Milwaukee Brewers: Grading the 2021-2022 Offseason Moves

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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 28: Pedro Severino #28 of the Baltimore Orioles throws to second base during a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 28, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Here are grades for each of the major Milwaukee Brewers’ 2021-2022 offseason moves.

4. Brewers sign free agent C Pedro Severino

One area the Brewers were all but certain to address at some point in the offseason was at backup catcher. That became necessary when longtime Milwaukee backstop and fan-favorite Manny Pina signed a free agent deal with the Braves in mid-November.

It didn’t take the Brewers long to address that need. On November 29th, they signed a one-year contract with former Baltimore Orioles catcher Pedro Severino to a one-year deal.

After being claimed from the Washington Nationals before the 2019 season, Severino served as the starting catcher for the Orioles for most of the last three years. He has a career 362 games played across seven major league seasons, slashing .235/.305/.372 with 33 homers in that time.

The Brewers get a slight offensive upgrade with Severino but a definite downgrade in defense compared to Pina. Hopefully the Milwaukee coaching staff works wonders with him like they have other catchers in the organization recently, and if nothing else, he serves as a one-year stopgap until catching prospect Mario Feliciano is ready for a full-time major league job.

Grade: B

5. Brewers sign free agent C Brett Sullivan

Milwaukee wasn’t done there when it came to adding catching depth, though. Just one day later, the team agreed to a deal with another free agent catcher, this one being former Rays minor leaguer Brett Sullivan.

Prior to signing with the Brewers, Sullivan had spent his entire career in the Rays’ minor league system after being picked in the 17th round of the 2015 draft. In six seasons, he slashed .271/.317/.426 with 142 doubles and 58 homers in 593 games.

It’s not every day that you see a career minor leaguer added to a team’s 40-man roster, which is what the Brewers did. But Sullivan comes with all of his minor league options remaining, so there is no rush to bring him up to the majors before he is actually needed.

Sullivan also comes with some positional flexibility as he played some third base and outfield in the Rays organization. Combine that with his several years of control and multiple minor league options remaining, and it’s hard not to be happy with this extremely low risk move.

Grade: A-

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