutual interest from one of those “top pitchers” we’d know about it, and might have actually signed one already.

      It’s not quite as simple as “Ace Pitcher is available, stick a contract in front of him to sign, and he signs.” As free agents, they kinda get to choose who they sign with.

      Reply
    • twentyforty

      6 years ago

      Won’t need an OF at the trade deadline and Ray and Taylor are just guys. Milwaukee is a 4th place team in the Central.

      Reply
      • 2id

        6 years ago

        Says a fan of the team that’s been looking up at the Brewers the last two years and hasn’t done anything this off-season.

        3
        Reply
  5. Jeff Zanghi

    6 years ago

    I think Garcia could be a prime candidate to be a “late bloomer” and surprise a lot of people if he can figure a couple of things out. I mean he clearly has more raw skill than he has ever really put to use and much in the same way guys like JD Martinez and Edwin Encarnacion have put the pieces together a little bit later in their careers I think Garcia is capable of the same. (Maybe not quite to the extent of Martinez and Encarnacion – but you get the idea) Obviously it’s a big “if” but if he can straighten a few things out/combine a few of his seasons (like when he hit .330 before an injury a couple years ago) I definitely think if anyone on the FA market has the potential to breakout it’s him. But who knows – it’s definitely a long shot but it’s also definitely possible based on his raw talent alone.

    1
    Reply
    • A'sfaninLondonUK

      6 years ago

      Agree with this – it’s the sort of move the A’s would make. It’s a jigsaw piece move not a $35m AAV blockbuster but it’s that sort of move certain front offices have to make. Can cover CF if needed, RF if Yelich gets injured. There’s upside to 2/$12m if he can stay healthy.

      Reply
      • stubby66

        6 years ago

        Brewers are big on contact hitters and do not like strike outs. Now that being said Braun and Cain are going to need regular time off plus yes Braun will play some first. Braun flourished last year with regular time off which I believe Cain will do. Taylor didnt get a lot of hits after his call up but was hitting the ball good . It’s just December and I’m sure there will be plenty of things they look at.

        1
        Reply
        • Johnny Baseball

          6 years ago

          Taylor did not get a lot of opportunities but he went 4 for 10 w/ a BB and was hit by a pitch and showed excellent defense in the OF during his callup. It was a small sample size but Taylor is a contact hitter just now developing his power and makes accurate throws w/ above average speed. I hope he has a chance but there is nothing wrong w/ depth in the OF and Garcia is a good option.

          1
          Reply
        • twentyforty

          6 years ago

          Milwaukee had the 5th most strikeouts per team in MLB in 2019 and the most over the last three years. Stubby…go home.

          Reply
        • 2id

          6 years ago

          They also had the second most walks in all of MLB. Behind only the Astros. But cherry pick your stats. Go to your basement young virgin.

          Reply
        • 2id

          6 years ago

          They also had the second most walks, behind only the Astros. Back to the basement with you

          Reply
        • stubby66

          6 years ago

          That’s why the Brewers trade for Yellich and signed Cain instead of going with Brinson, Phillips, Broxton, Santana, Cordell and any others because they struck out too much so you go home.

          Reply
      • Dumpster Divin Theo

        6 years ago

        CF- yikes!

        Reply
  6. Franx

    6 years ago

    Jays should be all in on Garcia, move Grichuck to centre and have Guriel in left. Keep Grichuck in centre till they trade Giles for a true centre fielder. The big if is how much? I’d give him 4 years at 10 mil a year. But then again, i ain’t a manager 🙂

    Reply
    • agentx

      6 years ago

      Ooooff… 4/40 for Avisail Garcia? That would require more than a little dreaming on his potential.

      Reply
  7. dray16

    6 years ago

    I was thinking the brewers could use another outfielder

    1
    Reply
  8. zipit

    6 years ago

    I am wondering why the Brewers haven’t looked at CJ Cron for their open 1B spot. And also a Thames reuniting.

    Reply
  9. bravesfan

    6 years ago

    Braves have “checked in”

    Reply
  10. Karlander

    6 years ago

    He is cheap and average and most fans never heard of him so he is a perfect Brewers signing.

    Reply
    • Yekatman

      6 years ago

      “Cheap and average and most fans never heard of him” – exactly like Yelich, Grandal, Cain and Moustakas. Very asture observation!

      1
      Reply
  11. bjupton100

    6 years ago

    I think he’s a good hitter and great against left handed pitching. If he gets 400 at bats and half or so against lefties he’s a 300/370/550 hitter. He’s also good for 10-20 steals and has a pretty good arm. I liked what little I saw of him in Tb.

    Reply
  12. Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher

    6 years ago

    Cory Dickerson would be a better option in LF for the Brewers. Much better hitter than Garcia and the defense would be about a push. Neither will win a gold glove.

    As for 1B, I could live with Braun there on an everyday basis. Of course, at his age, “everyday” is not gonna be a slam dunk. Logan Morrison wouldn’t be bad at 1B in a platoon. Would not be shocked to see Thames return as a platoon option.

    NL Centralis wide open, save for the Pirates. Might only need 90wins to grab the division title. Brewers are just as capable of doing that as the Cubs, Cardinals or Reds.

    BTW, the Reds are gonna be a much improved team this year that should not be taken lightly.

    Reply
    • Mendoza Line 215

      6 years ago

      Lou-Corey Dickerson is an undervalued player.
      He won a gold glove in 2018 with the Pirates even though he had not previously been known for his fielding ability.
      If the Pirates trade Marte they should consider moving Reynolds to CF and signing Dickerson.

      Reply
  13. bobtillman

    6 years ago

    I’d wonder about Garcia, only because the Rays just gave the Japanese young man about the same money as Garcia is projected. And Garcia is RH, which the Rays need, as opposed to the LH hitter, which the Rays are tilted toward. And Garcia isn’t that bad defensively; nothing special, but not horrible.

    Reply
  14. steelerbravenation

    6 years ago

    Yankees need to lose Happ’s salary.
    Hader, Arcia & prospect for Andujar, Frazier & Happ

    Reply
    • steelerbravenation

      6 years ago

      Or Andujar & Happ for Hader & Arcia
      I like this better

      Reply
      • andremets

        6 years ago

        I would want way more if I’m the Brewers for Hader

        Reply
        • andremets

          6 years ago

          Hader for Happ, Andujar, Clint Frazier, and Domingo German

          Reply
      • Dorothy_Mantooth

        6 years ago

        No way MIL does this. Frazier is such an overrated prospect. Well below average defender with an average bat. These guys are a dime a dozen in MLB. While Andujar had a great 2018, he too is a below average defender coming off of a major surgery so who knows how he recovers from that. Hader is a Top 5 reliever who is a game changer and Milwaukee will not trade him for a couple of lottery tickets with warts. The best thing for the Yankees to do would be to hold onto Andujar for one more year to rebuild his value and prove 2018 wasn’t a career year. If he does, he’ll be much more valuable at the trade deadline than he is today.

        Reply
        • Reggie Bars

          6 years ago

          They can get a lot more for Hader.

          Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Pirates Reportedly Have Very Few Untouchable Players At Trade Deadline

    Griffin Canning Believed To Have Suffered Achilles Injury

    Mariners Looking For Corner Infield Bats; Ownership Willing To Bump Payroll

    Wander Franco Found Guilty Of Sexual Abuse

    Mariners Place Rowdy Tellez On Release Waivers

    Max Meyer To Undergo Season-Ending Hip Surgery

    Whit Merrifield Announces Retirement

    White Sox Sign Noah Syndergaard To Minor League Deal

    Corbin Carroll Placed On IL With Wrist Fracture

    Hoops Rumors Has The Latest On NBA Draft, Free Agency

    Mets Option Francisco Alvarez

    Reds To Promote Chase Burns For MLB Debut

    A.J. Puk Undergoes Elbow Surgery; Gabriel Moreno Diagnosed With Fractured Finger

    Braves To Select Didier Fuentes

    Anthopoulos On Trading Chris Sale: “Will Not Happen”

    Rays Owner Stuart Sternberg In “Advanced” Talks To Sell Team

    Recent

    Phillies Reinstate Bryce Harper, Designate Buddy Kennedy For Assignment

    Athletics Select Colby Thomas

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Submit Your Questions For This Week’s Episode Of The MLBTR Podcast

    Poll: Should The Pirates Trade Mitch Keller?

    The Opener: Brown, Waldron, Schmitt

    White Sox Place Luis Robert Jr. On 10-Day Injured List

    AL Central Notes: Arias, Carpenter, Cannon

    Twins Designate Jonah Bride For Assignment

    Giants Sign Austin Barnes To Minor League Deal

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version