Milwaukee Brewers: 3 Ways to Fix the Brewers Offense

After taking three straight from the Los Angeles Dodgers the Milwaukee Brewers dropped the fourth game of the series and kicked off a losing streak that has reached six games for the Brewers.

During the last six games the Brewers offense is averaging less than three runs per game.

What can the organization do to fix the Brewers offense?

Option one, the Brewers could sign a free agent.

Could the Milwaukee Brewers pursue Albert Pujols? Long time Cardinal and recently released from the Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is now on the open market. Brewers fans are well aware of what Pujols is capable of at the plate, coupled with the fact that the first basemen on the roster are both struggling resulting in Keston Hiura being sent to AAA makes it at least plausible Pujols could be an option. At 41, Pujols has 5 home runs in 24 games which would tie with Travis Shaw for the lead in the Brewers offense.

A pair of former Brewers could also be options for Milwaukee to add to the Brewers offense, one being Jonathon Lucroy who played for the Washington Nationals earlier this season and hit well, the other being Ryan Braun who hasn’t played since his contract expired last season with the Brewers.

Lucroy could be an option as the Brewers are banged up at catcher with Narvaez and Pina on the injured list or at first base where the Brewers are desperately missing production from the recently sent down Keston Hiura and struggling Daniel Vogelbach. Braun would likely be an outfield signing, perhaps also an option to fill in at first base at times. But with Narvaez and Pina close to returning, a reunion with Lucroy appears unlikely.

Milwaukee already added one former Brewer back to the team earlier this week, Hernan Perez.

One last unpopular option could be Yasiel Puig. Milwaukee Brewers fans would probably sneer at the mention of the name of the player who crippled the Brewers’ World Series hopes in 2018. However Puig is only 30 years old and playing in the Mexican league currently and would likely jump at the opportunity to get back into Major League Baseball. Puig’s last full season in the MLB in 2019 saw him hit 24 home runs and tally 84 RBI, Puig’s bat could instantly add to the Brewers offense.

Option two, make a trade.

Trevor Story will be one of the hottest names on the trade market this season, could the Milwaukee Brewers make a splash and acquire him long before the deadline drama? It would likely take a haul of prospects to snag the Rockies shortstop, but if David Stearns could pull it off the Brewers could add Story who is currently batting .304.

Story does play shortstop, making problems where to find time for Luis Urias, but Urias did take reps at third base in spring training. Perhaps Urias could spell Travis Shaw who has become the every day third baseman.

Could a reunion with former Milwaukee Brewer Jesus Aguilar cure the team’s hitting woes? The Miami Marlins are currently one game below .500 and if they fall out of the race at the deadline, they could part with Aguilar and snag a prospect or two from the Brewers at the same time. In 28 games this season Aguilar is batting .271 with six home runs and 24 RBI with a bunch of those coming against the Brewers.

Option three, stick it out until the team is healthy.

This is the most probable scenario of the three right now.

It’s no secret the Milwaukee Brewers are struggling mightily with injuries. The Brewers have dealt with injuries to key players Kolten Wong and Lorenzo Cain who are back with the team. However the Brewers lost Christian Yelich to the injured list, saw him return for one game which he knocked two hits, and then placed him back on the 10 day injured list the next day.

The Brewers are also dealing with starting catcher Omar Narvaez on the injured list, currently the best hitter on the Brewers. Narvaez is making progress, doing some running and will do some catching this weekend according to Craig Counsell. The Brewers are also missing their backup catcher Manny Pina who was eligible to return from the injured list Friday after dealing with a broken toe, Counsell said he hopes Pina will be available during the Marlins series.

Hopefully the Brewers can right the ship with two games remaining against the Marlins this weekend and get good news about the injuries to Narvaez and Yelich.