The Milwaukee Brewers have had a relatively quiet offseason when it comes to adding to their position player group. The one notable move?
Signing outfielder Akil Baddoo to a split contract - a deal that essentially pays him differently depending on whether he’s in the majors or down in the minors. But even that move feels more like a reshuffling than a true addition, especially considering the Brewers traded away outfielder Isaac Collins in the deal that brought left-handed pitcher Ángel Zerpa over from the Royals.
And with Rhys Hoskins likely headed out the door - possibly to the Nationals, though that’s still unconfirmed - Milwaukee is entering the latter stages of the offseason with more questions than answers in their lineup. At this point, the Brewers are leaning heavily on internal improvement from their current roster rather than making splashy additions.
Now, could that change? Absolutely.
A Freddy Peralta trade has been quietly gaining steam, and if the Brewers do decide to move the right-hander, it could open the door for a more impactful bat to come back in return. There’s also always the chance that Matt Arnold and the front office pull off a surprise deal using some of the club’s other trade chips.
But given the Brewers’ tight payroll situation, a big free-agent signing seems unlikely. Milwaukee has long preferred value deals - short-term contracts, buy-low candidates - and while there’s always a chance a late-offseason bargain falls into their lap, any major addition to the offense at this point would be unexpected.
Meanwhile, the rest of the NL Central isn’t standing still. The Cubs, Reds, and Cardinals are all active in the market, each with their own needs.
Chicago, after sending top prospect Owen Caissie to Miami for Edward Cabrera, is now searching for outfield help. Cincinnati is looking to add more firepower to its lineup to stay competitive in a deep National League.
And in St. Louis, the Cardinals - still in the thick of a roster overhaul - are hunting for players who could either contribute now or become trade chips at the deadline.
One name that’s drawing interest from all three teams? Miguel Andújar.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Cubs, Reds, and Cardinals are among the clubs circling the veteran slugger, who’s coming off a bounce-back 2025 season where he slashed .318 with an .822 OPS. That kind of production - especially from a right-handed bat - is hard to ignore, and it’s no surprise that multiple teams are in the mix.
Andújar’s calling card is his ability to mash left-handed pitching. Over his career, he’s posted a .297/.332/.475 slash line against southpaws, good for a 121 wRC+.
Even his numbers against right-handers - a 101 wRC+ - are respectable, but it’s the lefty splits that really stand out. In 2025, those splits became even more pronounced: in 94 games between the A’s and Reds, Andújar torched lefties to the tune of a 171 wRC+, while holding his own with a 108 wRC+ against right-handers.
That kind of bat has value, especially for teams looking for a platoon option or a bench bat who can do damage in the right matchups. But Andújar isn’t without his limitations.
Defensively, he’s a liability - capable of playing both third base and corner outfield in theory, but not particularly well in practice. He also doesn’t offer much on the basepaths.
So any team signing him is likely doing so with the understanding that he’s a bat-first corner outfielder, someone you plug in against lefties and maybe spot-start against righties.
That profile makes sense for the Cubs, Cardinals, and Reds, all of whom could use a right-handed bat with some pop. But for the Brewers? Not so much.
Milwaukee has always valued defense and baserunning - traits that don’t exactly align with Andújar’s skillset. And while the Brewers could certainly use another outfielder, preferably one who hits from the right side, Andújar doesn’t check enough boxes to justify a significant financial commitment. After his strong 2025, he’s likely to land a multi-year deal, and that’s just not the kind of move Milwaukee typically makes - especially not for a player with such a specific (and limited) role.
There’s also this: the Brewers are currently projected to have zero left-handed starters in their Opening Day rotation. That’s right - not one.
Robert Gasser could eventually join the mix, but for now, Milwaukee’s rotation is built around right-handers. That means even if Andújar does sign with a division rival, his impact against the Brewers would be muted.
His biggest strength - punishing lefties - won’t come into play as much against a Brewers staff that doesn’t feature any.
So while the rest of the division shops for bats, Milwaukee continues to operate with patience and precision. They’re betting on internal growth, upside plays, and perhaps a late-offseason deal to round things out. And unless the market shifts dramatically, don’t expect the Brewers to chase players like Andújar, even if the bat looks tempting on paper.