Brewers Rumors: Slugging Outfielder Eddie Rosario Drawing Interest
The Milwaukee Brewers have been mostly silent so far this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been asleep. Earlier today they were rumored to be connected to Marcus Semien and Justin Turner, and now they reportedly have interest in Eddie Rosario.
Rosario, 29, has spent his entire career with the Minnesota Twins and reached free agency for the first time this offseason. In his six seasons, Rosario has slugged 119 homers with a .277/.310/.478 slash line with a 109 OPS+.
According to FanSided’s own Robert Murray, the Brewers are showing interest in the former Twins slugger.
As Murray points out, Rosario is an outfielder, having spent most the last several seasons as the everyday starter in left field for the Twins, and the Brewers really don’t have any starting spots available in their outfield. Christian Yelich is currently in left field and with Lorenzo Cain and Avisail Garcia occupying the other two spots, there isn’t a perfect fit.
If the DH were to come back, which as Murray points out is not a foregone conclusion, then there might be a good fit with him filling the DH role. That would leave a question mark on what to do with Daniel Vogelbach, but Rosario is a clear and obvious upgrade over Vogelbach in the lineup.
Rosario has received down ballot MVP votes each of the last two years. He generally doesn’t strike out very much, which is what the Brewers need, and he hits a bunch of home runs, which the Brewers also need.
The Brewers rumored interest in Eddie Rosario just further showcases David Stearns’ willingness to think outside the box when it comes to filling holes on his roster.
Rosario would likely be looking for a multi-year pact, but with Avisail Garcia under contract, signing that deal might be difficult for the Brewers to do.
They might have some other things in the works to get the cash available to sign a guy like Rosario or Justin Turner, whom they’re also interested in. But that would have to involve a trade of Garcia or someone like Josh Hader to free up that money.
Perhaps the Brewers can work out a deal with deferrals or make it backloaded in order to be able to handle the money situation now.
Time will only tell, but there’s been a lot of buzz around the Brewers in a very short amount of time, so don’t be surprised if something happens soon.
The chances of signing Marcus Semien are now gone, but there are still plenty of free agents out there.