Milwaukee Brewers 2017 Team Preview

The Milwaukee Brewers finished the 2016 season at 73-89, but have some pieces that could lead to another year of improvement, and before long, playoff aspirations.

Any team that is in the same division as the Chicago Cubs right now is a long-shot to win the NL Central, but for the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers that hope is a pipe dream as they continue to rebuild their rosters in hopes of a brighter future.

For their part, the Brewers have done an excellent job of acquiring talent in recent years, starting with the addition of one of GM David Stearns’ former players in Houston, Jonathan Villar. A 25 year old Villar received the most consistent playing time of his young career, and he took off with his new team, batting .285 with a .369 OBP, 19 homers and 62 stolen bases. Not bad for a player that it took a minor league pitcher outside of the top prospects to acquire.

Another of their former Astros additions, Chris Carter, led the National League in home runs along with Colorado’s Nolan Arenado.

The big move that the Brewers made was in trading away Jonathan Lucroy to the Texas Rangers at the deadline that netted Milwaukee their 1st, 3rd and 18th ranked prospects (per Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook). They also added number eight prospect Phil Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac in exchange for reliever Will Smith.

Add up those additions to the arrival of former top prospect Orlando Arcia as the team’s everyday shortstop, and the Brewers did a lot to prepare for better days last year. This season we should see a couple more highly touted prospects make their own debuts, which should start setting up the competitive Brewers teams of the future.