Brewers outfielder Tyrone Taylor has a sprained elbow that will keep him out of action for the first two weeks of spring games, with Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel relaying word from manager Craig Counsell. There is no structural damage and Taylor will just need rest, though this will delay his ramp-up to readiness for the big league season.
Taylor has had a decent run with Milwaukee over the past couple of years, hitting 29 home runs and stealing nine bases in 213 games. His batting line over that 2021-2022 stretch was .239/.300/.448 for a wRC+ of 104. He also drew positive grades for his outfield defense, playing all three spots but primarily in center, leading to 3.4 fWAR in that time.
There’s still about five weeks until Opening Day, perhaps giving Taylor time to recover, though it will depend on how his elbow heals. If he needs to miss a bit of time, the club has a mix of outfielders that could step up. Christian Yelich and Jesse Winker seem likely to share the left field and designated hitter slots, with Garrett Mitchell perhaps getting an extended run of play in center. Right field could still go to Taylor if healthy, though the club also has Blake Perkins on the 40-man roster, as well as infielder/outfielders Brian Anderson, Mike Brosseau and Keston Hiura. In terms of non-roster options, Tyler Naquin just came aboard on a minor league deal, and there’s also prospects like Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer.
Some other notes from Brewers camp…
- Left-hander Aaron Ashby has been sidelined by a shoulder injury that Counsell said would keep him out of action for “a couple of months.” The pitcher himself addressed the media yesterday, including Rosiak, and discussed the issue in more detail. “It’s a shoulder impingement, labral tear,” Ashby said. “That sounds really bad but everyone has these; it’s just kind of how it affects you. And in my throwing motion, it doesn’t feel great. It’s a really small tear. Then it’s the rehab process and retraining that muscle and working the proper way.” As for the timeline, “My hope is kind of middle of May,” he said. Over the past two years, he’s thrown 139 innings with a 4.47 ERA but stronger underlying metrics. His 9.7% walk rate is a bit high, but his 27.1% strikeout rate and 57.8% ground ball rate were both strong, leading to better marks from ERA estimators like a 3.95 FIP and 3.41 SIERA. Even without Ashby, the club projects to have six strong rotation options in Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Eric Lauer, Wade Miley and Adrian Houser. Ashby will have to work his way into that mix once he’s healthy, though it’s possible someone else in that group needs some time off by then.
- Shortstop Willy Adames has previously expressed his willingness to sign a long-term deal to stay with the Brewers, though he also noticed the big contracts that shortstops were able to secure this offseason. “When you see the guys, you know, getting paid, I mean, the group of guys that signed this offseason, they were elite guys and they set the bar for us, you know, the guys that are coming up,” he tells Rosiak. He goes on to say he’ll let his agency handle the business side of things while he focuses on baseball but adds that those other shortstops “really set the bar for the guys that are coming up.” Carlos Correa ultimately settled for a contract below expectations after he had two deals scuttled by concerns over his physical, but the other marquee shortstops did well for themselves this winter. Trea Turner got himself $300MM from the Phillies, Xander Bogaerts got $280MM from the Padres and Dansby Swanson secured $177MM from the Cubs. The 27-year-old Adames will make $8.7MM this year before a final arbitration season in 2024, after which he’s slated to hit the open market. His performance over those next two seasons will determine what kind of contract he could be looking at on the open market but he’s trending in a strong direction. He posted a career-high 4.7 fWAR last year in a season that included 31 home runs and strong grades for his glovework. Milwaukee fans would surely love to keep him around long-term but he seems well aware of the kind of contract that awaits him if he stays healthy and productive for a couple more years.
Brewers feel like they are at that crossroad where they have the talent to make 1 more run this year, but if they are out of it by the deadline will probably sell off and begin a rebuild. Not looking likely they will extend Burnes or Adames with those comments.
the crossroad is they have enough talent to get them to the playoffs but a owner who is too cheap to make championship winning moves
Please trade Adames, it doesn’t seem like you know what you have…ATL yes
sure, but its going to start at Strider and then some
Oh, Burnes and Woodruff are going with Adames to Atlanta?
Enough of the let’s rest and heal for Ashby, I had an impingement tear and had orthoscopic to repair, good as new now and I had same option to rest it, may cost him 1/2 of season, but in long run best for him, Taylor should go back down, you have enough backups to point of too many.
You also aren’t throwing a ball 95 MPH about 60 times a game along with 89 MPH changeups, 85 MPH sliders, and 80 MPH curves, in which a human arm whips in a way its not supposed to. This doesn’t even take into account pregame warmups, bullpens on off days, etc. Until you’re doing that, your impingment tear experience has no bearing on how quickly Ashby should get back on the mound (and if you were a professional pitcher, you should know each injury experience should be judged absent of another’s).
zero chance adames comes back to the brewers. the brewers don’t pay good players to stay on their team, they’re just a farm system for actual championship caliber organizations.
Well that’s a pretty stupid take.
Yelich got paid to stay for a long time. Unfortunately, his performance dropped off and the contract has become an albatross.
Braun is another example of a good (enhanced) player who was paid. Obviously, PED issues there, but this still also shows that’s not the case. (He got paid before those came to light…)
What is the case, however, is that MKE simply isn’t a big market. While the club might be able to open the pocketbooks for a player or maybe two, they cannot afford the same kind of lineup that NY or CA teams are able to.
To say the Brewers don’t pay good players to stay, though, isn’t entirely accurate. They just have to make harder choices than other clubs…when they’re even in position to have a choice. I mean, the Yelich contract is limiting them pretty hard right now in that regard.
The Yelich deal isn’t that onerous. It’s only $26 M, with $4 M deferred. They could sign one other player to a similar sized contract. But I doubt they could handle three.
Small markets can only afford one contract like that and maybe one of two more in the upper 10 millions, and they better not make a bad investment or they will be set back for years.
Large markets with massive local TV deals don’t have that limitation.
Even large markets can’t afford that many of them, unless the owner doesn’t care a whit about losing money. The Mets opening day payroll is already above what the team’s expected revenue for the year will be. Throw their luxury tax hit, front office salaries and all expenses of running the team, the cost of the minor league system, etc. on top of that and the Mets are going to lose over $100 M.
Yelich’s deal was a massive bargain at the time he signed it too, coming off back-to-back MVP years. There’s a 100% chance Woody, Burnes and Adames have already been offered extentions and have declined them due to differences in “fair” market value.
Stop defending the Brewers’ management, front office, and ownership. Their dealings or lack of with Burnes during arbitration is a perfect example of why this team has ONE World Series appearance in 54 years.
Well none of these guys were extension candidates when they extended Yelich pre-2020 season. Now the team is living with that contract. Cain’s contract also existed til last year. Would have thought that cleared the way for 1 extension between Burnes, Woodruff, and or Adames this offseason. Maybe the plan is waiting which 2 gets the best trade return this following offseason and extend who remains.
What Adam’s is now telling us is he wants the big payday and will probably test market; I don’t think Milwaukee can extend him so this year could be a very busy trade deadline.
Adames will probably get a little more than Dansby, maybe something closer to $190-$200 million. He’s been a more consistent hitter throughout his career, with compareable defense. He’ll also be a year younger than Swanson was this offseason.
Adames isn’t even worth $100m. That is ridiculous. All he does is hit HR
u joking, right? did you just wake up from a coma and completely miss the crapshow that was this offseason for SS? he’s currently rates as the 8th best SS in baseball and you don’t think he will make over 100 mil? AND he’s under 30? (seriously though, apologies if you did just get out of a coma… that wouldn’t be cool)
8th best shortstop? He’s not in the top ten.
You want to name your top 10? Adames would rank where beyond your top 10?
In no particular order:
Turner, Bichette, Lindor, Tatis, Seager, Swanson, Anderson, Boegerts, Witt, Correa.
There’s ten. Doesn’t include younger players like Cruz or Franco.
I’d question Anderson and Witt on your list but I’d also understand Franco or Cruz future so Adames fits 10/11. What a change of talents at SS position. Not long ago Adames would be top 3-5.
Safe to say Tatis doesn’t count anymore since Xander pretty much confirmed he’s the every day SS. Adames is currently better than Witt, all-around. Cruz had something like a 35% K rate and is a much worse defender– he’s not even close to Adames yet. Anderson is one of the worst defensive SS and had lower OPS+ and wRC+ than Adames. He really only provides BA and a lot of those hits are empty singles.
Everyone else makes sense at least. I’d rather have Adames than Swanson, but I understand the argument for Swanson over him.
I agree with most of your comment, Chris; however, why judge “best” on future possibilities? Cruz’s D has been so suspect that he seems destined to move to 1B, plus he has massive holes in his swing. The tools are there, but he certainly hasn’t put anything together to suggest he can actually take his potential and turn it into stardom. I don’t feel it’s fair to rank Cruz even close to Adames yet. He may get there, but he’s a ways off.
Ty for clarifying how poor Cruz is. Im lenient on guys their 1st 2 years in the majors. That term bat first. Let them get a chance to find and fit a defensive home. Urias didn’t fit SS, but can produce solid enough defense at 3b. Cruz with his height possess a unique bat. Hits the ball hard. There’s a star potential inside with some polish.
Adames would move back up if he put up the 2021 numbers and not last year. 20 HR with a .280 Avg is much better than 31 HR with a .235 Avg.
As good as Adames is – and I’m a fan – he had a .298 OBP last year. Sure, he hit for power, but he needs to get on base more than that to secure the kind of deal he is imtimating.
They employed the shift on him very effectively last season vs his stats with no shift. He’s a breakout candidate similar to Kyle Tucker with the shift ban.
Thanks Chris. I’ll keep an eye out for that.
Brian Anderson will be the starting 3B with Urias at 2nd. Winker has a shot at RF, Mitchell plays CF. We’ll have to see what Counsell likes, but if these guys are hitting, they’ll be the starters.
I think we’ll see Anderson play some RF. Although, maybe Naquin will play some RF now. I think Winker will primarily DH
Naquin has to make the the team that requires a 40man spot being Jettisoned. Good luck to him with 3 top 100 OFs lined up in the same situation.
jason alexander will get moved to the 60-day IL opening a spot… still uncertain, but Ashby could be headed for the same (which couls open a spot for Voit potentially)
I believe they used the 40man spot from 60day IL of Alexander when signing Justin Wilson? If I remember the dudes name right.
yeah, highly doubt Wink plays any RF… Anderson, Taylor, Mitchell and Naquin will probably form some sort of CF\RF platoon, though Anderson will be primarily at 3B. winker will DH as he heals from neck surgery for the first half at least
Sure does seem like a fire sale is coming in Milwaukee..May as well be this year to maximize value.
Burnes and Adames returns alone could set them up for years if they play it right.
Not a fire sale. A reload. After the season.
The Brewers are not going to “rebuild” or have a fire sale. Their plan is to stay in the mix like TB. Something went awry with Burnes at some point. Regardless, he will be traded. They don’t have the cash like the big markets. My guess is after this season.
Taylor will be marketed this year to trade – Brewers have lots of incoming prospects
not much value there, plus he offers the brewers defensive flexibility. chances are Mitchell will be shuttled around as Frelick gets a cup of coffee… weimer may not get his shot til late in the season
There is this guy named Chourio who could also force his way on to the team late in the season. Taylor making it through this season still on the team would be surprising.
Unless the season goes to crap, Frelick and Weimer will get their cup of coffee in September. Chourio is at least two years away.
Based on the hype surrounding Chourio, you can’t seriously believe the Brewers would keep him down 2 more seasons.
The current pecking order has Mitchell, Frelick, Wiemer, and Chourio. But that could change just by the end of Spring training. All 4 are ML starter progression. Via top 100 rankings it’s Chourio, Frelick, Wiemer, and Mitchell. If Chourio is a future superstar it’s quite common to see that called up skipping AAA altogether.
6 games at AA, going 2 for 23. And he only hit .252 with a .317 OBP in A+. He’s not seeing Milwaukee this season. Not even in September.
2024 is possible if two of the three others you mentioned turn out to be busts AND he destroys AA ball this year.
Do you understand he was 18 all of last season and had 45games professionally to his name at 17 at Rookie ball? That the team started him at A and they believed he was ready to see AA games before ending his season? 20HRs at 18 and playing 99games. He’s already an easy 30+hr projection maybe 40+ as he matures and fills out his frame. Chourio is on the Mike Trout meteoric rise. He won’t be on your typical prospect timeline.
Yes, I do understand all that. But I wonder if you do.
Are you talking about the Mike Trout that spent 3 plus years in the minors? The one that spent his first season at Rookie with 5 games at low A. Followed by being in Low A with a midseason promotion to High A. Followed by an almost complete season at AA before a very late season callup to the majors. Followed by starting the season at AAA. And Trout never came close to having a slash line as low as the .252/.317/.488 Chourio put up in High A.
Three plus years for Trout. Chourio has put in one year. Means two plus more years in the minors to match the “meteoric rise.”
The Brewers won’t get much for Taylor. Maybe a mid level single A guy. They have to hit on the Burnes trade. He’ll be one of the biggest players they’ll trade in quite some time
Agreed on Taylor. The cost to acquire Burnes certainly increased with the decision at 10.01M. I doubt a team meets the asking price. It’s gotta be higher than what the Pirates expect for Reynolds.
Outlawing defensive shifts will increase a lot of averages this year. Adames is one projected to benefit from this (along with Tellez). If Adames adds 1 hit a week his numbers will be even better.
Enjoy him while he’s here Milwaukee.
Winker, Anderson, Brosseau, Naquin, Voit. I’ll bet that makes some other teams shake in fear. Walk, HR, and many strikeouts, plodding along station to station baseball with average to below average defense. If not for the pitching, this team will be lucky to break 75 wins or 500. Maybe the Crew can bring back Sogard, Spangenberg, Gyorko, and Chase Anderson to complete Counsell/Stearns/Arnold’s perfect image of the Brewers baseball team. Brian Anderson the TV guy will love this team.
Because of the pitching, the team doesn’t have to have a powerful lineup. Maybe if you weren’t a pinhead, you would know this.
Maybe you should retake that 4th-grade reading comprehension class that you obviously failed. Then maybe you would understand that my complaint about the Brewers is I would prefer a more athletic team with more speed, higher OBP, and better defense to support the pitching. Instead of a team that relies too much on the round-tripper and looks like a north woods tavern softball team.