Ranking 5 Available Pitchers that can help the Brewers rotation

For a number of years the Milwaukee Brewers have had one of the strongest pitching rotations in the MLB and last season was no different. They ended the season with a league leading 3.71 ERA and also led the league in average allowed with .226.

Ahead of the 2024 season, the Brewers are looking to rebuild their rotation following Wade Miley, Brandon Woodruff, Julio Teheran and Eric Lauer becoming free agents. Rumors are circulating around Corbin Burnes and the possibility of him being traded with his contract being up at the end of the 2024 season.

Some big name pitchers are available this offseason with Shohei Ohtani being the top of everyone's free agent list. Fellow Japanese pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is attracting a lot of interest having been posted. The Brewers will be looking for more budget options to add to their rotation and would look to develop those into solid options to aid regular season success.

Here we rank five pitchers that can help the Milwaukee Brewers rotation for the 2024 season.

5. RHP Lucas Giolito

This first pitcher may be a wild selection due to his performances in recent seasons, but Lucas Giolito has shown that he can be a top level starting pitcher. During his time with the Chicago White Sox, he averaged an ERA under four in five of his seven seasons with the team.

It was later on in the 2023 season that he struggled. He was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in July where he really struggled, posting a 6.89 ERA then being placed on waivers in August. The Cleveland Guardians claimed him and he pitched just six games with a 7.04 ERA.

From 2019 through 2021, he was one of the elite pitchers in the league and looked to have a bright future as part of a White Sox team that was on the up. His performances towards the end of last season has certainly dropped his stock and so he could be an option for the Brewers, depending on what his asking price is. He was paid $10.4MM for the 2023 season and the Brewers would hope to get him for cheaper.

If the price was reasonable and the Milwaukee front office felt they could help Giolito return back closer to the form he showed in Chicago, then he could potentially be a real asset for the Brewers. The reason he is sat at #5 is due to the potential asking price as he knows the level he can play and other teams may just simply offer Giolito more than Milwaukee.

4. RHP Nick Martinez

Next up on the list is the 33 year old Nick Martinez. Having spent four seasons with the Texas Rangers, Martinez was out of the majors from 2017 to 2022, where the San Diego Padres picked him up.

He spent most of the last two seasons as a relief pitcher but has started 19 games during his time on the West Coast. This means he could be a useful option for the Brewers to bring into the rotation, but also keep him as a relief option should he be needed.

Last season he finished with a 6-4 record and a 3.43 ERA. Across his career in the majors he has a 4.31 ERA and if brought in on just a one or two-year deal, he could be of use to the Brewers. With many young pitching prospects expected to arrive in Milwaukee in the coming seasons, you need a solid arm in your rotation so the young pitchers can be slowly integrated into the rotation.

In 2023 he earned $10MM and the Padres turned down his club option of $16m and Martinez turned down his player options at $8MM.

This could mean he is looking for more than the $8MM but it also may be him wanting out following his club options being declined. It will be interesting to see how the pitching market sets up but Martinez should be an option for the Brewers.

2. LHP Sean Manaea

The only left-hander here on the rankings is the former Oakland A's, Padres and more recently San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Manaea. Losing both Miley and Lauer leaves the Brewers without a starting left-hander and so this would be a position they need to fill.

Their fifth ranked prospect Robert Gasser fits the bill and is expected to come up sometime this season, but would it be too much too soon if he was relied on as the only left-hander in the rotation? Aaron Ashby is also making his return from injury and so he may be in a similar boat of being slowly integrated back in and may start out in the minors as he builds back up to full health.

Similar to Martinez, he can pitch out of the bullpen if required and that is of use to everyone. After a solid career in Oakland, his past two season have seen him put up ERAs of 4.96 and 4.44 which isn't going to blow anyone's socks off but can still be a nice option. Manaea can eat up innings which is something the Brewers will need.

Last season, Manaea was paid $10MM and would be worth around a similar price this offseason. He is definitely an option for the Brewers to look at to replace their losses of land-handed starters.

1. RHP Frankie Montas

Frankie Montas is similar to Mahle in terms of coming off of a season ending injury and heading into free agency. The right-hander made his name in Oakland before being traded to the New York Yankees in 2022.

In 2021 he put up a 3.37 ERA, followed up by a 3.18 ERA before seeing a dip in New York. With the Yankees he did register a 6.35 ERA in eight games but across his career he has a 3.90 ERA which is impressive.

Again, similar to Mahle he will be on a 'prove it' type of deal that will play into the Brewers hands in order to get him on a cheaper deal. As a veteran he will bring experience and can slide into the rotation as a solid piece. What helps is despite that injury, he is now full healthy and will be ready for spring training, so he is likely to be able to go straight into the rotation for the first series of the 2024 season.

Last season Montas earned $7.5MM and so at worst he will be around a similar cost but the chances are he is available for cheaper. Should he impress, then the Brewers can look towards being able to give him a qualifying offer for the 2025 season.

These were just five pitchers that are available and could help the Milwaukee Brewers rotation. Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Brewers news over the offseason.