The offseason has started and most of the top free agents have been signed. But no one has told the Milwaukee Brewers that time is running out.
Now that the Marlins have signed Jean Segura, the Brewers are in a class by themselves. They are the only team left that has yet to sign a free agent to a major league contract this offseason.
Milwaukee Brewers not just sitting around waiting for spring training
This does not mean that the Brewers have been completely inactive. They have made several trades this offseason, bringing in Janson Junk, Elvis Peguero, Adam Seminaris, Owen Miller, Jesse Winker, and Abraham Toro. The Brewers have also made several interesting minor league signings, such as Eddy Alvarez and Tobias Myers.
The Brewers were also involved in one of the biggest deals of the offseason. William Contreras and Joel Payamps headed to Milwaukee as part of the three team deal that sent Sean Murphy to Atlanta. The cupboard is not completely barren and the Brewers have not just sat around waiting for spring training to begin.
But that does not mean that the Brewers are necessarily going to compete in 2023 with the roster as it is currently constituted. The Brewers need more pieces in the bullpen, especially in set up roles. Either second or third base, depending on where Luis Urias is slotted, has a vacancy. Tyrone Taylor is the only right fielder on the depth chart. There are holes that have yet to be filled.
And there are pieces available in free agency that could help. The likes of Evan Longoria, Adam Duvall, and/or Chad Pinder could be relative bargains that would help the lineup. Likewise, there are still plenty of relievers available that could help the bullpen. But time is starting to run short.
The Milwaukee Brewers have yet to add a free agent on a major league contract this offseason. If they hope to contend, that will need to change.