So the biggest story for the Brewers coming out of yesterday’s MLB deadline to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players was the team dealing Corey Knebel to the Dodgers. My guess is that the emergence of Devin Williams, and the likelihood that Hader isn’t traded, made Knebel more expendable. Plus, we’re still not sure what the rest of his career will look like post-Tommy John, and even with a bad statistical year last season he was in line to make 5-6 million next season. For a small market team coming out of a shortened season that had zero fans (and heading into a season that may have zero fans), that’s a little too rich. I think Knebel will look a LOT more like the above video this upcoming season, most players coming off of a surgery like that need two seasons to return to form (trust me, I’m an internet doctor), but still, better to spend that money elsewhere.
It is a bummer though. As that highlight package showcases, the guy was absolutely filthy down the stretch in 2018, and was an All Star in 2017 when the team almost snuck into the playoffs. At his best he was overpowering with his fastball/curveball combo. And one of those guys that was great in the clubhouse and in the community. Wish him nothing but the best in LA as long as it doesn’t come at the expense of the Brewers which is probably will.
The other big note coming out of yesterday was tendering Daniel Vogelbach a contract. The difficult element of that move was the fact that MLB has yet to say anything about the DH continuing in the National League. Very against type for Rob Manfred to not have his act together with something, but it is what it is I guess. I think there are a lot of NL teams that have players who are typecast as designated hitters, but if you give one of those players a contract, and the DH leaves the NL, then what?
But the Brewers rolled the dice on a fairly small, 1 year, $1.14 million dollar deal. Pretty low risk for a guy they picked up off of the scrap heap last season, and was just about the only guy who could hit anything over the last three weeks of the season (.328/4/12 slash line). Again, he looks like a lab-manufactured DH, but the Brewers did play him a few games at 1st base and he was fairly nimble. Being a Chris Farley doppelganger doesn’t hurt his likability either.
I wouldn’t expect too many more moves given payroll constrictions and another uncertain year in terms of income on the horizon. Basically the Brewers are going to have to play the ‘law of averages’ game with some of their key offensive players last season. Hiura/Yelich/Avisail Garcia/Narvaez are all guys that have proven track records as offensive performers and all of them had MISERABLE seasons in 2020. Hopefully water will meet it’s level.
PS: I’ve seen plenty of takes on Brewer Twitter that the team should look at signing Kyle Schwarber (cut by the Cubs) if the DH is kept in the NL this season. They do love left handed-bats with the short porch in right field at American Family Field Miller Park. And this team could clearly use more offensive options. It doesn’t hurt that Schwarber would be able to stick it to his former team 18 times a year. You’d love to see it!
