Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe Have Path To Closer Role
According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, both Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe have a viable path to operate as the closer during the 2025 season. With Devin Williams being traded to the New York Yankees, the ninth-inning role in Milwaukee is currently vacated. When Williams missed time during the first half of last summer with a back injury, Megill and Uribe both saw ample opportunities. Megill converted 20 saves, while Uribe only tallied three. However, Uribe was given the first save opportunity of the season but struggled to hold the job. Megill generated a solid 2.83 xERA, while Uribe posted a high 4.78 xERA. In addition, southpaw Aaron Ashby could also be a sleeper candidate for the role as he posted a stellar 1.37 ERA and 0.76 WHIP across his final 19 2/3 innings of relief last summer. For now, Megill should be viewed as the frontrunner and the name to target in early drafts.
Abner Uribe Should Be "Ready To Go" For Spring Training
The Milwaukee Brewers expect right-handed reliever Abner Uribe (knee) to have a normal offseason after having knee surgery over the summer. Uribe should be "ready to go" for the start of spring training in the middle of February, according to general manager Matt Arnold. In addition, the Brewers are targeting the end of the 2025 season for pitching prospect Robert Gasser's (elbow) return after he had Tommy John surgery. Uribe had surgery on his right knee to fix a lateral meniscus tear after being injured at Triple-A Nashville. The 24-year-old opened the year as an option to replace the injured Devin Williams (back) as Milwaukee's closer, but he finished 2024 with a 6.91 ERA and 1.88 ERA in only 14 1/3 innings with the Brewers and then injured his knee after being sent to the minors. Stuff-wise, Uribe has the potential to be a high-leverage, late-inning arm for the Brew Crew, but his control has gotten him in trouble.
Milwaukee Brewers right-handed reliever Abner Uribe (knee) announced on his Instagram account that he underwent season-ending knee surgery on Wednesday morning. With regular closer Devin Williams (back) missing the entire first half of the 2024 season, Uribe opened the year with an opportunity to earn saves for the Brew Crew. The 24-year-old Dominican did post a career-high three saves in the early going but was quickly sent to the minors after giving up 11 earned runs on 15 hits (one homer) while walking 12 and striking out 14 in 14 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in just his second season in the major leagues. Uribe has a live arm and posted a 30.7% strikeout rate as a rookie in 2023, but he's going to need to show better control if he wants to be a high-leverage, late-inning option in Milwaukee in 2025 once he's fully healthy.
The Milwaukee Brewers optioned right-handed reliever Abner Uribe to Triple-A Nashville after Wednesday's win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Uribe is in the process of appealing a six-game suspension that was handed down by the league after he initiated a benches-clearing brawl with the Rays on Tuesday night when he tried to punch outfielder Jose Siri following his groundout in the eighth inning. The 23-year-old was allowed to pitch on Wednesday as he appeals his suspension, and he was called into action, giving up a run on one hit with two walks in an inning of work. One of the candidates for saves to open the year with Devin Williams (back) sidelined, Uribe has three saves but also a rough 6.91 ERA with 12 walks and 14 K's in 14 1/3 innings. Joel Payamps and Trevor Megill are considered the team's co-closers with Uribe out of the picture for now.
After the Milwaukee Brewers' benches-clearing brawl against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, pitchers Freddy Peralta (five games) and Abner Uribe (six games) and manager Pat Murphy (two games) have been suspended. Both Peralta and Uribe are appealing their suspensions and won't have to sit out immediately for the series finale against Tampa on Wednesday. Peralta is being suspended for intentionally throwing at Rays outfielder Jose Siri. The 27-year-old was ejected as a result. Since he's appealing, he should be able to make his next scheduled start on Sunday versus the Chicago Cubs. Uribe incited the benches-clearing incident when he threw a punch at Siri after he grounded out in the eighth inning. The 23-year-old reliever has three saves on the year but also a 6.75 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 13 appearances for Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe did not serve his typical late-inning role in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Padres. Uribe relieved Wade Miley in the fourth inning and pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. The 23-year-old has seen the most save opportunities on the team with Devin Williams (back) on the injured list and has converted three of five opportunities, but has a bloated 5.87 ERA in 7 2/3 IP. Fellow teammate Joel Payamps has also struggled lately, so it remains to be seen who the Brewers may turn to next when a save opportunity presents itself.
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe picked up his third save of the season in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Twins. Uribe came in to pitch the top of the ninth inning up by one. He allowed a leadoff walk but induced a ground-ball double play and ended the game with a ground out. Closer Devin Williams (back) will be out for at least the next three months with a back injury and it looks like Uribe is the front-runner to serve as interim closer. He has converted all of his save opportunities with a 3.00 ERA, two strikeouts, and one walk in three innings pitched. Joel Payamps has also pitched very well early on, but he only has one save to show for it.
Abner Uribe earned his second save in two days for the Milwaukee Brewers. Uribe again got the ninth inning Saturday afternoon against the New York Mets and responded with the save despite surrendering a home run to slugger Pete Alonso. He allowed one run on one hit while striking out two in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Mets. With the back injury shelving top closer Devin Williams (back) for at least the next three months, the closer job was thought to be a competition among Trevor Megill, Joel Payamps, and Uribe. On Friday, Megill got the heart of the Met's lineup, leaving the ninth inning to Uribe. Megill got the seventh inning again on Saturday and struck out three while surrendering two hits. In the coming weeks, this will be one to watch as all three pitchers are candidates for saves. At this time, Uribe has the upper hand and has handled the job well through the first three games of the 2024 season. Uribe has electric stuff and has elite fastball/sinker velocity to go with a nasty slider as well. Uribe is worth an add in leagues that value saves as long as he has the role.
Abner Uribe Locks Down First Save Chance For Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Abner Uribe locked down the team's first save chance in the 3-1 Opening Day win over the New York Mets on Friday. There was a bit of a question as to who would see most of the save opportunities for the Brew Crew with regular closer Devin Williams (back) out for three months, but Uribe got the first chance over Joel Payamps. The 23-year-old threw a clean inning with no hits allowed, no walks and no strikeouts to pick up his second career save. Uribe was great in his first 32 relief appearances in 2023, posting a 1.76 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 20 walks and 39 K's. Although Payamps could still see save chances of his own for the Brewers, the fact that Uribe got the first opportunity can't be ignored. He's a must-add for fantasy managers in need of saves early on.
Joel Payamps, Abner Uribe Could Be Candidates For Saves In Milwaukee
With Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams (back) expected to miss three months due to stress fractures in his back, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Curt Hogg writes that relievers Joel Payamps and Abner Uribe are among the most obvious early candidates to see save chances for the Brewers until Williams is able to return. There isn't anyone with significant closing experience in the bullpen for Milwaukee, but Payamps, Uribe, Hoby Milner, Elvis Peguero, Bryse Wilson and Trevor Megill are all among the key returners from a bullpen that was second in ERA in 2023. Payamps, 29, had a 2.55 ERA with three saves and 28 holds in 70 2/3 innings last year and should be considered a top speculatory closer for fantasy managers late in drafts. Uribe, 23, lights up the radar gun and can whiff batters with the best of them, but his elevated walk rate is a cause for concern.
Trevor Megill
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