The hot stove has remained fairly cool in Cream City as the Milwaukee Brewers have stayed largely out of the offseason fray so far.
While, as usual, the team is not expected to make any big free-agent splashes this winter, Milwaukee is not likely to sit idly by during all the business that will be transacted before Opening Day 2025.
The Brewers are likely to be favored to win a third straight National League Central title next season, but would certainly like to be more of a postseason participant than they have in recent campaigns.
To that end, Jim Bowden of the Athletic foresees Milwaukee making at least one big swap this winter — sending closer Devin Williams to the Philadelphia Phillies for third baseman Alec Bohm.
"I also like this trade from the Brewers’ perspective because Bohm would solve third base and replace (Willy) Adames in their lineup, allowing (Joey) Ortiz to play shortstop with Brice Turang remaining at second," Bowden said.
Williams has saved 97 games over his six seasons in Milwaukee, including 49 in 2023. However, four-year Major League veteran Trevor Megill showed he was capable of closing out games by logging 21 saves with a 2.72 ERA last season. With Williams set for free agency after this coming season, the small-market Brewers are believed to be shopping him while they still can.
FanGraphs currently projects Oliver Dunn, who hit .221 with one homer in his 41-game MLB debut last season, as Milwaukee's starter at third base for 2025 with Adames almost certainly leaving town for a richer contract this winter.
Bohm, a five-year MLB veteran, would represent a big upgrade over Dunn. He earned his first All-Star nod in 2024 and has back-to-back 97-RBI seasons for the Phillies. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2026 season.
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