Milwaukee Brewers Roster
- NL Central
- Stadium
- American Family Field
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that outfield prospect Jackson Chourio "is in the mix" to be on the team's Opening Day roster. Murphy also said that infielder Joey Ortiz "has a good shot to make the club." It would be a surprise if the 20-year-old Chourio wasn't on Milwaukee's Opening Day roster after they signed him to a huge extension this offseason. However, the Brew Crew do have a stacked outfield with Christian Yelich, Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer in the fold. Chourio is hitting .283/.313/.348 in the Cactus League but with no home runs and no stolen bases. The Brewers clearly view him as a staple in their outfield for years to come, but perhaps they feel that he needs some more minor-league seasoning to begin the year. Either way, fantasy managers should still view Chourio as an enticing No. 3 outfielder with tons of upside.
Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams (back) is expected to miss around three months due to stress fractures in his back. General manager Matt Arnold said he would leave the decision up to manager Pat Murphy and his staff as to who will be the team's closer while Williams is sidelined. Abner Uribe, as well as Joel Payamps and Trevor Megill, seem to be the most obvious replacements for save chances, though none of the trio has had much big-league closing experience. Murphy said he has no intentions of naming one defined closer unless one naturally emerges during the season. While Uribe has the most natural stuff to be a closer, Payamps should also be in the mix, and this could end up being a total committee approach. Payamps feels like the best speculation for fantasy managers scrounging for saves late in deep-mixed drafts.
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.
Milwaukee Brewers star closer Devin Williams (back) has two stress fractures in his back and is expected to miss around three months, according to sources. Williams pitched through back soreness last September, but it returned this spring. He will rehab and is expected to return by midseason. The top fantasy closer will now miss at least half the season, which will obviously cause his stock to drop considerably for those who have yet to draft for the 2024 season. The 29-year-old right-hander saved 36 games for the Brew Crew in 40 chances last year while also posting an elite 1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 87 strikeouts and 28 walks in 58 2/3 innings pitched. It's a massive blow to the back end of Milwaukee's bullpen before the start of the season. Trevor Megill, Joel Payamps and Abner Uribe could all be options for saves in Milwaukee with Williams hurt.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras continued his strong Cactus League in Tuesday's loss against the Chicago Cubs. The backstop went 3-for-4 on the day with four RBI and a three-run homer. Hr is now hitting .310 with two homers and seven RBI in 29 at-bats. The All-Star catcher finally got the majority of playing in 2023 after being dealt from the Atlanta Braves and hit .289 with 17 homers and 78 RBI. The 26-year-old will run it back as the main man behind the dish in Milwaukee and a key part of their lineup in the upcoming season. Contreras will look to build off last seasons success and has Top-5 value at a position where it is hard to find much to begin with.