Could Cody Allen rebuild his value with the Brewers?

The Milwaukee Brewers still need a veteran right-hander to add depth to their bullpen. Should they look to add former closer Cody Allen?

The Brewers have been bargain hunting for most of the off season. They added budget-friendly options to the starting rotation in Josh Lindblom and Brett Anderson. They added corner infielders who didn’t cost a ton in Justin Smoak and Jedd Gyorko. However, the team still needs to add to the bullpen before Spring Training starts next month. Could Cody Allen rebuild his value in Milwaukee?

What happened to Allen in 2019?

Well…years of deep runs in the playoffs seemed to catch up to Allen last year as his velocity dipped and his effectiveness went with it.

Allen logged 23 innings in the Majors for the Los Angeles Angels last year, and he posted a 6.26 ERA. He struck out 29, walked 20, and was tagged for nine homers. It’s a minor miracle that Allen picked up four saves last year.

He was released by the Angels in late June, caught on with the Twins, tossed a few games in the Minors, and was released again in late July.

He averaged 92.3 MPH on his fastball last year which is down a bit from his peak average velocity of over 95 MPH in 2013 and 2014.

He did miss time with a back issue, but it wasn’t serious to require surgery after his 2019 season ended.

What else has Allen been up to?

Allen threw for teams in late December in an effort to drum up interest. 19 teams attended a workout that saw Allen’s fastball sit in the 89 MPH-to-90 MPH range.

What kind of deal would land Allen?

Allen probably has minor league deals with an invite to Spring Training with several teams right now. He’s likely holding out hope that someone comes through with a Major League deal before Spring Training starts, but it probably isn’t going to happen this late in the off season.

A team like the Milwaukee Brewers would make a lot of sense for a veteran like Allen. The Brewers have a clear need for a veteran right-hander, and Allen is both a veteran and a right-handed reliever. He’s also only two years removed from a 1.4 WAR season.

Allen needs to rebuild his value, and the Brewers can offer a clear path to a Major League role. If Allen can’t beat Ray Black, Deolis Guerra, or Eric Yardley for a role in the Brewers bullpen, it’s probably time to start selling insurance or find a pitching coach job somewhere.

The Brewers have a clear need and ample opportunity. If Allen is ready to bet on himself, take a minor league deal, and compete for a job, he could land in Milwaukee before pitchers and catchers report in February.