Brewers rumors and offseason tracker; Latest: Rhys Hoskins
We're getting closer and closer to spring training, and there are still a lot of offseason moves to be made. Will the Brewers still have some additions to their roster for 2024? Are they for sure keeping Corbin Burnes, who will be a free agent after the 2024 season and would be one of the best arms theoretically available?
More: With free agency expected to heat up, these six hitters would make sense for the Brewers
Here's the latest from national writers:
Would Rhys Hoskins fit with the Brewers?
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote Jan. 23 about the slow-developing market for designated hitters and remarked that while the Brewers don't need one of those, they could get engaged with former Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins.
"Rather than re-signing Carlos Santana, who turns 38 on April 8, the Brewers might be inclined to make an upside play with Hoskins, who has a career OPS 25 percent above league average and likely wants to re-establish himself on a short-term 'pillow' contract," Rosenthal wrote.
Hoskins, 31, is one of several free-agent first basemen still on the market.
Not much chatter on Willy Adames
Jon Morosi tweeted Tuesday that potential trade talks were quiet on Brewers shortstop Willy Adames, who will be a free agent after the 2024 season.
"Interested teams believe he is likely to remain with Milwaukee, at least to begin the season," Morosi wrote.
Could Carlos Santana be back at first base in 2024?
The Brewers have apparently had conversations with first baseman Carlos Santana over a return in 2024, according to Robert Murray of FanSided.
The switch-hitting Santana was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates last year at the trade deadline Santana and posted a .773 OPS, 11 home runs and 33 RBIs. He was named a finalist for the Gold Glove at first base, and he'd probably enter the season as the team's primary first baseman. He'll be 38 for the 2024 season.
Murray also echoed what others have written on the likelihood of Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames being traded this offseason; specifically, it's not particularly likely.
Corbin Burnes remains a topic on the trade market
Jon Morosi of the MLB Network once again brought up the name of Corbin Burnes as a trade candidate Wednesday, indicating the Dodgers made sense as a potential destination if Los Angeles misses out on top-line free-agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote Dec. 19 that the Brewers' likelihood of retaining Burnes into the season was high given owner Mark Attanasio's desire to avoid a repeat of the Josh Hader situation in 2022, when the team faced considerable backlash after dealing their star closer. He also indicated that the return might not be as hefty as hoped, given that Burnes is already likely to make $15 million in arbitration.
Burnes didn't specifically say he'd be averse to signing an extension with a new home if he were traded, but he did express interest in letting the free-agency process play out in an interview with Foul Territory on Dec. 19, a stance that might make him less appealing for an acquiring team.
From earlier in the winter...
Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network indicated that rival teams expected there was a "decent chance" Burnes was available, which matches what other writers have been hearing. Jeff Passan of ESPN also indicated Dec. 1 that the Brewers had been discussing Burnes with teams.
Ken Rosenthal floated the possibility that the Los Angeles Dodgers might pursue both Burnes and Willy Adames, suggesting second baseman Gavin Lux, a Kenosha native, could be part of the package heading to Milwaukee. On Dec. 11, Rosenthal noted that the Angels might get involved after losing out on Shohei Ohtani.
But on Dec. 10, Bob Nightengale of USA Today indicated he was hearing the Brewers were more likely to keep Burnes than trade him.
Possible landing spots for Willy Adames
Morosi also mentioned that Willy Adames could be traded, but, "The most likely outcome is not that they're in the same deal if they're moved, but separate deals."
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle mentioned the Giants as a team possibly interested in acquiring shortstop Willy Adames, indicating that catcher Joey Bart could be part of any trade package to bring in a player like Adames.
Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet in Canada said that while Adames is an appealing trade chip for the Blue Jays, "prying him away from the Brewers won't prove easy."
Brewers among teams interested in Isiah Kiner-Falefa
The Dodgers, Miami Marlins and Brewers are among the teams that Rosenthal has connected to 28-year-old Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
IKF played just about everywhere on the diamond last year (even at pitcher briefly!), demonstrating an uncommon defensive versatility after playing mostly as a shortstop for the New York Yankees in 2022. But he also only posted an OPS of .646, with six homers and a .306 on-base percentage in 113 games.
Update: Kiner-Falefa signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in late December.
Brewers listening to offers for young outfielders
Heyman also indicated that the Brewers are listening to offers on their glut of young outfielders, which seems logical after Jackson Chourio signed an eight-year extension and figures prominently into the opening-day mix.
The Brewers have Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer and Garrett Mitchell as outfield options, along with Chourio and Blake Perkins.
Offseason additions for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee re-signed left-handed pitcher Wade Miley to a one-year deal.
Right-handed starter Colin Rea re-signed on a one year deal in early November.
Pitcher Joe Ross, a right-hander who last pitched in the big leagues in 2021, signed a Major League deal and could figure into a rotation spot. He's made 76 career big-league starts in Washington and signed a one-year deal.
Milwaukee acquired first baseman Jake Bauers from the Yankees in exchange for minor-leaguers. He's out of minor-league options but has struggled in 412 big-league games.
Minor-leaguer Oliver Dunn became an intriguing acquisition in a November exchange of minor-leaguers.
Relief pitcher Rob Zastryzny was inked to a minor-league deal with a camp invite. The 31-year-old appeared in 21 games for Pittsburgh in 2023 and has a career 4.70 ERA.
Right-handed pitcher Taylor Clarke was acquired from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for minor leaguers Ryan Brady and Cam Devanney. Clarke has a career 5.03 ERA in 183 big-league appearances (22 starts).
The Brewers signed catcher Eric Haase to a one-year deal. Haase, 31, had a strong season for Detroit in 2022 (.748 OPS) before tailing off last year between Detroit and Cleveland. He'd be a candidate to make the team as a backup catcher.
The Brewers traded minor leaguer Justin Chambers and cash to the Dodgers for left-handed pitcher Bryan Hudson, a reliever with six games of big league experience but promising minor-league numbers in 2023 (2.43 ERA, 86 strikeouts in 56 innings).
Former Padres catcher Austin Nola signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers on Jan. 6.
Key offseason losses for the Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers non-tendered Brandon Woodruff, who was expected to miss most of 2024 with injury before becoming a free agent in advance of 2025.
First baseman Rowdy Tellez was also not offered a contract for 2024 and signed with the Pirates on Dec. 12.
Backup catcher Victor Caratini signed as a free agent with Houston.
Left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin, acquired just before the trade deadline, signed a free-agent deal with Detroit. Chafin struggled in Milwaukee, posting a 5.82 ERA in 20 appearances.
Brewers pitcher Adrian Houser and outfielder Tyrone Taylor were traded to the New York Mets on Dec. 20 in exchange for minor leaguer Coleman Crow. Houser went 8-5 in 2023 and has been in the Brewers organization since 2015. He has a career 4.00 ERA in 97 starts and 129 appearances. Taylor, the longest-tenured member of the organization who was drafted back in 2012, has been with the Brewers since 2019. He has a career OPS of .746 and played in 331 games from 2019-2023. Last year, he had 10 homers and a .713 OPS. Crow underwent Tommy John surgery in July and likely won't be available in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers rumors and offseason tracker; latest on first base