Grading Matt Arnold and the Milwaukee Brewers front office at the midway point of the season
By Bill Felber
Acquired or traded
Since the end of the 2022 season, Arnold has been one of the most active general managers in negotiating deals to fruition. His trades, waiver pickups and purchases have introduced 13 fresh faces to Milwaukee.
Two of those were noteworthy enough to stir discussion at the time they were made. In December, Arnold got the Brewers involved in a three-team swap that also involved the Oakland A’s and Atlanta Braves. From Milwaukee’s standpoint, the principal piece was catcher William Contreras, who came from Atlanta.
Midway through the season, Contreras is batting .248 with eight home runs as Milwaukee’s regular catcher. Contreras has also turned his negative defensive profile around, running up a +5 Defensive Runs Saved total.
The Brewers also got reliever Joel Payamps in the deal at a cost of outfielder Estuary Ruiz, who went to Oakland. Payamps has been a useful bullpen piece, with a 2.17 ERA in 37 innings for a +0.6 WAA.
The other deal brought Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro in from Seattle at a cost of Kolten Wong. This one has been markedly less productive for both parties. Winker hasn’t juiced Milwaukee’s offense as much as a tic; he’s hitting .206 with one measly home run. Toro hasn’t made the active roster while Wong is having a miserable time in Seattle … but that’s Jerry DiPoto’s problem.
The striking part is that for all of his trade activity, Arnold hasn’t moved the needle. The total WAA of all 13 new arrivals in Milwaukee is -0.3 WAA.