Milwaukee Brewers: Making a case for Chase Anderson

This off-season has been littered with rumors and speculation of the Milwaukee Brewers acquiring an ace starting pitcher. However, they’ve done very little to change the rotation to this point of the winter.

With ONLY 35 days before pitchers and catchers report, the only starting pitchers the Milwaukee Brewers have added are Yovani Gallardo and Jhoulys Chacin. The huge splash that this fan base has been anticipating has yet to materialize. However, the key lies within my friends.

Acquired in January of 2016, Chase Anderson made a quick impact with the Milwaukee Brewers. Even with an ERA over four in ’16, Anderson showed he belonged in the rotation. He started 30 games for Milwaukee, striking out 120 batters with only 53 walks over 151 2/3 innings pitched.

When healthy, Anderson was as close to an ace last season as the Brewers have had since Zach Greinke. With 141 1/3 innings pitched, over 25 starts, Anderson was 12-4 with 133 strikeouts and only 41 walks. He has the potential to be that frontline starting pitcher the Milwaukee Brewers have lacked in recent years.

Should they acquire more pitching?

The Brewers can always use more pitching. Teams can never have too many quality starting pitchers. With players like Domingo Santana and Lewis Brinson, Milwaukee can easily make a huge splash.

Anderson affords Milwaukee the opportunity not to panic, yet. With Jimmy Nelson on the shelf, who himself flashed ace potential last season, the Brewers don’t necessarily need to add a starting pitcher this season.

The Milwaukee Brewers have the assets in the minor leagues to make ANY move they like. However, this isn’t the “go all in” season for this organization. It’s more like the “take the next step” season. The wrong move could push the rebuild back, and none of us wants that.

If Milwaukee can acquire someone like Marcus Stroman or Chris Archer, no one will complain. However, if they were to “sell the farm,” it would break hearts throughout Wisconsin. With the quality of talent Milwaukee has in the Minors, this organization has the potential to be very good in the near future.

Anderson has shown that he can lead this rotation into the future. With Nelson due to come back later in the season, The Crew can wait until they see what players like Corbin Burnes or Luis Ortiz can do before making a move.

Next: How can the Brewers solve the rotation puzzle?

The Brewers have always had to look outwardly for the answers to the organizational pitching woes. Twice Milwaukee made blockbuster deals for an ace in the past, each time making the playoffs. This time around, they have Anderson, with Nelson coming back, and looks primed to own the future.