The Milwaukee Brewers came into this offseason with a to-do list that many fans felt was pretty straightforward: go get a bat with pop, and upgrade the shortstop position after Joey Ortiz struggled at the plate last season. But instead of chasing power or making a splashy move up the middle, the Brewers doubled down on pitching depth-trading away established talent in exchange for arms that can start at the Major League level.
It’s a move that might not light up the transaction wire, but it speaks volumes about how this front office is thinking. After what happened to their rotation last year-when injuries decimated the Opening Day staff before the first week was even over-you can’t blame them for trying to build a deeper safety net.
One of the key names in that equation is Brandon Woodruff. The right-hander made his return to the mound last season after a long road back from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for nearly two full years. But just when it looked like he was finding his rhythm again, a lat strain shut him down and kept him out of the postseason.
Now, as the Brewers gear up for Spring Training, manager Pat Murphy says Woodruff is in a good place physically. He’s been throwing bullpens, but the team is keeping a close eye on his ramp-up.
“This is a time of year that people are very vulnerable, so you have to be mindful of that,” Murphy said. “A guy with an injury history even more so.”
The Brewers are hoping Woodruff can stay on track and emerge as the ace of the staff, especially with Freddy Peralta no longer in the mix. But they’re not taking any chances. Murphy made it clear they’ll be cautious with his workload as camp progresses.
Another arm they’re monitoring closely is Quinn Priester. The young righty dealt with a wrist issue late last season, and while he’s now recovered, Murphy says he’ll also be brought along slowly.
“He’s had a couple things that have kept him from progressing, but he’s thrown bullpens,” Murphy said. “Nothing shutting him down or anything like that.”
Murphy didn’t go into detail about what else Priester may have been dealing with this offseason, but it’s clear the Brewers are being deliberate with his preparation. Given how thin the rotation got last year, it makes sense.
And that’s really the story of this Brewers offseason. They didn’t chase the big bat or make the flashy move.
Instead, they shored up an area that nearly sank them last season. They’re building from the mound out, betting that a deeper, healthier rotation will give them a better shot at staying in the race.
It’s not the kind of offseason that grabs headlines-but if it keeps them from scrambling for starters in April, it could be the kind that pays off when it matters most.