Brewers: 5 Free Agent Hitters That Could Help Fix The Offense In 2024

The Milwaukee Brewers had an offense that was less than spectacular in 2023 and that group will need to be better in 2024. While improvements from internal players have to happen, the front office should be looking to bring in outside players to help address the Crew's offensive deficiencies.

Unfortunately, this isn't a ripe free agent market for position players. Last year was stacked and this year's group doesn't have a ton of great options to remake a lineup. Still, there are gems to be found out there.

Of the free agent hitters, who could be a possibility for the Brewers financially (sorry, Shohei Ohtani is not on this list) and logically fit on the roster? Here's five possibilities for GM Matt Arnold to sign in free agency:

1. 1B Rhys Hoskins

Rowdy Tellez's non-tender leaves the Brewers without a starting quality first baseman on the roster. Only Owen Miller and trade acquisition Jake Bauers are currently on the 40 man with the capability to handle first base duties. That's hardly an inspiring group and first base is once again a priority for Milwaukee to address in the offseason.

Rhys Hoskins would be a perfect fit on the Brewers roster. He's coming off a torn ACL that knocked out his entire 2023 season, meaning the 30 year old is likely looking for a one year pillow contract to re-establish his value to sign a long-term deal next winter. The Brewers likely aren't interested in Hoskins at the price of a multi-year deal, but a straight one year contract is a lot more doable for Milwaukee.

When healthy, Hoskins can rake. He has a career .846 OPS and 125 OPS+, meaning he's a 25% better than league average hitter. In his past four full, non-shortened seasons, Hoskins has slugged at least 27 home runs every year. His batting average hovers in the mid-.240s and is generally a very productive corner infield bat. With a full year to recover and a normal offseason program this winter, Hoskins should be in line to return to his productive ways in 2024.

The Brewers may have to pay a higher salary for one year, but they've done that before when the opportunity presented itself with Yasmani Grandal in 2019. Given the dire nature of their first base situation and the quality of corner prospects close to the big leagues, a one year stopgap with Hoskins can help Milwaukee out in 2024 without blocking any of their top prospects.

2. 3B/1B Justin Turner

Justin Turner can still hit. The Brewers have tried for him in the past and now that he's a free agent again, perhaps they'll be able to get across the finish line this time.

Turner put up an .800 OPS in his age-38 season with the Red Sox. He slashed .276/.345/.455 with 23 homers and 96 RBIs. Defensively he may not be an everyday third baseman anymore, but he can still dabble over there while spending time at first base and DH as well. It just so happens that all three of those spots are positions of need in the Brewers lineup right now.

Turner has been a league-average or better hitter every single season for the past decade. He's shown no signs of decline with the bat and given his age, Turner is looking at short-term contracts, which is exactly the kind of free agent deals the Brewers usually sign. They don't splurge on contracts longer than two years on the open market very often.

The Brewers could use an experienced hitter and leader like Turner. A right handed corner bat with pop is something Milwaukee's lineup is currently lacking. His price tag should be fairly reasonable and the length of it will line up with the Brewers contending in the near future while also allowing time for the corner infield prospects they have to develop and take over right after.

3. OF/DH Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

While the outfield isn't Milwaukee's biggest need, Lourdes Gurriel has spent plenty of time at DH. He's a quality defender though, and the Brewers don't want to sacrifice defense for offense. Gurriel can provide both, even if he spends a majority of his time at DH if he comes to Milwaukee.

Gurriel is a career 115 OPS+ hitter and he's coming off a career high season in doubles (35) and homers (24). He doesn't draw walks at a particularly high clip but his career .279 batting average and low 19.6% K rate will give the Brewers exactly what they need in their lineup. Average, power, and a low propensity to punch out would be a boost to any lineup.

If the Brewers were to sign the 30 year old, they are likely to have to extend beyond two years, meaning they'll go beyond their comfort zone. However, if there is a hitter in this free agent class that would make sense for them to do that with, it would probably be Gurriel.

Gurriel is sure to draw significant interest on the open market. He's coming off an All Star campaign and being a star hitter on a World Series team in the Diamondbacks helped boost his stock even further.

4. DH Jorge Soler

The Brewers didn't have much of a power threat in their lineup in 2023. Willy Adames led the way with just 24 homers and for this offense to be better in 2024, their home run leader has to have more long balls than that. That's where someone like Jorge Soler can come in.

Soler slugged 36 bombs this season while hitting .250 with an .853 OPS for the Miami Marlins. His right handed power would be a perfect addition to the Brewers left-handed heavy offense. Routinely throughout this past year, the Brewers would get their top two hitters on base in Christian Yelich and William Contreras, and then the middle of the order would struggle to drive them in. If Soler was in the middle of that Brewers lineup, that would no longer be much of a concern.

Soler had a player option for $9MM for 2024 that he declined, seeking a higher payday on the open market. Coming off such a strong season, he's going to find that higher payday. Again, this means the Brewers may have to dig into their checkbooks, but if they're going to fix this offense and add some much needed power to the lineup, that's what they're going to have to do.

The Brewers were rumored to be interested in Soler in the past, and now that he's available again and still hitting the ball well, it would make sense for them to be interested in his services once more.