The Milwaukee Brewers have made a significant addition to their roster, signing free-agent left-handed pitcher Grant Wolfram to a major league contract. Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the news, confirming that Wolfram has already passed his physical. This deal is a timely birthday present for Wolfram, who will turn 28 on Thursday. Represented by All Bases Covered Sports Management, Wolfram is joining a 40-man roster for the first time in his career.
Standing at an impressive 6'8", Wolfram has spent his professional career exclusively with the Texas Rangers organization. Over parts of three seasons in Double-A and another two in Triple-A, Wolfram has demonstrated his potential on the mound. While his Triple-A debut in 2023 was challenging, he rebounded with an excellent performance for the Rangers' top affiliate in Round Rock this past season. Wolfram posted a 3.34 ERA over 56 2/3 innings, boasting a solid 25.6% strikeout rate. Despite a higher-than-average 10.9% walk rate, Wolfram's ability to miss bats and generate ground balls (44.6% rate in 2024) has made him a promising addition to the Brewers' pitching staff.
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Recent reports indicate a growing interest in Chicago White Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet, with an increasing likelihood that a deal could be finalized during the Winter Meetings this week. The Yankees, Red Sox, Padres, Cubs, and Reds have all been mentioned as potential suitors, and now, MLB Network's Jon Morosi has added the Milwaukee Brewers to the list of teams in pursuit.
The Brewers present an intriguing case for acquiring Crochet. Traditionally, Milwaukee focuses on internal development and strategic free-agent acquisitions within the mid to lower tiers of the market to maintain their competitive edge. However, the club has shown a willingness to make significant trades, as seen with Willy Adames and Christian Yelich. Adames recently signed with the Giants after declining a qualifying offer from Milwaukee, but Yelich remains a franchise cornerstone under contract through 2028. Crochet, at 25, would bring just two years of team control, compared to the longer control periods of Adames and Yelich when they were acquired. Despite this, the Brewers are in the midst of their competitive window and have ample motivation to be aggressive in securing Crochet’s services. His performance and potential make him a valuable asset for any team looking to bolster their pitching staff. As the Winter Meetings continue, the race for Crochet's signature is heating up, and it will be interesting to see which team ultimately lands the talented lefty. Despite an injury-shortened 2024 season, Devin Williams has proven he remains an elite closer. Returning mid-season from a back injury, Williams showed the same dominance as in his All-Star 2022 and 2023 campaigns. Over 21 1/3 innings, he posted a remarkable 1.25 ERA and a 2.31 SIERA, striking out 38 of the 88 batters he faced. Entering his age-30 season, his career stats—1.83 ERA, 39.4% strikeout rate, and 68 saves in 78 chances—underscore his value as a potential trade chip for the Milwaukee Brewers.
In October, Brewers GM Matt Arnold expressed the need to be “open-minded” about trading Williams. In November, he reiterated this stance, acknowledging the closer’s importance to the team but not ruling out the possibility of a trade (as reported by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com). This ambivalence hints that while Williams is not actively being shopped, the Brewers are not entirely closed to the idea. Milwaukee has a history of trading star pitchers before they reach free agency. Under former president of baseball operations David Stearns, the Brewers dealt Josh Hader to the Padres at the 2022 trade deadline. More recently, Arnold executed a trade sending Corbin Burnes to the Orioles. The Brewers’ strong pitching development pipeline has enabled them to remain competitive despite these high-profile trades. Given this context, it would not be surprising to see Williams in a different uniform by Opening Day 2025. His elite performance and the Brewers’ openness to creative roster management suggest that he could be a significant asset on the trade market. The Milwaukee Brewers have signed outfielder Jared Oliva and right-handed pitcher Jon Duplantier to minor league contracts, as reported by Adam McCalvy ofMLB.com.Both players will receive non-roster invitations to the big league camp.
Jared Oliva Jared Oliva, who turns 29 tomorrow, previously had a brief stint in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He appeared in 26 games for the Pirates between 2020 and 2021, posting a .179/.220/.214 batting line in limited action. In 2023, Oliva played in Triple-A with the Los Angeles Angels, struggling to a .261/.348/.423 slash line in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. This past season, after signing a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners, Oliva dropped to Double-A, where he found more success. In the Texas League, Oliva recorded a strong .294/.378/.463 slash line and went 37-for-40 in stolen base attempts. Despite being older than the average Double-A player, his performance earned him a camp invite from the Brewers. Oliva's versatility allows him to play all three outfield positions, and he may start next season with Triple-A Nashville. Jon Duplantier Jon Duplantier has not played in the majors since 2021. Once a highly regarded prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks system, Duplantier has struggled to find success at the major league level, posting a 6.70 ERA over 49 2/3 innings. During the 2024 season, Duplantier split his time between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations, as well as making four starts in the independent American Association. He made 23 appearances in the upper minors, starting seven of those games. Over 55 2/3 innings, he posted a 4.20 ERA with a notable 27.4% strikeout rate but also a high 16.1% walk rate. With these additions, the Brewers are bolstering their depth for the upcoming season and providing opportunities for Oliva and Duplantier to prove themselves and potentially earn a spot on the major league roster. The Milwaukee Brewers have reached an agreement on a minor league deal with left-handed pitcher Thomas Pannone, as reported by Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The BHSC client will join the major league camp as a non-roster invitee for the 2025 spring training.
Second Stint with the Brewers This will mark Pannone’s second stint with the Brewers. He was previously with the organization in 2023. Though his overall Triple-A track record may not stand out, Pannone has shown impressive performance against non-MLB competition in recent years. In 2023, he posted a 2.70 ERA over 53 1/3 innings with the Brewers’ Triple-A team. Additionally, he spent parts of the 2022-23 seasons playing for the KBO's Kia Tigers, achieving a combined 3.49 ERA across 165 innings. Most recently, Pannone recorded a 3.54 ERA over 152 1/3 innings split between the Triple-A affiliates for the Cubs and Yankees in 2024, with a 21.9% strikeout rate and a 5.9% walk rate. Competing for a Spot Pannone will head to camp with the Brewers, where he will compete for a rotation spot or a long relief role. He is fully stretched out and built up, ensuring that workload will not be an issue if the Brewers need to utilize him as a starter between their Nashville and Milwaukee rosters. However, it's notable that he is out of minor league options, meaning if he is added to the 40-man roster at any point, he would have to stick with the team or be placed on waivers. Pannone's return to the Brewers highlights the team's ongoing efforts to bolster their pitching depth as they prepare for the upcoming season. Fans will be watching closely to see how he performs in spring training and whether he secures a spot on the major league roster. Defying expectations is no small feat, but the Milwaukee Brewers did just that under the guidance of manager Pat Murphy in 2024. The young team opted out of a rebuilding year, faced injuries head-on, surpassed their projected win total, and extended the longest run of regular season success in franchise history. For these achievements, Murphy has been honored with the National League Manager of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).
Murphy received this prestigious award by topping fellow finalists Mike Shildt of the Padres and Carlos Mendoza of the Mets, securing first place on 27 of the 30 ballots cast, and second place on the remaining three. This recognition marks a historic moment for the Brewers, as Murphy becomes the first manager in the franchise's history to win the award since its inception by the BBWAA in 1983. Murphy, who will turn 66 on November 28, has a notable background with the Brewers. He was Craig Counsell’s mentor at Notre Dame and later served as Counsell’s bench coach in Milwaukee from 2016 to 2023. Murphy took over as manager after Counsell left in free agency last fall. This season, he demonstrated exceptional leadership and resilience, guiding his team through challenges and emerging victorious. Reflecting on the honor, Murphy humbly attributed the award to his team and staff. “Any award like that is a team award. It’s a staff award,” Murphy said during a recent visit to Milwaukee. “It's embarrassing even to be mentioned with it. If you love this and you're passionate about what it means, then those types of things don’t fit with what you're really all about. "It's about keeping your head down, trying to impact people, helping in any way you can, moving the ball forward, and then getting back in the huddle. Let someone else measure the impact years from now.” Murphy’s recognition not only celebrates his managerial prowess but also underscores the collective effort and spirit of the Brewers. As the team looks ahead to the future, they do so with a proven leader at the helm, ready to tackle new challenges and continue their path of success. The Brewers announced on Twitter they have officially signed Gary Sanchez to a 1-year contract worth $3 Million, with a mutual option for 2025.
Sanchez is in his 10th MLB Season, while playing for the Yankees, Twins, Blue Jays and Padres before signing with the Brewers. He has 173 HR and 448 RBI with an average of .225. It had been rumored, but the Brewers made it official - they have re-signed Pitcher Brandon Woodruff to a 2-year deal, reportedly $2.5 Million in 2024, and $5 Million in 2025, which is backloaded to total $17.5 Million. There is also a mutual option for 2026.
Woodruff is already on the 60-day IL as he works to works his way back from shoulder issues he had in 2023, which required surgery in October. The 31 year old is 46-26 with a 3.10 ERA through his first 7 MLB seasons, which have all been with Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Brewers made a couple roster moves following the All-Star Game -
• Jahmai Jones was optioned to Triple-A • Tyson Miller, DFA'd last week, has been traded to the Dodgers for cash |
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