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10 Free Agent Reliever Targets For The Brewers Once Lockout Ends

By David Gasper

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 09: Brad Boxberger #45 of the Milwaukee Brewers watches the game from the bullpen during game 2 of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 09, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Braves defeated the Brewers 3-0. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 09: Brad Boxberger #45 of the Milwaukee Brewers watches the game from the bullpen during game 2 of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 09, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Braves defeated the Brewers 3-0. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 28: Alex Colome #48 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning of the game at Target Field on September 28, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Tigers 3-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Brewers free agent reliever target #5: LHP Chasen Shreve

While Chasen Shreve has bounced around the league, he’s been a mostly serviceable reliever that stays healthy and can fill some innings. Brewers fans will remember him most from his time with the Cardinals and, most recently, the Pirates.

Shreve, 31, spent the 2021 season with Pittsburgh, posting a 3.20 ERA in 57 games in his best season since 2015.

Shreve can be had for fairly cheap and he can backfill some innings in the bullpen. He probably wouldn’t be expected to handle many high-leverage situations, though. Shreve does have an issue with high walk counts that make him an unlikely candidate for those big roles.

With his bounce back season in 2021, the Brewers could look at Shreve as an under-the-radar pitcher that they can get into their system and get the most out of.

Brewers free agent reliever target #6: RHP Alex Colome

Remember when Alex Colome was the hot name among young relievers? After coming up through the Tampa Bay Rays system Colome exploded onto the scene in 2016, becoming an All-Star and racking up 37 saves. The next season in 2017, Colome led baseball with 47 saves.

Colome, 33, hasn’t been quite that good since, but he’s still been a productive pitcher, even without the saves totals. He racked up 30 saves in 2019 with the White Sox with a 2.80 ERA, then 12 saves with a 0.81 ERA in the shortened 2020 season.

In 2021, Colome was with the Minnesota Twins and he couldn’t hold on to his closer’s job, converting 17 saves but blowing seven opportunities and posting a 4.15 ERA on the season. His days as an elite closer are probably over.

But just because he won’t be a closer anymore doesn’t mean he won’t be valuable as a setup man in some high leverage spots in the back end of a bullpen still. Brad Boxberger was a former closer turned setup man and he turned out pretty well for Milwaukee last season. Colome could be the next version of that in 2022.

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