- Brewers manager Craig Counsell says that lefty Sean Nolin has been diagnosed with a “significant” injury to his UCL, MLB.com’s Chris Abshire reports. There had been some suggestion that Nolin had avoided a ligament issue, but today’s news seemingly puts a lengthier absence on the table. A final prognosis will await a second opinion, though, so the 26-year-old’s fate remains to be seen. Nolin, who was claimed off waivers from the A’s over the winter, had been competing for a pen spot before he was shut down a few weeks ago.
Brewers Rumors
Colorado Springs Triple-A Affiliate Could Move To San Antonio
- The Colorado Springs Sky Sox, currently the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, will soon meet with San Antonio’s city council to discuss potential plans to move the franchise there, Brent Briggeman of the Colorado Springs Gazette writes. “If the City of San Antonio, the 37th largest TV market in the country, calls and says they would like to talk about a downtown stadium and the possibility of bringing Triple-A Baseball to San Antonio, it would be imprudent as business owners not to listen,” say the Sky Sox in a statement. The move would, apparently, be contingent upon San Antonio building a downtown ballpark appropriate for Triple-A baseball. The Elmore Sports Group, which owns the Sky Sox, also owns the Double-A San Antonio Missions, currently a Padres affiliate. The Sky Sox have been in Colorado Springs for nearly three decades, serving as the Rockies’ longtime Triple-A home most of that time before a recent switch to the Brewers.
Sean Nolin Has Left Elbow Strain
- An MRI revealed Thursday that Brewers southpaw Sean Nolin has a left elbow strain, general manager David Stearns said. Nolin will get a second opinion before a prognosis is announced, tweets Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. If Nolin’s diagnosis proves correct, McCalvy expects the 26-year-old to avoid Tommy John surgery. Nolin was a candidate to serve in the Brewers’ bullpen before they had to shut him down earlier this month with the injury. He’ll begin the season on the DL.
Will Middlebrooks Accepts Minor-League Assignment
- Third baseman Will Middlebrooks could have refused to let the Brewers send him to the minors, but he’s accepted an assignment to Triple-A Colorado Springs, Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel tweets. Middlebrooks hit .212/.241/.361 in 255 plate appearances last season for San Diego and did not win a job with the Brewers out of Spring Training.
Brewers Roster Notes: Rivera, Walsh, Perez
- The Brewers will go with Yadiel Rivera and Rule 5 pick Colin Walsh as bench infielders, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy tweets. That leaves Hernan Perez without an apparent role. He’s out of options, so a roster move could be coming for the 25-year-old. Meanwhile, Walsh will get a chance to stick in Milwaukee, which is obviously intrigued at the idea of keeping his future rights.
Will Smith To Attempt Knee Rehab; Out At Least 6 Weeks
Brewers reliever Will Smith will attempt to rehab his ailing right knee, as Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports. The hope is that an approximately three-week layoff before throwing will allow the southpaw to avoid surgery for what has been diagnosed as a tear of his lateral collateral ligament.
Surgery, says Smith, likely would cost him most or all of the season. Given that he’d have plenty of time to rehab after the season even if the surgery is ultimately required, it certainly made sense to attempt the rehab route.
Even if the recovery process goes well, Smith figures to miss significant time. He’s a long-term piece of the team’s picture that will be handled with care. Surely, the Brewers will be cautious to ensure that he doesn’t further injure his knee or trigger an arm issue in compensating. Plus, he’ll need to ramp back up and make sure his arm is in shape before returning to major league action.
The knee issue will hit Smith’s wallet, especially if surgery is required. He’s due $1.48MM this year as a Super Two, and the possibility of racking up saves and holds promised a nice raise next winter. If he can make it back, that remains possible, but his innings will be limited and others — Jeremy Jeffress and Corey Knebel chief among them — may have a chance to lock up the 9th inning while Smith is out.
Brewers Release Franklin Morales, Will Add Chris Capuano To Roster
The Brewers have released lefty Franklin Morales, per a club announcement. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported on Twitter that Morales had been informed that he would not make the club. As an Article XX(B) free agent, he would be due a retention bonus if not placed on the active roster.
Milwaukee stood to promise Morales $2.3MM if he made the club under the minor league deal he signed over the winter. That contract also included $1.5MM in available incentives.
Morales was coming off of a nice bounceback season last year with the Royals, in which he threw 62 1/3 innings of 3.18 ERA ball with 5.9 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 with a 49.5% groundball rate. While the peripherals suggested that he benefited from some luck (as well as the Royals’ defense behind him), Morales was undeniable excellent against left-handed hitters — who slashed just .194/.250/.320 against him.
The move appears to open the door for fellow southpaw Chris Capuano to make the club, as Haudrcourt notes on Twitter. Indeed, he’s been informed that will be the case, per colleague Todd Rosiak (also via Twitter).
Brewers Tell Six Players They Aren't On MLB Roster
- The Brewers announced several roster moves today, including the news that Will Middlebrooks, Eric Young Jr., Josmil Pinto, Shane Peterson, Manny Pina and Jake Elmore were told they won’t be making the Major League roster (Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the rundown of all the transactions). All six players will remain in the Brewers’ camp. Five of the six were new arrivals this winter — Pina was part of the Francisco Rodriguez trade with the Tigers, Pinto was a waiver claim from the Padres, and Middlebrooks, Young and Elmore were all minor league signings.
Blaine Boyer, Ramon Flores To Make Brewers' Big League Roster
- The Brewers have added Blaine Boyer to their 25-man roster, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Journal-Sentinel (on Twitter). Boyer, 34, posted a 2.49 ERA in 65 games for the Twins last season, but that was offset by a sub-par 4.6 K/9. Now that Boyer’s fate has been decided, Milwaukee must figure out what to do with Franklin Morales and Chris Capuano who have opt outs on Monday and Tuesday (respectively).
- Brewers outfielder Ramon Flores will make the Brewers’ big league roster, as Todd Rosiak of the Journal-Sentinel tweets. Flores was out-of-options, so the team did not have the option of sending him down to the minors.
Will Smith Has Torn LCL
Brewers reliever Will Smith has a torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee, and it’s unclear whether he’ll opt for rehab or surgery, Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel writes. In a freak occurrence, Smith suffered the injury while taking off his shoe in the clubhouse.
“I was standing on one leg, trying to take the shoe off and I pulled hard and it stayed on. My knee just went up and popped,” Smith says.
Whether or not Smith’s injury requires surgery, it appears he’s in for a significant stay on the Brewers’ disabled list. Smith figured to be part of the Brewers’ mix at closer, along with Jeremy Jeffress. The injury likely means that Jeffress will have the role to himself, at least for awhile.
Smith has been one of the better lefty relievers in baseball the past three seasons, and he was terrific in 2015, with a 2.70 ERA, 3.4 BB/9 and an impressive 12.9 K/9 in 63 1/3 innings working in a setup role. He figured to become a trade candidate for Brewers at some point, since an electric lefty reliever seems like a luxury for a rebuilding team, although his current injury could delay that possibility. Smith is making $1.475MM in his first year of arbitration eligibility in 2016 as a Super Two player.
