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MLB Hot Stove: Teams that need to make moves, but haven’t

By Kristen Bentley

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 15: San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) looks on from the dugout during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 15, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 15: San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) looks on from the dugout during a MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 15, 2018 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JULY 29: Manny Pina #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers sitting in dugout looking on prior to the start of his game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on July 29, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JULY 29: Manny Pina #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers sitting in dugout looking on prior to the start of his game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on July 29, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

One of the most surprising teams in the 2018 season was the Milwaukee Brewers. With the signings of Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain, the team won the extremely competitive NL Central.

They made it all the way to the seventh game of the National League Championship Series.

The Brewers did it despite a few flawed moves. The trade with the Orioles for Jonathan Schoop turned out to be problematic. He was granted free agency at the end of the season, then signed with the Twins in early December.

The Brewers also let Mike Moustakas enter free agency. Even though he joined the team in late July, the third baseman became a fan favorite for his power hitting and positive attitude.

With the departure of Schoop and Moustakas, the Brewers have positions to fill. And, they seem to be in no hurry to fill them.

The team could also use a top starter. Yes, their depth chart is loaded with pitchers, but none of them are lights-out aces. None of them are disappointments, but other than Jhoulys Chacin, not one of them pitched more than 160 innings. Only four of them pitched over 100 innings. They also lost Wade Miley to free agency after only one short season with him.

The Brewers need to fill a few holes, and they’ve done nothing at all with the free agent market. They avoided arbitration with Jimmy Nelson, and they signed two minor league contracts. That’s it.

The second baseman market still has notable names on it: DJ LeMahieu and Jed Lowrie are on it. But, the third baseman market is shrinking and Mike Moustakas is the youngest on the list. He also happens to have the highest 2018 WAR of those who are available. Top pitchers are being picked up quickly, too.

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