Brewers: Finding David Stearns’ Actual Batting Average As GM

Waiver Claims/Rule 5 Under David Stearns

Putting a batting average on waiver claims is difficult considering these players are almost always fringe roster guys that can end up being put back on waivers a few weeks later. So the “batting average” on these acquisition is inherently going to be lower than the other categories.

In his five seasons leading the Brewers, Stearns has won the waiver claim of 22 players that have suited up for the Brewers in some capacity. There have been some waiver claims (i.e. Ehire Adrianza) that were claimed in the offseason and then plucked off waivers again before the season started. Those picks won’t count because it’s impossible to come to a conclusion.

This section will also include any Rule 5 selections the Brewers have made.

2016 Season

• Junior Guerra – Hit
• Colin Walsh (Rule 5) – Miss
• Kirk Nieuwenhuis – Hit
• Josmil Pinto – Miss
• Andy Wilkins – Miss
• Sean Nolin – Miss
• Michael Kirkman – Miss
• Neil Ramirez – Miss
• Rob Scahill – Hit
• Ben Rowen – Miss

Stearns starts off strong with his first move as Brewers GM, claiming Junior Guerra off waivers. That was a hit.

Colin Walsh was a Rule 5 pick that was returned during the 2016 season. He didn’t stick around for the full year and that makes him a miss.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis had a fairly decent 2016 season with the Brewers with a .709 OPS, lasted into the 2017 season before being released. But he made it over a year and “Captain Kirk” was a key player on that 2016 team. For a waiver claim and what they were expecting, he delivered and this is a hit.

Rob Scahill posted a 2.45 ERA in 2016 for the Brewers after being claimed. He had a slightly less successful 2017 but he had some good moments in the bullpen and stuck around for a bit. This’ll be a hit.

Hits: 3  Misses: 7

2017 Season

• Jesus Aguilar – Hit
• Nick Franklin – Miss
• Stephen Vogt – Hit
• Aaron Brooks – Miss

Jesus Aguilar became an All-Star and was the starting first baseman in the 2018 postseason. This was a huge hit.

Stephen Vogt quickly provided a boost to the Brewers lineup and was a key member of the clubhouse. Adding Vogt was a huge hit.

Hits: 5  Misses: 9

2018 Season

• Alec Asher – Miss
• Jordan Lyles – Hit
• Ariel Hernandez – Miss

Alec Asher pitched in two games for the Brewers and didn’t give up a run, but he wasn’t long for the roster. Since he didn’t stick around, it goes as a miss.

Jordan Lyles proved to be an effective arm for the Brewers coming out of the bullpen. He was solid again a year later as a starter, but we’ll get to that later. This goes down as a hit.

Hits: 6  Misses: 11

2019-2020 Seasons

• Donnie Hart – Draw
• Eric Yardley – Hit
• Ronny Rodriguez – Miss
• Daniel Vogelbach – Hit
• Billy McKinney – Draw

Donnie Hart was picked up early in 2019, pitched well as a lefty out of the pen in 6.2 IP, but the Brewers sent him down and then DFAed him a few months later. He was a good pickup, but there wasn’t room for him on the roster, so it goes as a draw.

Despite the Brewers struggles in the infield, Ronny Rodriguez could not crack the expanded roster and is now a free agent. This was a miss.

Billy McKinney was claimed off waivers towards the end of the year but it’s too soon to tell if he’ll be a hit or a miss, so he goes as a draw for now.

Hits: 8  Misses: 12 Draws: 2

When it comes to waiver claims, David Stearns has a .409 batting average.

For claiming fringe roster guys and spending a few of these years far down on the waiver wire, getting hits on 40% of them is pretty good.

Now on to free agency.