6 Position battles that are up for grabs at 2024 Brewers spring training

6. Final bullpen spots

Contenders: Elvis Peguero, JB Bukauskas, Bryan Hudson, Thyago Vieira, Taylor Clarke, Trevor Megill

The bullpen is the one position group that is most in flux every single year on just about every team. There's always pitchers battling for the final few spots and there aren't enough spots to go around.

For the sake of the Brewers bullpen, we can assume Devin Williams, Joel Payamps, Hoby Milner, Abner Uribe, and Bryse Wilson have their spots secured on the 2024 roster. That leaves three openings, including the long relief job that will likely go to one of the pitchers who loses the rotation battle. That leaves two spots for the single inning relievers.

Elvis Peguero was one of the better arms in the bullpen last season and should be counted on quite a bit this season. I considered putting him as a lock, but few things are guarantees with bullpen roster math.

J.B. Bukauskas is one of those arms that may have a good shot at making the Opening Day roster but will find it tough to stick on the roster all season. Then again, we said that about Bryse Wilson last year and he proved himself to be a valuable arm. Bukauskas is out of minor league options this year. He pitched well in a limited sample in 2023, and is perhaps deserving of another look before the Brewers simply cut him loose.

Thyago Vieira is also out of minor league options. He was a late season add to the bullpen last year but pitched well and could earn himself one more look during the regular season to prove he belongs before the Brewers decide to put him on waivers.

Trevor Megill was also a valuable reliever that earned some higher leverage spots in 2023. It'll be tough to keep him and his big fastball off the roster, but since he has an option remaining and several other candidates do not, we could see Megill start the year in the minors.

Then there's the trade acquisitions of Bryan Hudson and Taylor Clarke. Hudson could be a second left hander alongside Hoby Milner. He didn't have a great debut with the Dodgers in 2023 but the Brewers paid a pretty high price to get him off DFA waivers. Taylor Clarke struggled in his Royals career, but he retains a minor league option and has a four pitch arsenal the Brewers find intriguing.

Roster spots will be won and lost over these next six weeks and how these players perform in spring training.