If the Milwaukee Brewers want to take the next step after a record-setting 2025 season, they’ll need more than just elite pitching and timely hitting - they need a real solution at shortstop. And right now, that solution isn’t coming from the free-agent market.
Let’s rewind for a second. When the Brewers let Willy Adames walk in free agency, they knew they were taking a hit offensively.
What they probably didn’t expect was just how steep the decline would be. Milwaukee shortstops combined for a 76 wRC+ in 2025 - fifth-worst in all of baseball.
That’s a glaring weakness for a team that finished with the best record in the league.
And just when it looked like the Brewers might be able to patch that hole, reality hit hard. Ha-Seong Kim, once a versatile star with the Padres, just signed a one-year, $20 million deal with the Atlanta Braves - and that price tag may have effectively priced Milwaukee out of the shortstop market.
Kim’s recent track record doesn’t exactly scream $20 million. After battling back and calf injuries, he struggled with the Rays, posting a 73 wRC+ and underwhelming defensive metrics before being waived. The Braves scooped him up in September, and while he improved - hitting .253 with a 91 wRC+ and showing better plate discipline - he wasn’t close to the MVP-caliber player he was in San Diego back in 2023.
Still, that late-season bump was apparently enough to convince Atlanta to roll the dice. For the Brewers, though, that deal sends a pretty clear message: if a diminished Kim is going for $20 million, the rest of the shortstop market might be out of reach.
Bo Bichette is still out there, but he’s a defensive liability and likely far too expensive for a Milwaukee front office that’s never been known for big-ticket spending. Isiah Kiner-Falefa brings versatility and some playoff experience, but he’s never posted a league-average offensive season by wRC+. That’s not the kind of upgrade that moves the needle.
So what are the options?
One possibility is sliding Brice Turang over to shortstop and targeting a second baseman instead. That opens the door to trade possibilities like Brendan Donovan or Ketel Marte, both of whom could provide a spark offensively.
But doing so would mean moving Turang off second - where he just won a Platinum Glove in 2024. That’s not a decision you make lightly.
Which brings us to Joey Ortiz.
Ortiz is still just 27, and the Brewers are clearly betting on a bounce-back. His 2025 season was rough at the plate - a low walk rate (5.3%) and a noticeable drop in power made it tough for him to replicate the promise he showed as a rookie.
But the tools are still there. He’s a plus runner with 25 steals over the past two seasons, and his defense at shortstop was outstanding - 12 Outs Above Average puts him among the elite with the glove.
And let’s not forget: just a year ago, Ortiz posted a 105 wRC+ with a .159 ISO. He’s shown he can hit enough to be a solid everyday player - the question is whether that version of him can return.
Right now, the Brewers are hoping the answer is yes, because unless something unexpected happens on the trade front, it looks like Joey Ortiz is going to get the keys to shortstop once again in 2026.