The Milwaukee Brewers pushed their chips to the middle of the table in quite dramatic fashion on Thursday night. Within hours, the club acquired Christian Yelich in a trade with the Miami Marlins and signed free agent Lorenzo Cain — two outfielders who automatically profile as the best players on a team that hopes to contend.
The Brewers, who tallied 86 wins last year and finished just one game short of a wild-card spot, are certainly poised to improve in 2018, but their magic stroke could have a corresponding impact on several other storylines in the coming days.
Here’s a look at some of the ripple effects.
Not done dealing?
The Brewers are far from a complete team, the obvious hole on their roster being starting pitching. Their best pitcher, Jimmy Nelson, is recovering from September shoulder surgery and there’s no timetable for his return. As well, the back end of the team’s rotation leaves something to be desired.
That’s why Milwaukee has had rumoured interest in free-agent starters Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish all winter. With the club even closer to contention today than one week ago, perhaps there’s even more incentive for the team to triple down.
Yelich and Cain are going to be with the Brewers for the next several seasons, so adding a free agent pitcher — like Darvish, Arrieta or even Alex Cobb or Lance Lynn — to multi-year deals makes sense because the team’s window stretches beyond just 2018.
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A premier catcher hits the block
Following their trades of Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna, the rebuilding Marlins stated they were going to keep Yelich and catcher J.T. Realmuto as foundational pieces. But having now moved Yelich for a lauded package of prospects, it makes sense that Realmuto’s days are numbered with the Fish.
The 26-year-old — ranked as the No. 3 catcher in baseball by ESPN’s Buster Olney in his recent top 10 list — will likely be costly to acquire. He made $562,500 in 2017, his last season before arbitration, and is under team control through the 2020 campaign.
Realmuto generated a combined 6.1 wins above replacement over the past two seasons and the Washington Nationals, among other teams, are reportedly in pursuit of him.
Boon for FA outfielders?
Remember all that fretting about front offices unwilling to shell out big money and deals longer than three years? Well, Cain’s signing somewhat impacts that narrative. Five years and $80 million for him is a hefty commitment and you can bet some agents are pumping their fists.
Cain and Yelich were pursued by several teams and now that they’re spoken for, clubs may now shift attention to the bevy of players still logjammed on the market. Carlos Gomez and Carlos Gonzalez are unsigned outfielders, as is the “King Kong of Slug” himself, J.D. Martinez.
The Marlins have gutted their team, trading all three starting outfielders, but they need to fill those spots with somebody and could present a possible landing spot for spurned free agents looking to land a pillow contract.
Ante up for the Cubs?
The Brew Crew were a thorn in the side of the Cubs for most of 2017, before Chicago finally pulled away late in the season. And while the Cubs are still the National League Central’s clear favourite, you have to wonder if Milwaukee’s warning shot spurs them to take pronounced action.
Chicago has made tweaks to its roster over the course of the winter — most notably adding starter Tyler Chatwood and reliever Brandon Morrow — but the organization has yet to make a marquee addition. The Cubs have been linked to Darvish and it remains to be seen if the team’s desire for him has now increased.
