Milwaukee Brewers: Outfield depth options possible?

The championship window for the Milwaukee Brewers is wide open. As such, they could stand to sign an extra veteran outfielder on a Minor League deal in case there’s an injury to the four outfielders on the Major League roster. We’ve got four names that could make sense, and take a Minor League deal with a contending team.

The Milwaukee Brewers have six outfielders on their 40-man roster. Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, Ryan Braun, and Ben Gamel are locks to open the season on the 25-man roster. However, the only depth options behind them are Tyrone Taylor and Troy Stokes. The Brewers may want to add a veteran option in case there’s an injury to one of their big four names. (Looking your way, Braun)

There are several veteran options still available on the market, and one of them could end up signing a Minor League deal with an invite to camp to secure a job for the 2019 season. The Milwaukee Brewers could find a fit with any one of the following names to provide an insurance policy for their starting outfield.

Melky Cabrera

It’s hard to believe that Melky Cabrera is only 34 years old. He’s been on a Major League roster since 2005, has an All-Star MVP award, and won a World Series in 2009. He featured as a regular in the Majors until last year when he signed with the Cleveland Indians, and played a reserve role for a team that expected to go on a deep run in the playoffs.

Cabrera slashed .280/.335/.420 in 78 games with the Indians. He bashed six homers and stole one base in two attempts.

Cabrera will likely sign a Minor League deal somewhere, but he could look for a deal that offers a clearer path to a Major League role. Waiting for Braun to need time on the disabled list might not be what Cabrera is looking for. He could also look to sign with a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers or reunite with the New York Yankees in an effort to add another championship to his resume.

Cabrera would supply quality production at a corner outfield spot if the Brewers lost an outfielder for an extended period of time, but he’s the biggest long shot to make our list. There have been rumors of a reunion with the Indians, and that’s the most likely scenario at this point for Cabrera.

Cameron Maybin

Cameron Maybin will turn 32 soon, and is still without a contract. Maybin spent time with the Miami Marlins and Seattle Mariners in 2018, and posted a .249/.326/.336 slash line in 129 games. He hit four homers, and stole 10 bases in 15 attempts.

Maybin makes sense as an extra outfielder because he still has tremendous speed, and can handle all three outfield positions defensively.

Maybin has never signed a Minor League contract in his career. He took a one-year deal worth $3.25 million from the Marlins last year, but he was coming off a season in which he blasted 10 homers and stole 33 bases. Maybin didn’t produce nearly that much last year.

He’s been on four teams in two seasons, and may have to take a Minor League deal if he wants to find a Major League team for 2019. He makes sense as a defensive replacement / pinch runner for a contending team, and the Milwaukee Brewers could use his glove and his speed off the bench. The Brewers have speed in their day-to-day lineup, but they don’t have nearly as much on their bench.

If Maybin is willing to bet on himself, wait for an opportunity, and then capitalize with eyes on hitting the open market after next season, the Milwaukee Brewers could provide the chance that he’s looking for.

Matt Joyce

Matt Joyce was paid $6 million in 2018 by the Oakland A’s to post a .208/.322/.353 slash line. He was also plagued by back issues for most of the 2018 season.

This came after Joyce blasted 25 homers and drove in 68 runs in 2017.

Joyce will turn 35 years old during the 2019 season, and needs a bounce back season if he wants to get another shot at a Major League deal. First, he needs to prove that he’s over his back issues, and can get back to hitting the way he used to. A Minor League deal would give him time to prove his health, work out the kinks in his swing, and bide his time until there’s an opportunity on a Major League roster.

If his back is 100-percent, Joyce could provide an offensive boost when or if the Milwaukee Brewers need an extra outfielder. Joyce is a lefty who absolutely mashes right-handed pitching. Joyce could also fill in for Eric Thames if he needs time on the DL.

With the Milwaukee Brewers current contender status, they need to add depth at the Triple-A roster so as not to derail their season if there’s an injury to one of their key pieces. While they had a surplus of outfielders as recently as a year ago, that’s simply not the case in 2019. The Brewers could stand to add a veteran to stash in Triple-A, and any one of these names could make sense if the market conditions are right.