The Brewers added some outfield depth Thursday, announcing the signing of Akil Baddoo to a one-year, major league contract. It’s a split deal that pays Baddoo at a $1.25MM rate while he’s in the majors and $845K for time spent in the minor leagues, according to an Associated Press report. Milwaukee already had an open 40-man spot. Their roster is now full following the addition of Baddoo, a client of Apex Baseball.
Baddoo, 27, was the No. 74 overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Twins. He never appeared in a big league game with Minnesota but landed in Detroit by way of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. Baddoo showed plenty of promise in that rookie season, hitting .259/.330/.436 with 13 homers and 18 steals in only 461 plate appearances. The Tigers looked to have a steal on their hands, as the lefty-swinging Baddoo at least looked the part of a platoon corner outfielder with some speed, modest power and plate discipline.
Unfortunately, he’s never returned to that same level of production. Baddoo has been an up-and-down member of the roster in four seasons since that time, hitting a combined .201/.288/.323 in 682 plate appearances — primarily against right-handed pitching. He runs well and draws strong grades for his defensive acumen in left field, but Baddoo has well below-average marks in batted-ball metrics like average exit velocity (87.5 mph), barrel rate (5.9%) and hard-hit rate (34.6%) over the past four seasons.
Baddoo has one minor league option year remaining, so he doesn’t necessarily need to break camp with the Brewers. If he doesn’t make the Opening Day club, they can send him to Triple-A Nashville without needing to pass him through waivers. He’ll jump into a competition for reps in an outfield that’ll feature Jackson Chourio in right field and Sal Frelick in center.
Isaac Collins was the Brewers’ leader in left field innings last season, though he can play all over the diamond. Jake Bauers is also in the mix, but he has ample experience at first base and could always see time at designated hitter on days that Christian Yelich is in left or is out of the lineup. (Yelich played only 19 games in left field last year and was otherwise a DH.) Blake Perkins, too, will see time on the grass but is more of a fourth outfielder/backup center fielder than an everyday option. Former first-round pick Garrett Mitchell missed most of the 2025 season due to injury and will need to hit his way back into consideration for a more prominent role.
If Baddoo ends up playing a meaningful role of any sort on the 2026 Brewers, he could be a relatively long-term addition. He currently has just 3.021 years of major league service time, meaning he can be controlled via arbitration for at least three more seasons (including 2026). Depending how much time he spends on the big league roster, that window of control could extend an extra season. Baddoo would need 151 days of MLB service this year to reach four years. Of course, that’s putting the cart before the horse; he’ll need to play his way onto the roster and then show some staying power before that’s a real consideration, but it’s a nice theoretical bonus — particularly for a club with a reputation for maximizing the performance of its low-cost acquisitions.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic first reported that the Brewers were signing Baddoo to a major league contract.
Major league deal?
Wow
Mitchell is the big wild card here. I think teams like KC could be tempted into giving him a shot via trade. Offensive ceiling is pretty high if he can stay healthy, but those injuries limit his return. A pitching prospect and a bat would probably be enough at this point?
It’ll be a low A pitching prospect. All Mitchell has shown is a complete inability to stay on the field.
I would be suprised if this deal exceeds 1.25 million.
MLBTR – I think you misspelled *minor in the title and article. You’re welcome!
This still leaves his brother Yabbadab unsigned.
Came here for this. Thank you.
He had terrible numbers this past season. I wonder if the Brewers are desperate?
Even if they were desperate, OF is a strange place to add on unless they are planning to trade from that surplus.
Someone’s got to play in Nashville.
They don’t need this guy in the OF. Or in the stadium.
Don’t think so, read the article. They have two studs on the corners. Perkins is a tremendous center fielder. Will be getting Mitchel back Isaac Collins was a great find. Stockbridge in the minors. Yelich still can play a descent left field if needed. My guess they see some untapped potential with a guy who has an option left.
*Simpson’s pointing and laughing gif*
Why would they need him for the outfield on a major league deal? They have plenty of quality outfielders. Makes sense if it is a minor league deal.
I’m guessing a major league deal was what it took to get him to sign.
The Brewers pull value out of thin air. I’m guessing this will ring true with this signing.
Maybe the Brewers think that Baddoo can be the next Andrew Vaughn.
Side note, but I keep hearing about how the Brewers found something in Andrew Vaughn – they UNLOCKED something. Here are his OPS+ numbers for his career, from 2021 thru 2025 – 91, 111, 102, 98 and 99. Yes, 2025 was only 99. He was always streaky – he started the year horrifically for the Sox and finished it great with the Brewers, true.
But I suspect Vaughn shows in 2026 that he is what he’s always been – a league average hitter, who is a snail on the bases and a butcher at first base.
Happy for Baddoo but good luck with that Brewers. He is a 4A player.
Major league deal? Head scratcher.
He has a fun name.
That’s about it.
He seems like a better fit on the Packers.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a split deal. I would’ve rather signed Kelenic and see if they can get through to him to change his approach.
Lets 23 Baddoo as the old saying goes, good for him.
How does he still have a minor league option?
That’s an error. He doesn’t have any minor league options left. As a result, he’s been DFA’d multiple times.
He has an option year remaining. Because of the considerable depth, he’ll likely play in Nashville, but he’s added depth in the event of injury or trade.
There goes my predictions entry, up in flames.
Depth signing, nothing more. Could surprise in a new environment so you never know
Hopefully for the Brewers they can find some value in him. I remember watching the MLB highlights the day Akil homered in his first at bat on the first pitch and the camera man showing Akil’s mom absolutely estatic. The hot stove world keeps turning, what a day, what a day…
I bet cherrington was licking his chops trying to sign this dumpster dive. But the Brewers dived first. This is exactly the kind of players cherrington loves. Thank you Brewers for stepping on cherringtons knuckles.
May not be the best player but has a great name and for that we at the Baseball Name Game applaud you.
His sister Erykah is happy
Maybe they’ll call Tyrone…Taylor?
Rick Wrona’s sister Mysha
What ever will become of Tyler Black, the aging prospect with no position but a keen grasp of the strike zone? His best asset might be his Canadian citizenship.
Do..Badoo Ba Doo Badoo!
One one of the best first weeks of a career ever. Home run first pitch. Walk off single and grand slam in his first three games. I believe he got a triple as well. Unfortunately…
Maybe BadDont.
And the crew adds the big bat they have needed for about 5 years now! Just a sad signing for the local fans
He’s a depth piece.
It was between Baddoo and Tucker.
I’m REALLY disappointed MLBTR didn’t use the photo of Baddoo getting hit in the nuts while trying to steal second against the Guardians. How in Bob Feller did they miss his greatest moment?
What you enjoy in the privacy of your boudoir is your bidness
The Blue Jays were in on him.
Contrary to this article’s claim, Baddoo does not have any remaining minor league options.
Really? Brewers media seems to think he does as well. He has been optioned in 3 seasons, but as far as I can tell, he didnt spend the requisite 20 days in the minor leagues to burn an option one of those years.
Good luck to Akil. Detroit,was tired of him and he wasn’t a very good AAAA player either. The Brewers should have looked elsewhere for an OF. They could certainly found one that could hit and field better. I dont think it was from a lack of trying. Many guys are not MLB players.
.
It’s easy to say, “This is all he is.” But the Brewers turned a Rule 5 minor league claim from the Rockies, Isaac Collins, into a ROY contender. And despite being with their Triple-A affiliate for only a few weeks, Andrew Vaughn made a few adjustments to his stroke and became a mainstay when the Brewers needed a replacement for an injured Rhys Hoskins. Player development is ongoing with MLB’s Organization of the Year.
If you don’t trust Matt Arnold by now to make smart incremental moves, when will you?
I wouldn’t count out either Perk or especially Mitchell(if healthy, big if) as starters, actually id bet those 2 are likely to form a platoon at CF. Both players are incredible defenders in CF, and the Brewers have shown they are high on both guys. Murphy talked about how they’d have to fire him before they’d option Perk, Mitchell was called up before Sal & Wiemer to the suprise of many, was the main CF whenever healthy since then, and people within the org have talked about him as an elite defender.
“Blake Perkins, too, will see time on the grass but is more of a fourth outfielder/backup center fielder than an everyday option.”
You can’t just use “too” as a replacement for “also.”