Ron Roenicke: ‘We’re Getting Outbid By Some Other Teams’

Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Brewers have yet to acquire a first baseman, but that isn’t for lack of trying.

In an interview with Milwaukee’s SportsRadio 1250 WSSP on Tuesday evening, manager Ron Roenicke said the Brewers were outbid for certain free agent first baseman.

“To find the full-rounded player, I don’t think we can afford to get a player like that,” Roenicke said. “Doug has been busy, made some offers to some first baseman. We’re getting outbid by some other teams.”

One of those first basemen was James Loney who re-signed with the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Doug (Melvin) likes a power guy but we were also looking at Loney,” Roenicke said. “We got outbid by him going back to Tampa.”

Loney, who hit .299 with 13 home runs last season, was seeking a three-year deal but the Brewers maxed their offer out at two-years. Since money is tight within the Brewers organization, signing a proven player is difficult.

The Brewers do have a couple in-house options for first base with Juan Francisco and Hunter Morris. Morris, who had a dominant season in Double-A in 2012, struggled offensively last season with Triple-A Nashville.

“Last year his (Morris) offensive numbers weren’t as good but he’s getting better defensively which is important to us,” Roenicke said. “If we can get him consistently getting on base and get him better defensively, I think we got a pretty good player.”

With the first base free agent market extremely bare, the Brewers have discussed trading for one. They have had many discussions with the New York Mets about Ike Davis but nothing has come to fruition.

Opening Day is still 103 days away, leaving the Brewers plenty of time to figure out their first base fiasco.