Brewers add reliever Mike Morin on Minors deal

The Milwaukee Brewers have added a right-handed reliever to their bullpen. It’s not Pedro Strop, Trevor Cahill, or any of the few remaining ‘name’ options on the free agent market. It’s Mike Morin.

The Milwaukee Brewers needed a veteran right-hander for their bullpen, and they added one. They signed 28-year old journeyman Mike Morin to a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training. Is there any chance Morin makes the Opening Day roster for Milwaukee, or will he start the year in San Antonio?

What did Morin do in 2019?

Morin worked 52 games in stops with the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies in 2019. He managed a 4.62 ERA in 50 2/3 innings of work. He struck out 26, walked 10, and was tagged for six homers.

What does Morin throw?

Morin has a fastball / slider / change up combination that has gotten him this far in his career. His fastball sits in the 90 MPH to 92 MPH range, but it’s his change up that has earned him a bit of recognition. His change up usually sits in the 70 MPH to 74 MPH range. He’s capable of showing a batter a pitches with a gap of over 20 MPH in the same sequence.

Does Morin have ninth inning experience?

A little. He’s earned a handful of saves on days when the first option is unavailable.

Could Morin make the Opening Day roster?

Morin is a depth signing, but he could work his way onto the Opening Day roster if enough guys struggle. He’ll be competing with Ray Black, Deolis Guerra, and Jake Faria for a spot in the bullpen. There’s a non-zero chance that the Brewers decide to go with his experience over the other guys’ upside when they put their bullpen together.

Morin is essentially a zero-risk move. If he struggles through Spring Training, the Milwaukee Brewers can either send him to San Antonio or just release him. He adds depth to the Spring Training roster and should push the younger guys for a roster spot. He may even make the roster and end up contributing at the Major League level. He isn’t a game-changer for the bullpen, but the Brewers could do a lot worse with greater risk.