9 former Brewers who remain without a team prior to 2024 Opening Day

2023-24 MLB free agency was a wild ride with the market being delayed while Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto chose their free agent destinations. Business eventually carried on as usual and a majority of free agents ended up finding their homes for the 2024 season.

Not every free agent ended up being signed, however, and that includes a handful of players with past ties to the Milwaukee Brewers organization. With just five days remaining until Opening Day, here are the ones hoping to find a place to play soon.

Here are nine former Brewers who are still without a team prior to 2024 Opening Day.

1. C Manny Pina

Catcher Manny Pina spent six seasons and played 404 of his 418 career MLB games as a member of the Brewers where he slashed .245/.315/.414 with 42 homers. He has played just nine games over the last two seasons, last year having been spent with the A's, as he has battled an injury to his left wrist. He will turn 37 this season.

2. 2B Jonathan Schoop

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop played in just 46 games for the Brewers after being acquired at the 2018 trade deadline and hit just .202 with a .577 OPS, though he did hit an infamous grand slam off Madison Bumgarner in that time. He returned to form in the few seasons following his departure from Milwaukee but most recently slashed .213/.278/.272 in 55 games last year for the Tigers.

3. 3B Jean Segura

Acquired by Milwaukee in 2012 in the deal that shipped out pitcher Zack Greinke, then shortstop Jean Segura played three and a half seasons for the Brewers and was an All-Star in 2013. He hit a decent .266 in that time but had an OPS of just .663. After stints in Seattle in Philly, he spent 2023 with the Marlins and hit .219 with a .556 OPS in 85 games with five doubles and three homers.

4. OF Jackie Bradley Jr

Pressed into duty in 2021 as Lorenzo Cain battled injuries, outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr provided elite defense for one season with the Brewers but disappointed at the plate slashing a lowly .163/.236/.261 in 134 games. He bounced around with a few teams the next two years but mustered just a .133/.188/.219 slash line in a quick 43-game stint with the Royals last year that ended in June.

5. DH Darin Ruf

The Brewers acquired DH Darin Ruf last May when he was DFA'd and subsquently released by the Giants. Unfortunately, they never got to see whether he could help fix their DH issues as he would play in only 11 games before suffering a knee injury while attempting to track down a foul ball against the tarp near first base, spending most of the rest of the year on the 60-day IL. He would turn 38 in July.

6. SP Zack Greinke

A 20-year MLB veteran and likely future Hall of Famer, pitcher Zack Greinke spent a year and a half in Milwaukee, including the 2011 playoff season where he won 16 games and compiled a 3.83 ERA. The 40-year-old returned to the Royals the last two years and had 15 losses and a 5.06 ERA in 2023. He has stated that he is not quite ready to retire, but remains unsigned.

7. RP Brad Boxberger

Reliever Brad Boxberger was one of the steady arms in the Brewers bullpen from 2021 to 2022, pitching to the tune of a 3.15 ERA and 1.150 WHIP in 141 games with a 10.6 K/9. He crossed over to the dark side and played for the Cubs in 2023 but was injured for the most of the year, appearing in just 22 games with a 4.95 ERA. If he has gas left in the tank, he could be picked up even after the season begins.

8. RP Matt Bush

Acquired at the 2022 trade deadline, reliever Matt Bush was much maligned by Brewers fans. He had a 4.30 ERA in 23 innings after arriving from Texas but also blew four of six save opportunities. After beginning 2023 with a 9.58 ERA in 10.1 innings, he was designated for assignment in July. He would be brought back by the Rangers but only played in Triple-A the rest of the year.

9. RP Daniel Norris

Speaking of trade deadline pickups that didn't work out, reliever Daniel Norris pitched in 18 games for the Brewers in 2021 and had a 6.64 ERA, 1.574 WHIP, and five homers given up. He spent 2023 in the Guardians organization and was actually DFA'd by them three different times last year, though he also pitched in seven games for them giving up eight earned runs in 12.2 innings. He is still just 30 years old.