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Brewers add second baseman Kolten Wong

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St. Louis Cardinals Kolten Wong – Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a two-year deal with free-agent second baseman Kolten Wong.  The Athletic was first to report the deal, which is expected to pay Wong $18 million over two years with an option for a third year.  The deal is pending a physical.

Wong broke in the Major Leagues with St. Louis and played all eight years with the Cardinals.  He won the National League Gold Glove at second base each of the last two seasons.  The Cardinals declined a $12.5 million club option for 2021, instead paying him a $1 million buyout.

Adding Wong at second base will most likely move Keston Hiura to first base.  Hiura was the Brewers first-round draft pick in 2017 and has had throwing issues at second base.  He committed six errors in 49 games there last season and 22 total errors during his first two seasons in the majors. [Read more…]

Brewers promote Matt Arnold

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Matt Arnold

The Milwaukee Brewers have promoted Matt Arnold to senior vice president and general manager on Thursday afternoon.

“For the past five years, Matt has served an invaluable role in helping to guide our baseball operations group,” said President of Baseball Operations David Stearns.  “He has contributed to every significant decision we have made and has offered indispensable advice and support throughout his time with the Brewers.  Today’s announcement formalizes how we have operated over the last few years.  This move provides Matt with the deserved recognition of his tireless work and ensures that our baseball operations leadership group remains intact.”

The 41-year-old Arnold joined the Brewers on Oct. 14, 2015 as vice president and assistant general manager.  He was then promoted to senior vice president and assistant general manager in June 2019.  Since the addition of Stearns and Arnold, the Brewers have the fifth-best record in the National League, going 373-336 (.526) since 2016.  The team ranks third in the National League in winning percentage since 2017, going 300-247 (.548).  Under the leadership of Stearns and Arnold, the Brewers have qualified for the postseason in each of the last three years, a feat previously never accomplished in franchise history. [Read more…]

Brewers announce 2021 coaching staff

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced their 2021 coaching staff on Wednesday and it includes a base coaching change.

Ed Sedar, who has been with the Brewers for 14 seasons and the teams third base coach for 10 seasons, was reassigned to advisor to the major league coaching staff, a new role with the team.

Quinten Berry, who served as the Brewers’ minor-league outfield and base running coordinator, is joined by returning first base coach Jason Lane as the teams base coaches for next season.

Brewers President of Baseball Operations and General Manager David Stearns is brining back hitting coach Andy Haines and assistant hitting coach Jacob Cruz, despite the teams struggles during the shortened 60-game season.

The Brewers hit .223 and scored 247 runs, which ranked 26th in both categories this past season.  They also struck out 582 times, which ranked second-highest in the majors.

Pitching coach Chris Hook, bullpen coach Steve Karsay and bench coach Pat Murphy all return to Craig Counsell’s staff.

The Brewers added a pair of new bullpen catchers for the 2021 season, hiring Nestor Corredor and Adam Weisenburger.  The Brewers decided not to renew the contracts of bullpen catchers Marcus Hanel and Robinzon Diaz.

Brewers in the postseason, despite losing record

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Craig Counsell

The Milwaukee Brewers could have clinched a playoff spot with a win in the regular season finale at St. Louis on Sunday.  Instead, they took the tough rout, falling to the Cardinals 5-2 and then depending on help.  They got the needed help when both Philadelphia and San Francisco both lost, giving the sub-.500 Brewers (29-31) a spot in the National League playoffs.

The Phillies 5-0 setback against Tampa Bay finished ahead of the Brewers.  But the Giants were giving the San Diego Padres a run for their money and the Brewers were watching in the clubhouse after their loss, as San Diego pulled out a 5-4 win.

The Brewers are the No. 8 seed in the National League and will face the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers (43-17) in a best-of-three series starting Wednesday night.

The Brewers are in and they’re not apologizing.

“We got ourselves a shot,” Manager Craig Counsell said.  “You’ve got to beat a really good team twice.  It’s the best team [Read more…]

Brewers coach recovering after heart attack

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Pat Murphy

Milwaukee Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy is recovering after suffering a moderate heart attack during the team’s Saturday workout at Miller Park.  Murphy was immediately transported to Froedtert Hospital, where a stent was inserted, and he is expected to make a full recovery.

Brewers President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said Murphy was on the field when he suffered the attack and went to the dugout to report what he was feeling.

Stearns said Murphy will certainly be back in the dugout at some point but couldn’t venture to guess when that would be.

Braun placed on IL

The Brewers placed Ryan Braun on the 10-day injured list with an infected right index finger, retroactive to July 30.  That means the Brewers will be looking to add a pair of players to the 30-man roster prior to Monday nights series opener against the Chicago White Sox.  The second roster move is to replace Lorenzo Cain, who opted out for the rest of the season.

Braun is hitting .231 with two RBI in four games this season.

Cain opts out for remainder of season (AUDIO)

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Lorenzo Cain (file photo)

As the Milwaukee Brewers were in the process of having their series against the St. Louis Cardinals called off, veteran outfielder Lorenzo Cain was busy discussing with his family, a decision to opt out of the remainder of the 2020 season.

Cain became the 17th player to opt out of the 60-game season.  He was not deemed an at-risk player for COVID-19, so his decision was elective which forfeiting the rest of his more than $5.9 million prorated salary.

“After careful consideration and discussion with my family, I have decided to opt out of the 2020 season,” Cain said in a statement released by the Brewers.  “With all of the uncertainty and unknowns surrounding our game at this time, I feel this is the best decision for me, my wife and our kids.

“The Brewers organization was very understanding and supportive of my decision, and I thank them for [Read more…]

Morrison blast leads Gold past Blue at Miller Park

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Logan Morrison

The Gold team is off to a 3-0 start in the Milwaukee Brewers Blue & Gold World Series at Miller Park.

The Gold earned a 4-1 victory on Thursday night, thanks to the first inning three-run home run off the bat of Logan Morrison.

Morrison is a non-roster invitee to camp and is making a strong bid to make the Brewers 30-man roster that will open the season next Friday in Chicago against the Cubs.  Currently, the Brewers 40-man roster is full and they would have to cut a player to make room.  But Morrison had a good spring and has picked up in this summer camp, where he left off.  Not to mention, he would give the Brewers another left-handed power bat.

Morrison’s blast came off of Wily Peralta, who eventually settled down, allowing no more runs in 3 2/3 innings of work.  Peralta allowed four hits in all with no walks while striking out one.

Right-hander Josh Lindblom allowed a run on four hits over five innings to earn the win for the Gold team.  Devin Williams and Justin Grimm also turned in solid relief efforts in the game. [Read more…]

Burnes makes statement in battle to make starting rotation

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Corbin Burnes

Milwaukee right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes is trying to land a spot in the Brewers starting rotation and his performance on Wednesday night moved him in that direction.

Burnes retired all 12 batters he faced, striking out seven, to lead Team Gold to a 3-0 victory over Team Blue in the Brewers Blue & Gold World Series at Miller Park.

Burnes hit 98 mph with his fastball, retiring Christian Yelich twice (strikeout & ground out).

Omar Narvaez clubbed a two-run homer in the second inning off of Brett Anderson.  Anderson’s night was done after two innings due to a blister on his pitching hand.

Orlando Arcia drove in the third run for the Gold Team with a run scoring single in the fourth.

Team Gold now leads the series 2-0 with game three at Miller Park on Thursday night. [Read more…]

Brewers sign four of their five draft picks

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Photo from Zavier Warren’s Twitter page @ZavierWarren

The Milwaukee Brewers signed four of their five 2020 draft picks to contracts on Monday.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers signed second-round draft pick, shortstop Freddy Zamora (Miami-Florida) to a deal worth $1.15 million.  They signed third-rounder, catcher Zavier Warren (Central Michigan) to a deal worth $575,000.  Outfielder Joey Wiemer (Cincinnati) was the Brewers fourth round pick and got $150,000 to sign.  Fifth-round pick, shortstop Hayden Cantrelle (Louisiana-Lafayette) received $300,000 to sign.

All four draft picks signed for less than their slot recommendations, leaving the Brewers more money to sign their top pick, outfielder Garrett Mitchell (20th overall pick).

Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said last week he was confident the team would sign all five it its draft picks.  The deadline to sign draft picks to contracts is August 1.

Brewers set to return for extended spring training, prepare for season (AUDIO)

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Milwaukee Brewers players will begin arriving at Miller Park in the coming days with intake testing for COVID-19 beginning Wednesday.  Players will then undergo the usual physical exams prior to taking the field for the first full-squad workouts on July 4.

“It’s exciting for all of us to be able to talk about a season,” said Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns on Friday.  “We know it’s going to be an unusual season and a different looking season.  But it’s going to be a baseball season nonetheless.  That’s something that is meaningful to all of us.

“We have a lot of work left to do.  There are going to be many changes we’ll face going forward to get through this season.  But this is a positive start.”

Stearns told reporters in a Zoom webinar that their biggest challenge will be to keep the players safe and healthy. [Read more…]