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Milwaukee Brewers 2017 Team Preview

By Jason Burke

Aug 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia (3) hits a home run during the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia (3) hits a home run during the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 3, 2017; Dunedin, FL, USA; New York Yankees designator hitter Chris Carter (48) works out prior to their spring training game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Dunedin, FL, USA; New York Yankees designator hitter Chris Carter (48) works out prior to their spring training game at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

At first glance, the biggest subtraction this winter was Chris Carter. He displayed a ton of power with the club last season and played an adequate first base. But after seeing how power hitters were treated on the open market this offseason, along with some of the potentially added attributes that Eric Thames brings as a replacement at first base, Carter may not be the main piece that the Brewers have moved on from.

Instead, that designation may go to Tyler Thornburg, who really broke out with the club last season. He was their most valuable reliever and third-most valuable pitcher behind rookies Junior Guerra and Zach Davies. Stearns decided to follow the same path as Phillies GM Matt Klentak in trading away a reliever coming off of a hot season in order to land pieces that could help the club later on. Given that last season was arguably Thornburg’s best, it’s a smart move to trade him away and get a nice haul for him when they did, instead of seeing if he can repeat that same success in 2017 for a rebuilding team.

Aside from the aforementioned Maldonado, the only other players that won’t be with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017 are Will Middlebrooks and Blaine Boyer, who signed with the Rangers and Braves as free agents.

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