The Brewers announced a series of roster moves earlier today as they optioned infielders Caleb Durbin and Tyler Black to minor league camp and released outfielder Manuel Margot. In addition, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes that non-roster invitee Jake Bauers has an upward mobility clause in his contract and that the Brewers are “close” to a decision on whether to roster him themselves or offer teams around the league the opportunity to do so.
The decision to option both Durbin and Black to the minors is a surprising one, as both had been in the conversation for playing time at third base. Durbin came to the Brewers this winter alongside Nestor Cortes as part of the Devin Williams trade, while Black was the club’s first-round pick back in 2021 and made his big league debut last year. With both Durbin and Black now ticketed for Triple-A to open the season, it appears duties at the hot corner will fall to a platoon of Vinny Capra and Oliver Dunn, with Dunn getting the lion’s share of playing time.
While Black has just 49 plate appearances at the MLB level and Durbin has yet to make his big league debut, neither of the club’s alternatives at the hot corner have substantial big league experience either. Dunn appeared in 41 games for the Brewers in his rookie year last season, slashing a lackluster .221/.282/.316 in 104 trips to the plate. Capra, meanwhile, has bounced between the Blue Jays, Pirates, and Brewers while appearing in each of the last three MLB seasons but has just 20 games and 37 plate appearances total at the big league level under his belt, with a career .156/.250/.219 slash line in that time.
Turning to Margot, the 30-year-old experienced the worst season of his career with the Twins last year as he hit just .238/.289/.337 while splitting time primarily between the outfield corners. That lackluster production led him to sign a minor league deal with the Brewers last month, though it appears his .250/.314/.375 slash line in 35 trips to the plate this spring wasn’t enough to convince Milwaukee to carry him on the roster entering the year, even after the loss of Blake Perkins to the injured list. With Margot no longer in the fold, the job of fifth outfielder behind Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, Garrett Mitchell, and Sal Frelick appears likely to fall to infielder/outfielder Isaac Collins. Collins, 27, made his big league debut with the Brewers last year and hit just .118/.211/.118 in 11 games with the club. He posted strong numbers at the Triple-A level, however, and has flashed the versatility in the minors to not only play both outfield corners but also handle both second and even third base. That versatility should allow Collins to offer depth to the Brewers both in the outfield and at the hot corner as the season begins.
As for Bauers, it seems likely that the Brewers will keep the first baseman in the fold given that, as noted by Hogg, the club now has just 13 healthy position players in camp after optioning Durbin and Black to the minor leagues today. It’s at least plausible that the club could make an external addition, but said addition could just as easily bump a player like Collins or Capra off the roster. If Bauers does break camp with the Brewers, he’ll do so on the heels of a 2024 season where he appeared in 116 games for Milwaukee, though he struggled to a lackluster .199/.301/.361 slash line in 346 trips to the plate as he did so. Despite those pedestrian numbers, Bauers still offers the Brewers a lefty bat off the bench and a complement to the right-handed hitting Rhys Hoskins at first base, which could be particularly useful if Hoskins doesn’t bounce back from his own down 2024 campaign this year.
This is an upgrade to your roster, AJ Preller. Can you find a couple of nickels to rub together under Eric Hosmer’s paystubs?
Margot shouldn’t cost that much. However, the Padres went from not enough Outfielders to a bit of a logjam after Tatis and Merrill with Connor Joe, Jason Heyward, Gavin Sheets, and the fact that Ornelis has a had a great spring and may get squeezed out of a roster spot
I don’t really see how Margot is an upgrade for the Pads, to be honest.
Hes definitely not.
He’s an upgrade from Jason Heyward. Of course, that still isn’t saying much.
Wonder if they’re gonna pull a trade for a 3B. They can’t be going into the season counting on Oliver friggin’ Dunn can they?
I’d be more concerned with Vinny Capra. Surprised Andrew Monasterio wasn’t mentioned as a platoon partner for Dunn. Is he injured? Did they already send him down?
Rockies and Brewers have had trade discussions for 3B Ryan McMahon
Why? Avg. Glove, can’t hit- only difference between him and Dunn is $12mm a year.
McMahon is a far above average glove throughout his career. And has experience at both first and third. He’s been a gold glove finalist at third multiple times. Whoever told you he’s average lied to you.
Was thinkin the same thing. I’m really hoping Black steps up if they don’t.
DAMMIT I KNEW Jack Bauer was alive.
Trade Durbin back to the Yankees where he could start at 3b.
Weak Brew!
How many teams are looking for righty OF help ? Dave D needs to stash him in AAA for the inevitable search when Marsh or Kepler don’t hit LH pitching ..
Well.. that didn’t age well..Margot already signed elsewhere …
Jake Bauers’ career is a mystery. I mean, it’s always great to see someone do something they love for a living and I don’t begrudge him, but why do teams keep giving chances to a first baseman who can’t hit?
He somehow managed to hit 12 dingers, 43 RBI and walked just enough to get his OBP a tick over 300 last year. Maybe they think he’s due for a 25 HR season
He’s always gotten a shot, because of his raw power. And he’s experienced, and pretty good, at first and OF. He’s just never going to make enough contact. But the alternatives in the system are clearly not ready. The mystery is Durbin. I thought he did enough to get a crack at, at least a platoon at third with Dunn. Dunn earned a spot.
He’ll be up in a few weeks when they get the extra year for his service time.
Sox released Drury. The Brewers could give him a shot. He had as good a spring as anyone available, had had some great seasons as a utility guy in the past, last year was awful, but so much so that it seems like an anomaly. If he still sucks shift the plan to the in house kids. Should be on the cheap.
I see he hurt his thumb and will miss a month or so. Too bad, dude was having a really good spring.
“Meanwhile” has to start the sentence, not come in the middle between commas.