The Brewers have released utilityman Brock Holt, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. He’d been designated for assignment over the weekend.
Holt, 32, established himself as a versatile jack of all trades in parts of seven seasons with the Red Sox — particularly in the two-year lead up to his first foray into free agency. In 662 plate appearances from 2018-19, Holt posted a combined .286/.366/.407 batting line with 10 homers, 32 doubles, four triples and eight steals. Along the way, he saw time at all four infield positions and in both outfield corners, with defensive metrics casting an especially favorable light on his work at second base — his primary position in Boston.
Despite a strong two-year platform, however, Holt was met with a rather tepid market in free agency. He lingered in limbo until signing a late, one-year deal with Milwaukee that promised him $3.25MM in the form of a $2.5MM salary and a $750K buyout on a $5MM option for the 2021 season.
Holt’s time in Milwaukee could scarcely have gone worse. He appeared in 16 games and took 36 plate appearances with only a .100/.222/.100 batting line to show for it (3-for-30 with four walks, a sacrifice and one hit-by-pitch). He was deployed only in the outfield corners and at third base during his brief stint as a Brewer.
Assuming he’s already cleared release waivers, Holt will now be a free agent who is eligible to sign with any club for the prorated league minimum — about $97K between now and season’s end. That sum would be subtracted from the $430K the Brewers still owe him (in addition to the aforementioned option buyout). While the Brewers clearly didn’t find a trade partner in the early stages of Holt’s DFA limbo period, he could certainly draw interest as a bench piece on a contending club now that he can be had for a relatively minimal sum.
*cue the ‘back to the redsox’ responses*
Yes, @rocky7- will Chauffeur the overrated Brock Holt back to the Red Suks willingly to Boston… lol
Red Sox fans don’t love Brock Holt for the player he is but rather more of the character and person. He’s more of a cult hero than a superstar.
nailed it. he’s a fine player — nice utility guy — but it’s his attitude and character (and his adorable son) that hooked us
Why is he a cult hero? Simply because he was a Red Sox. Asking for your Mom.
Because he has 2 World Series rings and he is the only player in history to hit for the cycle in the playoffs
Never a superstar but in my case it was his will to succeed. If anyone remembers, he was not highly thought of when acquired from the Pirates but from his first at bat, all he did was hustle. Then to find a bench spot, he became a jack of all trades. John Kennedy (not the Ex-President) was nicknamed “super sub” in the early 70’s but he mainly just played around the diamond. Holt turned himself into an adequate or better player at every position other than pitcher or catcher. Add in he became clutch at the plate be it a key hit/walk or just doing a forgotten art, moving the runner along. Put everything together and you get the on-field reasons why he has been so highly regarded. His work in the community, his family and clubhouse presence only add to the story. Wishing him well wherever he ends up.
Claps, excellent post!
Yankees are going after him.
I feel like Yolmer Sanchez and Brock Holt were both brought down by the baseball gods to serve similar purposes. Both stayed with the Sox for a while, both decided to part ways, and both realized that their new teams didn’t like their services. This story is writing itself.
@Rangers29- yeah, the Yankees got a player like that also. Not sure if you ever heard of him. Tyler” no hit all glove” Wade. lol I guess he has speed.
We have a player like that too, his name is Roughned “no hit, no glove, all the money in the world” Odor.
Cubs could use a versatile lefty bat.
Cubs could use a whole new lineup.
Cubs should have signed Yolmer and DFA’d KB!
Holt – retire from baseball and spend some time with your kids.
If he is so popular he could open a restaurant in Boston post COVID ….Brockstar’s Chicken
No need to post so hateful….sheesh.
Maybe the Brewers will take a flier on Andujar in a package with Hader going to the Yankees finally. A healthy Britton in the 7th. Hader in the 8th & Chappy in the 9th.
Brewers will only trade Hader if they are overwhelmed. Andujar is far from the major piece they would be looking for. The price for him has not gone down in the Brewers eyes.
Whereas the perceived value of Andujar has taken a hit.
Andujar is a “major piece” only in the minds of deluded Yankee fans.
Andujar as the 3rd piece in a trade sure but as a headliner nope
Hader costs the Yankees Schmidt, another top 10-15 prospect and Andujar. BTW, your can’t touch All-Star Frazier is 2 for his last 19 with no extra base hits against real pitching. He got lucky he started his season against the hapless Red Sox pitching staff. I really don’t understand why Yankees fans overvalue their prospects so much.
@Dorothy_Mantooth- not trading the Brewers Schmidty. But Deivi Garcia, Luis Gil, and Andujar is definitely plenty for Josh Hader though. Yankees are not trading Frazier with Judge & Stanton hurt. They can’t.
So it’s not like the “Brock-stah” was ever effectively versatile….played hard, played smart, but not a lot of basic defensive instincts there. And he hasn’t hit for a while.
Great guy (or at least so they say), but he’s definitely the 28th guy on a 28 man roster.
he hit .297/.369.402 over 295 plate appearances in 2019 and averaged about 1.5 bwar per season from 2014-19. that’s pretty good production out of your utility guy
Great production for a utility guy, but at 32 his age is working against him. No team wants him at this point especially a team rebuilding….
A player great in the clubhouse and with fans is a bonus. It is not a reason to sign a player.
Depends on the situation. He could be the important bench player that turns out to be the key in October or in Boston’s case revitalizes the clubhouse so they can better assess for next year.
Mitch Moreland
Brewers should have released him last week instead of waiting so he could have a chance to find a job.
Would fit better on the Mets than Dozier was.
A return of TJ Rivera would have been a better fit than Dozier was.
If they have a fire sale at the deadline I would have no problem with the Sox bringing him back.
Cleveland a possible landing spot?
Steve Holt! > Brock
Every team has that one player who is more valuable to their franchise than their overall stats and to any other team in MLB. Some of these players are good like Brett Gardner, Alex Gordon, etc. Brock isn’t at their level but he brought so much to the Red Sox clubhouse and he was also very clutch when they needed him to be (anyone remember him hitting for the cycle against the Yankees in the 2018 playoffs)? I don’t think Chaim realized how much he meant to players like JD Martinez, Xander, etc. He kept them loose and kept them motivated. He’s still young enough to play for a couple more seasons and it would be great if that was here in Boston. When and if his playing days are over, the Red Sox need to find him a job with the team. He’d be a great infield coach or even a bench coach for Boston (if he wants to do that of course). If not, maybe a special assistant or even a front office job. I believe his family is still here in Boston so I’d love to see him come home, finish his career here and stay with the club after that.
I read the redsox will not bring him back because they want to give the young kids a look
Xactly Dorothy! If they can’t find an on the field job, which they should for the morale factor, then put him on NESN. They need to bring him back for the players as much for fans!
Brock was a clutch player n never complained, came to play n spur on the others. The hater comments are from ppl who never saw his play.
Dorothy – the key word is WAS. I have been a Red Sox fan 50+ years, and Brock Holt was one of the best utility players during that time, but at 32 his best years are behind him. Since no team has made an offer and he had so little interest in free agency last winter, it should be evident that the widely held view is that there are younger, cheaper, healthier, players with more upside available…..
I do not mind the Red Sox skipping Thursday night’s game. With Mazza on the mound the Red Sox would have gotten blasted…..
Four days until the CBT is reset…..
Hope they send Mazza down, so they can avoid another start from him.
The Sox have skipped the entire year. As to your other comment, how is he done after 30 at bats in a weird season? He certainly was not finished last year. Other than because of injuries, anyone who assesses players mainly on 2020 really need to reassess how they evaluate players.
Looie – I wrote before the season started he was not a fit for the Red Sox….at age 32 there are better options with more up side since this was always going to be a “bridge” year. Chatham, Downs, and even Chad De La Guerra should all get opportunities.
Judging someone on 30 ABs is NOT ideal, but that is all we have. My son missed high school graduation and prom because of covid……that’s life and it is not fair……
Life is never fair……it is what it is …….you just have to deal with it…..
Holt $3,250,000
Chatham, Downs, De La Guerra $560,000
Leaves more money for the all important starting pitching
He’s essentially free this yr.
Yankees will scap him up
No, thanks easy pass on that one. Thnx