Milwaukee Brewers: Infield depth options possible?

Matt Davidson

What happens to the Milwaukee Brewers infield if Travis Shaw needs a few weeks or a month or longer on the DL? While it’s possible for the Brewers to survive with an infield that features Cory Spangenberg at the hot corner, they should look to add a third baseman who can at least replace some of the power that they’ll lose with a Shaw injury.

Matt Davidson has back-to-back 20-homer seasons on his resume. They also came with a .220-ish batting average, but power is power. Davidson only played 107 1/3 innings at third base in 2018, but he has over 500 innings at the hot corner in his Major League career. He also has the ability to handle left-handed pitching, and generates most of his power against righties.

Oh, and Davidson also made three scoreless relief appearances, and could reach 92 MPH on his fastball. He also featured a slider, a curve, and a splitter in his arsenal.

Davidson is still on the market, and it looks like he’ll have to take a Minor League contract if he wants to play in 2019. The Milwaukee Brewers could use extra depth to stash in the Minors in case Shaw, Eric Thames, or Jesus Aguilar needs time off.

Lucas Erceg is likely to spend time in Triple-A in 2019, but he still needs seasoning before he’s ready to help the Brewers at the Major League level. The Brewers could use a capable veteran to handle third base, and Davidson is one of the few options available who could sign on a Minor League deal.

Sean Rodriguez

If the Milwaukee Brewers want to add a veteran option who can cover several positions around the diamond, they could do worse than Sean Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has played every position except pitcher and catcher in his career, and he could fill in for a potential injury to Hernan Perez or Cory Spangenberg if the Brewers don’t want to turn to Dubon or Hiura early in the season.

Hiura and Dubon are both likely to appear in the Majors at some point in 2019. However, when they come up, they need to play. Rodriguez has come off the bench for the majority of his career, and knows how to stay ready for when his number is called to pinch hit or grab a glove. Hiura and Dubon won’t be coming off the bench for the Major League team, even if there’s an injury.

Rodriguez is coming off a rough season that saw him post a .591 OPS in 173 plate appearances. He also missed time with a few nagging injuries last year. He probably won’t get a Major League contract at this point in the off season, and may have to settle for a Minor League deal if he wants to continue playing. A year of playing ball in Triple-A with a 40-man roster spot is better than most jobs.

Rodriguez makes sense for the Milwaukee Brewers as a backup utility man, and he could be willing to sign a Minor League deal with a Spring Training invite.

Danny Valencia

Whether there’s an injury to Shaw, Thames, Aguilar, or in the outfield, Danny Valencia could make sense as a depth option for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019.

Valencia posted a .263/.316/.408 slash line in 78 games with the Baltimore Orioles in 2018. But this came after three straight years of double-digit homers and quality production. He absolutely rakes against left-handed pitching, and could provide depth for the Milwaukee Brewers at the infield corners, in the outfield, or as a bench bat.

Valencia actually signed a Minor League deal last year with the Orioles, and made the Opening Day roster. He was released last August when the Orioles committed to gutting their team of veterans, and trying to start a rebuild. He didn’t hook on with a contending team at the end of the season.

While the 34-year old Valencia would certainly prefer a Major League deal, it looks like he’ll have to take a Minor League deal if he wants to continue his career in 2019. The Milwaukee Brewers are set to contend, and saw both Thames and Ryan Braun miss time last year. If he’s looking to find a team that might need his services at some point in 2019, spending a month or two in Triple-A in San Antonio isn’t the worst option. Valencia is a solid fit for the the Brewers, and could provide a boost in the event of a key injury.