Milwaukee Brewers: 2016 Outlook

Relief Pitchers

Despite sending K-Rod to the Motor City over the winter, the bullpen is by far the Brewers greatest strength. It’s chocked full of hard-throwing, precision throwing talent. Will Smith leads the bullpen and since coming to the Brewers has been one of the most dominant strikeout pitchers in baseball. He posts a 12.39 K/9 and a 32.2% K rate. As a member of the Brewers, he has posted a 3.21 ERA and 2.87 FIP over 129 innings, with one save and fifty holds.

Smith leads a strong bullpen and one that has shown it can hold its own with anyone in baseball. Jeremey Jeffress, Michael Blazek, and Corey Knebel will provide solid relief work alongside Smith.

Conclusion: With Will Smith being arbitration eligible in the winter don’t be too surprised if he’s traded away for some prospects, need not worry though there are still plenty of solid bullpen options for the Brewers.

Given the moves that Stearns has been making I am quite optimistic for the rebuilding process as a whole. Stearns has already said that he wants to take a short rebuild time than both the Astros and Cubs, who took five years to get where they were.

More from Reviewing the Brew

• Brewers: 4 Players Who Must Step Up for the Crew to Make the Playoffs
• Brewers: Yet Another Huge Promotion For Top Prospect Jackson Chourio
• Brewers Making Colossal Mistake With Corbin Burnes’ Contract
• Which Players May Be In The Final Month Of Their Brewers Careers?
• Brewers: Where Does Devin Williams Stand In NL Reliever Of The Year Race?

Realistically if the Brewers find themselves performing at the level of the Cubs and the Astros I would have no problem waiting five years.

It also makes me optimistic for the seasons to come but I’ll believe it when I see it. I’m a man of science, not faith.