It has been a quiet offseason in Milwaukee. However, these are three MLB free agents still available, as of March 1st, for the Milwaukee Brewers to target.
Much to the dismay of Milwaukee Brewers fans across the state of Wisconsin, Mark Attanasio all but sealed his checkbook shut heading into February. The only notable signing was 36-year-old pitcher Wade Miley. Later on, however, the Brewers made two very intriguing signings in first baseman Luke Voit and center fielder Tyler Naquin.
While neither of these players is as big of an acquisition as they would’ve been a few years ago, they do give Brewers fans hope that Milwaukee could once again be an interesting team to watch. With plenty of time left before the 2023 MLB season officially kicks off, here are three great MLB free agent options for the Crew.
Milwaukee Brewers MLB Free Agent Targets Still Available
Jose Iglesias, SS
There is absolutely no reason Jose Iglesias should be a free agent right now. He is only 33 years old and hit .292 last year with a .328 on-base percentage. Diving deeper into the analytics, Iglesias had a batting WAR (wins above replacement) of 1.5 last year. To put that in perspective, a starter averages two per season.
Jose Iglesias has been around for quite a while in the MLB and, at this stage in his career, is a fine backup option in the middle infield. With only three current infielders having played in the MLB for even half of a season, signing Iglesias would give the Brewers much-needed depth and help in the offensive department.
Jurickson Profar, OF/2B/SS
Another bat that would immediately bulk up the Milwaukee Brewers’ lineup would be Jurickson Profar. He just turned 30 years old and had one of his best seasons offensively since 2018. Playing at a pitcher’s park in San Diego, Profar still put up an offensive WAR of 2.9, which is way above that of the average starter in the MLB.
While Profar’s batting average wasn’t great, in the immortal words of Brad Pitt in Moneyball: he gets on base. Profar had an on-base percentage of .331 last season. The main problem with the Brewers’ offense last year was that they constantly stranded players on the base paths. With a guy like Profar able to get on base at a high clip, you won’t be ending many innings with him in the batter’s box.
Mike Foltynewicz, P
If the Brewers are great at one thing, it’s reviving the careers of pitchers. Mike Foltynewicz is a pitcher that could be a huge addition if the Brewers can get him back to his previous form. Foltynewicz has struggled the last few years thanks in large part to injuries. With that being said, he’s still only 31 and the Brewers already have a rock-solid rotation.
With Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta leading the charge, the Brewers don’t need Foltynewicz to make the playoffs. If the Brewers can get Foltynewicz anywhere near his form with the Atlanta Braves, they will instantly become contenders. From 2018-19, Foltynewicz was 21-16 including an All-Star appearance.
At worst, the Brewers can cut him immediately or move him to the bullpen as a long reliever. At best, the Brewers will have a guy who can be a top-two pitcher on any team at the end of their rotation. For a guy who’s still available and likely pretty cheap, that seems like a win-win situation to me.
Which MLB free agents that are still available do you want the Milwaukee Brewers to target?
