The Brewers introduced to reporters, together with Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, that they’ve signed first baseman Luke Voit to a one-year cope with a membership possibility for 2024. The monetary phrases aren’t publicly identified presently. In a corresponding transfer, infielder Keston Hiura was designated for project. Moreover, infielder Abraham Toro was optioned to the minors and outfielder Sal Frelick was reassigned to minor league camp. The Brewers additionally introduced that infielder Brice Turang has made the Opening Day roster.
Voit, 32, has beforehand been in camp with the Brewers on a minor league deal, although it afforded him the power to opt-out and pursue alternatives elsewhere. Although he initially agreed to kick that call down the street, he finally triggered his opt-out and returned to the open market. Nevertheless, the Brewers didn’t need him to get away and have now introduced him again aboard with a significant league deal and an possibility for 2024. Even when they flip that possibility down, they might nonetheless retain Voit through arbitration since he’ll nonetheless be shy of six years’ service time on the finish of the season.
The slugger has beforehand been probably the most potent bats within the league however is coming off a few years that weren’t fairly as robust. He really led the majors in residence runs within the shortened 2020 season, going over the fence 22 occasions. His .277/.338/.610 batting line that yr amounted to a wRC+ of 153, indicating he was 53% higher than the league common hitter. However in 2021, he handled knee accidents for a lot of the yr and struggled when he wasn’t on the IL. The Yanks finally supplanted him at first by buying Anthony Rizzo, buying and selling Voit to the Padres going into 2022.
Voit stayed wholesome sufficient to get into 135 recreation final yr, finally hitting 22 residence runs, however with lesser outcomes general. He struck out in 31.5% of his plate appearances and hit .226/.308/.402 for a wRC+ of 102. That included a midseason commerce to the Nationals within the Juan Soto deal, after Eric Hosmer used his restricted no-trade clause to take himself out of it. The Nats might have saved him round through arbitration, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting an $8.2MM wage, although they non-tendered him as an alternative.
The Brewers have a left-handed hitter at first base in Rowdy Tellez and their outfield/designated hitter combine incorporates additional lefties in Christian Yelich, Jesse Winker and Garrett Mitchell. Voit’s right-handed bat would appear at first look to make a superb match for that group in a platoon function, although he really has modest reverse splits in his profession. He’s hit .262/.347/.491 towards righties in his profession for a 129 wRC+. In opposition to southpaws, he’s hit .236/.329/.439, for a 110 wRC+, nonetheless above common however lower than his work towards righties. Nevertheless he’s deployed, he’ll look to get again on monitor along with his new membership after a few attempting seasons.
As for Hiura, 26, he made a giant splash along with his debut in 2019, hitting 19 residence runs in simply 84 video games. He’s continued to hit for energy within the seasons since however with mounting strikeout points which have diminished his general manufacturing. Final yr, he hit 14 homers in simply 80 video games however was additionally punched out at a 41.7% price. MLBTR’s Steve Adams just lately took an in depth look of the Hiura state of affairs, which put the membership in a clumsy spot as a result of he not has choices. Just a few days in the past, Hiura was informed that he wouldn’t be making the roster.
The Brewers will now have every week to both commerce Hiura or attempt to move him by means of waivers. Regardless of his struggles, it appears doable that one other workforce could be prepared to provide him a shot based mostly on his enormous energy output. That might maybe be a workforce that isn’t anticipating to be aggressive this yr, although it’s additionally doable that accidents might create alternatives elsewhere. Within the occasion that Hiura clears waivers, he would be capable of reject an outright project, although it’s doable he accepts. Gamers with between three and 5 years of service time can reject outright assignments however they should forfeit their wage. Hiura certified for arbitration for the primary time this offseason and agreed to a $2.2MM wage, that means he’d have to depart that on the desk to change into a free agent.
As for Turang, 23, he’s one of many membership’s prime prospects. Chosen within the first spherical of the 2018 draft, he spent final yr in Triple-A. He hit 13 residence runs and stole 34 bases, hitting .286/.360/.412 for a wRC+ of 108. Although he’s largely been a shortstop in his time within the minors, he figures to take over the second base job in Milwaukee subsequent to Willy Adames. Turang is already on the 40-man roster so a corresponding transfer received’t be crucial.
