Milwaukee Brewers: Which hitters are out of options?

The Milwaukee Brewers have several hitters out of options. A few are assured of roster spots, but there are a few guys who may need to call their agents soon.

Manny Pina, Hernan Perez, Eric Thames, and Jonathan Villar are virtually assured of roster spots this spring. They’re all out of options, but they’re not going anywhere, unless there’s a trade. The Milwaukee Brewers have three other hitters who aren’t quite as safe.

Jett Bandy

Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jett Bandy may avoid getting DFA’ed this spring. Stephen Vogt is still nursing his sore shoulder, and Bandy could end up making the team if Vogt can’t get back on the field.

Bandy owns a .534 OPS in 30 plate appearances this spring, but he’s the only other catcher with Major League experience on the 40-man roster. He could end up making the team by default, but he’ll only stick around until Vogt comes back from the DL.

Bandy needs a torrid end to his spring if he wants to earn the back up catcher job for the Brewers. Otherwise he’s a likely DFA candidate before the 25-man roster is set.

Stephen Vogt

There are two options for Vogt at this point in Spring Training. The first choice is that he gets his shoulder healthy, puts together a solid week, and makes the team. The second option is that he doesn’t get his shoulder healthy, and gets placed on the disabled list for a few weeks. It’s hard to envision Vogt not staying with the Milwaukee Brewers for the start of the 2018 campaign, even if it means he starts the year on the DL.

Jesus Aguilar

Jesus Aguilar is probably the most likely hitter on the Milwaukee Brewers to get DFA’ed. Unless Eric Thames or Domingo Santana gets dealt before Opening Day, Aguilar doesn’t have a roster spot.

Aguilar impressed last year in his first extended look on a Major League roster. He bashed 16 homers, and posted an .837 OPS in 331 plate appearances. Now, he’s in a roster crunch that needs a trade or a few injuries for Aguilar to stay.

Next: Which pitchers are out of options?

Aguilar won a job out of Spring Training in 2017 with a fantastic March. This March? He got off to a slow start, but he’s turning it around. Aguilar has bashed a couple homers, and has an .888 OPS in 35 plate appearances. He’ll catch on with another team, but he’s a virtual lock to get DFA’ed before Opening Day.