Contrary to popular belief, Brewers center fielder Keon Broxton is not out of minor league options, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Because Broxton spent fewer than 20 days in the minors in 2017, he did not burn his final option year, McCalvy reports (Twitter link).
This normally wouldn’t be a particularly newsworthy development, but it’s interesting in Broxton’s case because he has come up as a trade candidate this offseason. Thanks in part to the Brewers’ acquisitions of fellow outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich this week, an out-of-options Broxton very easily could have found himself in another organization by the start of the season. While that still might be the case, the Brewers do have the chance to keep the soon-to-be 28-year-old around as minor league depth. If he remains a Brewer, earning a big league role at the outset of the season could be difficult with Cain, Yelich, Domingo Santana, Ryan Braun and Brett Phillips also in the fold (though Santana’s popular in the rumor mill, too).
Broxton emerged on the big league scene in 2016, overcoming a 36.1 percent strikeout rate to slash .242/.354/.430 with nine home runs and 23 stolen bases over 244 plate appearances. He also graded well in the grass, with nine Defensive Runs Saved and a 5.4 Ultimate Zone Rating. All said, Broxton was worth 2.1 fWAR that year, which was a boon to a Milwaukee club that essentially stole him from the division-rival Pirates in a December 2015 trade.
Unfortunately for Broxton and the Brewers, he went backward in 2017. While Broxton was a 20-20 player, finishing with exactly that many HRs and 21 stolen bases, he increased his already high K rate to 37.8 percent and hit a meager .220/.299/.420 across 463 PAs. Additionally, Broxton drew poor defensive marks according to DRS (minus-7) and UZR (minus-2.1), though Statcast’s Outs Above Average metric ranked him among the game’s best outfielders.
In the midst of his struggles last year, the Brewers sent Broxton to the minors in July. Because it was such a short-lived demotion, he could head back to Triple-A Colorado Springs this year if the Brewers don’t trade him. Broxton would likely have value in a deal, though, considering his upside and team control. He’s under wraps through the 2022 campaign and won’t be eligible for arbitration until at least next offseason.
What about Sogard or Aguilar ?
sogard was resigned to a 1year deal Aguilar is under team control for the next 4years
Both are out of options.
Well, if they aren’t able to trade for a pitcher, at least the outfield situation would be figured out with Braun at first and Broxton and Phillips in Colorado Springs as depth. This gives the Brewers much more leverage in a trade because they can tell a team that they could just walk away and roll with what they have. I’m not saying they should walk away from a trade, but the fact that they can could probably boost their return for whomever they trade.
What would Thames be? Backup first baseman and corner outfielder?
Back in Korea.
Braun at 2B or 3B.
He came up as a 3B and wasn’t very good. That would be awesome if he could play 2B but I doubt he has the skills.
He’d probably be no better or worse than Steve Pearce and Michael Cuddyer — otherwise horrible defensive players who ended up having to play some 2B. The Brewers just need bodies at positions for the most part, at least until they contend.
They’re trying to contend now…
Lol
Your comment is the dumbest comment I have ever read on this app. Cuddyer wasn’t horrible and There is a good chance Braun goes to 2B, because the brewers are a contending team
He played SS in college.
Yelich, Cain, Santana, Braun and Thames. 4 positions will yield plenty of PAs for 5 players, provided Counsell does an effective job rotating them. Could also help keep Braun healthier.
The idea of Braun playing some 2B is interesting…not sure how that would work out, but of he can do it reasonably effectively, it provides one more way of squeezing a few more PAs out of all 5 of them.
It also makes him more desirable by other teams because teams value the flexibility of options in case something else comes up.
Really wish the Tigers had something that wasn’t Fulmer to send to the Brewers for him. This team is going to be brutal to watch and Broxton would at least give us a fun player to watch.
I like Broxton and I think he’s interesting, but he’s an exact replica of Chris Young. I don’t think that’ll change.
Nice screen name!
Boyd for Broxton?
Why would you have broxton in AAA. Isn’t he much more valuable in the Mlb?
Of course, but where’s he going to play? Braun, Santana, Yelich, and Cain are all better players than Broxton is, and I think there’s a case to be made that Phillips might be as well. If he’s their 6th best outfielder, he’s not worth a roster spot, so he either ends up demoted or traded
Phillips is definitely better he plays better d has an 80 arm and hits left handed at least as well as Broxton. We need to trade Broxton for whatever we can get.
Phillips isn’t that good, I couldn’t disagree more.
Phillips definitely has the higher ceiling of the two. He likely won’t have a shot full time to prove it though
Where is he going to play
It’s as though you didn’t read the article at all which clearly outlines why he would be in the minors.
do you think he’ll be worth more or less than grichuk in a trade?
Probably about the same. I like the idea of Broxton to SF for Strickland and maybe a low to mid range prospect
Out of curiosity why are Giants fans so willing to give strickland away? he has seemed like a solid option in the pen no?
Broxton in SF is a bad idea. His power will disappear. A 38% strikeout rate makes him useless as an offensive player.
Broxton had an average exit velocity of 95mph which was 4th best in the majors when he hits a hr it goes way out the strikeouts are an issue but there is no reason to think his hr numbers would decrease significantly.
He plays in a hitter’s park, and yet exit velocity didn’t help his hr totals. AT&T is pitchers park. Numbers will go down.
Strickland has been solid it stems from 2014 when he first came up and it was a roller coaster ride every time he pitched. Since then he has been solid, I would not trade Strickland for Broxton at all. Dyson or one of our multiple 98+ hard throwers with 6 plus years control. With Will Smith coming back Dyson makes most sense for both teams. Personally I wouldn’t give up alot for Broxton and even Dyson might be too much.
Would Fisher and McHugh get Santana back from the Brewers.
That’s a massive overpay IMO. Heck, I dont think I would deal Fisher straight up for Broxton…
This is a case of Astros fans thinking Fisher is elite and he’s not. Santana is a proven asset that can start in LF and be above average. Fisher has not shown that.
Read my screen name. Not an Astros fan. Broxton had a sub .300 OBP, and got sent down last year. He’s hardly established.
Wish that’s where he was when he made that sick catch in the above pic
Vizzy for Broxton is bout as far as i would be willing to see the Braves go in regards to Brewers players
trade him back to the pirates. …lol…
Broxton would do his career a big favor by accepting a demotion to AAA to focus on one goal – cutting his strikeouts in half. Even a gold glove CF with a 38% K rate isn’t gonna have much value in the majors.
It’s not a matter of accepting a demotion. He has an option left and the Brewers can send him down without his approval.